Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Holton Recorder
Holton, Kansas
December 21, 1876
pg. 7

DEATH OF A NOTED MORPHISIST

Jack Lynch, familiarly known as "Deaf Jack," who had been confined to his room for several weeks, died Tuesday evening at 3 o'clock, at Mr. Patterson's residence, on West Skiddy Street.
Deaf Jack was, in some respects, a remarkable character, In 1864 he was stabbed in the neck in an affray in Colorado, and took morphine to allay his sufferings. It soon developed into a habit, and he continued to increased the dose until finally he could not keep it on his stomach. He then resorted to injecting it under the skin, and before he died he would consume in his way the enormous quantity of 52 bottles a month! Of late years he had been very deaf, his limbs were partially paralyzed, and his skin had turned dark.
Deaf Jack had resided in Denison a long time, and nearly every one knew him. He was of a jovial disposition and had a good many friends, especially among the sporting fraternity, who supplied his necessities. - - - Denison (Texas) News

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, March 13, 1910

LITTLE STORIES OF DENISON
No. 9

One of the most unique characters that lived in Denison in the seventies was "Deaf Jack."
He probably used more morphine than any man in Texas, His body was literally honey-combed when he died, and after the remains were examined by the attending physicians they declared that the body was so badly punctured that there was no place left for the needle to enter.
Deaf Jack used enormous quantities of morphine and it was said he had been under the influence of the drug for many years. He drifted into Denison from Nevada and in his prime was one of the best known sports in the mining camps. The man is reported to have killed a gambler and was obliged to flee, coming to Texas. He came to Denison from San Antonio. He was very deaf, consequent upon the use of the drug.
Deaf Jack was a mystery. At times he seemed to have plenty of money but haunted the gambling houses, getting a little stake now and then. He lived on Skiddy street, the home of every derelict in Denison in the wild and woolly days, when this was the jumping off place for all creation. Sometimes he lived with an old woman. It is strange, but this class of men always have their female affinities, and they will stick to their man even to sharing the last crumb of bread.
Deaf Jack's morphine is said to have cost him one dollar per day, and the money was always forthcoming. There was a story after his death to the effect that he had received remittances from a brother in San Francisco who lived in afluence. At any rate, there were periods when he was flush. He hung around the gambling houses but we never saw him turn a card.
At last the man died. It was then discovered that Jack was penniless. So, as was the custom in those days, a paper was started among the sporting men and in a few hours sufficient money was collected to give the old fellow a decent shift. He was laid to rest where every man of that character went - Oakwood cemetery. There were many tales about the man, but the majority were probably pure fiction.