Frederick County MD Archives Obituaries.....Donsife, H. L.  May 10, 1916
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Mark Ault meault@yahoo.com March 7, 2008, 1:56 pm

The Frederick Post, Frederick, Maryland, Thursday, May 11, 1916
Page 1, column 2

PHYSICIAN DIES FROM SCALDING

Dr. H. L. Donsife, 73, Badly Burned At Montevue While Taking Bath

  Dr. H. L. Donsife, formerly a well-known physician of Woodsboro, died at 
Montevue Hospital early yesterday morning from the effects of being scaled in 
a bath tub the afternoon before.  He was seventy-three years old and had been 
at the institution since 1909.  His body was taken in charge by undertaker L. 
C. Powell of Woodsboro and the funeral will take place this afternoon at 3 
o’clock.
  Whether death was accidental or intentional seems to be a matter of 
speculation among the officials at the hospital.  According to clerk J. A. 
English, Dr. Donsife was in the habit of taking baths.  He went to the 
bathroom as usual between three and four o’clock Monday afternoon and a few 
minutes later was heard crying for assistance by John Bachtel, another 
inmate.  The latter went to the room and found the aged physician sitting on 
the side of the tub with his right shoulder and side fearfully scalded.  
Bachtel was so frightened that he could not tell how much water was in the 
tub.  Donsife was removed to the hospital department and Dr. Charles F. 
Goodell, physician to the institution was summoned.  The latter was on a call 
in the country and Dr. W. G. McComas, physician to the jail was called and 
rendered medical attention.  Later Dr. Goodell and Dr. McCurdy arrived and 
went to the bedside of the injured man.  Mr. English said he could not say 
whether Donsife turned on the wrong spigot or attempted to take his life.
  In Tub of Boiling Water.
  Another report is to the effect that the physician was found hanging over 
the side of the tub which was full of water almost to the boiling point with 
the water still running from the spigot.  It is said that the water was heated 
by a steam pressure of thirty-five pounds.  Warden Stone of Brunswick, who had 
charge of the corridor leading to the room of Dr. Donsife, was afterwards 
removed.  It was said, however, that his removal is only temporary and has 
nothing to do with the accident.  Dr. Donsife came from the vicinity of 
Woodsboro and is survived by two brothers and several sisters.  He rarely had 
anything to say to the officials and on account of infirmities remained most 
of the time in his room.


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