Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-06-25
Almost an Amputation.

We were cruising in the bark Grat-
itude, ION Japan" which phrase, as
employed by old sperm whalemen, by no
means indicates the near vicinity of the
great empire of this name. 1t includes
all that tract of the Pacific ocean, north
west of the Sandwich Islands, which
lies between the longitude of this group
and the Japan Islands, below the parallel
of forty degrees.
1t was toward the close of the season; ;
and we were lying under short sail,
Showing down" fare of oil which we
had taken few days before. Captain
Wyatt, clad in his armor of proof (can-
vas frock and overhauls), went into the
hold to oversee the work, as he often did
in such cases. Though the second mate
nominally has charge of that department,
and is responsible for the stowage, many
captains prefer to head the work them
selves; and of this class was Captain
Wyatt.
The wind was light at the time, with a
tumbling swell; and the bark had hard
ly sufficient canvas set to keep her steady
She had slight heel to windward, in
consequence of many heavy articles hav-
ing been shifted over from the lee side.
"Mr. Chase" hailed the captain, up
the hatchway, "send me down forty
two, to 60 next the shifting-board."
cay, ay, sir" l answered; and pro-
ceeded to select, by measurement, one
from the tier of casks lashed along }the
rail. While doing SO, the ship made a
heavy weather-roll-so suddenly as
almost to throw me off my feet. / was
sensible of quick jarring of the vessel,
crashing noise in the hold, and then
several voices raised in confused discord.
| ran to the hatchway.
"The old mans hurt" said one of the
boatsteerers, looking up excitedly.
One spring landed me between decks
another and was among the group of
men, who were struggling to roll back
the cask, and release the captain from
his painful position at the shifting board.
A glance showed me, without making
any inquiries, how the accident had hap
pened. The cask had been rolled up in
the wing" and checked; and the cap
tain had been standing directly in range
of it, when the sudden weather-roll had
displaced the quoins. He had almost
escaped, by seizing hold of the shifting
board and springing upward; but one
leg was caught, and held as in vice.
Helpless, and moaning with pain, we
released him, and seized by numerous
strong arms, both from above and below,
he was lifted tenderly on deck, and car.
ried aft into the cabin. stripped and
examined him as quickly as possible
The injury was all below the knee; but
it seemed TO me that the bone must be
crushed, for the limb appeared fattened
in shape. AS he had been caught by the
quarter of the cask, his foot had hune
below the point of contact; and had thus
escaped injury,
:" Is it smashed all to piecesp" gasped
the suffering man.
No, sir; l guess not" I replied
speaking as cheerfully as l could though
| felt sure that he must lose his leg
perhaps his life.
"Mr. Cook" said I to the seconG
mate, make sail at once, and keep hel
head southeast. Pack it onto her! w,
must make a port as quick as possible.
There was strange numbness abou
his leg, the captain said. But none of IL,
on board knew anything of surgery
We applied such remedies as our medi
cal handbook directed; but when, mex
morning, the limb appeared still flattened
much discolored, and inflammation still
increasing, our united wisdom decided
that amputation was the only chance O
saving Captain Wyatt's life.
1t might still be many days before w
could reach the Sandwich Islands. H
would never stand it to wait until then
we thought; and he himself agreed witt
us in this opinion. If he was to lose hi
leg it must be taken off at once, an,
some of us must do it.
"Did you ever happen to see linn
amputated. Mr.. CookP" asked.
"No, sir"
"Do you think you could do itP o
lend me hand to do itP"
"No, sir" was the decided answer
"I couldn't bear even to look on and Sc
it done"
l called all hands to the mainmas
Had anyone ever seen such an operatio
performedp
"Yes, sah," said our venerable Africt
"doctor;" who prepared and dispensC
our daily potions of domestic" coffe
as well as our pills of duff and salt jun
for that most dread disease hunge