Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-08-18
A Frightful Accident--The Scalp
Torn from n WOman's Head and
RGDlAced.

A Frfghtful Accident--The Scalp J
Torn from u WOman's Head and
Replaced.
An accident occurred at the watch facto- /
r. in Elgin, ILL.,, on Monday last, which is
described as being one of the most frightful !
ever known in that part of the country
The Elgin Gazette gives the following ac-
count Of the affair:
"Miss Mary Tyrrell, an employee Of the
company, was standing in chair, having
been placing some cases Of watch parts up
on shelf near shaft that is attached to
the upper ceiling Of the room. when, as she
turned to get down, her hair was caught in
the coupling of the rapidly revolving shalt.
In an instant she was jelked Oft her feet, for
brief second suspended by her locks in the
air, and, while giving one wild shrek OF ter
ror, the scalp was torn from her head, leav-
ing the poor mutilated victim to drop to the
floor hideous- looking object.
Falling upon her hands and knees, she
Instantly sprang to her feet. raising her
hands to her head, and walked out to the
Office door, Ohe office is a place about ten
feet square, enclosed by railing.) On
ing up to the shaft. when she saw her scalp
still attached. wheelin: with almost light
ming rapidity, and with each turn striking
against the ceiling with dull, heavy sound.
that to the poor girl seemed the voice Of
doom; her feelings finally found expression
in the exclamation: ''My God, must I die !;
can no one help me ~ Supported by friends
she walked into an adjoining room, where
the wound was dressed by the physicians,
Drs. A. L. Clark and Burlingame. who had
been summoned on the instant, after which,
with little support, she walked to. and got
into, the carriage that conveyed her home,
where. some seven hours after the accident,
the scalp was replaced upon the head by Dr.
r. Winchester, assisted by DR.. A. L
Clark. Since the accident the patient has
suffered but little pain, sleeps easily. con.
verses quite freely and with occasional
sparkles Of levity, and expects to get WELL
| Strike line from between the eyebrows
through the centre of the left ear to the back
Of the neck from the back of the neck
around just below the right ear to the point
where the eye opens. and you have very
nearly the outline of the wound-the entire
sea p above that line having been torn of,
carrying with it both eyebrows, then half of
one ear, and the whole of the other, leav-
ing the entire skull exposed, white, and
CHASTITY; and it is the united opinion Of
those who saw the accident that if she had
been permitted, as she desired within few
minutes after the occurrence, to look at her-
self in glass, the glass, the sight would
have killed her. Old soldiers who were in
the room unanimously pronounced it the
most frightful to look upon they had ever
seen.
Nothing has ever occurred in our midst
that has created SO strange feeling Of pity,
regret. and sympathy as has the misfor-
tune Of this young lady. Prepossessing in
appearance, with kind word for all, she
was general favorite. and there being but
| slight chance for her to survive, strong
anxiety was manifested by every one, and
when it became known that there was dis
agreement between the physicians as to the
proper mode of treatment in the case, new
fear seemed to arise that the proper treat
ment might not be adopted and thus, lose
the only chance for life
The issue was upon the question whether
the scalp should be replaced upon the head
or not after it had been off some seven
hours-Dr. Winchester thinking it should
be, and DR.. Clark thinking it should not
DR.. Winchester gave as his reason for
his theory that if the girl should recov-
er with an exposed skull the recovery could
be but temporary; that if the scalp would
grow fast again the cure might be perma-
nent; that the scalp was the natural, there
fore the proper dressing, and should be
place back, so that the girl should have the
benefit OF the chance. though slight. of its
growing on, which she certainly would no!
have if it were left off DR.. Clark claimed,
on the contrary. that it was not the proper
dressing, and that to replace it would lessen
the girls chances Of recovery Itwas final
ly decided to adopt DIR. WIS theory, and it
was replaced. -Four days have passed, and
at present writing Judge Wilcox, at whose
residence the girl is living, expresses be-
lief that experiment will prove success .
the scalp has every appearance of being
healthy, and the patient says that, if she
can be judge from the feeling. her head
is well. She still suffers from the strain Of
the neck. Up to-day she has eaten moth
ing except in liquid form, but is now able
to eat. Should she recover, and the scalp
attach itself, it will be one of the most won
derful cures on record. The attending
physician expresses no opinion in regard to
it; other practitioners seem to think that
recovery is next to impossible"