Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-11-19
FOR THIRTY FIVE YEARS.
A Bullet Remained in a Mans
Heart all That Time.

until recently-Dled from other
causes-Ball still In the heart and
firmly embedded norton re-
yeals the true state Of affsirs- Strange
story of "A very strange affair.
The following story comes from
Buekhannon and is vouched for by
some OF the best citizens of Upshur
county, There seems TO be no reason
for doubling the truth OF it.
In the early days of the war of the
rebellion, Mr.. William r. Smallridge
of French Creek w Va, enlisted as a
private soldier in Co. E. of the 3rd
West Va, Infantry
About the first of September 1861,
the above company with or more
Of the same regiment were marching
down from Chenille in Gilmer Co.,
this state, to point on the Calhoun
Co. line same 10 miles distant, and
when near their destination the fol-
lowing order of march was observed:
something over a hundred men were
marching compactly enough In front
and about as many marching in the
same way some or hundred yards
in the rear. About midway between
these two moving bodies OF troops
marched the subject of this sketch
with George Phillips on his left and
Simeon Phillips and Chapman Mccoy
on his right when they were fired in
TO from ambush BY party OF Bush
whackers.
4 ball, evidently from Il muzzle
loading rifle, corresponding In size to
30 cal. pistol bullet, entered Mr..
smallridge's chest at the lower point
OF the Scapula on the left side, pass
ing thence directly through the left
lung and into the left ventricle of
the heart.
The bullet struck his heart at about
exactly the CENTER but the force was
so completely broken that after break
Ing through the outer wall into said
yentricle it was unable to penetrate
the opposite wall, SO dropped to the
bottom of said cavity and was carried
there by the living victim for more
than 35 years.
The shot failed to knock Mr. Small
ridge down but it did knock him per-
fectly blind for time and he dropped
his gun, and as soon as his comrades
returned the enemy's fire they assisted
him to a house near where the head
of the column was.
Here the regimental surgeon probed
and otherwise examined his wound
and pronounced it fatal On being
told he must die. Mr.. Smallridge act
ually laughed at them, and told them
he would do no such thing
After waiting some time for him to
die, thing he persistently declined
to do, and seeing with what tenacity
he chung to life, detail was made
and by it he was sent in skiff back
up the Little KanaWha to Chenille.
Here George Phillips was detailed to
nurse him a thing he faithfully did
for 3 weeks, and at the expiration Of
this time he was so much improved
as to be able to be brought by private
conveyance to Weston, and after
short rest, on home.
Mr. Smallridge never re- entered the
service, but has lived and operated a
farm from that time till the 10Th ult.
when he answered the last roll-call.
Abont months ago he sent for
Dr. G. O. Brown, and confided to him
that there had been good deal Of
speculation as to the exact location
of that bullet, and that the chances
were an autopsy would be necessary
to settle the matter.
So the doctors promise was secured
that the next question should be set
tied as soon as might be after his de-
mise.
Then, as the last taps were sounded
on Saturday, the 29th of October 1898,
DIR. Brown associated himself with
DIR. o. B. Beer and the two repaired
to Mr.. Smallridge's residence on the
following day and faithfully redeemed
said promise.
The post norton revealed the facts
precisely as stated above, and as in
contestible proof of it DIR. Brown has
that portion oGthe heart, containing
the bullet, preserved in alcohol in his
office, and the bullet has never been
removed from the spot where it has
lain all these years, and where it has
become firmly imbedded. The annals
OF surgery are challenged for parallel.
Speech ON Athletics.
I<<Zr xrfI 1 L.