The record-union., 1894-06-11
TRAVELS OF A BULLET.
Recovery of a Steel Ball Fired in a
Duel Thirty Years Ago.
Moves From q Mans Shoulder to His
Foot The Sufferers Remarka-
Bile Dreams and Sufferings.

The story of duel fought by two resi-
dents of New London County. Connecti-
cut, more than thirty years ago, came to
light few days ago in very peculiar
way. The story, told to a Globe Demo
crdt man by one Of the participants and
the man who got the worst of the deal,
runs as follows:
In 1862 two young farmers named
Josiah Reynolds and Ezra Gorton, living
in the northeastern part of New London
County, became enamored of young
woman, who didn't seem to have any
particular liking for either of them. The
young men were extremely jealous OF
each other, and finally decided to settle
the question as to which one should aban-
don the field by fighting duel. The
only available weapons were pair OF
old fashioned horse pistols. The affair
was 10 come off without witnesses, and 1t
was understood that each man was TO
shoot only with a view of wounding his
adversary. The one that was the hardest
hit bound himself with an oath to make
way for his conqueror to win the heart of
the young woman who had set them both
by the ears.
Reynolds was tricky fellow, and III
preparing the load for his pistol he got
ball Of steel and covered it with lead, so
that when Gorton examined 1t he thought
it was lead bullet. Before the duel was
fought the young woman got wind OF it
and determined to stop it. With the idea
of humiliating them. she decided to wait
until they were on the ground before ln-
tertering. For some reason the men
changed the hour for the duel, and when
the girl went to the chosen spot she found
Gorton stretched on The ground, uncon-
scious from a wound in the shoulder.
The girl managed to bring the man to his
senses, and, 10 protect themselves from
scandal, they vowed to keep the fact OF
the duel secret. Gorton managed to
get home, and kept his secret SO well that
nobody suspected what had occurred.
Reynolds has never been seen in the
county since the day of the duel, and it is
probable that he fled, believing that he
had killed his opponent. Gorton had the
field to himself, and, making the most of
his opportunity, he finally secured the
girl he fought for for his wife.
The strangest part of the story Is the
history of the mans life beginning with
the second year after the duel and ending
with the surgical operation that was per-
formed upon him a few days ago. Cor
ton had been married about a year when
he complained of pain in the back be-
tween the shoulders, and very soon a
very perceptible crook made its appear
ance in his back bone at the point where
he complained of the pain. Eminent
physicians considered the case and finally
pronounced it curvature of the spine, and
for SIX months he was treated for that
disease. lying for good share of the time
in plaster casts.
GORTON'S DREAM IN THE HOSPITAL.
1t was apparent that Gorton's mind
was becoming affected, for he would at
times be unable to recognize his wife and
his friends. The physicians said that
paresis was threatening the man, and
while they held out no hope for his re-
coyery, they treated him for the disease.
The treatment was continued for several
months, and finally Gorton said that he
wanted to be taken home from the hos
pital and be treated by his wife alone.
The physicians protested, saying that
Gorton was Irresponsible, for his mind
was affected and told his wife that NOV
ing him would hasten his death. Mrs.
Gorton wasn't inclined to have her hus-
band moved, but he begged SO hard to be
taken home, that she insisted upon his
request being granted, and he was taken
home. AS soon as he got IN his own
house he told his wife privately that
while he lay asleep one day in the hospi-
tai Reynolds appeared to him and told
him that the ball he had shot into him
was rubbed and pushed away from the
back bone it would work away from it
and he would get well. He didn't think
| much of it at first, but the dream haunted
him until he finally resolved to leave the
hospital and trust to his wiieS treatment
Mrs. GorLon took no stock in her hus-
bands vision, but to humor him she did
h n tad hat. "a LIZ,
that point in his back where the spine
seemed curved several times day.
For several days she continued this
treatment, and to her surprise her hus-
baud began TO grow stronger and the
crook in his back bone TO Straighten out.
Believing finally that the trouble was
caused by the ball. she tried to persuade
her husband to have it removed. but
Gorton was unwilling to submit to a
surgical operation, and the wife con-
tinued the treatment until the husband
was once more able to be about Gorton
| finally recovered his robust health, and
his neighbors treated the matter as a
miracle. The story OF the duel Gorton
and his wife kept TO themselves, fearing
that they would be suspected of doing
away with Reyonalds, whose mysterious
disappearance was still troubling the
people.
Three years passed by, and Gorton ap-
parently enjoyed perfect health. One day
he was in field looking al some cattle
when he fell senseless to the ground. He
was taken home, and after awhile re-
yived. The physicians pronounced it a
case Of heart disease, and told Gorlon
that he was liable to die any minute.
GortOn was OF the opinion that that was
about the case with every other earth
born creature, and, dismissing the doe
tors, said thai he would wiggle along
without them. One day he came into the
house considerably excited and told his
wife that he had seen Reynolds again.
and that he told him TO go to bed and lie
there three months, resting all the time
that he could on his right side, as it was
the ball working toward his heart that
was causing the trouble. Accordingly
he went 10 bed and stayed there three
months.
THE BALL EXTRACTED AT LAST
Ten years passed, during which time