The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-09-08

foregoing is from Luther Martin. ESQ pro:ui-
nent citizen Of Lubec, Wood Co, W. Va.
querulous ones, who send the tired sister
on some tritling errand from one end of
the big building to the other, and who are
never suited with anything that is done;
but they are few, and never once have any
of the ladies met with the slightest rude
ness or insult. officers and private SOL
lie side by side-all clad in Red Cross pa
jamas. In nearly every case the mil
lionaires have borne suffering and hard
ship far better than their hostlers and
Wallets. Almost without exception, the
rich young society swells have been un-
expected revelations of heroism, giving up
their own few comforts to needier men,
brave and accomplishing to the last AS
the United States is now SO largely I'M
American, her army was recruited from
all the nations of the earth. Hence in the
hospital we see the unmistakable Irish lip
and eyes OF Irish blue, beside the German
physique on the next pillow, and the
blonde Saxon III contrast to the swarthy
Latin. Some are gray-haired, middle
aged men, Others boys in their teens, and
all are SO bronzed by exposure and IN
kempt as to hair and beard that l doubt if
their own mothers would know them.
Every case is sad enough. Heaven knows
of strong men brought to the gates Of
death, not on the field of battle, but by
unnecessary exposure afterwards and the
criminal carelessness Of their superiors-
and some are positively heart rending.
For example: A young Hercules, whose
name nobody knows, raved five days and
nights III the delirium Of typhoid, until
death ended his sutlerings. He lies in an
unmarked grave, his identity not yet dis
covered. Another mother boy-a sweet
faced, gentle fellow, under 20, died of
lung fever from sleeping on the wet
ground in his rain soaked clothes. Most
of tile men have the local calentura-a
swift, sharp fever which runs its course
in week OF two-induced from lying in
the trenches, with insufficient food dur
ing that dreadful first week in July.
The most peculiar case that has come
under my observation is that of a tall,
bronzed cavalryman, who for six days
and nights has lain most Of the time in an
unconscious state. Nobody knows who
he is. He came rushing into the hospital
one hot midday, week ago, dilirious
with fever, having walked from some dis
tant camp in the broiling sun. He spoke
of himself as Guy and is now known
by that name, though whether it really
belongs to him, as family or given
name, none can say. He spent the first
night alternately stalking up and down
the hospital, imagining that he was com
handing a regiment, and struggling with
the attendants in efforts to leap over the
veranda rail into the bay. Toward morn
ing he lapsed into Inconsistencies, and
lay for three days like one dead-jaw
dropped, eyes rolled far back into his
head the only sign of life faint flutter-
ing of the pulse. Though death was mo-
mentarily expected, the faithful steward
injected medicine into his arm at regular
intervals and poured few drops of nour-
ishment down his throat; and still he lin
gered hour by hour-no fever now, no
weakening of the pulse, no change in the
rolled up eyes and fixed expression. 1t
seemed such pity-a strong looking man
to die and give no sign. On the fourth
day | sat beside him, holding his two
warm limp hands between both my own,
praying within myself that heaven would
send the poor soul back from the border
land of shadows, if only long enough to
send some message to the waiting wife or
mother-when suddenly a change flashed
over the countenance; first an expression
of agony, quickly followed by a SMILE
and then the eyes Enclosed and looked
with full intelligence into mine. Holding
fast the hands, as if by that means to stay
the t1uttering soul, l bent over him and
said, Guy. Tell me where you lived.
will write to your people, He under
stood, and made desperate effort to
speak. The lips moved, but no words
came; then the eyes turned upward again
till nothing but the whites were visible,
and the strange, half unconscious state
returned. But he was not altogether in
sensible. He moved himself to the edge
of the cot, as close to me as possible and
as long as l held his hands remained
quiet, but the instant l laid his hands
upon his breast and tried to move away,
his arms beat the air like wind mills and
a fearful expression came into his face.
So there | sat till Oakland still he made
no sign. Then it was impossible to stay
longer, because imperative duties awaited