The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-11-29
What Was in the OyercOat.

1t was during the late war, and imme-
diately after one of those sharp, holly
contested skirmishes which are SO apt to
befall the TANKS, or outposts, of big, op-
posing armies. Having been mostly
cavalry scrimmage, there were an unusual
number of bad-looking wounds as com.
pared with the number of deaths. As
soon as the fight was over, the wounded
were borne from the field, and hospital
improvised in an old barn, which offered
plenty of room, though not much pro-
lection from the weather
Among the wounded was Corporal Silas
Timms, one of the very bravest and best
natured of our men. A bullet had shat
tered one of the bones of the leg, between
the knee and the ankle, but he had man
aged, with the aid of two muskets for
crutches, to make his own way to the
barn. When there, however, the effort
told upon him so severely that he tainted
dead away, and was lifted by some of his
comrades to grain chest which CHANGED
to stand near.
Not long before this event squad of
assistant surgeons, fresh from the medical
schools, had joined the army, and two
of these young gentlemen" in search of
information, fell upon poor Silas. They
found the bullet-hole in the leg, and
quickly determined that a bone had been
broken.
"Say, Tom" said one to the other,
'here's just our opportunity. Now We'll
determine about the bifurcatiou of that
popliteal artery, and see whether there
are more than two branches"
Sawbones Number Two jumped at the
chance, and a case of new and untried
instruments was opened.
One of the lieutenants of Silas's COM
pany was in the barn, and near enough to
hear the remarks of the f1edglings, and
to see their CHASTITY preparations. He
didn't believe there was any need of cut
ting that leg off. And, mercy! the butch
ers were going to cut the leg on above
the knee. Aye-they meant to have the
whole popliteal space for examination.
The lieutenant Indignantly intertered.
He protested against any amputation at
all until the reglmental surgeon could be
consulted.
The young surgeons had learned the
privileges of their position. They turned
upon the presumptuous lieutenant tow
eringly. They would have him kicked
out from the barn if he did not take HIM
self of out of the way. They were able
to take care of their own affairs. And
they proceeded to strip the wounded leg.
Ordinarily the lieutenant would have
planted his fist in the face of such a
heartless fellow, under such provocation,
but lust now his wish was to save the
poor corporal's leg, and, most likely, his
life. Aud he started off eagerly inquiring
for the surgeon.
At this point a man stopped him-an
elderly man, wearing the overcoat and
cap of hospital steward-and asked
what was the matter. The lieutenant
told him.
"Come and show me" said he.
And the two went together to the grain
chest, where the would-be amputators
were trying to asphyxiate their victim
with chloroform, aud he, just returned to
consciousness, struggling for dear life.
"Hallo. gentlemen, what is all tnisl"
The high and mighty twain turned and
beheld, as they supposed, an Anticipated
hospital steward, probably of the regular
army. They did not stop to consider
that another man, suddenly called from
his rest, might have thrown on the first
over garments that game To hand. They
looked at the presumptuous mortal with
ineffable contempt, and the spokesman
was selecting the words with which he
should reply, when loud voice at the
entrance of the barn cried out:
us the Surgeon General herei"
"Aye-what is ita" replied the man in
tho Stewards overcoat
"Ah, General, Doctor Rowe would like
to see you at the house just over the way.
Colonel Bangs is badly"
Cali right. I'll be there in few mo-
ments. Now, young gentlemen, what Is
the trouble herel'
We need hardly tell how those two
youthful experimenters went back into
their boots" Suffice it to sey that Silas
Timms is living to-day, the owner of two
good legs; and he knows that he owes
the blessing to his devoted lieutenant,
and to the elderly gentleman in the hos
pital stewards overcoat.-!S. G. Jr., IN
NeU York Ledger.