The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-06-04
VICTIMS OF THE WAR.



4" There are only twenty-five of us left,
said $. II. Decker, the armless doorkeepei
at the House end of the Capitol, Wishing
ten; "t there are only twenty-five ont OF
about forty-fye who came out of the wai
with both arms shot off. Five years ago
the number had dropped down to thirty
three. In those four years eleven of our
number have died"
Decker has neither hand, both arms hay.
ing been torn off just below the elbow by the
premature discharge of gun at the battle
OF Perryyille Ky. He is one of the most
active of the House officials, carrying his
cards, taking care of cloak room to which
he has been assigned, standing guard of the
doors of the House during sessions, opening
and closing them for visitors, and making
himself more useful than many men with
two hands.
This iron hand is more useful to me
Than any artificial concern that have ever
tound." He held out curious iron instru
ment, looking very much like pair Of
nippers, with hook at the side
The hand 7" in question is con.
pie of long pieces of iron, joined to-
gether like blacksmiths tongs, with hook
fastened on the side. The long handles
run up toward the elbow ON either side OF
the six inches of arm remaining below
that joint. The whole Is fastened to u band
which goes up ON the arm near the shoulder.
With this curious hand Decker receives
cards, opens doors, writes good, plain
hand with a pen, and, in fact, makes him.
self quite as useful as tho average individu.
al with two hands.
This is a hand of your own invention, is
It, Mr.. Decker ~
Yes" he answered. e had never seen
anything like 1t. After had lost both of nv
hands-for lost them both ut the sam,
time-I set TO work to devise something
hat would help me to uso my arms and
AXE the place OF a hand. found that M
instrument of this kind, which would oper
and Gloss by the motion of the arms, wal
the simplest ond yet the best, 80 I adopted
It, and have been well satisfied with it. 1
had one for each arm, but found that |
made little use of that ON the left arm"
And N they used by any besides your
Yes, gentleman in this city, who lost
both arms in the war, also uses one. re-
inember an interesting experience 1 had
with this hand at the Surgeon-G Generals
office. had called to see about communal
ton for an arm, and explained to the Sur
Seon-General how used this hand in writ
ing and eatmg, and Mt various kinds OF
work. He asked me to bring my spoon and
fork, and after he had examined them gave
me letter to copy. I took n pencil and
copied it, making much better looking
letter of II than the one from which wrote.
About the time had ii finished messen-
ger to whom he had spoken when en-.
tered came in with huge dish of oysters,
md at the same time there filed in about
half a dozen officers of the Surgeon Gener,
ais office. Now said the Surgeon
General, You said you could eat with that
hand, and want TO see you try it, / told
him that had not come there to get my
1uncf, put TINT II he nad any doubt OF my
ability in that line, would soon convince
him, and, taking up my fork, l made use Of
Of it both TO the satisfaction of the Surgeon.
ieneral and of my own stomach. The old
ellow fell back in his chair and fairly shook
ais sides with laughter until had finished.
| Well, he said that is the best hand !
ever saw for practical use here Is your
communication you are certainly entitled to
H., and he gave me an order for 300 com