Max might have been better able to compete if his emotional state was not already in a downward spiral; on October 20, 1926, in a tragic echo of the loss that prompted Max to create the hotel, his wife Sarah died.
Max waxaa laga yaabaa inuu si fiican u awoodo inuu tartamo haddii xaaladdiisa shucuureed aysan horay ugu jirin hoos u dhac; Oktoobar 20, 1926, xaaskiisii   Sarah ayaa dhimatay.