The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-23
TWO REMARKABLE CASES
CAN A MAN LIVE WITH HIS BODY
CUT HALF IN TWO?
AN IRISHMAN'S RARE EXPERIENCE
He Came Very Near Having his Head Put on
the Body Of Bloody Dago and Became
Incensed by it. Said to be in
a Western State.
a Western State.
(\ewbern Journal.)

(\eWbern .Joarnal.)
Some days ago. as most of your read
ers are aware a train on the Southern
Railroad, near Charlotte, ran over a
man. completely severing his body in
twain. and the victim Lived for an hour
or more, being able to converse rational
ly and intelligibly. and was talking with
the doctors when he saw the lower
half of his body carried to another part
of the room.
This remarkable occurrence reminds
me of the story recently told by my
friend Lieutenant Nerltas. VINO was
with the American army at Santiago
and vouches for the truthfulness OF the
following remarkable experience.
There belonged to the Rough Riders,
n very gallant Irishman. VINO was ever
in the thckest Of the fight:
In the last in which he was engaged,
he saw a badly aimed SIX pound solld
shot from the Spanish works. take off
the head of an opposing Spaniard, ana
before he could dodge. it came along and
took off his head too.
This was to say the least. very discon-
a strong desire to have his head re-uni-
ted to his body. and was Of the opinion
that if he could get the dis-united parts
to the surgeons that the thing could
be ACCOMPLISHED Whatever the intiu-
ences at work, psychology or what not.
in minute or two, headless body
walked up to where the Irishman's
head was lying. picked 1t up, and by
rf tl,n hyrp, .i1sI fn rho
rear, where the surgeons were at work.
The body with the head under its
arm walked up to one of the surgeons.
and the head at once requested that it
be attached to the body. as it was both
unnatural and uncomfortable TO be going
about with ones head under ones arm,
to say nothing of the strange appearance
it presented which was eminently cal
culatea to cause remark. All this was
said in inteligable English but with
a meIlifiuous yet unmistakable ''brogue''
that clearly indicated the nationality or
the impprtunate one.
The surgeon. looking up from the OPP
Grafton then engaged upon tine amputa-
ton of a poor fellows leg) asked with
some surprise what side We're you ON,
in the fight =
.Why! the American, to be sure.
was the reply.
.Well Them said the surgeon, there
is some mistake here. for the body that
is carrying your head has ON a Spanish
uniform
An expression of intense disgust pass
ed over the Irishman's features as he
took in the situation. and he remarked
with the most intense Scorn:
1.-THE bloody Spaniard was looking for
his own head and didn't have sense
enough to find it. and picked nre up in
stead--but i will never be fastened to Il
Spanish uniform and addressing the
Spanish body said, You numbering
theft! hurry back to the battle field and
put me in charge of me own body, or
I'll kill you!'
The Spanish legs, influenced by the
Irish threat. hurried back to the field
where the dual decapitation had taken
place. and directed by the Irishmans
keen and interested vision, soon located
the body to which the head belonged.
Addressing his own body, the now
irate Mlesian said, Get up out Of that
We devils own laziness! here am thrOt-
ting this Dago's legs off looking for you,
and there We are, lying as nate and com
Portable as il We Were in feather bed.
with devil a thing in the wurreld to
bother We: Get up. and take me from
this bloody foreigner and lets ''get to-
gether' for If you are not purity quic!
about it yell not live half your days.
Being thus energetically and abusive
ly addressed by its own head, whose OBJ
jurgative capacity the body knew fnll
well, it arose as though moved by gal
vanic shock and influence, and Selling
the head by its hair the body under
instructions hurried toward the hospi
tai quarters.
Arrived there. the 'head'' addressing
the same surgeon to whom it had before
applied. said, 'NOw Doctor I am righ
at last Place drop everything and pu
me head on the shoulders OF this laz,
devil av body, that ! found up in thu
field beyand taking life as aisy as i
there was nothing to do
The surgeon filed with admiration a
the pluck and endurance of the galan
Hibernian, and being withal a very cap
able member Of his admirable profession
went to work with ardor and earnest
ness with such dizziness and skill, tina
he soon made satisfactory conjunction
of the severed members, -administere,
an opiate. placed the patient in charg
Of careful attendants.> and i'm a fey
weeks the brave Irishman was inyalide
to the United States, and is now in
Western city.
JOHN SAVAGE.
Newbern. y. c., July 8, 1899.
"HE THAT ANY GOOD WOULI