The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-12
A GRUESOME BLUNDER.
Hospital Corps Reports a Live
Man Dead.

Pittsburg, Sept. 12.-He died and was
buried and is alive again. These are the
facts in the life of Private Harry H. Ell
version of company A, Tenth Pennsyl-
VaIia regiment. This statement appears
to be paradox, but it is not, for the
death register of the division field hospi-
tai sets forth that Elverson died at the
French hospital on July q of pneumonia
and the certificates of death and burial
were duly signed and forwarded through
the proper channels to the war depart
ment at Washington, where the name of
Private E1versOn was erased from the liv-
ing and consigned to the list of those
heroes who died in defense of Old Clory
After having departed this life and so
Drlet space OF, two weeks, Private Elver-
son decided that he was not Just ready
for his golden harp and milk and honey
diet. He preferred the beans and bacon
OF his soldiers mess, and besides the an
gels were not congenial to him so he de-
cided to return, and the first of last month
ne aWoke from the delirium of fever that
had attended his illness, and when the
nurse asked him his name he stated that
he was Private Elverson of the Tenth
pennsylvania regiment. The nurse told
him that he was mistaken, and by way of
explanation tried to prove to him that he
had been gathered to his fathers some two
weeks past, but ElversOn would not have
1t, and he StOutly maintained that he had
been corpse long enough and that he
wanted to be a soldier, and that the nurse
might talk until he was black in the face
but that he Private ElversOn of the Tenth
Pennsylvania was alive and we'll again
and that was all there was to it.
The nurse declared that he did not know
what could be done under the circum-
stances, for dead Elverson was, and buried
to make matters worse, and the war de-
partment had been so informed and there
was no hope for it. This was a woefui
dilemma for the young soldier, but he
sent for his company commander and
take his place once again among the Iiv-
ing.
But the story does not end here for If
appears that if Elverson was not dead
and buried, then some soldier had died
and been buried under his name and If
case. question
before the medical authorities was, who
was the soldier that had passed for Ell
Verson? Here lies the mystery that the
medical officers must explain. The facts
in the case are meager, but such as they
buried as Elverson
It appears that at the time the Pennsyl-
vania soldier was taken to the French
hospital another soldier from some other
command was also taken to the same in.
stitution at the same time on the wav
70 the hospital or just after he arrived
there this man died, and in some manner
which no one seems able to explain. the
doctors OF the hospital ascertained that
the dead mans name was ElVerson and
SO reported the death to the division hos
pltal 1t is said that the man died in
the ambulance while being transferred to
ambulance told the doctor in charge that
the mans name was Elverson. Be that
as it may, the man was buried under FL
death and burial forwarded to the Var d Ias
partment. After he recovered ESiverson
at the Preside as a convaiescent. Where
he now is as lively as cricket and none
the worse for his two weeks of non-exist-
ence.
Inquiry at the division hospital does not
reveal the name of the soldier who died
ana was Dur1ed as ElverSon, and one
seems to be able to throw any light upon
the the IDENTITY Of this unknown hero. Elver-
son slated yesterday that he did not know
who the soldier was. but that it was not
bimseIf, and that was all he was posi-
lively certain Of
Elverson is from near P1ttsburg, and
{a1 dter It vas learned by his fritnds at
the. daily recipient of a large mail in
winch he was told what his friends had
Sdlu ana thought of him after death, and
to use his own expression, TT is worth
uylns Tor two weeks to find out how
you are"