The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

One of the biggest literary mysteries… the death of Edgar Allan Poe. There are many theories out there for this odd mans death. His legendary poems and stories described his heartbroken yet okay life. In the end no one knew for sure what took this young authors life. Was it alcohol? Or maybe even rabies?

It is known that Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious and unconscious outside a saloon, which also served as a voting place in times of election. Thanks to Joseph W. Walker ,who concerningly wrote a letter to Poe’s doctor, Dr. Snodgrass (CX). In the letter Walker addressed Poe’s state outside of Ryan’s 4th ward polls. Stating how Poe seemed “rather the worst for wear” and “appears in great distress.” This shows that Poe was as a matter of fact found in an inadequate state. The importance of knowing Poe was found in such terrible condition shows that the cooping theory is a major possibility. Cooping, a practice in which political gangs would kidnap innocent people off the streets, drug them, and make them vote repeatedly for a certain candidate, was nothing special during the 1800’s. It was also common to get beat or sometimes even killed if unruly to captors. Especially in Baltimore, where Poe was living in his last few days. The significance of knowing this leads back to Poe’s misshapen aspect. Difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and loss of energy are all signs of beatings which Poe seemed to demonstrate in his last few days at the hospital according to medical records by Dr. John J. Moran.  This shows how the cooping theory is the most logical reason of Poe’s death being the shape he was found in and displayed during his stay at Washington College Hospital where he died later after 4 dreadful days. With all the medical documents, and information already known, about Poe’s short stay in the hospital there was much written down about his suspicious behavior, yet many different illnesses/diseases could be associated(CCX). According to Dr. Benitez, Poe had hallucinations along with hydrophobia, two major  symptoms of rabies. Although there is evidence to prove Poe could’ve died from rabies, it does not explain the coincidence of Poe just happening to be found outside of a voting place in a weary and beaten up shape. This shows there is more evidence towards the cooping theory than rabies. The importance of more documentation towards cooping better proves cooping was the cause of Poe’s death, not rabies.

One of the biggest reasons