Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-27
Gen. Grant. saddles.


II was in a field hospital within whose
canvas walls many Of our brave boys lay
wc'nded and dying. Among them
were two comrads who were more like
Damon and Pythias than any other two
men ever knew in real life. They had
been born and bred In the same town,
had enlisted at the same time. and had
never been separated for moment since
they first donned Uncle Sans blue uni
form. | am sure that either would
gladly have laid down his life for the
other. They had both been slightly
wounded before, the one having received
bayonet thrust In the left arm, and the
other having had the index and middle
fingers OF his right hand shot away.
Now, as they lay side by side, their
injuries are OF a much more serious
character. The surgeon looked grave
aS he turned from one 10 the other, and
the gravity Of his expression deepened
as he concluded his second examination.
Then, as was his custom--lor he held II
physicians duty to inform patient of
the true state OF his case-he told them
plainly, but not without feeling, that
they both had but few minutes TO live.
"All right" said one family, but firmly,
I'VE will die together, as ! always hoped
we would"
~ want to go II Tom goes" muir
INJURED the other. Give me your hand,
dear old boy" said Tom. and his com.
panion reached out hisfeft hand.
The dying man graspcd the extended
hand, but finding II whole and unmaim-
ed he cast II from him saying, mo, mol
Not that handl ! want the one partly
shot away on the battlefield"
His comrade extended his wounded
hand, and Tom, his eyes fast glazing in
death, clasped il and ielt for the stumps
OF the missing fingers.
This is the hand want" he exclaim.
ed, and, raising II to his lips. his spirit
passed without a struggle. His friend,
by great effort. raised his head and
looked at his dead comrade. Seeing that
he was no more, he uttered a loud cry,
and the two friends were reunited in
death.
ola lack Duddin.
There was no better, more loyal or
more fearless soldier than old Jack
Duddin, but he had one fault and that
was an over.wcening fondness for the
whisky bottle. or rather for It's contents.
He had boon companion whose real
name / never knew, but every one
called him Uncle 81. While in camp
old Jack was taken III OF fever, and,
despite the unremttlng attention OF
Uncle 81, died. The corpse developed
an unusual rigidty after death and a
strange tendency to ily up into sitting
posture. Accordingly on the night be.
ore It's burial Il was stretched out at full
length upon board resting upon two
wooden trestes with its head and feet
tied down by ropes.
Old Uncle 81 insisted upon watching
the remains OF his dead friend. Shortly
after midnight he became very thirsty
aud stepped out to a neighboring suffers
TO procure drink. During his some
what protracted absence two large cats
found their way into the tent containing
the remains OF poor old Jack, and when
Uncle 81 returned he was naturally in
dignant at seeing these ielines sitting on
the corpse-one at the head, the other
az the feet
Selling a billet OF wood from the
ground, he aimed powerful blow with
u at the pussy sitting ut the head. IL
missed its mark and struck and severed
rope holding down the head of the
corpse, which Immediately flew no into
q sitting posture. SEEKING the dead man
by the shoulders and forcing him back
INTO recumbeni position, Uncle ST ex-
claimed in an aggiieved tone, Darn
le, old man, lie down and keep quiet.
III attend to the cats"
U. S. GRANT.