The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-04-17
a Touching Scene,

was converslng not long since Win a
returned volunteer.
sI was in the hospital as nurse for a
long time" said he, "and assisted in TAX
ing off limbs and dressing all sorts OF
wounds; but the hardest thing ever did
was to take my thumb off mans leg.
aAhn said j, Chow was that ?" Then
he told me,
"It was a. young man who had severe
wound in the thigh. The ball passed
completely through, and amputation was
rendered necessary. The limb was cut
off close to the body, the arteries taken
up, and he seemed to be doing well. Sub
sequently one of the arteries sloughed Oft
An incision was made, and it was again
taken up. Tt 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 Charley got on finely, and was IA
yorite with us all.
"I was passing through the ward one
night about midnight, when suddenly, as
I was passing Charley's bed, he spoke to
me, saying, IL, my leg is bleeding
again I threw back the bed-clothes, and
the blood spirited in the air. The main
artery had sloughed off. 30
"Fortunately knew just what to do,
and in an instant had pressed my thumb
on the place and stopped the bleeding
1t was SO close to the body that there was
barely room for my thumb, but l succeed
ed in arousing one of the convalescents,
and sent him for the surgeon. who came
in on tie run. 4 am so thankful, H.
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 sent for
other surgeons. All came that were in
reach, and consultation was held over
the Door fellow. One conclusion was
reached by all. There was no spot to
work save that where my thumb was
placed; they couldn't work under my
thumb, and ifI moved it he certainly would
bleed to death before the artery could be
taken up. There was no way to save his
life.
"Poor Charley /. He was very calm
when they told him, and requested that
his brother, who was in the same hospital
hight be called up. He came and sat
down by the bedside, and for three hours
Istood, and by the pressure of my thumb
kept up the life of Charley, while the
brothers had their last conversation on
earth. 1t was strange place for me tc
be in, to feel that l held the life of fellow
mortal in my hands, as it were, and strang
er yet to feel that an act of mine must
cause that life to depart. Loving the
poor fellow asI did, it was hard thought
but there was no alternative.
ssThe last words were spoken, Charley
had arranged all his business affairs, ant
sent tender messages to absent ones who
little dreamed how near their loved one
stood to the grave. The tears more thar
once filled my eyes as I listened to those
parting words. All was said, and he
surned to me. Now, H, guess you't
better take off your thumb. 'Oh, Char
lev how can I?' said. But it must be
you know he replied, chcertully; L thank
you very much for your kindness to me
and now good-by.'
ssHe turned away his head, [ raised my
thumb, once more the life current gushed
forth, and in three minutes poor Charley
was dead"