The Florence tribune., 1898-02-26
WOUNDED IN THE lmAsinArloN.
UniOae scarfpisa of Negro vsho Was
 Not Born to Die of DrIiet.

UnfQae Scarfpia Of n Negro Who Was
 Not Born to Die of q DrIiet.
 The wonderful effect of the inagina- tion upon the mind of man has been demonstrated repeatedly by persons who were willing to experiment. Speaking of this peculiarity, New Or leans physician who was for many years connected with the Charity hos pital gave striking illustration in the course of conversation with Sun reporter.
 As you know began the physician, T have long taken an interest in gum shot wounds of the abdomen, and have followed the treatment Of some very complicated cases. was in my room at the hospital one day when an am bulanee surgeon came 10 me and said that a man suffering from a gunshot wound in the abdomen had been brought in for treatment. Like 90 per cent. of such eases, he was eolored, for the southern negroes, unlike their northern brethren, have more faith in the pistol than in the razor, and pre- fer to shoot up rival in love or busi- ness to the more laborious method of carving, so much in vogue north of Ma son and Dixon's line. The wounded man, big athletic chap of 30, was stretched upon couch, and at the first glance his time seemed to have come to leave this world. He was breathing laboriously, and the ashen stamp of death was apparent in his face. asked him where he had been wounded, and he placed his hand upon the left side of his abdomen, where the blood showed plainly upon the light material Of which his clothing was made. He had all the symptoms of man bleeding to death as I stripped him for more critical examination.
 "When I got look at the wound l found it mere tear of the flesh, not much more than skin deep, from which the blood was flowing quite freely. I saw that the bullet had been deflected by something, and told the negro to stand up. He groaned violently and as sured me that it would be the death of him to move, but I finally persuaded him that he was not hurt at all, and that after a dressing of coiiodion had been applied to the wound ke could go home It was a study to watch the mans face as the truth davned upon him. Fear gave way to doubt and doubt to the complete realization of the situ- ation, end he grinned from ear to ear as he stood up- asked him 10 shake his clothes, and as he did SO the bullet dropped to the floor.
 ''I had noticed that the man wore q bullet set in a brass mounting as scarf pin, and as he stood before me I re marked:
 You seem 10 be fond of bullets. Has that one in your scarf pin his tcry?'
 .W-what bullet? he stammered, as he felt for his pin and with quiveriug fingers withdrew it from it's resting place. I nevah had no bullet in nah pin, boss he said, in terror, and then I noticed that it wasn't mounted as icweler would do it, but sort of wedged into place, with tapping of the edges here and there.
 q asked the man how many times he had been shot, and he said twice. Then it was all clear to me. One ball had spent itself upon button, which was found attached to the bullet on the floor, and the other had struck the stronp brass crescent scarf min and had wedged itself there. That negro cer- tainly wasn't born to be shot to death, and 1 know he hasn't been razored yet, for l met him in St. Charles street the other morning with the unique pin in his scarf."-N. Y. Sun.