The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-04
DELLA EAGAN.

From ne Nep York World, "a Instant
Up in Bellevue Hospital yesterday,
wheeling herself about in q rollingchair,
there was young girl-she Is only 10 years
of age--who well deserves high place in
the annals of heroism.
Her name is Della Eagan. She is only
poor working girl, an employee in u Co
operative laundry shop but voluntarily,
ioyiully, she has said that she Is willing
to be flaycd alive If she can only restore to
health again her lifelong friend, Minnie
Emma Wick.
She will not have to he actually fiayed
alive, however, this generous little Della
Eagan, but she will be Scared for life. A
long strip Of flesh had already been taken
from each of her legs to build up scalp
on Minnie Wilck's now ileshlcsS head,
and great deal more will have to be
taken from her body before the friend for
whom she has sacrificed so much will be
fully restored. She is ready to endure it
in their remarkable experiment. She Is a
plucky little thing. She barred her flesh
last Wednesday, when the grating was
begun, as If II were the most ordinary
thing in the world.
Yet two more operations of the same
kind must be undergone before Minnie
Wilcks scalp Is made good again..
81 have gone through one, will stand
them all, y said plucky, generous little
Della Eagan.
Yesterday she was wheeling herself
about i'm an invalid chair, cheerful and
happy as lark, but SCARED for life.
Wednesday a week ago the surgeon had
put her under ether, had barred her legs
and peeled them down the front of each
as forester would the bark of tree,
A strip. at least foot long and three
inches wide, Visiting Surgeon Frank Hart
ley and House Surgeons Ierega and Art
man pared off from the front of each of
the young girls legs. In her devotion to
help her friend and helpmatc her zeal was
all the time awake while her body slept
under the influence of the narcotic.
you are not doing II right" she
moancd in her stupor. "You must cut
this way"
And during her moaning the surgeons
were hacking at her flesh, which was to
| make Minnie Wick hale and herself
| again. They gave the girl more of the
narcotic. Then she slept heavily.
The two strips OF skin that we're taken
| from Della Eagan were then adroitly adj
| justed to the hcshless head Of poor unfor-
tunate Minnie Wick. The surgeons glued
| one of them on to the front of the skull
and down OH to the side and the other
they neatly affixed to the Uranium just
| above it. Once more Minnie Wick was
swathed in bandages and the Slow tedious
healing process was begun.
That was week ago. Yesterday a
World man found the two women chatting
together about the cots that they occupy
in Ward of the Hospital. Minnie Wick
held n book listlessly in her hands. Della
Eagan was as blithe and merry rs a bird
"0h, well, you know, ! am only plain,
red-headed girl. The operation can't spoil
my beauty, for haven't any" she was
saying.
Her hair in reality was auburn, and She
had such kind, sparkling eyes aud such @
sunny smile that her gentle face became
illumined while she spoke half jestingly
of her sacrifice.
"Yes, / feel a little stiff in my right
leg" she went on. "But my left doesn'
pain me and only catches me once in {
while when move 1t too quickly"
And you are going to give all the othe
skin necessary to cover your friend
head?" asked the World man wonderingly
SHE HAS PLENTY OF FLESH TO SPARE.
ooh, of course" the generous girl an
swered with soft smile. 81 want TO Sc
the whole thing through now have one
undertaken it. j don't know just wher
they are going to take the remainder o
the necessary flesh from, but have plent.
of IL to spare"