The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-03-10
A Railroad Wreck.
New York Special

50 was his right arm, both legs and (
five ribs. His watch was crushed out
of sight into his bowels and an iron
bolt was driven into him with force
enough to break his collar bone. lie
was unconscious thirty-siX hours; was
totally blind for fourteen days; was
compelled to lie on a water mattress
for l27 days, and was confined TO his
bed for nearly six months. Since that
time he has never laid down. lie is
now stopping with his wife, a very
lively, pretty young woman, who
comes from Bridgeport, at the Murray
Hill Hotel. His head is held above
his shoulders in an iron mask. The
mask hangs from bracket that has
its supports in steel vest. The arm
which was broken at the elbow has
been made as good as new by the inscr-
tion of Il silver joint. Baldwin is a
powerfully built man, and though he
continually suffers pain, he isas hearty |
and cheerful in his manners us could |
be desired.
In conversation with reporter this
evening he said; At the time of the
accident was yardmaster for the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, at
Birmingham, Ala. I'm not Southern
or by birth, but was born not thirteen
blocks from tins hotel. My mother Is
living here now, but she does not know
Of the accident or of my being hurt
because | do not want to make her
worry, so you see, can't go to see her
looking as ! do The accident was
caused by an engine becoming unman-
agcable and mashing into u string of
ears. was knocked off caboose and
disocated my shoulder by the fall.
Then six cars and the engine passed
over me. In trying to save myself |
swung my arm over the brake beam Of
the caboose II threw me against frog,
breaking my right arm at the elbow
and my left leg at the ankle. My right
leg was twisted up in the foot board of
the engine and broken in two places
The ashpan of the engine broke my
neck aud five ribs-three on one side
and two on the other. The sixth cer-
cival vertebra of the neck was broken
and the joint between the sixth and
seventh was split. They had not the
slightest hope of my living, but | had
good old constitution that was never
poisoned by whisky. ! had just the
ghost of u chance to recover, and |
made the best of II, but I'm the only
man who ever got over a broken neck.
: | was paralyzed for awhile, but they
got that out of me with electricity.
cant lie down on account Of the yerte-
bra not having knit yet. When | try
to lie down II slips out of place and
presses on the spinal colnmn. That
puts me in stupor. was little out
of my mind. For four months after
the accident could not Sleep but
every night about 10 O'Clock ! would
go into u trance that would last for
two or three house. I'd know what
was going on about me, but I'd lose
NIL control of the muscles Of my body.
When came out Of those frances I'd
feel fresiier, as if I'd had good sleep.
I've got now so can sleep a little and
| knock out about three hours that
way every night. had a funny time
of it when began TO get back the use
my limbs. If wanted to walk across
the room, when Id try TO start !
| couluH " anu tIleH NlltH ulh bei
started Id go in a great hurry. If
tried to raise my right hand the
chances were my left would flop up in
stead. I'm over that now. I'm a well
man now except for being little
nervous, as you see, and not able to
keep still long. I'm lame, too. IN one
leg, and my head hangs crooked. The
pain that's left is in my spine. II re-
minds me of a bottle of water with
bubble in it. The bubble goes slowly
up my spine, jumps the break in my
neck and goes into my head. Then ii
breaks out into my cars. don't know
whether I'll ever be wholly grown
together or not. When | ask the doc
tors if Ill ever be able TO get off my
mask and take good nights sleep in
the old way they tell me to ask 'em
} something easier. I've been to a good
many OF them all over the country ana
find good many are afraid to med
die with me. They don't know by
what little touch they might kill me.
Dr. Sayre of this city has examined my
machinery more than once, and he's
going to try to hang my head on a
4
little straighter. lie said to me one
day: Barney. you're the greatest curl
osity the world ever produced, and
you've got all us doctors in a snow
! bank. The man who patched me
together was rough old fellow named
DR. James b. Luckie in Birmingham.
! How ] am able 70 live puzzles all the
doctors. and one Of en-, DR. Sanklield.
of San Francisco. has offered me
$4,000 for my Old body after | nm