The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-03
A DEAD MANS STORY.

You wonder that my hair is so white
while am not an old man as years
q p Perhaps your hair would be as
white as NINE if you had passed
through the ordeal of death in life that
it was my fate to endure.
Tell you about it ? Ugh I shud-
der to think of it. Everything comes
up before me so wildly when | tell
my strange story, that 1 seem to be
Living the terrible hours of terror and
suspense over again. l do not tell it
often, but if you care to hear it, lis
ten, and when l am done tell me if
you wonder my hair is white.
was soldier in the late war. and
it was my fortune to be wounded in an
engagement in Virginia. A ball
stERck me in the shoulder, and fell
TOME ground and knew nothing of
what happened for hours after that.
When came to myself 1 was in an
ambulance and was being taken to the
hospital. The jolting of the wagon
caused almost unbearable pain in my
r wounded shoulder. AT times it SEEM
Cd as if my suffering would drive me
Wild. BY the time we reached our
destination l was so weak could hard
ly speak above whisper. l was ia
ken from the ambulance and carried
into the hospital ward, and surgeon
was sent for at once.
He came presently-a kindly feat
ured, mild voiced man who won nv
confidence at once. He asked me
some questions about my wound be-
fore he proceeded to examine it. See
ing how weak l was, he gave me
something that soon quieted me.
When the drug had taken effect. he
examined my shoulder. | saw from
his face that he considered amputa-
ition necessary.
taken off, l cried. ''I'd rather suffer
any amount of pain than the loss of
that"
''But-you might lose your life," he
suggested.
~ might as well, and be done with
it, as to go through life with one
arm," answered. 'I'll never con-
sent to any operation that will de-
prive me of it,"
He reasoned with me in vain. AT
length he left me.
Shortly after, the nurse having
charge of that ward came in. The |
Mrgeon had made out q prescription |
for me and 1 swallowed the medicine
he sent wondering if life or death was
to be my lot.
L fell into broken, troubled sleep
from which l woke to the conscious
ness OF a keen, knife-like pain in my
7Roulder, sudden darling pain that
ran through all my nerves and tingled
to the extremities of my body.
In this condition the surgeon found
me when he made his next visit
D 81 knew how it would be,n he said.
snaking his head. 81 tell you what it
IS my boy, you had better submit to
the loss of limb than a loss of life.
Ii VIII soon be too late, if this inilam-
12atlon goes on, to risk an operation. o
IL can't consent TO it," persisted.
thinking of the disadvantage | would
be laboring under in attempting to
fight the battle of life without nv
trusty arm. Besides, the shock of
amputation might kill me. 1t proba-
bly, would. As well die with my arm
on as to have it taken of and then
at might, it is true" said the sur
geon, 'but the chances of recovery
lfter an operation would be far greater
nan now. However, if you are de-
.ermined to hang to it, we'll do the
pest we can for yo,."
men he proceeded to dress nv
'tsuna. The pain tho operation {
tainted away. " "'l"o'' ,,
.Aftn r.n ana ,i. bear it." said the surgeon. {
after little you will be more com.
or .Lole, l think. But tell YOU the G
rum when | say that Won will snfTer =
ar more with your arm. if Won live +
nan you would In having It taken olr,' !
ut isn't the dread of the main of h
' up that makes me refuse to j
ave IL taken oil, l answered, lit is /
1 going through life with one arm nDt 70 q
epend on" S'Hi ~