The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-09

was conversing, not long since, with a
returned volunteer.
Il was IN the hospital as nurse, for long
time, said he and assisted in taking Oft
limbs and dressing all sorts of wounds
but the hardest thing ever did was TO
take my thumb Off mans leg
"Ah = said J, how was that" Then he
told me:
1T vas a young man who had a severe
wound in the thigh. The bail passed
completely through and amputation was
Necessary, 1he limb was cut off close up
to the body, the arteries taken up, and he
seemed to be doing well. Subsequently,
one of the small arteries sloughed oil
An incision was made and it was again
taken up. 1T is well it was rot the main
artery" said the surgeon, rs he performed
tie operation; che might have bled to
death before it could have been taken up. y
But Charley got on finei y, and was favor
tie with Us all. .
Il was passing through the ward, one
night, about midnight when suddenly, as
was passing Charleys bed, he spoke to
! me: HI, my leg is bleeding again"
/ threw back the bed clothes, and the
/ blood spirited IN the air. The main arte-
/ ~ had sloughed off
Fortunately ! knew just what to do,
| and in an instant had pressed my. thumb
on the place and stopped lie bleeding
1t was so close to the body that there was
barely roorn for my thumb, but | sue
ceeded in keeping it there, and, arous-
ing one Of the Convalescents, sent him FOR
the surgeon, who came in on the run. Il
! am so thank fui, H. said he, as he
! saw me- that you were up, and kne~
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 fer other surgeons. All cime who
were within reach, and consultation was
| held over the poor fellow One coaclu-
sicn WAS reached by all. There was no
place to work save the spot where my
! thumb was placed; they could not "cf:'
! under my thumb, a"d, if 1 moved 1t, he
would bleed to death before the artery
could be raken up. There was no way 10
save his life.
Poor Charley! lie was very calm
| when they told him, and requested that
/ hi, brother, who was in the same hos-I-
tai. might be called up. He and sat
down by the bedside, and for three hours
| stood, and By, the pressure of my thumb
KEEP. ap fhe iife @! Charley, while the
earth 1t was strange place for ME to
be in, to feel that | held the life OF fell
| low mortal in my handa, as 1t were, and
stranger yet, to feel that an act OF mine
must cause that LIFE to depart Loving
the poor fellow as l did, IT was hard
| thought; but there was Lo alternative.
| The last words were spoken. Charley
! had arranged all his business Affairs, and
! sent tender messages to absent ones, who
| little dreamed how near their loved orc
stood to the grave. The tears filled my
eyes more than once AS listened TO those
parting words Ali were sad, and he
turned to me- "Now, Ii guess
YOU had better take o-TTyour thumb -,
Charley how can ~ said l. "but IL
mus, be, you know, he replied eheer,uIly'
IL thank you very much for your h'"u'
ness. and now good bye.
"He turned away his head, l raised my
thumb, once more the life current Gusneo
forth, and in three minutes poor ohaf'ey
was dead.
N.hv j. a man lifting a side OF bacon OH