Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-05-15
Alisfe!Iancous Reaoina.
A Touching Scene.

i was eonversing, not long since, with a
returned volunteer.
81 was in the hospital as nurse, for long
time," said he, :" and assisted in taking off
limbs, and dressing all sorts of wounds but
the hardest thing ! ever did was to take my
thumb off mans leg"
"Ah!" said ], /" how was that? ?" Then
he tod me.
I" 1t was young man who had severe
wound in the thigh. The ball passed COM
pletely through, and amputation was neces-
sary. The limb was cut off close to the
body, the arteries taken up, and he eseemed to
be doing well. Subsequently one of the
small arteries sloughed off. An incison was
made and it was again taken up. 1t is
well it was not the main artery said the
surgeon as he performed the operation; he
might have bled to death before we could
have taken it up But Charlie rot on fine
ly. and was favorite with us all.
was passing through the ward one night
about midnight, when, suddenly, as | was
passing Charley's bed. he spoke TO me !;
II my leg is bleeding again / threw
back the bed clothes. and the blood spoued
in the air. The main artery had sloughed
off.
Fortnroset-y I t,>a--, ;..e. what 10 do and
in an instant had pressed my thumb OF
tie place, ard stopped the bleeding. 1t was
so close to the body that there was barely
room for my thumb, but | succeeded in keep
| ing it there. and rousing one of the convale-
scents. sent him for the surgeon. who came
IL. n Al r,t
said he. as lie saw me, 'that you we're up
and knew what to do, for he must have
bled TO death before could have got here,
But on examining the case, he looked ex-
ceedingly serious, and sent for other sur
geons. All came that were within reach
| and a consultation was held over the pool
fellow. One conclusion was reached by all
There was no place to work, save the place
where my thumb was placed; they cou't
not work under my thumb. and if moved
it. he would bleed to death before The artery
could be taken up. There was no way tc
save his life.
Poor Charley He was very calm wher
they told him, and requested that his broth
er, who was in the same hospital, might bt
called up He came and sat down by tht
bedside, and for three hours / stood, and
by TIE pressure of my thumb. kept up the
life of Charley, while the brothers had theiI
last conversation on earth. 1t was strange
place for me to be in, to feel that held thu
life Of a man in my hands, as it were. ant
stranger yet, 10 feel that an act of mine
must cause that life TO depart. Loving the
poor fellow as / did, it was hard thought
but there was no alternative.
The last words were spoken, Charley hat
arranged all his business affairs, and sen
tender messages to absent ones, who hat
little dreamed how near their loved on
stood to the grave. The tears filled my
| eyes more than once as heard those part
ing words. All was said, and he turned Il
me. Now H, l guess you had bette
take off your thumb 'Oh Charley hoy
can |? said. But it must be, you know
he replied. cheerfully; i thank you yer
much for your Kindness, and now good bye
He turned away his head, raised m
thumb, once more the life current gushe
forth. and. In three minutes poor Charlie
was dead"