Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-02
THE SHIPS SURGEON.
WHY he RESIGNED AFTER MAKING
ONE ROUND TRIP.

Operated Cpon--Savcd by u Knife That
Needed Little Sharpening.
"When first hung out my single"
said n prominent New York physician
60 n group If friends, among them Il re-
porter, II thought II would ho easy to
drum up good paying practice, but I
soon realized my mistake, Patients We're
few, didn't earn $40 the first month,
and ono day when / felt very discour-
aged and was thinking Of giving up the
study Of tho healing art for moro In.
orative commercial pursuit met u
friend, The latter was the agent for a
limo Of transatlantic steamers, and ON
telling him Of my poor success MS 4 ply
stefan he offered mo position MS SUR
geon ON ono Of his ships / accepted the
berth, and ON the evening Of the third
day at sea had an experience with
mailman, which shall never forget,
"The weather was very stormy, and
MS | in cons lpenee had had but littlo
sleep the two previous nights felt ra-
Their drowsy and sat In chair in my
stateroom dosing, Suddenly | was
awakened by tremendous lurohing OF
| the vessel. Then heard u loud knock
| nc my door, and u tall, strange and very
excited dark featured man hurriealy chs
tered my cabin, The man u actions were
no peculiar that | jumped to my feet
and reached for II revolver which lay on
my table. but | was too slow The
stranger had seized the weapon | then
asked tho man grufly what he wanted.
lte did not reply for some timo and
then, after locking the door and putting
tho key ana my pistol in hts pocket,
said;
Tin not sick. doctor, Two como
hero, exposing long knife FROM tho
sieovo of his cont, by order OF the EMP.
tain to cut your throat
.For Il moment looked tho stranger
IN tho face, and his wild, steady stare
soon convinced mo that | had to deal
with u mailman,
II nm not d coward, yet even now
tho thought Of that momont makes mo
shuador. There | was IN remote purt
Of tho ship nlono with u maamun Of
twice my physical strength, without
chance To escape or means to give alarm,
and, being unarmod entirely nc his
mercy. | therefore decided that resist
uncn would he Of tho least service 90 mo
and that apparent aeQuiesepnce would
DO best, All thisquio'sly flashed through
my mind, and accordingly foigning tho
utmost Indifference could said
"'Tho onptnin's orders must, Of
course, no obeyed But can you do the
deed quieklyy
"'0h, yes, replied the maaman,
calmly Surveying tho knife which ho
held in his hand, I'm u butcher by
trado mud can do tho Job easily with
this tool
"Hure he paused to examine with his
thumb tho edge OF tho knife which
looked rather blunt and rs no did 40 an
idea struck inc, and remarkod'
Your knife does not aoem 60 haye u
very keen edge Tho trnohoa "a tough,
you know and rather difficult 70 cut
with such blunt instrument
1.-THE mndmnn now looked at mo with
n curious expression, as II frying 10 read
my thoughts and them hftar examining
| tho knife more closely. seemed 10 think
my suggestion good one, for he said:
Yes, doctor, | think yon aro right,
A little Sharpening will do No harm, no
II you don mind waiting will 30 TO
the galley and got tho cook 10 help rae
put M edge on ii with his griudstone.
"Ihis was exactly what wanted, ne,
feeling sure no would not lock tho door
after him, thought my escape would
DO easy, but picture my dismay whom OH
his departure discovered that the door
was Locked 49, securely rs before.
What was To dor | flnng opon tho
portfolio mud shouted with all my might
for ASSISTANCE, but tho fury Of tho gale
was NOW 80 great that AL my efforts To
mako myself heard were Of no avail,
Thon ~ n frenzy Of despair | looked
about Ter some weapon III dofonsa but
thero was net 50 much ~ stick 60 be
found Ia my cabin | put MY car to tho
keyholc, aud, thinking heard footsteps
approaehing | iiupalsively threw Off
my coat, went to tho farthost end Of tho
room and, standing rs tletinntly a. pos.
| siblo, resolved to fight 70 tho last
] remember then tho door bursting
open and the entry Ut tho muainan. not
alone, rs ] expected, bat securely pin.
toned and attended by two og tho ships
crew In charge Of the second officer
The relief Of the moment was 10 great
that 1t completely Frustrated mo. iuld
fell in q faint 70 tho floor
When clno 10 my aensos. lanrnnd
that the peculiar and excited manner of
tho maniao, the large knife III his pos
session and hs anxiety ID sharpen it
drew suspicion on him and induced thn
officer % secure mud bring him TO my
cabin 20 ascertain his condition Need.
less 70 say pronounced tho nan insane, i
and no was kept securely continued and
watched day and night until tho ship
arrived ia Liverpool, whero liz was
handed over to the proper authorities
returned 10 New York on the Same
vessel. bnt never went % sen III tho ca.
pacity of d surgeon again Washing.
ton Star