The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-23
NOSTRUM COST $4,000.
They Put Every Cent They
Possessed at Stake.
We're Desperate When it Failed
to Restore Sight.

The New York World tells an inter
esting story of the efforts of two Kan
sas men to restore the sight of the
blind multi-millionaire, Charles Broad
way Rouss with the view of obtaining
the million dollars reward offered for
the cure 1t says:
Another batch of healers has arrived
each anxious to try and cure CnatIeS
Broadway ROuss OF blindness
There are those from afar, and the
local miracle workers are not dlsdaln-
ing the slittering prize one woman
from HobOken has just given James J.
Martin, Mr.. Rouss's paid substitute,
three lively days, at the end OF which
he cried enough and discharged her
Thousands have written to Mr.Rouss
sending advice, nOStrumS and charms
Those We're all read by Augustine }.
Smith, confidential secretary to Mr.
ROuss. and each was answered,no mat
ter how wild the scheme
There was one instance said Mr..
Smith yesterday, that to me STANDS
out above all the others for its human
interest and dramatic elements we
received a letter from h A WetherDy,
of Pierce. Brown county, Kan, prOpOs-
ing 10 restore Mr.. ROuss's sight within
Is minutes after the application OF his
remedy.
The medicine was declared to be en-
tirely harmless. but its ingredients
would cost $4,000. Would Mr.. ROuss
advance, not lend, the sum necessary
course thought the proposition was
from some insane person, but we an
swered ii, declining to advance the
money.
In few weeks we were waited up
on by Mr.. Wetherby, accompanied by
=. W. WOlvertOn, also OF Pierce There
was nothing OF the 1unatic about either
They were the incest people you could
imagine. and they brought letters OF
introduction from many of the best
people in their state, asking US to give
them an audience, as they were worthy
OF our consideration.
They explained they had raised the
$4,000 and would not ask Mr.. ROuss
for one cent until the cure was effected
The money had been contributed by
their fellow citizens, and Mr. WOlVerton
had put $4,000 into the project 1t was
all he had in the world, and as he was
the inventor OF the remedy and believed
in it, he had decided to risk his all in
the venture.
They were perfectly willing the ex-
pertinent should first be made on Mar
lin. and the next day was set Tor the
test. Al the appointed time WOlVertOn,
Wetherby and myself met Martin at his
rooms and preparations were made for
the test. 1 never saw people more con
hdent than were these two, but as the
hour grew near for the trial they be
came much agitated, and it was plain
they were laboring under a terrific
strain.
The bright light of the room was
somewhat Obscured and Martin was
placed at full length on a couch. Then
Wetherby retired to another room to
bend his almost priceless remedy. When
he came back he was as pale as death,
was WOIVertOn. / was afraid some
thing serious would happen if the ex-
pertinent failed and was morally GER
tain it would. Wetherby was a stall
Wart man of about 80, a fine looking,
earnest fellow, and I felt sincerely for
him, much as I doubted the efficacy of
his remedy. 1 shall never forget him as
he entered the room and stood over
Martin who lay with eyes closed await
ing the trial.
AT last Wetherby bent over the
prOstrate man and poured the cOlorless
liquid into his eyes. Then we all stood
watching the patient, waiting for the
medicine to be absorbed. We stood
there fully 20 minutes, and then Weth-
erby examined Martins eyes. He turn
ed to me with a grOan.
An is lost he gasped; he is stin
blind
II had ample evidence that the stuff
in the bottle had cost them $50. 600, and
in those few moments it was shown
that the money had been wasted and
that every hope was dashed to the
ground. 1 was almost sure that had