, 1883-08-25

done against us, to placidly enjoy
the way'the cat has jumped, and to
gently whisper to those who are find
ing fault, to squlrm, squeal and be
darned, we have the loaf and all the
weeping, and wailing and gnashing
Of teeth will do nothing toward
changing the result, and only brings
more conspicuously before the world
that part Of your body that should be
| hidden from view.
The Brotherhood Of railroad men
| held a meeting at the shops Tues
| day night, and determined to make
a change In the management of the
r. Il. hospital at Spokane Falls.
Complaints were made that the treat
mcnt of the sick and wounded that
were taken to the hospital has been
shamcfully negligent and careless.
| 1t seems that the recent case. of
James Bruce, fireman, reused them
from mere grumbling to just indig-
nation. Bruce fell from his engine
short time ago and had his leg
broken, he was sent to the hospital
where he received scarcely any at
tentiOn or assistance until some of
the Brotherhood took hold of the
matter. Resolutions We're passed
asking the authorities to investigate
the matter, move the hospital to
Sprague, and see that proper care is
given patients. 1t was decided that
Sprague is the proper place for the
hospital; for here the majority of the
| men live and have their homes; the
lodges of the different hretherhOOds
are located here, and when one of
their number Is hurt orr sick from
any cause, there will be plenty to
assist if necessary to take proper
care of the patient.
Monthly hospital dues are taxed
on every man in the COmpany's en-
plOy, which not only liquidates any
obligation of the men to the physi-
clan, but. is sufficient means to carry
on the hospital properly, and they
are determined that it shall be done.
The above savOry mor5el is from
the Sprague Herald, and while we
hardly believe that the railroad men
would lend themselves to any pro-
ceeding that has not the semblance
Of facts to substantiate, yet it is
hardly possible that the Herald, vim
dictive as it is, would willfully mis-
represent DIR. l.. +. Whitehouse, a
gentleman so favorably known the
entire length of the road. We can
not understand the cause of this un-
called for proceeding, unless it may
be the Outcropping of a spite against
the Falls All our life we have been
thrown more or less among railroad
boys, and have always considered
them willing to see a square DEAL"
and ready to treat all with consider
alton and fairness, but if they really
held the meeting as above reported
and gave publicity to any such trans
actions we must say they are going
back on their record. We have
taken the trouble to call upon Mr..
Jas. Bruce in person, and while he
is not in a situation to be envied,
stretched as he is on his back with
broken limb, yet he tells us that he
is receiving every attention that
could be desired, and Is perfectly
satisfied with the treatment. And
in this connection we are happy to
say that the young man is doing
finely, and is rapidly recovering
from very serious injury. The
facts in the case are these: Mr.. Bruce
was injured one morning and did
not reach the hospital until late that
night. When he arrived here he was
suffering great agony, and was nat
urally very weak. lie wanted rest
and needed some such natural re-
stOrative before the fracture could be
reduced. DIR. WhitehOuse therefore
ministered unto the patient and
postponed treating the injury until
morning. When the freight train
came in early the bone had not been
set, and Bruce was laying upon plain
mattresses preparatory to the oper-
alton. Perhaps this may have been
the foundation for the report that
the patient had been neglect
ed. 1t must be understood
that the hospital here will not COM
pare in comforts, necessary para
phernalia and completeness with the
large and expensive hospitals of
metropolitan cities; nothing of the
kind is claimed for it, but DIR. White
house, who is humane gentleman as
well as a skilled practitioner, has al
ways done all in his power for the
comfort Of the unfortunates who
have been brought here for treat
ment. Such attacks upon that gem
tleman are very much out of place.
Even if it is the desire of certain
parties to have the hospital removed
to Sprague, that object might be can
vassed without reflection upon the
in charge, who has shown
kindness toward the railroad en-
plOyces more than once. While we
differ with the Sprague people as to
the proper location OF this local
hospital, we have no desire to discuss
the subject, and our only object in
referring to the article is to emphati-
cally deny ia toto the charges that
the treatment Of this patient has been
negligent and careless, or that the
hospital ever has been improperly
LOCAL