The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-12-26
THE SAFEGUARD.

! dDIe Cdl pdl7 II III -ItAICO
You remember" he commenced,
that after our little army entered in
quiet possession Of the city of Mon
terey. we surgeons had our hands full
| for few weeks. in attendance upon
the wounded Of our brave follows.
notwithstanding. most of us found
opportunities occasionally 10 leave
our crowded hospitals, to render pro
fessionful services to the many
wounded Mexican officers and soldiers
among the families that were not
afraid to trust themselves to the pro
lection Of the Northern Barbarians,'
after the withdrawal of Ampudia's
rabhle army.
"One morning, [ think it was the
third after our entrance, and while
yet thestreets and alleys were strange
to me. had taken new route from
nv quarters. near the plaza grande,
to the hospital, where | had that fore
noon several important operations to
perform. For some time l wandered
through the streets without being able
/ to find that in which was situated the
cid church. which we had apprOprla
| ted for our sick. But as l yet had
nearly an hour to spare before the ar
rival of a brother surgeon [ expected
would meet at the hospital, | walked
leisurely along, deeply occupied in
examining the novel styles Of archi-
lecture. which walled up the sides of
the narrow streets, The parti-col0r
ed lacquered fronts of the houses,
with their huge windows, protected
only from the narrow sidewalk by
iron lattice-work and the wide oaken
post cocheries. were so unlike any
thing [ had ever seen, that several
times | found myself standing in the
quiet street, and gazing like an idle
school boy about me.
From one Of these wrapt inspec
tions [ was aroused by a soft, childish
voice bidding me a che9rfnl 'buengs
dias;' and a little girl advancing
from one Of the entrances Of large
dwelling opposite, III an appealing
manner begged me to accompany
her to the house,
Il did 50. We passed through the
great outer court. which is found in
all better class of Mexican dwellings,
and then through long, plllared
gallery to an inner room, where
stretched upon a leathern couch lay a
wounded person. That be was wound
ed was very evident, from d peculiar
odor about the place, which you know
any surgeon can readily detect.
:'As | approached the bed, the
wounded man reached forth his hand,
and in a feeble voice expressed his
pleasure at my arrival. IF | mistake
not" said he, you are a medical Of
! ficer Of the Americans?'
Il am | replied, as [ pressed the
hand OF the speaker, and it will make
me happy, senior, TO render you my
professional service should you desire
| It
"'Thank you. Senior Surgeon an
wpred the invalid; 1T was with that
hope that on hearing you were in the
street | sent the child to you,'
'.'Nou are woundedH 2 | asked.
81. Senor.-L believe my right leg
has been rather badly shattered by
some Of your to well directed bnllets,
he answered with tone OF voice in
tended to be cheerful in spite of the
pain he was evidently suffering.
Permit me to examine IT. said |,
as [ removed the bed clothing: and
carefully unrolling the unprofession-
ally applied dressings, found an ug-
Iy wound, which had apparently been
made by a large masked ball, OF grape
shot. The tibia mad been splintered,
and on passing the probe | perceived
that the ball still remained in contact
with the spinal nerve, causing the pa
tieut excessive suffering.
What think you, 0enor Doctor,
he asked, as | raised myself a amoment
from the examination, shall L have to
part with the limb"
u hope not, my friend [ replied
and endeayored to withdraw his at.
tention from the pain he was endur
ing by my cheerful prognosis while
with a rapid motion l succeeded il
extracting tie offending body, and re
applied the dressing.
Experiencing instant relief from
the simple operation, the officer, fol
| such he was, could not sufficiently ex
press his gratitude But promising
to call upon him again in few hours
| left him, and encountering one of om
men in tie street, soon found my way
to the hospital, where my friert
awaited me.
Daily, fer several weeks, ! remain
ed in attendance upon the Mexican
aud finally dismissed him entirely re
covered. without so much even as ;
imp in the wounded limb.
Some months after this, you vii
recOliect. my regiment was ordered t.
accompany the general to Victoria
where ii was reported the enemy wa
about to concentrate his forces. /
EToyed. however. only 2 false rumOr
and after being garrisoned there abou
week. the kentuckians We're one,
more directed to take up their ol(
quarters again in Monterey.
Il had gone with my regiment: bu
scarcely had we entered the plac
+ than [ received a special dispatcl
from my colonel whom we had lef
: behind, too sick TO accompany hl
command His disease had suddenl
' assumed a dangerous character aut
as | had been has family physician a
home, he now earnestly requested II,
: immediate return to Monterey.
E knowing the imminent necessit
2. the good general was in for every ma
= Of his little force who could lift mu:
, ket. | could not ask for an escort o
my return. | merely stated the natul
: Of Colonel Ms message to him. and ol
h tanned leave Of absence: and with onl
y my servant determined to retrace Il
# road we had just before passed owe
> L had made temporary stoppin
place at a French cafe in the maj
a plaza. till l could find suitable qua
tegs; and here. by chance, happene
to meet Don Gregorio, the Mexica
;, officer. whose wound | had cure
y some months before.