Edgar Allan Poe Vanished for Five Days Before He Died

On September 27, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe left Richmond for New York and disappeared for five days. On October 3, printer Joseph W. Walker found him delirious at Ryan’s Tavern in Baltimore, a polling place on Election Day, dressed in shabby clothes that were probably not his own. Poe died at Washington College Hospital on October 7, after calling out the name “Reynolds,” and his medical records and death certificate have never been found. Theories range from cooping, a form of election fraud, to alcohol and rabies, the last proposed by R. Michael Benitez in the Maryland Medical Journal in 1996. His rival Rufus Griswold, writing as “Ludwig,” then shaped Poe’s image as a depraved drunk, much of it now considered fabricated. If you enjoyed this story, you can explore the books, audiobook, workbook, and guides from The Midnight Library here: 🕯️📚 👉 https://themidnightart.com/collections/books-audiobooks-guides If you’d like to support the continuation of this work, you can become a member or leave a Super Thanks. 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwGYQ1Lgt_i4pEK0JOdUSzQ/join Support is never expected — but always deeply appreciated. ❤️ Thank you for being here, and for spending this time in the library. 🕯️✨ For those who resonate with the visual world of The Midnight Library, a curated collection of art and apparel inspired by these themes is available here: 👉 https://themidnightart.com/ For ambient, chant, and cinematic music inspired by ancient traditions, visit The Midnight Library Music: 👉 / @themidnightlibrarymusic For intimate and emotional musical compositions, explore The Romantic Guy: 👉 / @theromanticguy Every story in The Midnight Library opens another door. 🕯️🔑 #EdgarAllanPoe #Poe #UnsolvedMysteries #GothicLiterature #AmericanHistory #HalloweenHistory #HistoryShorts