© March 12, 1886 A Painful Accident

A very sad accident happened on the University campus on Wednesday afternoon. The University Football Team was playing a practice game with members of other clubs in the league. Michael E. Woodward, a member of the Junior Class at the Law College, in tackling one of the University men during the game, was struck in the bead by the thigh of his contestant while running and fell to the ground. He lay for some time with no evidence of injury except a slight quivering or shuddering. When asked if he was hurt, he replied that he couldn't move. He was carried to a house near by, several doctors from Berkeley and Oakland were called in, and it was found that he was paralyzed from the neck down. His mind is perfectly clear, and be did not become unconscious even for a moment. The physicians consider the case as exceedingly peculiar, and are not agreed as to the cause. It is supposed, however, that the blow caused one of the vertebra in the neck to become dislocated, thus disarranging the nervous system, but that when he fell the vertebra slipped back into place. Mr. Woodward is about twenty three years old, is a graduate of the Oakland High School, and was for two years a student in the Class of '87 at Yale College. Of course, it is impossible to state how dangerous the injury may prove. The physicians say that there is no immediate prospect of it being fatal, and that the question is whether he will be paralyzed for life or but for a few months. Mr. Woodward resides with his family in Oakland, but as yet his condition will not permit of his removal.

© March 17, 1886 A Victim of Football

Michael S. Woodward, the young man who was paralyzed last Wednesday while playing football, died yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock, at the residence of Mrs. Yates in Berkeley. It was hardly expected that he would live as long as he has. The spinal chord was fractured and he was absolutely paralyzed below the neck. Respiration has been very difficult for two days past. For four days his pulse had averaged 105 degrees. About two o'clock yesterday afternoon he was turned over to allow him to rest a little easier and he remarked at the time a prickly sensation running down his arms and sides. Shortly before three o'clock he realized that he could not live long and his father, sisters and brothers were called in. He bade them good bye and died calmly and without the slightest motion of the body. Mr. Woodward was a graduate in the class of '80 from the Oakland High School, in 1882. He attended Toland Medical College and the year after went East and in time entered Yale College in the class of '87, in which he spent two years. He returned home last year and entered the Junior Class of the San Francisco Law College. He will be buried from his home in Oakland.

© March 18, 1886

The four classes in the University will appoint committees to-day to attend the funeral of Michael Woodward. The football team has raised funds for an elegant floral piece. The Law College football team will attend in a body, and other representatives of his class. The funeral will be on Friday, at 10 A. m., from his home, corner Ninth and Clay streets, Oakland. High mass will be celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on the same morning.