The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-12
4-e-----------------
WALKED WITH BROKEN NECK.
John Moriarity TrudGed From DObbs
Ferry to YOnkers and AstOnishetl

From the New York \


From the New York World.
Although his neck was broken five
weeks ago. John Moriarity, who is 65
years old, walked more than six miles
from Dobbs Ferry to Yonkers yesterday
morning, and announced to the surgeons
in ST. Joseph's Hospital that he would
like to lie up for repairs.
Sceptical at first, the surgeons found on
examination that Moriaritys astonishing
diagnosis of his condition was correct, that
his neck was indeed broken
Marvelling that the man could survive
the injury which their examination dis
closed, and astonished that he was able
to walk unassisted not only for such a
distance but even at all, Drs. O'Neill and
Talman Immediately summoned all their
consulting staff, whose Amusement was
no whit less than their own.
1t was decided that the extraordinary
patient must undergo a surgical operation
of most delicate character no less than
the resetting of q fractured vertebrae. a
broken part of which presses upon the
spinal cord This will be attempted when
Moriarity has rested after his terrible
journey, and the old man, weak as he
now is, says confidently that he will live
for a long time yet.
The surgeons were amazed when they
every word of which they believe is true
1t didn't occur to Moriarity for a long
time that he should go to hospital. The
realization came to him only with in
creasing agony
Poor, friendless and without relatives
Moriarity five weeks ago was engaged as
a hod carrier by a contractor who was
then erecting some buildings at Dobbs
Ferry. He fell from a scaffold, a dis
lance of twenty feet He was uncon-
scious. For two weeks he lay insensible.
He was attended, he says, by a Dobbs
Ferry physician whose name he cannot
recall. When he recovered his senses he
found that he could walk and suffered no
pain, so he dispensed with the services of
neck was broken. Then he felt pain at
the back of his head, and day by day it
increased in severity until he determined
to walk TO Yonkers.
With the aid of cane he hobbied into
the Yonkers Hospital yesterday and askei
for the house physician.
well" said DIR. O'Neill, "what can
we do for you? What's the natter"
MY necks broken" said Moriarity.
Tho doctor thought the man was Joking
Let me see you walk" said the doc
tor. Moriarity limped a few steps with
the aid of his crutch. He could move his
left leg only by a swaying motion of his
tor asked where he came from. "Dobbs
Ferry" he said. Howe" asked the do
tor. walked" said Moriarity.
He was put TO he'd. and Drs. O'Neill and
Talman examined him with care He
complained of an acute pain at the back Of
his head.
They found that one OF the vertebrae in
the neck had been broken and pressed
upon the spinal cord. The man was par
alyzed musculsrly on the left side, but
was sensitive to the touch. The Right
side of his body. although he retained The
use Of the muscles. had lost all sensation.
That he could walk such distance An his
condition the physicians are utterly az a
loss TO understand. Suffering and exertion
had overtaxed even his extraordinary vi
talty. and he was very weak last even
ing. but no less confident than ever that
he viii survive the operation which will
he performed ia a day or two.