The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-05-20
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A Touching Scene.
We clip the following from t

We clip the following from the
Sunday Morning Chronicle:
l was conversing not long since
with a returned volunteer.
IL was in the hospital as nurse,
for long time, said he, land as
sisted in taking off limbs, and dress
ins all sorts of wounds; but the hard
est thing | ever did was to lake my
thumb off man leg.
"Ah :" said |, chow was that
Then he told me.
lit was young man, who had a
severe wound in the thigh. The ball
passed completely through, and am
putation was necessary. The limb
was cut off close up to the body, the
arteries takeu up, and he seemed to
be doing welt Subsequently one of
the small arteries sloughed off. An
incision was made, aud it was again
taken up. Iii is we'll it was not the
m.in artery, said the surgeon as he
performed the operation; he might
have blrd to death before We could
have taken it up. But Charley got
on finely, and was tavorlte with US
all.
was passing through the ward
one nightabout midnight, when sud
denly, as | was passing Charley S
bed, he spoke to me IL, my
leg is bleeding again, | threw back
the bcu-clothcS, AMI the blood spirit
ed in the air. The main artery had
sIoughcd OH
Fortunately l knew just what to
do, and in an instant | had pressed
my thumb on the place and stopped
the bleediug.. 1t was so close to the
body that there was barely room for
my thumb, but | succeeded in keep
ing it there and arouslug one OF the
conyalescents, sent him for the sur
geon, who came in on the run. i
am 50 thankful, IL, said he as
he saw me, that you were up and
knew what to do, for he must have
bled to death before | could have
got here.
But on examination Of the case he
looked exceedingly serious, and seat
out for other surgeons. All came
who were within reach, and a con-
Sullatiou was held over the poor tel
low. One conclusion was reached by
all. There vas 10 place TO work save
the spot where my thumb was pla-
ced; they couid not work under my
thumb, and if | moved it he would
bleed to death before the artery could
be taken up.
Poor C&arley. He was very calm
when they told him, and requested
that his brother who was i: the same
hospital, might be called up. He
came and sat down by the bedside,
and for three hours | stood, and, by
the pressure Of my thumb, kept up
the life Of Charley, while the broth
ers had their last conversation on
earth. 1t was strange position for
me to be in, to feel that held the
life Of frlIow-mortal in my hands,
as it were, aud stranger yet, to feel
that an act Of mine must cause that
life to depart. Loving the poor fell
low as | did, it was a hard thought,
but there was no alternative.
The last words were spoken. Char
ley had arranged all his business af-
fairs, aud sent tender messages to
absent ones. WHO little dreamed how
near their loved one stood to the
grave. The tears filled my eyes
morc than once, as listened to those
parting words All were said, and
he turned to ne: Now Il, |
guess you had better take off your
thumb. %, charley. how can l?'
said |. But it must be, You know,
he replied cheerlulIy, Il thank you
very much for your kindness, and
now. goodbye.
lie turned away his head, | raised
my thumb, oucc more the life-current
gushch forth, and in three minutes
poor Charley was dead. .