, 1880-04-26
An Accident at Sea.

now being published in the Boston
Journal, "Kennebecker graphically
describes sad accident at sea, and the
skill of the mate in bone-setting. He
says:
As the chief mate came upon the
quarter deck I told him to set the miz
zentop gallant sail, and went below for
moment having heard him give the
order to loose the sail, and noticed
some one spring up the rigging for
hat purpose.
All at once I heard strange sound
or jar or shock. and a simultaneous
rush of people aft. In one instant I
was on deck, and there lay the English
boy Bill over the spanker boom.
It was he that went to loose the top
gallant sail, lost his hold, the ship
threw him aft as he fell headlong, his
feet went between the parts of the peak
halyaras, turned him over luckily to
windward), broke both his legs short
off below the knee, tsen he rolled
down the spanker on to the boom, In
all distance OF one hundred aud ten
feet.
He looked up and murmured My
poor legs
We carried him into the after cabin,
with rubber coat, and then saw the
job we had got before us.
It was a double compound fracture
of the worst kind.
The broken bones of each leg had
penetrated through the calf, making
two dangerous wounds, through which
the blood was flowing.
The medical books were Immediately
brought out and consulted, and it
seemed by them as though both limbs
ought to be amputated.
| But he was young and healthy, and
it was cruel to think of mutilating him
that way. So we decided to set them.
BowliEe, the mate, who had per-
formed a similar job on his last cap
tain, who had broken his leg, took the
Job in hand, while 1 assisted with the
sslints and bandages.
1 told the steward to give the patient
a glass of Cognac, but the boy, who
had not spoken or groaned, now said:
"Please don't sir, never tasted it
yet. l can have my legs cut off with
out it,
That was pluck, and thought it a
temperance lecture worth hearing.
SO We closed up his wounds, made
him cot in the cabin, took boy from
each watch to attend him, watch and
watch night and day. mixed up solu-
ton of arnica and rum, kept his limbs
moist, never let them dry a moment,
and fan was in motion over him con-
stantly.
On the fourth day the Inflammation
was terrible (for we were new in the
tropics), and he was in great pain, but
ne never complained.
How feared modification! and his
swollen limbs looked as though it had
set in.
But 1 had fracture-box made, the
bottom of slat-work, to let the air from
below. and hinge under his knee
joints, so we could elevate his knees.
Then he began to revive, and think
that saved him. His reason, which
had left him at times, returned, and in
four weeks We removed the bandages
and dressed the wounds.
never felt more relieved in my life
than when l saw those wounds heal up,
which they did, rs the book says, by
the second intention.
In forty days his attendant left him.
He sat up and did such work as he
could with his hands while sitting.
In sixty days from New York we
made our first land, Tristan D'Acuanha.
took him in my arms and carri ed
him upon the house, put him in an
easy chair and let him look at the
island and the Men at work about
decks, as proudly as though he bad
been my own boy.
This seemed to US little less than
miracle; and on the ninetieth day he
walked forward to tho forecastle we'll.
though it was long time before l
would let him run round much.
Why, we seamen ask, is it that, far
away from medical aid, sailors get on
so much better than their brethren on
shore?
l can partly answer.
Abundance OF fresh air, plenty OF
healthy exercise, the curative powers
of old Ocean, simpleness of diet, all, in
spite of want of care, convenience and
a thousand attending hardships, serve
to assist nature in restoring the patient. |
A BLIND MANS PLEASURES
sor Fawcett, the blind member of par
lament, says that when at twenty five
he lost his sight there were many things
of which he was passionately fond, and
he resolved that those pursuits which
he could follow he would. No one
enjoyed salmon fishing in the Tweed or
the Spey more than he did, no one
more enjoyed throwing the fly in some
quiet stream in Hampshire or Willis
bure. He enjoyed it as much as any
one did q gallon aver the turf in com na-