The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1854-01-12
Medical students and the Indians.


Medical Students and the Indians.
Some yearsssgo Drs D. aud W were
able and rival physicians in the beautiful town of
c.. Their medical Offices, too, by sin.
gtar co!ncidcnre, were situated just opposite to
'each other on the same street, to both of which,
the fame of their respective possessors had lurcd
q large cnmplemcntof of students of medicine, aud
Us during fun-loving collection of the PROFESSIONS
hopes, perhaps, ever welded the scuIpe or rob-
bed a grave. The offices were furnished with
dssecting rooms, and it was customary for the
students to net as their resurrectonists in the
disagrccnble, adventurous business of procuring
subjects; and many a wild story was traditiona-
ry i'll cach, of the hair-brcadth escapes, and dor
ing feats enacted in the sombre gloom of old Pot.
tcr's field. 1t happened on one occasion in the
time to which we refer, and ut n juncturc per-
haps' whom our young sawbones, fatigued by
study and confinement, were anxious for relief
in some cougenini froIic, that u rowing band of
Indians pitched their tent on the eastern outskirts
OF the town, where one of their number soon af
ter died, and was buried by his comrades in the
forest near by. This fact W as not long in reach
ing the quick ears of both Offices, neither of whom
couia afford to lose SO good all opportunity for
exercise and so rare IN anatomy. Each, therefore,
unknown to the other, resolved to dlsinter the
body of the red man. W's students discovered
from certain indications in the opposite Office
that theirr rivals were preparing for the same en-
terprisc' nnd 1T became II serious question, how
they could circumvent them, and secure the
prize for themselves, without a direct collision,
Tor there were of Stern stuff in botl, Offices.
The council were not lons dclibernting; plan was
soon proposed mud matured /; a spy sent into the
enemies quarters ascertaincd when they would
movein the matter, and they made every thing
reudy for the same night, got out the little wag.
OH, and put Pompcy on the alert for orders. In
due time, when night had added her sable mantle
To the scene, but long before the hour ut whicl,
resnrrectionists are usually al work, W'ssludcnts
were safely fixed in ambnsh at the Indians
grave, waiting with breathces interest, the com
ing OF their unsuspectng rivals. BY and by tn ey
arrived with spades and wagon, carefully no.
preaching and accommodating the ground. An
seemed safe, and the work of discrimination bcpan:
many n joke cracking rs it proceeded, Mt the ex.
pensc of WIS off ce and students. The ambusco-
dors were bursting for action, but things were moi
quite ready yet the cunning rogues intended to
have both the subject and their fun, without nny
more labor than huge commissions of laupbtcr
might cost them. The diggers go bravcly on
at intervals relieving each other, as only two
could shovel mt time, and the work Of emntv-
ng deep grave some medical studen is know is
no child's play. At last the body is reached
and they bend down to raise it.-a ouick sip-
nn'' and suddenly rs n clap of thunder from
heaven the terrible warhoop of the Choctaws or
some other equally wur-like tribe, wakes tho
"es!" and rings o;i tho midnight breeze, through,
the gloomy pines and blnckjacks II y
Spades aud sticks lie scattered round, and the
rapid fall OF feet, the cracking of sticks, and the
rustIlng of bushes, heard in the distant dark
ness of the forest. The route was completc. md
MS each fellow sped away, under tho imperative
necessity OF the first law of nature, he cxpccte,l
every moment to feel the..cod tomahawlk of !,
savage. When DIS students were ITO longer il,
hearing. the victorious party changed their war
whoop to one of the most uproarous huw-haw-
laughs that ever peeled over the slumbers of the
living or the dead !; then taking their subject so
richly won, hastened home and to bed. And. to
this day, re1nnrked tho
sscfd tht ssoFy, Zone or >sh pseudo lndians.) But
one OF DIS students who lifted the sand so hand.
someIy that night, has ever been disabused of the
belicfthat n bona. fide Iudian war-whoop robbed
them of their subject