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GEORGE GASPER
January 27, 1910 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
George Gasper Dies At Methodist Hospital
Was With Henry M. Stanley Expedition In Africa
    George Gasper, who had a wide circle of frinds and acquaintances in this city, where he had lived for twenty-five years, died at 8:20 o'clock last night at the Methodist hospital, where he had been for one week undergoing treatment for paralysis of the vocal cords. He had eaten a hearty supper and a few minutes later was seized with a paroxysm and strangled. An incision was promptly made in his throat and a tube inserted to restore respiration, but all attempts to restore respiration, but all attempts to revive him proved unavailing.
    He was born at Vernon, this state, fifty-seven years ago and leaves a widow and a son four years old; also three brothers in this city, John B. Frank and Joseph, and two unmarried sisters at Vernon.
    From Vernon he went to Memphis, Tenn., where he learned the trade of confectioner and was in that city during the yellow fever epidemic, where he of all the employees in the large establishment of Charles Howard was the only one to remain and keep the place open. Soon after the epidemic was over, having saved considerable money, he made up his mind to travel. He went to the Mediterranean and was on a trading vessel which suffered shipwreck. He was picked up with another man lashed to a spar and was next heard from at Constantinoble.
WITH HENRY M. STANLEY
    He traveled for a time in Europe and Western Asia and was next heard from on the west coast of Africa, where he had taken service with Stanley on the expedition, and concluded to come home. He brought back with him a number of souvenirs of the coast, and intended to bring a young negro boy, whose father had exchanged him for a 10 cent plug of chewing tobacco. This boy had been named Henry Stanley, and was so known to all the natives. Mr. Gasper, however, was not permitted to indulge in this benevolent species of slave trade, and was forced to leave the boy behind. PARROTS AND MONKEYS
    He shipped a number of parrots and twenty-five monkeys. Of the parrots, three were brought to this country. One of these is yet living, is owned by John B. Gasper, of this city, and is now twenty-six years. The monkey could not stand the change of climate from the tropics to the colder north, and all died of pneumonia during the voyage.
    Mr. Gasper lived at Twelfth street and Senate avenue, where for several years he conducted a grocery and confectionery. He was noted as an interesting talker. He had seen much of the world, had been in many strange places, and knew well how to present the story of his adventures.
    The body is at the undertaking establishment of Flanner & Buchanan, where it may be viewed by friends. The funeral services and burial will be held Sunday morning at North Vernon. - Indianapolis News.

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