Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-06-03
LIKE A DYING SWAN.

SWAN OF tne northern seas has an in
nate perception OF the coming disso-
luton few moments before its death.
and although during its whole life
time it Is never heard to utter one note
of song it will when it feels that
warning OF approaching death soar
high into the blue ether above and
pour forth strain OF sweetest melody,
with the last note OF which it expires.
As well in the Bernese. as also in
the Vallaise Alps of Switzerland. have
met with many a hardy Alpine guide
and hunter, and nearly all have as
serted that the chamois, as we'll as the
eagle there called 'lammergeier.
although shot through the very heart
will give forth one long piercing cry
before exhaling their last breath.
This death-note the Bernese
'Aelplers, who speak German dia-
lect call the gemseuschrei" for the
chamois. and the 'geerschrei" for the
eagle while the Montaguards OF the
| Nallais. who speak French patio \"
| call the former lie cri du chamois"
and the latter lie cri du Paigle."
This Notwithstanding the fact that
the graceful mountain goat and the
powerful king of the feathery tribe
remain mute during their whole ex-
istence.
Lord Lytton l believe says some
where: "A mystery is not necessarily
miracle" The death scene which
l shall here attempt to describe l will
not even endeavor to explain. The
surgeon who had the case under treat
ment said: 'lf this is not miracle,
it certainly is "a mystery"
There probably never existed a mil
| itary depot of such gigantic proper
tions as were developed at City Point
on the James river during the last
year OF tho war. II was in fact an
immense city-mainly of canvas.
Not only was it the base of supplies
of every kind FOR the Army OF the
Potomac around Petersburg and the
Army of the James, near Richmond but
1t contained also the storchouses OF the
Christian and Sanitary commissions,
the German Relief State Reliefs of
every state that had Union troops in
the field, a library innumerable suit
Ter stores, headquarters offices, and an
immense hospital in tents which
| could accommodate from three to four
thousand sick and wounded until such
time as the great steamers could
transport them to the general hos
pitfalls, situated in various parts of the
Northern states
10 these sufferers after the roaring
OF the cannon the whistling OF the
shells, the tramping of horses, the
Unionist battle cry, the piercing rebel
yell, City Point was haven of rest
peace and quiet. To the troops de-
tailed to escort Confederate prisoners
of war hither from the front it was a
source OF great comfort for it was not
always possible during fighting times
to provide large army scattered over
many miles Of wet Virginia clay with
all the necessaries OF life, so that our
soldiers clothing was quite frequently
IN sad plight both as to cleanliness
and Wilderness. A visit to City Point
was therefore considered great boon,
lnasmuch as the mentioned commits
sions and reliefs would supply any
petitioner most literally with the
creature comforts asked for.
In no other place has one the same
opportunity of observing how men
pass from this life into the great un-
known as in hospital Upon tho
battlefield there is no time for OBJ.
servation, much less for reflection.
Here your friend is struck down, but
/ you cannot stop; he falls your CON-
rade of many battles, of many faithful
watches on the alert picket line IN the
silent darkness of the night; perhaps
you have just time to grasp his hand
in last farewell to say to him one
last sad word look once more into
his beloved features. and on on you
! go to victory-to your own death per-
! haps.
Towards the end of the great struy-
| gle. late in March and the beginning
OF April 1860. the hospital at City
Point tecame very much crowded.
Every day the trains from the front
brought large numbers of wounded
victims of the severe fighting at Five
Forks Southside railroad, and nearly
all along the line invading st. Peters
burg.
On the I'd of April | was also
wounded. and on the 4th arrived Mt
City Point, where was placed in a
hospital tent containing ~ beds all
occupied by wounded men.
On one bed lay man tall and well
proportloned about 40 years OF age
apparently with silky beard and
beautiful large blue eyes Who he
was and whence he came no one could
tell least OF all himself. for he was
shot just below his nose. the ball hav-
ing penetrated through his mustachc
and lodged somewhere inside. Being
also wounded in his right hand he
was incapable OF writing. His mouth
was very much swollen. and his lips
were firmly shut He was fed with
liquid food through the hole made by
the bullet by means of tube.
AS he had lost his cap we could not
even locate him as to his company,
regiment state or army corps.
Speech was TO him an utter impossi-
bility and the attending surgeon had
no doubt that he would before long
succumb to lockiaw.
But if he was denied the privilege
| OF utterance. he was unquejtionaby
close observer Of and eager listener
to what went on around him. You
could tell that by his eyes, which
were such mirrors Of his intellect as
to be almost speaking eyes; and he
: was po,.tainlv yarU find ~