Death of Miles Rock

In January of 1901, Miles Rock became ill with a digestive complaint. He planned to convalesce in the home of his housekeeper and her husband, but after a brief illness, Miles Rock died on January 29th, 1901. The official cause of death was listed as gastroenteritis. However, it is likely that Miles Rock died of a gall-bladder problem that had persisted and worsened for some years. Reference to a similar illness can be found in Rock’s diaries of the 1890s. Gall bladder surgeries were relatively new and rare at the time of Miles Rock’s illness, and it is likely that such a diagnosis would not have been readily made by his attending physicians. He was buried with honors by the Guatemalan government in a grave near to the tomb of President Justo Rufino Barrios.

View Exhibit Items

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• Susan Rock Letter with Reflections on Miles Rock’s Death

• Alfred Rock Consular Letter of Introduction

• Will of Miles Rock

• Science Magazine Obituary

• Lehigh Alumni Association Obituary

• Newspaper Clipping Obituary

• Condolence Letters

• Cosmos Club Letter of Condolence

• Description of Miles Rock’s Final Days and Death

• Invitations to the Interment of Miles Rock

• Who’s Who in America