The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-06-27

fully contemplated the suggestive little
rcd spot in his side from which little
stream of blood was now seen to trick
lie. His lips were compressed, lis fea-
tdres startling in their expression of
wlldness and alarm. He spoke not a
word
The doctors at once proceeded to cx-
anime the wound. Some one said at
is quarter to nine" MI Vallandie
ham had thrown off his coat and thrust
aside the remaining garments to give
the doctors free access to the wound
Dr. Scoville produced a silver probe
Mr.. Vallandigham watched his motions
with blazing eyes.
"Any pain p
mo, not the least"
PROBING
DR.. Scoville approached this delicate
operation with delicacy of demeanor
becoming the occasion. The bed had
been drawn out from the walls. MI Val
landigham lay at the far side. Heplaced
his wohands upon the wounded side, and
felt around by a series Of gentle pressures
for the Judgement of the ball, for it had
not come through, but this self-manipua-
ton the doctors prevented, and the prob
ing began. The instrument was directed
inward but did not penetrate further than
half an inch. All, that is good!
Then toward the right it is pointed no
entrance there. Now toward the left
still there is no entrance. This is very
hopeful. Mr.. McBurney, Mr.. Millikin
and Judge Hume look at each other with
an expression of relief. The wounded
man glances sharply for moment at
their faces, and fixes his eye again upon
the doctors, but still remains silent
What are his thoughts?
His wife is in Maryland--no one at
home but Charley, his only son and child,
and what is the use of exhibiting emotion
before room full of people?
The heroic nature of the man is under
test, and nobly is it exhibited. His coun-
tenance has fixed expression, as if the
man was scared. But that is the onl " in
deX to the busy thoughts blazing in his
eyes and shooting out beams of anxious
inquiry.
No, Mr. Vallandighom, you cannot
read anything in the faces of your doc
tors; they are too prudent for that, and
their prudence and concealment are the
best treatment you can have for the pres
ent
But what does that little motion of the
doctors hand mean? A motion that OBJ
trudes his arm between the eager eyes of
the patient and that suspicious little
hole? 1t is to prevent those eyes from
seeing the probe pass obliquely down
wards and inwards far enough to satisfy
the practiced eye that the abdominal cav
:ty is penetrated.
"Do you think the wound is mortal,
doctorf"
"Well, sir, we cannot say that, yet
Don't know. The wound does not seem
to be necessarily fatal"
All there's encouragement and hope
for whoever chooses to take them, but
saw the dip of the probe, so deftly con-
cealed from the patient, and know what
it means.
The wound is dressed with plaster and
the patient placed on his right-the
wounded side. The red flush of alarm
now begins to fade out of his face, and a
twinge of pain eXacts something like a
groan. 1t is half-past 10.
FRIENDS
And now around the couch gather the
members of the Warren County bar, and
the prominent citizens of Lebanon. "Mr,
Vallandigham is dangerously wounded
was enough to bring them from their
beds, for hurrying feet in the streets OF
the peaceful little place and the hum OF
voices in alarm broke upon the general
ear and aroused curiosity too painful to
lull till knowledge satisfied it.
Mr.. Vallandtgham still lies upon his
side, and manifests symptoms for the first
time unfavorable.
Mr.. Millikin sits by the bedside and
fans the patient Judge Hume renders
assistance; Mr.. McBurney looks on, lily
concealing his deep apprehension. Judge
Leroy Pope, Mr.. Allen, his friend and
room mate, and forty other gentlemen
come and 60 about the bed, all anxious
and ready to render any assistance re-
quired.
Nothing further can be done now,
gentlemen" says the doctors, except to
keep the room and hall clear, to allow a
free current Of air to pass through" OF
course every thoughtful and considerate
person retires, but the many remain, and
the crowd is constantly increased by ac-
cessions from the street below 1t is
dreadful, but the popularity of the man,
and the startling character of the acci-
dent, are such that nothing short of see
ing him will satisfy public curiosity. On,
on, and on they come, the curious, anx-
ious visitors, till at last it becomes abso-
lutely necessary to clear the room and
halls.
THE PISTOL.
All this while that fatal pistol has lain
upon the table There is nothing remark
able about it, except that it killed Glenn
ent L. Vallandigham. It what is known
as Smith d Wesson's improved, and bears
the number 1924, four inch barrel, cal
iber 32-l0Oths. The cartridges were the
small or short size. Had it been loaded
with the long or large size, the ball could
not have been prevented from passing
plumb through by the feshy walls.
When all was over some debate arose
among Mr.. Vallandigham's friends as to
what disposition should he made of the
weapon, some advising its retention, 9th
ers maintaining that it should be packed
away among the effects. The former
suggestion was made to spare Mrs. Val
laIdigham the pain of cncountering the
horrid thing. 1t was finally decided pack
ed it should be, and away it went with all
the other sad evidences Of Vallandig-
ham, tragic fate.
MIDNIGHT.
Most of the people attracted to the
spot by the strange fascination of fel-
low being mortally wounded, had taken
departure and left the patient in the inn
l. Al, l.