Obituary of Henry POH, of the Delavan Institute 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by John C. Engel 
< jcengel@execpc.com > on 11 Oct 2000
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Surname: POH

15 April 1875 Delavan Republican (Wisconsin)
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Somnambulism. This was put in fearful practice Monday evening last by one of the mute lads, a pupil at the Deaf and Dumb Institute, at Delavan, by the name of Henry Poh. He is a bright strong young man of sixteen years, and his sleep walking heretofore has attracted no special attention. But on the evening mentioned, he had stated that he could take such a leap as he afterwards took.
Sometime between the hours of eleven and twelve he arose from his bed in the upper dormitory of the west wing of the building, climbed through a small window to the roof of the building that joins the west (T) to the main building, a hight [sic] of some forty feet, from here he either walked off or jumped off the north side to the ground, alighting on a sidewalks breaking the boards in several places, apparently where his feet, knees and head struck the boards of the walk. Then he picked himself up, went round the building to the front door where he was soon found by Edgar Fiske, the night watchman. He presented a horrible appearance, but was taken care of, when it was found that no bones were broken, but his feet, knees, left elbow, and head were bruised. He says it did not hurt him mush and will soon be about as usual. In examining the sidewalk, hair was found in one place, thus showing how narrow was the escape. The boards giving way under his feet, elbow and head, eased the concussion as he struck, but if he had alighted a few inches north or south of where he did upon the support of the walk, the result must have been fatal.

Later. Reports show the young man was hurt more Seriously than apparent at first, and now lies in critical condition. He is receiving the kindest of care and attention, and hopes of his recovery is strongly entertained by the attending physician.

22 April 1875 Delavan Republican (Wisconsin)
Death of Henry Poh, the Mute. Last Monday morning, Henry Poh, the mute lad who leaped from the roof of the institute building, died. His sister came Saturday night from Manitowoc, where his parents live, and was with him during the Sabbath.

This was his third term at the institute, and he was considered one of the most promising pupils of his class. For a few days previous to his fatal leap, he had been somewhat unwell, but after a few days in the hospital, he came out apparently better, and went to the table and to his bed with the other pupils. There appeared to be nothing unusual in his manner, except that he spoke of the heat, and was a little restless. From his sister it was learned that he had been troubled with night walking while younger and at home. It is most probable that after getting upon the roof, he either leaped or slid off, as he struck some twenty feet from the building. He was undoubtedly asleep when he spring.

He was a young man of remarkable fortitude. He was cheerful and considerate to the last, and very desirous not to be attended to the discomfort of others. Picking up the Delavan Paper of last week, he found his name and scanned the article, and said the editor had made a mistake in spelling "climbed". He talked of dying calmly, and said he was prepared to die. Just before his few last breaths, he threw up hands to his weeping attendants and friends, saying hastily in signs and repeating it two or three times, "Don't be sorry for me, it is all right." He seemed to have a view of the other world and his spirit was going where the deaf hear, and can sing the praises of Him who "ruleth all things well."

Monday afternoon his sister departed with his remains for home. She was attended to the depot by the pupils and the officers of the institute in procession. This sad accident and death has cast a gloom over the pupils of the Institute, as Henry Poh was one whom they both loved and respected.

April 1875 Milwaukee Sentinel (Wisconsin)
Henry Poh, the mute who leaped from the roof of the Delavan asylum, died Monday.

April 1875 Manitowoc ______________ (Wisconsin)
A Deaf and Dumb Somnambulist. The Delavan Republican of last Thursday contains the following in relation to an almost fatal accident which befel[l] Henry Poh, whose father resid[e]s within a few miles of this city: [The April 15 Republican article followed.]

24 April 1875 Milwaukee Sentinel (Wisconsin)
P. 2, column 4. Henry Poh, the mute who leaped from the roof of the Delavan Institute, died last Monday. His remains were removed to Manitowoc.

24 April 1875 Walworth County Liberal (Wisconsin)
Delavan. A sad accident resulting in death has occurred at the Deaf & Dumb Institute. A young man, a pupil of seventeen years of age, got up in his sleep and climbed to the roof, from whence he walked off, and fell a distance of forty or fifty feet. Reports at first indicated that he was not seriously hurt. But Monday morning he died, after nearly a week had elapsed from the time of his fall. His name was Henry Poh and his relatives live at Manitowoc Rapids. His sister came and took his corpse home Monday afternoon. The institute turned out in procession to the depot to see the deceased and his sister off. They presented quite an imposing appearance.

29 April 1875 Delavan Free Press(Wisconsin)
...The deaf and dumb institute, and the "Dummies," as they are affectionately termed, are always lions of Delavan - mute lions of course. But a short time [ago] one of the poor unfortunates, in a fit of somnambulism, walked off the roof of the building in the night, receiving injuries from which he died in a few days.

1875 Annual Report of the Institute for Education of the Deaf and Dumb (Wisconsin)
Superintendent's Report. The two cases of death, mentioned in the physician's report, deserve a passing notice. That of Henry Poh, son of Peter Poh, of Manitowoc, occurred April 19, 1875, from the effects of a fall in somnambulism. The school-record shows him to have been the second pupil in the fifth grade in point of scholarship; and he is spoken of in the highest terms by all as a boy of unusual intelligence and amiability. He was about fifteen years of age, and in his third year in school.

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