Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1887 — JOHN ROACH. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN ROACH.

The Famous Ship-Builder on His Death-Bed Afflicted with Cancer. [New York special.] It is known that for some weeks John Roach, the ship-builder, has been confined to his residence in gradually failing health. According to his own desire, that his friends should not be needlessly alarmed and apprehensive of the effect upon him of learning the real nature of the disease from which he is suffering, his family and physicians have been reticent in regard to his condition. Mr. Roach, however, now realizes fully the impossibility of recovery, and the reason for concealment no longer exists. In view of this fact, a representative of Mr. Roach’s family has made the

following authoritative statement of his condition. “Mr. Roach is beyond the reach of mediical help save in the alleviation of his sufferings, which have long been incessant and intense. His disease is epithelioma, and its development has been very similar to the case of General Grant, the location, however, being the roof of the mouth instead of the throat. All efforts to arrest its progress have failed, and only his powerful constitution Las sustained him so long. He has neveT seen a well day since the entire nervous prostration consequent upon his assignment eighteen months ago. From that crashing blow he could not rally, and tne cancer began to develop last January. In March an operation was performed, in the hope that the disease might be eradicated. In the summer the trouble returned, audit became evident to the physicians that

there was do hope. Mr. Roach is now fail, ing gradually, his agony relieved only by anodynes.”