Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-14
ONCE CHAMPION SKATER.

Interesting History of One who is Playing
n Mouth Organ Along Market Street for
Pennies.
For several days the people of WILL
mington who have business on Market
street have had their attention directed,
by he strains ofsa mouth organ, toward
q footless young man as he sat at
different places, along the sidewalk,
with his hat in his lap, indirectly,
through his musical efforts, inviting
the charitably inclined to help him
financially. A few have taken conf
passion upon him, on account of his
misfortune, and made contributions
toward his little fund.
lie is a rather good-looking young
fellow, with an honest face and his
dress and manner give him the stamp
OF mendicants frequently seen on the
streets. Of this city, For this reason,
he comes in for a share of attention
where some who are soliciting aims
would not be noticed. 1t needs no
second glance to convince one. that he
has been unfortunate, but there arc
few people IN Wilmington who have any
idea of how he came by his misfortune
or have any conception of his past. He
has history, and an interesting one,
too. a one time he was famous, he was
champion skater of the country, but
through an odd circumstance he met
with his misfortune and is now forced to
appeal to a charitable public to assist
him in his journey through life.
His name Is Victor L. Bathrick and
he is native of Springfield, Mass. He
is % years of age. When boy be was
we'll developed and long before reaching
maturity he was over six feet tall and
weighed 1876 pounds. Now he is nothing
like his former self. When Is years of
aye he was fine specimen of manhood
and gave one the appearance of being
much older. In his early boyhood days
he developed great: ability as a skater
and in 1892 was admitted TO he Mas
sick Skating Club of Springfield. In
that year he won the championship of
the club, and with it the champion
ship of the State of Massachusetts.
After gaining this distinction he was
matched for contest with Edward
Powell of Toronto, Cam, and in nine
mile skate on the Connecticut River,
near Brattleboro, VT, defeated Powell,
making an average Of mile in one
minute and 521a seconds while Powell's
time WAS l.53 Bathrick broke the
record. which he held until last year,
when George Powell of Quebec, a
brother of Edward Powell, made the
remarkable time OF 1.50.
When Bathrick broke the record he
received handsome medal. 1t was
during this record breaking contest
that he met with his misfortune. Ha
started out that day in the best OF
spirits and with host of admirers fol-
lowing him. He was cheered along the
ontire distance, and at the end of the
journey was carried for milo or so on
the shoulders of a crowd of his friends
who were beside themselves with Joy to
think that their champion had defeated
tho great Canadian.
Ii is needless to say that Bathrick
was Just as happy as his friends, and,
although his feet were very cold, he
was too much engrossed in the thoughts
of his achievement and the fame he had
won and TOO busy receiving congratula
tious to think of any Inconvenience he
might be experiencing from the cold.
But wheE he reached home he noticed
peculiar numbness on the top of both
feet, at the places where the straps
crossed. When he gave himself the
usual treatment after skating trip the
sensation WAS peculiar and he then
realized that something was wrong. He
consulted DIR. Breck of Springfield and
the latter found that the blood in the
veins where tine straps had crossed was
frozen and had his feet Ilaced in ice.
Various kinds of treatment were re.
sorted to, but all to no purpose, and il
was necessary to send the patient to a
hospital. There the treatment was also
unsuccessful, and in the course of time
aangrene set in. The feet began to
mortify and the only thing then was tu
make amputations. The trouble ex-
tended to the legs. The bones were
affected and it was necessary to remove
the marrow. Fourteen amputations
were made to the feet and legs, but by
good work on the cart of the hospital
staff, most of the bone in the legs was
saved.
Finding that the bones were good,
| thesphysicians set about devising a plan
that would not necessitate cutting them
off. They were successfully and by
patching up the bones with $3.50 worth
of gold and silver and other material
and placing thereon flesh taken from
over 5000 other people, a pair of legs
were Lut together and kept intact. As
| the new flesh was put ON it knit and
grew together and the operation proved
| success. One Of the persons from
whom flesh was taken was colored
woman. She was present during one oi
| the operations and insisted upon doing
her share toward helping the patient
| and from her arm was taken small
bit of flesh, which was placed at the
end of one of the leg bones and grew
along with the white fiesh.
Z In this manner the legs were restored,
but there were no feet, although arti,
| fetal heels were made, and Bathricll
can get about, although be experiences
some difficulty. He has been sick or
several occasions since leaving the hos.
pitaI tho first time, and recovered from
| his last illness only short time ago.
| He believes that he is becoming stronger
and hopes to be able to mako his way
through life. At ono time he began the
study of medicine, but on account o.
| his physical condition, was compelled
| to give up the effort but he is using al
| OF his time whio not on the street il
studying and is epdeayoring to educate
himself. He intends to follow his
present vocation only until he is able
i to start himself in some small business
| venture. He has no prospects and has
hit upon this plan of making living
as the only course open to him.
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