The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-01
BLAINE N THE WOUNDED SOLDIER.
The Reason Why Scion Chase Is Working for
the Election of Mr.. Blaine.

The Reason Why Scion Chase Is Working for
the Election of Mr.. Blaine.
AT the charge before Petersburg, after the fir
ing of the mine, a young lieutenant in one of the
Maine regiments was severely wounded, being
shot through the eye. He, with thousands of
others, was sent around to Washington on a
government transport, and there placed in a
hospital. The boy had just strength enough to
direct that a telegram be sent to his father, who
Immediately responded to the On
his arrival. in Washington, he found his boy APP
parently at deaths door. The surgeon in charge
told him if he could get the boy home alive he
might possibly save him, but the chances were
he would die on his way home; but, worse than
that, it would take several days to get q permit
to send him home, and the poor fellow was sure
to die on their hands during that time.
Although the father had several acquaintance
in Washington, there was but one man to whom
he felt he could to turn in his trouble, Telling his
apparently dying boy he would be back in a
short time, he started for the house of James
G. Blaine, On his arrival there early in the
evening, the servant at the door informed him
that MIR. Blaine was engaged, that he was at
dinner with company and could not be disturbed.
The old gentleman In his agony, replied, Tell
Mr.. Blaine that a gentleman from Maine wishes
to see lima case of life or death"
The servant Immediately delivered the mes
sage, and / in a moment Mr.. Blame appeared.
He listened attentively to the fathers brief
recital of his trouble, and in response 60 the
anxious inquiry, Can you help mef" replied, II
think l can. Come with ME- and seizing his
hat he started out on the street
Mr.. Blaines first inquiry was. when does
the next train start for New York; and when he
was told that it would leave in about three
hours, he said: you go to the hospital, tell the
surgeon to make any preparations that may be
necessary for the removal of the boy, and Twill
attend to the rest"
The surgeon was hardly inclined to accept the
fathers statement that the boy was going to
start for New York on the next train, but was
forced to do SO when, in less than an hour, Mr..
Blaine appeared with a permit for The boys re-
moval home, accompanied by q couple Of sol
diers with a streteher to convey him to the rail
road station. On their arrival there, the attend
ants at first refused TO receive the wounded
officer in the sleeping-car, saying that they did
not carry dead men there, that the place for
them was ahead in the express car; but q few
vigorous words from Mr.. Blaine satisfied them
that they had better change their minds. After
the sufferer was laid in his berth, Mr.. Blaine
turned to the father, with the remark, Trips
like this always cost a man more than he realizes
they are going to when he leaves home. Shan't
| let you Lave some money! The offer being
declined. Mr.. Blaine babe them good bye, wished
them a safe journey home, and left the train.
- N6L y r ~ NIEfN ~ 0@A1AC > vac 1AAAS ~
the train to leave Washington.
About half an hour later, while the father was
sitting on the edge of the berth tanning the
young sufferer, he heard the car-door open and
some one say: Porter, show me TO Lieutenant
C-'s berth" The father at once stepped
forward and said: II am Lieutenant C-'s
father. What can l do for your The stranger
introduced himself as a surgeon, stating that he
was there at the request of Mr.. Blaine, to ae-
company him and his son to New York city and
see them safely on the train for Boston. During
the long, tedious hours of the night this surgeon
cared for the wounded officer, and on their
arrival in New York he made the necessary
arrangements for their transfer across the elty,
and saw them comfortably settled on the Boston
express. The time of parting had arrived. The
father said; We'll, sir, permit me to settle
with You for this trip"
mo, sir" responded the surgeon, there is no
charge for this
"But, at least, I must pay for the expense of
your journey here and your return to Washing
ton"
mo, sir; Mr.. Blaine has arranged for all
that"
The boy reached home alive, and after months
of suffering recovered sufficiently to enter the
Maine State Coast-defenee Service, where the
young one-eyed lieutenant was the nat and pride
of his company. About ten years ago the sight
of his remaining eye failed him, and now the
blind soldier tells his children how James G.
Blaine saved his life.
Since the close Of the war the father has at
times been somewhat prominent before the pub
lie. and 1t is not surprising that the present cam
paign finds Scion Chase earnestly working for
the election of James q. Blaine to the presiden-
cy of the United States.