The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-08
NEWS OF THE CITY.
What the Democrat Reporters Saw
and Heard Yesterday.
WAS TT "a MIRACLE p
Remarkable Case Of Recovery Of
Sight-A Man Goes to Bed Blind
and Awakes Able to See.

and Awakes Able to See.
A singular case, and one well worthy the
attention of surgeons and oceulists, Is the req
toration to sight, after q total blindness Of
i've years, Of a gentleman residing In this
city.
The gentletnan's name ID james Blakely,
and he resides at No. 80 CalliOpe street. The
excitement created In the neighborhood where
he lives and among people who have for years
known him as totally and helplessly blind
was intense. and for q couple Of days after
the recovery OF his sight. which took place 30
suddenly and unaceountably as to appear al
most miraculous, his house was the centre
of attraction for curious and interested as
semblage. Many people attribute the event
to direct manifestation OF divine power and
mercy, and are satisfied that the very re-
markable fact that Mr.. Blakely went 70 bed
at night "stene blind" and awoke early 10 the
morning able to see can be accounted for IN
no other way than by the declaration that It
was a miracle.
Hearing Of the case q reporter Of the
DEMOCRAT visited the house, No 80 Calliope
street, and on stating his desire to see MI.
Blakeiy was Immediately ushered Into his
presence, and from him was learned the fol-
lowing particulars:
During the war and near its. close Mr..
Blakely, who was d sergeant In the First
Louisiana Cavalry, while In action was struck
In the head by minneball, which penetrated
the skull just above the forehead, and went
out sa9r s a,stano g liz Yheaa
The wound was considered bad one, but
Mr.. Blakely recovered, and for short time
Iabout three months) after getting we'll he was
unable to see. His blindness. however, yielded
TO treatment, and for q number OF years ne
experienced no III effects from hls wound.
About six years ago bis eyes again COM
meneed to fail him, and Ia a year after the
first show Of weakness ~ his sight he became
This was five years ago, and Mr.. Blakely
had resigned himself to his life of darkness,
he having been assured by surgeons and oc-
culists that nothing whatever could be done
& had applied for relief declared that the blood
from the internal bleeding OF the wound had
Bettled on the optic nerves and entirely de-
Btroyed them.
retired as usual and slept well and soundly,
until an early hour In the morning, when, to
tise his own words, II woke suddenly and,
thanks be to God, for the first time In five
years saw the light. ] could not speak.
lay there unable to move, and then raised
myself, and looking toward the foot OF the
bed, saw my little daughter. She was
Sitting In little chair, and looking up sne
saw me; jumping to her feet, she cried, On,
grandma. grandma. my papa can see me-
my papa can see me; and. thanks be TO GOD,
could She ran out and brought In her
grandmother, who was, OF course, very much
excited and as she came through the door
saw her too.
Mr.. Blakely said further. In response to in
uuiries, that up to his awakng on Saturday
morning there was nothing In his condition or
feelings which could have led him to hope that
he would ever again be able to see He says
that since his restoration to sight he has sui
fered some from dizziness In the head AS
yet all objects are lndstinct to him, and have