Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-09-17
HON HE WAS CURED.
WAY A vfviSecTloNlST MADE UP
HIS Ml2D TO REFORM.


HIS MlnD TO REFORM.
Sandbaggers Practice ON lin as He II ad
Experimental Many Times gu Dumb
Anin,als-A Mighty Good Lie.
II was once vivisectiorast. but | re-
formed. or. ii You medical gentlemen
who believe in it prefer the term, gave
il up several years ago and have no de
sire to resume my Investigations" re-
marked DR.. S. K. Wilson. of Kentucky,
TO several fellow practitioners at the
Richelieu
While practicing lived in New
England town. was young and zeal
Gus in the cause, and it was not long be-
fore every one within the limits of the
county knew of me as man who tor
tured live animals to death, and what
little practice had lost iii consequence.
But had some means, and remained at
the village until the occurrence of the
episode which am about TO relate.
Il had been in receipt of many threat
ening letters informing mo that unless
ceased my cruel pleasure would be
driven away, But ut the letters
laughed. and to the circumstances of
the prominent citizens of the village
turned deaf ear.
''One pitch dark night, having occa-
sion to visit the drug store, | was met
on my return by five stalwart individu-
ais. whose faces, owing to the darkness,
could not see was asked if my name
was DR.. Wilson, and upon replying in
the affirmative was seized, bound and
flung into wagon.
TORTURED.
After half hours ride we halted
by a big barn, inside of which was
carried. \ couple Of lanterns were lit,
| under one of which was stood, while
under the Others my captors, now mask
ed. grouped themselves. After mo
ment's silence one of them, in dis
guised voice. sid:
DR.. Wilson. VIC have long heard Of
you rs vivisectionist You pursue
your Investigations N order. you say, to
discover. by observing the suiferings of
one order of animals (suiferings caused
by You, the means for relieving another
order We think your reasoning sound.
We are IL gang of sandbaggers who
make our living on the highway. We
do not wish to kill. but we desire to SO
silence our prey as to enable us to escape
ere he shall be able TO give the alarm.
To always do this necessitates IA knowl-
edge of just how hard blow is required
to relieve one Of his senses.
OF course we might learn in due
time from experience in our profession.
Of which might say we are new mem
bers, but that would bc unwise for two
reasons: We might at first hit so hard as
to kill. or we might not mt hard enough
to knock our man senseless. and light
blow would only cause him to yell an
alarm.
Neither risk do we care to take,
So we have concluded to become. like
you, disciples of vivisection in order that
We may be able to save the lives of Others
and preserve ourselves from capture AT
the same time We believe that you
viii appreciate our worthy klrpose,
and in behalf Of humanity make no re-
sistance. though, were You to do 80, no
good would result. for we arc far from
any house.
"'What we intend to DO is to pound
you on the head with a sandbag-gently
at first. but gradually increasing the
strength of the blows until you have
been knocked insensible'
pRoLoNu AGONY.
Il gazed at the group with feelings of
terror" DR.. Wilson continued. II did
not believe them to be IN earnest. But
when each man drew from his pocket a
sandbag, and took Il position within arms
reach Of where | stood trembling. | real
lied my danger and demonstrated, plead
ed. begged. but TO no purpose.
What we do is for the benefit of hui
mainly, the spokesman replied with
horrible grin As he did so he struck
me on the head with his sandbag Just
hard enough to break my hat The man
next him struck me hard enough to
make me vince, the next little harder.
the next still harder, while the fifth
struck ne 50 hard my teeth ratified.
Il screamed for help. and in return re-
ceived a thurnp from the spokesman and
heavier one from the second. and so
on. stood it until three rounds had
been made. and then fell on my knees.
and Immediately after received a blow
that knocked me senseless.
Whether ] was hit again l do not
know. | was revived by bucket Of
water being flung in my face. And then,
heavens. win | ever forget it: WAS
male to stand up while the five repeated
the experiment, in order. the spokesman
s-iid, that the lesson might be more
firmly impressed upon me
In vain | begged. ! swore to re-
nounce my practice Of vivisection. to
leave iowa. but they laughed at me and
began to rain blows upon my head, i'll
creasing their strength more slowly than
before. thus proionginy my terrible
agony.
Unable to stand the pain, fell on
the ground and feigned insensibility, but
one of them. thrusting a lighted match
before my eyes, caused me to open them,
wbereupon down came the blows again
until once more was unconscious.
This time when came to WAS alone
d. y was breaking. Pinned to my coat
WIS a paper on which was printed in
pencil: Iou have sworn to renounce
your devilish work and to leave town
Do 50. And the doctor concluded, II
did SO without days delay or feeling
OF regret. Chicago Post.