The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12
ONE LOST IN DELlRIUM
PRIVATE ROPER WAS OUT ALL
NIGHT IN AN UNCON-
SCIOUS STATE.
He ESCAPED FROM THE HOSPITAL
Searching Parties Looked for Him all Night
Finding Him at Six O'clock Yesterday
Morning--He Died at $50
O'clock P. M.

Private Abel, of company l., Second
North Carolina regiment, died yesterday
morning after Il very painful illness OF
nearly five weeks duration with minin-
gifts.
Private John Il. Eapcr, of Co. II, Sec
ond North Carolina regiment, died at
5:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon, after
an illness of five days duration with
acute diarrhoca. These were W
strong robust young men, each coming
from the mountain section. Private
Abel was Il native of Haywood county
and Private Rapcr Il native Of Hcnder-
~Sonville.
The death of Mr.. Abel was not uncN-
pcctcd. His condition has been critical
for several days, indeed. for two weeks
or more. and the hospital surgeons have
had but little hope of his recovery. He
has two brothers members Of the regi-
mcnt. His remains were sent TO his
home for burial, his brothers accompany
ING the remains.
The death of Private Rapcr was Il sur
prise to his comrades in camp. lie had
only been in the hospital five days and
while he had Il very severe case of
ute diarrhoca, it was not thought that
he was so dangerously sick. lie had
been walking about the hospital at in
tervaIs up to Saturday evening. and he
had been. so says DIR. Stockard, perfectly
rational up to supper time Saturday
evening.
But there is Il sad incident connected
with the death of Private ltaDer that
has cast Il gloom over the camp, and
at first there were silent mutteringS
against tire hospital corps, but it seems
after full Investigation made by 4 re-
porter of the News and Observer yester-
day tina there is really no blame to at
tach to those who were in attendance
upon the unfortunate young man. 1t Is
true that i'll Il moment of dellrlum he
wandered away from the hospital. 1t IS
true that the poor demcnted boy rOamed
aimlcssly III the darkness Of night
through the rain with the briars scratch
ing his hands and face. with his mind
dazed by pain until it was almost Il
blank. but it is also true that searching
parties detailed from the hospital corps
and also from his company were search
ing everywhere for him, but the search
was in vain until Is o'clock Sunday
morning when the poor hoy was found
by the first sergeant of his company sit
ting beside Il tree. his physical strength
exhausted, his mind almost Il complete
blank. but with it all he knew the ser
Geant and he knew his commanding Off
Ger, Captain Wagner, with these
two exceptions he recognized no one
and knew nothing else. He was taken
back to the hospital where surgeons, at
PENDANTS and nursese did all possible for
him, but the time for his departure was
at hand; he died at 5:30 o'clock ycster-
day afternoon.
There was some disposition on the part
of the visitors, especially, to consurc the
hospital attendants for allowing the
young man to wander off. and at first it
did seem that there had been careless
ness. but u reporter met DIR. Stockard
and DIR. Brcvard. and each Of them de
clarcd that while the incident was Il
most unfortunate aud dcpIorable one.
that no blame should rest upon the hos
pital attendants.
Mr., Rapcr," said DR.. Brooks,
was suffering from accute diar-
rhoca. but mp to the time hc
left his mind was clear and he
mad been allowed to pass back and forth
from one part of the hospital to another
He insisted on going to the sink. and OF
curse because Of his peculiar ailmcnt.
he went frequently. He asked the priv
Ie9e of going at about : o'clock Satur-
day night. 1t was granted; thirty min
utes later he had not returned, and at
PENDANTS went to look for him. They
failed to find him and reported his alb
Sencc Immediately; Il searching party
was sent out but somehow or other he
"vaded them and it was not until 6
o clock next morning that he was found.
Or. Stockard thinks that his mind gave
way suddenly, and in the dclirium he
wandered away. perhaps doing all hc
could to cvade the searching party. DE-
Brcvard agreed with DIR. Stockard, and
stated that it was one Of those terribly
unfortunate incidents that it seemed
nothing could prevent.