Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-11
SAVED FROM DISSECTION.

SAVED FROM DISSECTION
when the war broke out" said proni-
nent business man in Maine city, a man
we'll known politically and socially through
out the State, Il was a runy boy of seven
teen years, one of the sickly kind moi worth
their feed. lived in Waterville, aud en-
listed with the famous Waterville college
company. I was so inferior fellow rhysi-
cally that they set out not to take me, but
was bound to go, and eleven others said
they would 20 if went and would stay at
home if did not go. So went TO the front
with the third Maine regiment of infantry
and November, 1861, found me in Camp
Howard, Alexandria, Va. The camp was
named for General 0. o. Howard, who COM
manded the regiment.
"Well, one day while we were in camp at
Alexandria we were ordered out to Fairfax
Court House on short expedition and |
took cold. l aggravated it by lying on the
damp ground after my return, and the next
thing was stricken with diphtheria. Some
of nv chums had me removed 10 the hospi
tai tent and told the officers that must
have all done for me that care and money
could do.
"They were very good to me, but grew
worse. A great sac formed on my throat.
It grew so large that could see it as 1 lay
in my cot, and it protruded from under my
chin. I 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 swelled so that
1 could not use my eyes, and was practical.
ly blind. The surgeons, DR.. Mcclure, Of
Bangor, and DR.. Hildreth, of Gardiner, told
me | must die. | took ring off my finger
and told my comrades to send it home to
my mother. I sent g dying message to her,
and awaited death. | was reconciled, and
in my semi-unconscious state, quite comfor-
table. l suffered no pain. My limbs grew
cold and I sunk deeper into the stupor.
heard them say was dying. had linger-
ed along until it was now in January, 1862.
DR.. McCrure took hold of my wrist one day,
threw it down after trying to feel my pulse,
and heard him say The boy is dead; MS
pulse has stopped Take him out
"I could not make sign or noise, but
Lad soneo enough remaining to think of my
Jack knife. | thought they would wrap me
up in my blanket and bury me, and it pop
ped into my head that might dig my way
out with my iack.knife, although how |
was to do it, not being able to move mus.
Gle, / can't tell you.
My friends gathered around HE aud l
heard their expressions Of grief. Ih1 time
was set for my funeral. The company was
drawn up and the chaplain, the Rev Mr..
Leonard, who preached i'll Bangor, before
and after the war, prayed aud mate brei
remarks. The ceremony was BOT enjoyed
| by me, but my miud was go much dulled
that did not fully realize the danger of
my situation.
They took me into the dead house and
laid me down. Soon the doctors came
around and took out their knives. knew
what thai meant. They were going to dis
sect me before was buried in order to find
out something about that enormous sac on
| my throat. had to silently face the pros
| pect of being carved alive.
| "'Doctor, I guess you had better operate
said Surgeon Hildreth to Surgeon McCrure.
'Dr. Mcclure bent over me, lancet in
hand. | made desperate effort to move,
| TO sneak, to let them know by some sign
=! that was yet alive, but all my horror and
despair could not even make a nerve twitch.
Er. Mcclure thrust his lancet into the sac
| at nv throat. A stream of foul matter rush
ed out The skin on my face relaxed, and
as he bent over me he saw my eyes open
aud saw me wink. The thought that was
alive thrilled him to the marrow. saw his
face grow pale and heard him confer with
the other doctor. They carried me hack TO
the hospital tent. | met DR.. Mcclure many
times afterwards, and he told me that he
never in his life received such start as he
did when my eyes opened that time.
Mrs. Sampson was the wife Of the lieu
tenant colonel of our regiment. She took
kind interest in me, and her nursing saved
my life. 49,. o,,,; woa,.
passed before I could speak. They took
me out on the field to see brigade drill
one day. The movements excited me so
that felt something give way in my throat,
and yelled. 1t startled those about me.
It seemed like voice from the tombs they
said. could make only one sound, and |
kept that agoing till it made the others in
the hospital almost craZy-I was 80 tlckled
to think 1 could speak, you see had to
begin anew and learn to talk over again.
I was weak for year, but made complete
recovery. It did me good. | have been
more robust and healthy every way.
have not had any kind of humor since.
I have outlived nearly all the boys who
were nv chums and took such good care OF
me. Major Small, of Oakland, and Mrs.
Sampson are about the only survivors OF the
participants in the scenes have tried to
describe to you. DR.. McCrure, DR.. Hill
dreth and the Rev Mr. Leonard are dead.
Every time Mr.. Leonard saw me between
the close of the war and his death the tears
came to his eyes and he spoke of having
preached my funeral STANDARDIZATION
(Me) Times.
NEVER GIVE UP.-If you are troubled
with nervous or sick headache, do not give
i your case up as incurable until you have