The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-17

transportation from the upper end of the
defile, where the fighting was taking place,
was very bad, owing to want of appliances,
and it was sad and dreadful sight to see
wounded. leaning on their rifles or anything
they could pick up, many dropping by the
way to die, some owing to want of atten-
ton, Others perhaps for drink of water.
Wherever one looked, the dead were lying
thickly in every imaginable position, many
sky, their hands crossed in last prayer for
release from their sufferings.
Toward evening the fighting went down,
and at last, as the sun was sinking blood
red behind the snOw-cOvered horizon, 1t
ceased altogether, and knew that for an
other night at least We might expect quiet.
I returned to the little village of Shekirly,
in belt of forest within half mile of the
battlefield, and my thoughts rested sadly
enough on the events of the day, and the
hosts of dead and dying who only that
morning were strong men, but were now
lying uncared for and half buried in the
fast and silently falling snow.
1t was while plodding slowly on my way
to the village where l hoped to find shelter
for the night that heard steps ovcrsaking
half carrying, half dragging between them
the senseless body of wounded Russian.
They had made rude stretcher W.T. their
rifles, upon which he was lying. One
glance at the pale face lying there at my
feet was enough to tell me that the man
opening %as oT lis D eoss found him an Badly
fcqsaa@ had bullet svds in the sr ,s5
him just below the elbow, and, tearing its
way downward, had passed out an inch or
so above the wrist. The main artery of the
even then bleeding profusely. saw not
moment was to be lost if his life was to be
saved, and. tearing the wooden scarf from
my neck, I proceeded to tie 1t tightly
around his arm above the wound; but this
failed to stop the flow OF blood, and 1 was
his life, when remembered that by placing
some hard substance on the artery and
afterward tightly binding over it could
probably succeed in closing the passage.
In a second my hand went to my pocket in
search of some article that could be made
brought out the silver ruble I had kept SO
long as a curiosity. There was no time to
lose if would save him, SO in few mo-
ments had it bound securely over the
artery and had the satisfaction of seeing
the bleeding decrease and soon afterward
cease altogether. then poured few drops
into his lips from my spirit flask, and tell
ing the men to lift him carefully, pre-
coded them into the village, luckily close
at hand. Without much difficulty we found
a suitable lodging, and I left him to the
tender mercies Of the ambulance doctor,
whom met IN the street, and who prom
ised to do his best for the poor fellow. On
leaving, promised to return in the morn
ing, to see how he was going on. That
night passed quietly, and in the morn
ing went round to see my patient. I was
met at the door by DR.. r., who told me that
the Russian was still unconscious, but that
he had great hopes of pulling him round,
and added that he had no doubt my prompt
ness in tying up his arm had actually saved
his life. and that. had ! not fortunately
met them, he would have died before they
could have reached the village. 49,
For some days was not allowed to see
the invalid, but at last DR.. r. called aud
told rue that he was conscious, and had
strangest thing of all is that on regaining
his senses the first thing he noticed was
your silver ruble lying on the shelf by his
bedside. He asked to have 1t shown to
him, and: on seeing it, appeared very over
come with emotion. and not until / had
told him the manner in which it
had come there did he seem satisfied,
and. only then on my promising
to bring you to him as soon as possible.
Greatly wondering at this desire on the
part Of an utter stranger to me, I went to
the house. and without knocking, entered
the room in which he was lying. As l
walked to the side of the bed, his eyes fol-
lowed me, and, with an effort. speaking in
Russian, he asked me if was the gentleman
who had saved his life. said l was, and
then asked him to tell me the reason he had
been SO moved at the sight of the coin. The
following is his story in his own words as
nearly as / IAN recollect them.