New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-03
SWALLOWED An OPEN KNIFE.
a Young Man Has a startling Expert
ence, but Comes Out All Right.

a Young Man Has a Startling Expert
ence, but Comes Out All Right.
Thursday last John ,Eckley, a 49,
year-old boy, who lives at Eckley Sta,
ton, about one mile this side Of Vale
10 junction, swallowed knife with the
blade open. He was Immediately tax
en- to San Francisco and placed under
the charge ola physician, and as the
knife was in his stomach the case was
considered of most serious nature.
W. II. 81 Wiley, Wells, Fargo & Co.'S
agent between this city and San Francis
co, is a particular friend of the an
fortunate lad. Mr.. Wiley, about moor
yesterday. called at the. doctors Office
and saw his friend sitting upon the sofa.
He greeted him with Hello, Johnny;
how's the knife?'' 80. the knife's all
right replied young Eekley; Il have
it here in my pocket. Do you wish to-
see it?' and reaching into his pocket
brought forth the small pearl handled
pocketknife,. which, with the blade ex-
tended, measured three and three-eights
inches in length. Il am all right now,
have had considerable pain and was
almost scared to DEATH The knife
was passed over. to Mr.. Wiley for in
spection. The steel in the back and the
blade had changed to dark blue color,
and the pearl handle had been eaten of
one-half by the action of the gastric
juices of the stomach, the rivets project
ing about the thirty-second part of an
inch. ''Ill tell you now how I came to
swallow it, - said Johnny; Il was talk
ing to some girls and eating a pear at
the same time. cutting off small por-
tions of it with my knife, when 1 said,
I can completely hide this knife in my
mouth. put the blade in first, but |
could not close my lips without making
it prick my tonsils. l took it out and
put the handle in first, and then hold
ing the point of the blade between my
teeth closed my lips and the feat was
performed. / just then swallowed, and
presto change the knife went down
my throat. | could reach the point of
the blade, but could not extricate it,
and another swallow sent it to my
stomach. It's all right now. It went
down handle first and came out point
first, but it S out now, and l don't pro-
pose following the business of jugglet
any more. No pocketknife ever gets
above my lower lip again. In fact, l
don't think jackknives were made to
swallow anyhow
The doctor said: ''When he came to
me saying he had swallowed and open
jackknife I could hardly credit the
statement / asked him what he had
done to remove it. He replied some
had advised taking sweet oil, others
castor oil, salts, etc [ said, Well, l
suppose you took all of theme No,
did not, he replied; 4 have taken moth
ing All right, replied; you have
saved your life by doing So Well, sir,
put him on buckwheat diet That
was all let him eat or drink-buck-
wheat cakes and buckwheat cruel.
Buckwheat is not easily digested, and I
knew it would form ball around the
knife, and thus allow it to pass along
its circuitous route without doing injury,
the blade and rough edges being COM
pletely covered with thick and smooth
coating of buckwheat. It acted Just as
expected. The blade came first, and
although Johnny has lost few days
time, he did not lose his knife, but will
take it home with him tomorrow.
sacramento (CaI J Record Union.