The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-03

| VhO VI OuSJGI lcus
A man giving his name as Henry S.
Lepper made his application to Judge
Fleming on yesterday for assistance.
He presented very pitiable appearance
and was helpless in the extreme. The
attention of the Health Officer was di-
rected to his case, and yesterday after
noon he was sent to the hospital. His
story is about as follows:
He is forty eight years of age, and has
wife and ten children living at Cairo,
ILL.,, where they keep boarding house.
He served in the Mexican war as a sol
der for thirteen months under Capt.
Really, entering as private and retiring
as corporal. After the war he returned
to his home in Detroit, and married in
lS4S one of the finest young ladies in
Detroit. he is Il shoemaker by trade,
and for several years was foreman of
large establishment in Detroit He aft.
erward went into business for himself
on large scale, and at one time amassed
considerable wealth. On the breaking
out of the rebellion, in 1861, he was com
missIoned by Gov. Blair, of Michigan,
and entered the service as Captain of the
Michigan Twelfth Battery. He served
! through the rebellion with distinguished
honors and was transferred to the Fourth
United States Light Artillery, and sta
| toned at Fort Leavenworth for four
months. He afterward remained at Ne
| gany, on Lake Superior, for three years
and four months; at Holton County for
two years and eight months; at Fort
Royal, Mimi, nearly three years. He
was sent to Fort Laramie, and for four
years fought in the border troubles
| against the Indians. In these frontier
troubles with the Indians he received
many wounds, which have made him help
| less for life, In the Custer massacre, last
May, he was on hand, his bravery still pre-
dominating, even with odds sadly against
him. The incidents of the battle he
does not desire to be given, as he is
writing sketch of his experience and
| troubles for future publication. His story
is that he and Charley Wagner, of Fred
erlcktown, Ohio, alone escaped the terri
Bile fate OF their comrades. Lepper es-
capped by crawling into Il ravine and
throwing an Indian blanket over himself,
thus escaping from the scrutinizing
search of the bloodthirsty savages. He
exhibits some very severe wounds, and
such that it is doubtful whether he will
will ever recover from.
He received saber cut over the head
and a cash from saber over the eve, al
most destroying the sight of that mem
Der. His breast is partially cut away by
a stroke from the same weapon, and his
arms are covered with scars. His right
leg was badly shattered by mimic balls,
and one ball is still in his leg. The leg is
broken and has never been set, and is
fully two inches and half shorter than
the other. The horse on which he was
mounted was shot from under him, and
In rearing back fell with Lepper under
him, producing a rupture of the severest
nature. On being taken from the battle
field he was sent back to the island of
Royal, where he has a son, who cared
for him and saw him through the severest
stage OF his trouble. Eight weeks ago
he says he started for Cairo, where his
family live.
He left the island of Royal in the
steamboat May Queen, which caught on
fire some 365 miles out from the island,
and within sixty-fve miles of Duluth.
There were some torty-ive on board, but
fortunately all escaped with their lives.
Lepper says he had some eighty or a hun
dred dollars-enough to take him home
but this he lost in the fire. He, in his
helpless condition, could do nothing to
help himself, and thus he was thrown
upon the pity and charity of the world
lie made his way as best he could to
Lincoln, Neb., where he remained at the
Wisconsin House one week. He then
went to Council Bluffs, where he re-
manned four days, and was sent by the
authorities to st. Joseph. They told him
that he could receive treatment with DR..
Bishop. He arrived in the city on Thurs.
day last, and stopped at the Albus House,
on Main street. He consulted DR.. Bishop,
who stated that his case was dangerous,
and that the most careful treatment
would avail but little. He sent him away
with but little encouragement He, while
at Hastings, telegraphed his folks to
send him $500, telling them that he was
in very destitute circumstances. Until
his condition is improved or his money
arrives he will be kept at the hospital
under treatment of the Health Officer.
He is gentlement of very fine attain
ments, and speaks seven languages very
fuently. He at one time was an editor,
and claims to have contributed largely
to the Detroit VOtkS6Ldtt and Free Press,
and Chicago, st. Louis, Cincinnati and
Louisville papers. He is tolerably fair
conversationalist, and shows in his man
ners that he has seen better days He
is truly an object of pity.-,St Joseph
(No.) gazette.
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