The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-07-13
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
THE JoHNsrowN VERDICT.

THE YOUNGSTOWN VERDICT.
A dispatch from the afflicted cit,
says that after considering all tn
evidence connected with the Johns
town horror, the coroner's jury rem
dered the following verdict:
1--WE, the undersigned, the jury of in
quest, impaneled in the case OF the dealt
Of Ellen Hite, on the 81st of May, afte
hearing the testimony, do find that Eliel
Hite came to her death from drowning
and that the drowning was caused by tn
breaking Of the South Pork dam: W.
further ind from the testimony, and whs
we saw on the ground, that there vas no
Sufficient waste way, nor was the dan
constructed sufficiently strong, nor wa
the material strong enough to withstand
the overflow, and the founders Of the dan
were culpable in not making it az secure
as should have been done, especially in
view Of the fact that population o.
many thousands were in the valley below
We hold tho owners ara responsible fol
the fearful loss of life and properly re.
sulting from the breaking of the DAM"
ALIVE, DESPITE A BROKEN NECK.
On May 23d, last, bale of hay
fell upon the head of Mr.. James B.
Hill of San Francisco. 1t crushed
his neck into the body and crushed
the third and fourth yertebra. The
third vertebra sustained a commi-
nuted injury, the splinters pressing
upon the spinal cord, penetrating
the membrane and permitting the
spinal fluid to ooze out. The in
jured man was at once removed to
his home. He was unconscious,
and his death was momentarily ex-
pected. He remained unconscious
for twenty-four hours, when an OPP
Grafton was performed on him by
DR.. Wooster. First an incision was
made in the center of the neck
eight inches in length, starting from
the base of the head, and which ex-
posed the spinal cord. Fragments
of the vertebra were carefully re-
moved, and the pressure on the spi-
nal cord relieved. The wound was
treated to an anti-septic dressing,
and the cut made by the surgeon
sewed up. AS soon as the spine
was freed from the pressure of the
splintered bones, Hill became con-
scious, but was totally devoid of
any sensation in any portion of his
body below the neck. He was de-
lirious for brief period after the
operation, but gradually rcgained
his normal condition. The spinal
support to the head being gone, it
became necessary to supply m ar
ti6cial support. To accomplish
this the patient was placed on a
mattrass on a table, and system
Of supports by means of muslin
bands placed about the neck and
base of the head, operated by pull
leys, was adopted, so that the head
and neck could be easily moved,
and elevated and lowered at the will
Of the injured man. Since the ac-
,ident occurred, Hill has been
stretched out upon a table, entirely
control over, or feeling in,
lis body from the neck down, but
ully alive to his condition, and ca
Fable of conducting his business
lffairs, so far as directing its man
lgement is concerned. His appe-
lite is good, and his digestion per
ect. He eats oysters, broth and
ruit, and seemingly is in perfect
lealth. He suffers no pain, but the
act that he will never again be able
o use his limbs, makes him un-
lappy, and he frequently expresses
! wish to die. His physician states
hat there is no reason why he
hould die from the injured spine,
'ut that he cannot recover the use
# the portion of the body which is
low paralyzed. The internal or
,ans are in perfect condition, but
he doctor says they will finally
i've out for the reason that they
annot perform their functions with
nut an object. He will not die of
tarvation, or from the injury to the
pinal cord, but simply because the
'eart, kidneys and lungs will refuse
0 go on working to support a body
hat is dead, except the brain. Yet
here have been instances recorded
there paralytics have lived for
ears.-Ed.] Hill was a very alb
temious man. He never drank
or smoked, and was a fine speci-
nen of manhood.
A MEMORABLE APPLE TREE.
Angelo Pacha, color-sergeant of
ompany G, First Michigan Caval-
y, under Captain Alexander, was
a the battle of Gettysburg. On
he third day of the fight, when the
ugle call sounded, he drank water
ut of his tin cup. He placed it in
he crotch of an apple tree and join
d his command, forgetting all
bout his cup. Last week he visited
he battlefield, and the sight of the
pple tree recalled the incident of
lacing the tin cup in its branches.