Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-07-17
His Face Was Shot Away by a Cam
o Bau-He Survives and Leads
a Happy Existence
Wears a Mask.

the front part of it., is made of pla-
tinum, shaped into the form of the
features and painted so as to resemble
human flesh.
1t must not be supposed that this
man Is a freak of nature. He was born
perfectly formed, and grew mp to
robust manhood with his senses unim-
paired. In fact, he was a good look
ing young fellow when at the age Of
twenty, ne shouldered his gun and
started out to fight for his native laad.
And he fought bravely through sew
eral battles, distinguishing himself, IN
fact, in an engagement with the Prus-
SLAMS by saving a piece of artillery
which the enemy were on the point of
capturing. For this act of brevely his
name was to have been proposed for
the cross. But the very next day
there came upon him the terrible dis
aster which left him disfigured as he
is to-day.
It was in the midst of O fercely
fought battle and Moreau was one of
the gunners at a point in the line
where the fire was particularly deadly.
Four Of his comrades had fallen at
his side, and he himself had been
slightly wounded. Suddenly, with a
crash and great roaring in his head he
felt himself spun round eight or ten
times like a top, but so c%uriously
poised on his feet that he did not foil.
He felt no pain and did not realized
that he was seriously injured. It
seemed to him that a ball had struck
him on the head and glanced of.
He thought to himself that he would
have a few days to spend in the hos
pital and that would be all. Feeling
the blood flowing from his face he
stuffed his handkerchief into the
wound and waited for help.
After waiting an hour he saw that
night was coming on, and, gathering
MP his strength, walked to a neighbor-
ing village for by this time the battle
had ceased. When taken to the mill
tary hospital, the surgeon who received
him, accustomed as he was to horrible
sights, started back with an exclama-
ton of horror. The mans entire face
had been shot away, and in place of q
head there seemed to remain only a
misshapen mas of red, raw flesh.
The mans case was considered hope
less. and il was believed that he would
die within twenty-four hours. 1t was
hoped that he would die.
C@uriously enough, in spite of the
shells terrible mutllation, one eye had
been left in the shattered socket, so
that Moreau was able to see at first,
but the hemorrhsge vas so great that
this eye was torn away, and on the
second day the man was entirely blind.
Very much to every ones surprise
the poor fellow continued to live, and
on the fourth day it was decided to
operate upon his head. Thirty-fve
pieces of shattered bone were taken
from the gaping wound, some of them
very large pieces. After the head had
been thus treated and the cavity
cleaned out it was found that Moreau's
head looked like an immense hollow
cup with crimson inside, and from this
his voice sounded in strange intona-
tions, somewhat like the voice of a
photograph. 1t did not seem to be a
man at all who was talking, but some
grotesque machine.
Owing TO the mans marvellous con-
stitution he recovered entirely from
his wounds, which, in course Of time,
healed up, leaving him with such a
mutilated face as was never seen. In
fact, he had no face, not even a fore
head, and only a portion of his chin.
All the rest-eyes, nose, teeth, cheek
bones and hesh--had been cut away as
if some one had scooped a cocoanut
into the shape of a half moon. And
yet the man was apparently in perfect
health, could speak, hear and feel, and
showed every inclination to eat, with
a good appetite, if only some way of
masticating his food could be found.
Here was q difficult case for the sur
geons, and vet they made the best of
it, and in few months they had ac-
complished wonders. The lower Jaw
bone being intact, m artificial set of
teeth was attached to it, raised on a
bridge-hke platform, and these were
made TO work against another set of
teeth fastened across one of the ribs of
a mask fashioned so as to cover the
cavity. This mask was furnished with
eyes, nose and lips, so as to gives GER
tain CHASTITY resemblance to the human
face. 1t was made of wax.
For ten years Moreauwore this mask
constantly, wen at night, but / n1S63,
while visiting some friends at Valen-
ciennes, he had a severe attack of
brain fever, and in one of his delirious
moments he tore off the mask and
broke it in pieces. Being very poor,
in fact, entirely dependent upon his
scanty pension, Moreau could i'll az
ford to have another wax mask made
TO replace the old one, and for a long
time he suffered agonies of humilia-
ton because he had no way of con
cealing his hideous Disagreement.
Finally, however, a petition was made
TO the French Government, and an ar
fist was sent to makea platinum mask, 7
and instructions were given that this
mask be kept IN repair and painted
whenever it became necessary, so as
to initiate as nearly Us possible the
human appearance.
Since then, about once a year, an
artist from Paris visits the lttle vii
lage where Moreau lives, and with
brush and pencil makes such changes
in the exterior of the platinum mask
rs are needed, restoring eyebrows and
complexion, coloring the eyes ard
lips. and in general making the old