New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20
Mailer YOdd,s Leg.

Major Todd, of our place, lost his fish,
leg At tho battle OF Fredericksburg. and
some time ago he purchased an artificial
leg from a man in Wilmington. IL contain.
ed system of springs, which enabled the
major 60 use it in such natural manner
that when he was walking along the street
nobody would for moment suppose that
| he had not both of his own legs.
One Sunday, while the msj,r wa, on his
way to church, he slipped upon the ice and
| gave the store leg 4 severe wrench. He
| must have dislocated some of the springs,
for after reaching church and taking his
seas, and while the clergyman was reading
| the Scriptures. the leg suddenly flew up
| and rested upon the back of the pew IN
from. OF him. The congregation looked
at him in amazement. and he grew
very red in the face. AZ soon as
he took is down il jumped I'D
again and wriggled about on the back
OF The pew. finally kicking Mrs. Thompson
bonnet to rags. Then the major suppressed
it again, and hefd it down, but is instantly
began cOnvulsive movement in his own
pew. during which it upset the stools,
plunged around among the hymn books
and hats, and hammered the board beneath
the seat. until 10 made ouch racket that
the minister had to stop. The sexton came
rushing in to find what was the matter. and
the major, after explaining the difficulty in
whisper, asked the sexton to let him lean
on him while he charged on the front door.
AS soon as the. major got into the aisle that
dissolute leg kicked the sexton sixteen or
seventeen times in a most nsolent manner,
varying the exercise by making eccentric
swoops OFT at the side. during which j.
kicked right off the high hat. a, the pew
doors into black silk chaos.
BY the time the major reached the yes;i.
bule the leg had become perfectly reck les
1t flew up before and it flew up behind. IL
butted against the good leg, and darted on
sideways. and described circles. and tried
70 insert its toes in the majors Goa, tail !
pockets, and to whack him on the nose.
W hen the sexton came with a hack and put /!
the major in II, the leg hanged through the |
window glass. and when the driver got |
down to SEQ about it, the leg brand.hed |
itself in his face, and concluded the exer. |
else by planting powerful blow in his |
stomach. Then the major told the driver /!
that he would give him $40 to take tina. leg
oil: and the driver accepted the offer. For
several minutes it eluded all his efforts =,
70 catch it as it danced about, but finally
ne got hold Of 1t, and hung on. while |
The major tried 20 unbuckle the straps.
Then It came off and rolled the driver
n ,hee,mud. He go. up 10 watch it.
Z writhed and kicked. and jumped and
hrobbed and hoped; and whenever it
you'd make dash TO one side or the other
he crowd would scatter in order to give it
ull play. Finally Ben Woolley set bis dog
N II, and NEST exciting contest ensued,
ne leg two or three times running off with
he dog. and as it seemed likely that the !
log would be whipped, Mr.. Woolley go. a !
rowbar and aimed blow at the leg, with |
he intent to smash il: but he missed it
nd nearly killed the dog. As soon as the
og. retired Mr.. Woollev whacked at it
gain and burst it into flinders, and then |
mere was peace. The major drove hame i
nd got his crutches, and since then he
as confined himself to the use of wooden {
z which has NO springs. He tells the Z
'ory himself with much animation. but q
thinks it . little hard that the deacons | Z
led to expel him from that church for in. 4
a'ging in profsne levity during service.