Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-04-03
MisfellameoMs.
SAVED FROM DISSECTION.

w ucu tuc VIII UTukb OUT, hulu
prominent business man in o Maine city,
u man we'll known politically and social
" throughout the State. 81 was a puuy
boy Of seventeen years, one of the sickly
kind not worth their feed lived in
Waterville, and enlisted with the famous
Waterville college company. I was 80
inferior fellow physically that they set
out not to take me. but was bound to
go, and eleven others said they would
90 It I went and would stay at home IL
l did not go. So ! went to the front
with the third Maine regiment of inEn.
try and November, 1861. found inc in
Camp Howard, Alexandra, Va. The
camp was named for General o. o.
Howard, who commanded tho regiment,
"Well, ono day while We we're in
camp at Alexandria We were ordered
out to Fairfax Court House on short
expedition aud | took cold. | aggra-
waited il by lying on the damp ground
after my return, and the next thing I
was stricken with diphtheria. Some Of
my chums had me removed to the hos
pital tent and told the officers that
must have all done for me that care and
-Incres' eaeia d
They were very good 70 ne. bu, I
grew worse A great sac formed on my
throat. II grew 80 large that | could
sec j. as lay in my cot. aud il pro-
trudcd from under my chin. | became
speechless and remained in sort Of
stupor. could hear and was dimly
cognizant Of what was going on around
me. My face at last swellcd 50 that !
could not use my eyes, and was practi-
cally blind. The surgeons, DR.. McCrune,
Of Bangor, and DR.. Ilildrcth. Of Gardi-
ner, told me must die took ring
of my finger aud told my comrades TO
send IL home 10 my mother | sent
dying message to her and awaited death.
| was reconciled, aud in my somi-nncon-
scious state, quite comfortable. ] sui.
fored no pain. My limbs grew cold and
| sunk deeper into the stupor heard
them say was dying | Ind fingered
along until il was now in January.
1862. Dr. McCruue took hold Of my
wrist one day, throw it down after try
ing to feel my pulse, and | heard him
say: The boy is dead. his pulse has
stopped Take him ont
IL could not make sign or soise,
but | Ind sense enough remaining to
think Of my jack-knifo. thought they
would wrap me up ia my blanke. aud
bury mo, and it popped into my bead
that | might dig my way out with my
jack-knife, although how | was to do it.
not being able to move muscle. can't
toll you
MY friends gathered around mo aud
| head their expression Of grief The
time was set for my funeral. The com.
pany was drawn up and the chaplain,
the Rev. Mr. Leonard. who preached in
Bangor before and after the war, prayed
and made remarks. The ceremony was
not enjoyed by me, but my mind was so
much dullcd that did not fully realize
the danger Of my situation
They took me into the dead house
and laid INC down. Soon the doctors
came around and took out their knives.
| knew what that meant. They were
going 10 dissect me before | was buried
in order to find out something about
that enormous sac on my throat I had
to silently face the prospect of being
carved alive
Doctor, | guess you had better OPP
crate" said Surgeon Iiildretb 10 Sur
goon McCruDc
CDR. McCrune beut over me, lancet
in hand. made desperate effort to
move. TO speak, to let them know by
some sign that was yet alive, but al
my horror aud despair could not even
make nerve twicb. DR. McCrunc
thrust his lancet into tho sac at my
throat. A stream Of foul matter rushed
out. The skin Of my face relaxed aud
as ho bent over mo be saw my eyes open
and saw INC wink The thought that 7
was alive thrilled him to the marrow.
! saw his face grow pale and heard him
confer with tho other doctor. They car
ried me back to the hospital tent. I
met DE-. McCrune many times afterwards
and be told me that he never in his life
received such n start as he did when my
eyes opened that time.
"Mrs. Sampson was the wife Of the
lieutenant colonel Of our regiment She
took kind interest in mo, and her
nursing saved my life.
II was long time rallyiny Weeks
passed before ] could speak. They took
me out on the Geld to see brigade drill
one day. The movements excited me so
tina, felt something give way in my
throat, and | yelled. Il seemed like a
voice from the tombs, they said. could
make only one sound, and | kept that
a0oin0 I'LL n rnada thu okhaFa in tha hua