Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-01
AM ASTONlSHlNG FACT.

One Of the most singular and astonishing ac-
cidents occurred on the railroad in Cavendish,
VT, about three weeks since, that has ever
been recorded. You may have seen some Oc-
count of il, but you will be willing, know. 10
have short original article from one who has
almost daily visited the bedside Of the sufferer
As Mr.. Phineas P. Gage, an oyerseer on The
road, Just below DuuonvIle. W., was charging
a rock for blasting the powder ignied, throw
ing the ramping iron entirely through his head.
The iron is three feet seven inches and quar-
ter long, and one inch and five.sxIcenths in
diameter (not circumference, as has been rc.
ported and weighs thirteen and half pounds.
il entered on the left cheek, Just over the jaw
bone, and under the cheek bone, and passed
back of the left eye, and out on the TOP Of the
head. a lule forward Of The centre, and almost
precisely where the skull is found uncoscd in
an infants head. The iron was considerably
sharpencd al the upper end, which prevented its
tearing the head, as it would otherwise have
done. 1t was founl several rods off, complete.
" smeared with brains. MIR. Gage was imme-
diateIy taken into Il hOrse.car, rode without
much assistance nearly three-quorIers OF annie,
to Mr.. J. Adams's tavern, where he was board
ing. got oul nearly aone-sat up while his head
was washed, aud then walked up a fight Of
stairs without assistance to his room. lie seem.
ed to have his senses all the whllc-said the
iron had passed through his head, but thought
he should yet well. DR.. Harlow was imme.
diatey called 10 dress his wounds, which, Of
course, he pronounced moral. For some lime
he continued to vomit large quantities Of blood,
which flowed into his mouth and passed into his
stomach. No one supposed he could live a
day or an hour. but, strange as It may appear,
he is vet alive. twenty-five days from the tmo
of the accident. He has had his senses most
Of the time-recognizos all whom he has ever
known, converses most of the time coherenty,
though often somewhat bewildered. The
wound on his cheek has entirely healed, and
the larger one on lhe top of his head is aPpor'
emily doing wcll-dscharges free y, but has n
healing and healthy appearance. piece Of
The skull, larger than dollar, is loose, and will
have to be removed, should he live. Many,
who have not seen him, think the iron could
not have passed through his head as above stat
ed. | have often been asked, "Do you think
he will rccoverl" TO this, can only reply,
Ii is marvellous that he could have lived mo-
ment-it is marvellous that he has lived so long;
it will only be marvellous if he should recover.
Al together, il is one of the strangest occurrcn-
ces on record, and will form subject of in1ul'
ry for the learned physioIOgst. We live in an
evenlfuI era; but if man can have thirteen
pounds ef iron, in the shape Of u pojnled bar,
thrown entirely through hls head, carrying with
il a quantity Of the brain, and vet live and have
his senses, we may well exc'aim, What next
And yet,he facts above stated can be attestrd by
hundreds.-[ Waichman and Reflector, October
I2.
The Woodstock, VT, Mercury of the 10Th
says, that Mr.. Gage not only survives, but is
much improved: the wound in his head is heal.
ed, the scuule in his roof is closed up, and he is
likely to be out again with no visible injury ex'
cePt the loss olon eye.
GIVE publish the above, by request, with
the singleremark that i. will require persons pos
sessed of greater amount of credulity than we
are blessed with, to give i. full credit. We oPne
,ha, somebody is badly hoaxed.