The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-14
MARRIED IN a HOSPITAL
Man Who Is to Undergoa surgical Opera
tiOB Shows His Love-

New orR, July 13--OeatnOec mar
RACES are common enough, the ceremony
has been performed in balloons, but it
has remained for a young couple in
Elizabeth, n. j., TO be married in the
operating room OF a hospital
1t seemed 10 be a matter Of life ana
death when the ceremony was perform
ed last Thursday, but now the patient
is we'll on the way toward recovery. and
the affair has perhaps been robbed Of
just a trif1e of the oppressive soiemnity
mat at first seemed 20 characterize ii.
LOUIS Rosenkrantz and Bertha Reid
niger nave grown up together in the
quaint little New Jersey city. Although
Rcsenkrantz is but q years old, the
young couple had been betrothed for two
years. They were to have been mar
ried in June Of this year.
Rather more than three months ago
RosenkrantZ was stricken with pneu-
monia. He was taken 10 the Alexian
Brothers Hospital on March &c. and he
ras been there ever since. For some
reason he was a long while in shaking
the disease off, and finally, as is fire.
queltly the case, empyrema sets in.
who IS a plump. dark eyed, attractive
appearing girl. was at the hospital con-
s,antly as the Brothers rules and the
physicians would permit. She sat at his
bedside for hours read 70 him, relieved
the nurses as far as they would allow,
and was a daily model of cons:derate
constancy. For weeks past it had not
occurred 10 either that the young mans
recovery depended on anything more
serious than a gradual building up of
his broken strength. Early in the week.
though. the physicians held a consulta
ton, and decided that the only hope for
the young mans recovery lay In an
operation. It was not necessarily a dam
gerous operation, but with patient run
down by three months of illness ii be-
came very much a problem whether he
could Withstand the shock or even come
out safely from under the influence OF
the ether.
The announcement Of the physicians
decision staggered Rosenkrantz like
blow in the face. His betrothed, who was
present. noticed the change, and as soon
rs they were alone she closed her firm
hands over one OF his weak ones and
murmured: Never mind, be brave, we'll
be married anyhow"
"When?" Rosesnkrantz asked incredu-
ously.
Right off. tomorrow. before the oper-
atom"
And SO 1t was decided. The girl with
the aid OF her brother, John Reidinger,
attended to the scant arrangements that
the occasion demanded. AS both young
Rosenkrantz and his prospective bride
attended the German Lutheran church,
in Port street, a slight distance from
the Alexan Hospital. there was no diff
Guilty in securing the pastor, the Rev.
Charles G. Fischer. So Thursday, lit
lie while before the time set for the
operation, the bride. accompanied by the
minister and her two brothers, walked
across 20 the hospital
Then il occurred TO them that a crowd
ed hospital ward, where others were en-
gagged in silent struggle for life. was
hardly the place for marriage. Rosen-
krantz was too weak TO be moved far
and SO the operating room. where he
would have TO be taken anyhow, was hit
upon as the most available place for the
ceremony, and without further ado the
bridegroom was placed on a stretcher
and borne INTO that grewsome wedding
chamber. The rest followed with seri-
Gus faces.
Once in the place, the bridegroom was
propped up with pillows on his stretcher;
and there. before the stone topped ope--
ating table. by way of an altar. and with
The suggestive CLINT Of the surgeons i'm
plements about by way of bridal decor
atoms. the wedding service was read.
At the conclusion the bride bent her
scared. white face over the paid one
against the pillows. and entreated the
young man to be cheerful and brave.
Then she went out and cried.
The operation, which was performed
half an hour later, was entirely success
full Yesterday when l was at the hos.
pital Rosenkrantz was up walking around
a bit. There is every chance that he will
recover his health entirely. and there is
talk of a wedding trip. though II will
naturally have to be delayed while
vet