The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-26
DEATHLY SICK.
An Unfortunate Man Burning
Up With Fever,
Found Tying Unconscious Near
the Rock Island Depot.
Had Just Come From OklahO-
ma Suffering With Malaria.

ma SuHerIng WIN MaIaE1as
Herman Patterson, an employe of the
Armour Packing company of Kansas
City, arrived in Topeka from Oklahoma
territory i'll with malarial fever and
heart trouble and in attempting to
walk from the Rock Island depot, fell
in the street on Jackson street be
tween First and Second streets where
he lay for an hour suffering intense
pain and too weak to arise. He had
gone to Oklahoma four weeks ago to
comply with the law regarding home
steads, owning a claim there, and being
required to be on the claim at least
once every six months.
While in Oklahoma he was taken i'll
with malaria and started for his home
in Kansas City. Arriving in Topeka
on the Rock Island, the raging fever
was too much, even for his strong syS-
tenn and he staggered off the train in
hopes of seeing some one who would
summon medical aid for him. Being
practically without money and knowing
no one in Topeka Herman Patterson
started up town in the hopes of finding
d policeman, but before he had gone a
block he fell PROSTATE upon the side
walk. He says he lay there about
half an hour, but upon investigation it
was found that he must have been
there fully an hour and perhaps more.
1t was late in the afternoon and soon
darkness came on. No one saw the
suffering man, or if they did, took him
for a drunk, and he lay half conscious.
Several times he tried to arise, but
each time he was so weak that he fell
back exhausted.
He says the throbbing at his fore
head made it seem to him that at the
next moment the arteries would burst
and blow or the top of his head. The
high fever blinded his eyes and made
his brain Whirl. His mouth gaped
open and was hot and dry, while his
hands and feet were cold. Finally as
the darkness crept upon him and he
realized that unless he could get nearer
heIp he would perish, he summoned all
the muscular force in his system and
arose, staggering almost off his bal
ance and grasped a friendly fence.
Again he wavered, and again he braced
himself for another effort. Finally he
crept along and got farther the
street, when PatrOlman Pavey, who
lives near there, found him.
Had PatrOlnan PaVey been a new
policeman, he might have grabbed him
and marched him to the police station
thinking he was a drunken man But
the OHlcer has had experience enough
which enabled him to tell the difference
between a drunkard and a sick man
Patrolman Pavey Immediately called
the patrol wagon.
The man after meeting the officer
and telling him the simple sentence:
Il am sick. Help me to a doctor, viii |
you please?' fell again to the sidewalk |
SGIlll-GOnSClOuS
from which it was difficult to arouse
him.
The patrol wagon arrived and the
sick man was put on a spring stretcher
and taken to the Salvation Army hos
pitaI
Upon arriving at the hospital the pa
tient was given the closest attention |
for it was feared he would die His
temperature was a trif1e over 1O4 de- |
greeS While his pulse was very low |
HypOdermic injections We're given him
to stimulate the heart and efforts made
to reduce the high temperature.
After awhile the desired result was
apparent.
about him but seeming not to suffer /
much pain. Finally he regained con
sciousness and was able to tell his stO- |
~. He said: 4 work for the Armour !
company at Kansas CITY |
have a claim down in Oklahoma. and I /
went down there to be on it at the time |
the law requires people to be there /
We have to be on the claim once every |
six months. I went there and started |
back. I had been sick for three weeks !
with this fever but managed to get |
around. When I got to Topeka I was |
so sick that I couldn't hold up my head |
and 1 got off, hoping to meet a police |
man to get him to take me to some /
w hen L started up town I fell down /
near the Rock Island depot and I lay /
there over half an hour. and then when |
was able I got uD. / came up little |
farther and met the policeman. I have !
my Job vet with Armour I worked /
around the cars. I came to this coun- /
try when I was seven years old. I /
am not married, and was never sick a /
dav in my life before this time"
Herman Patterson is 27 years of age.
He speaks with an accent indicative of |
foreign birth. He is much better now !
and his recovery is assured.