Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-20
A WALKING LEAD MINE.
An illustration of What a Man Can Ef
dure in the Way of Wounds.


dure in the Way of Wounds.
Special to the Gazette Z
KANSAS CRY, Mo. Sept 19-An incl
dent on car of the Metropolitan street car
line brought to the surface here stQlss'
which shows how much q man can epoTlrS
in the way of wounds and live. Inc pas
sengerS were surprised to see man sud
denly rise to his feet, totter forward and
fall full length to the floor. He wore
Grand Army uniform and his button showed
that he was a member of the order. The'
car was stopped and the man taken %
store where he was revived, and the Sflbu-
lance took him to the hospital. He give his
name as Horace Wilcox, and to rehorteri
told most remarkable story. He waS-
wounded several times during the war but
remained in the service, and after the close
OF the rebellion he was one of those sent
after the Confederates who fled into Mex
leo His adventures on the border were
thrilling, and he was captured and escaped
three times, each time being wounded.
An examination of his body shows most
wonderful condition. He bears the marks
of twelve bullets and three saber cuts. In
a little buckskin bag which hangs at his
neck he carries ten bullets, two copper, one
steel and seven lead. These have all been
taken from his body, and there are still two
in him which the doctors cannot find, one
being a copper bullet which is imbedded
somewhere in his breast, and which is the
cause of his present trouble. This ball he
received in Mexico, and its corrosive action
is such that he cannot ride in any sort of a
vehicle without becoming sick and faint
This is the reason he fell in the street car
He says that all his travels over the coun-
try must be on foot Or he will suffer the
torments of the damned. His breast is a
bleeding sore, and he says it is impossible
to cure it as long as the bullet remains in
him. For a space of six inches around the
wound the flesh is of greenish blue hue,
and at times becomes violently infamed. Y
He shows his fifteen scars and tells the
history of each. One saber cut eXtendA
from the center Of the head down across
the forehead to the left eye, showingothat
his head was laid open with a single cut.
This was the first wound which ne received
during the war, and had he been half an
inch nearer to the man who gave 1t, he
would have remained on the field. The
point OF the saber cut through his cap split.
ting his scalp down to the bone but doing
no damage to the skull The next wound
he received was bullet through the neck,
and as he was falling another ripped up his
right shoulder. He was soon out again and
in skirmish he received ball through his
right arm. This did not lay him up. and
the next day in resisting cavalry charge
he was cut twice with a saber. One cut
struck his left shoulder and the other nearly
scalpei him. =
He lay in the hospital for three months
and then returned to his command. He
had been with it but day when he was
sent out on skirmish duty and was again
shot. this time through the fieshy part OF
the thigh. This wound was painful, but.
did not lay him up over a week. when he
was again marching with his company.
He carries his right hand in a very pecu-
liar position. His middle finger is crossed
over his third finger from the effects Of
wound on ii, and when asked why he car
ried it in such a peculiar position, he said
he kept it there to stand guard over the
other. As he said this he removed The
finger, and the third finger stood straight
up in the air. He had been shot through
the hand in such manner as to shorten the
leader and break the bone, forming false
joint.
Down in Mexico he received three wounds,
each time with copper bullet. He fol-
lowed too close after some fleeing Confed-
crates and was captured. He attempted TO
escape and was shot in the left breast, the
ball being cut out at the back. When he
recovered he again attempted to get away,
aud was shot through the left leg, breaking
the bone. He was closely guarded again,
but when he got well he tried to get away
and was successful, but was shot in the
breast. causing the wound which now gives
him so much trouble. Since the war ne has
been wandering over the country, and
owing to his pc uliar condition he is COM
PEELED to walk everywhere.
He says ne is unable to do any work, and
cannot content himself to stay at one place
long, SO he has been walking ali over the
country ever since the war closed. He re-
ceives good pension from the government
which supplies all his needs, and he spends
his time in looking at the country which he
helped to save. He says ne has had much
amusement out of his travels, and some