Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-04-24
From the Eoansui1< Journal Of april 10.
Homeless Stranger

From the EcGnsriHe Journal Of April 10.
A Homeless Stranger.
A week ago on Saturday, the steamer Union
brought from Green river. an apparently poor
and afflicted man. past the age of so. One
eye had-been destroyed by cancer. and the
other by sympathy was so swollen and affect
ed as to be sightless. One leg was naralysed
and the poor sufferer seernod nit rlv h. lplees.
destitute and friPndlcss. No one knew whence
he came, nor whittier he was bound. except
from the desire he expressed to be taken to
Memphis As the Union was going no furth-
or down the river, he was taken from the stpa-
mer and placed On Mes@rs O'Rilev & Co.'s
Wharf 5oat-on the deck of which he lay un-
attended and uncared for. from Saturday eve
ming till Sunday afternoon. when his condition
bacame known to DR.. a. c. Haliock eur Good
Samaritan. who visited him and fourd him in
most aff1 'cted condition-helpless blind, suf-
fering with p lin, and mind wandering in de-
lirium.
The Doctor nv int"rcession with cd .tAnnt
Hannah" the black nurse inducc d her to give
up her only bid and take him in and attend
UpOn him. He was bathed. clean clothes were
procured for him, and his cancer dressed. He
refused m 'licinc-app ared to have perfect
professional knowledge of the nature of his
disease and co1ditiOn-said there was no m d.
icine that could hip him. and that he only
WITH
his faithful nurse, who was unremitting in her
attentions day and night by him, and was Wis
tied by Drs Hallock and CasSelberry, who
min'stered to his nee 'sSitics. The progress of
his disease rapid and he sank fast ind
its effects and on Thur day night he expircd
alone in the house of the good negro woman
who had given him shelf r, with no friend or
clergy TO soothe bis spirit in its last mortal
agony.
10 Il.yb ri ~ 1,o %
Temperance in the Oak Hall Cemetery
On examining his effects after his death pa
pers were fonnd which proved him to have
been DIR. John POcock Holmes. a member of
the College of Surgeons of London. Among
them was an original certificate of SIR A Stley
Cooper. tcstfying to his qualifications
surgeon, with numerous test monials from
other eminent surgeons, of his ability and
faithfulness as a member of their prof ssion.
1t appeared from other original papers that he
hid been. previous 70 1927. sixteen years a
surgeon in the employ of the Hudson Bay
Company. AZ their various posts on this CONT
mont In 1927 he was practicing surgeon in
London. holding intercourse with the most
eminent men. Among the pap rs he app airs
To have preserved with care is card Of invi-
tatiOn from the Lord Mavor and Mayoress of
London to dine at the Mansion House on the
18th Of May. the year omitted.
But the papers which he seems to have
deemed the most precious are packaga of
letters from Captain Parry, the great Arctic
eXpioer. with whom be seems to have enjoyed
a free and cordial intimacy. 1t appears that
the deceas' d had rendered some useful service
as a chemist. and from kuowl dye he had
gained in the Hudson Bay Companyss rvice,
in the manufacture of + mmican for the eX-
p!oring expedition. for witch Captain Parry
gives him much praise, and the Admiralty
vote him an acknowledgement of ESQ. Cap
tain Parry invites him in free and flmil ar
terms to call at his house in London, and at
another time to visit him on board the Hecla
ut the More, h fore sailing. The notes and let
tiers Of the celebrated explorer are interesting
and valuable as autographs.
Among his effects. found since his death,
were two large aud beautiful gold M dals
awarded to :. Doctor John Pocock Holm by
medical societies f his valuable inventions Of
obstetrical aud surgical in truments." There
are also alarge number oflett,rs from eminent
professional men-from the NOBILITY and med
zeal and scientific societies. acknOwlcd ding the
receipt of'DoctOr John Z. Holmes very valu-
able and able treatise on consumption and
asthma" There are two cards of invitation
to Doctor j. =. Holmes and lady to dine at
Guild Hall, on the occasion when Queen Vic
toria honored the Mayor and Common Coun-
Gil with her presence.
There are letters from eminent and highly
respectable gentlemen in Tennessee and Mis-
sissippi. whose friendship and intimacy he has
cHipvcd. and whose esteem for him is express
cd in their correspondence in very flattering
terms. H app airs at one time to have resi-
drd nrar Nashville, in Tennessee; and from
other papers. we are led u suppose he has
been residing recently with the community of
Shakers at West Union. not far from Bowling
Green. in Kcnucky. Whether he had Just
from them when he arrived h"rc,
or why ne should have left them in the afflict-
ed and helpless condition in which he was
found, is not explained by his papers nor did |
he give those who took care of him any eXpla- !
nation before his death; neither did he give |
them any account of himself, nor tell of the |
strange vcisSitud by which he in his old age |
had been cast among strangers a HON less |
and friendless wandergr.
In his last moments he spoke of a sister, |
hut gave no clue to her name and residence. |
Before his death he committed his funds. !
son amounting to about $3.50. to Doctor Hal |
lock, but left no instructions in regard to tn |
disposal OF them. His other effects were of |
little or no value. His estate will be duly adj
miuistercd npon, aud. after the exp ms are |
paid. the balance will be sent TO his friends /
He was evidently man of corr ct habits and |
great intelligence. BY what misfortune he |
who had enjoyed high prot, ssional reputation. |
and had been the associate and friend of emf !
nrnt men. was left HON - and poor and |
d.cd at last alone in the shanty of a poor ne
gro nurse, is unknown. 1t Is painful lesson !
Of the sad vicissitudes of life.