The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-10-26
CURING OF AN INCURABLE.
An Uabelieyer's Testimony to tn
Miraculous Act.

Lourdes Is believed by Catholics to
be the scene of wonderful cures. The
unbelieving wag their heads in ridicule
or in pity. Some come and see and go
their way in respectful silence. Others
are forced to believe. At times the
very stones are called upon to bear wit
ness to the great things done. What
follows will be read with interest:
"The French COURTS" says the Free
mans Journal. sare in disagreeable
position. A miracle wrought at
Lourdes has been forced upon their at
tentioa. A man who was injured by a
train brought suit for damages. The
court was convinced by the highest
possible medical testimony that the
man was incurable, and gave him an
award OF some $4,000 and yearly
pension. The incuraible man made a
visit to Lourdes, and is now perfectly
we'll. The railway company has up
pealed for reversal of Judgment on
the ground of error. But at the last
hearing the court refused to reverse it's
former Judgment OH the ground that
the evidence of incurabiity was, from
a legal standpoint, unassailable. Yet
the man is we'll, and continues to draw
his pension, a pension based on the le-
gal fact that he is incurably disabled.
The medical evidence and the action Of
the railroad company afford satisfac
tory proof Of the fact of the miracle.
Yet the courts must hold that he is by
the action of nature and by the art of
medicine incurable; though as a matter
of fact he is -lniraculously."
A councilman Of Limoges, France,
we'll known for his radical views, Val
let Decherat, who went to Lourdes as
a sightseeing skeptic, has been an eye
witness to the cure of postal employe
named! Gargan. The man was among
those injured in the accident Of Mon.
moreau, and for twenty months lay be-
tween life and death. Interviewed by
a reporter of the Courier of Vienne,
Mr.. Decherat, who refuses to believe
in miracles, made the following state
ment:
II left Poitiers with the pilgrims last
Monday, Aug. 10, at half past four in
the evening. took seat in COM
partment alone. On arriving at Angou-
leme. the tain stopped. and the door OF
my compartment was suddenly opened.
A painful sight met my gaze. A man,
who appeared more dead than alive,
was lying on a stretcher, which was
carried by three persons.
Contrary to custom, the stretchel
was brought into the compartment
with the sick man, and care was taken
not to disturb him. The watches took
their places. Very soon I myself be
came sick from the disagreeable odor
of phenol and iodoform, which came
from the body of the sick man. I de
cided to change my compartments and
go on the other side, where met MI
Boutin, merchant Of Neuville.
eve did not, however, lose sight OF
the sick man; from time to time
through the window we observed him
closely and remarked that his body
was as stiff as If he were corpse. A
quarter of an hour after the departure
Of the train, the poor man awoke, his
awakening being due, no doubt, to the
motion of the train. He did not appear
to be very much disturbed by the jour.
ney. We reached I4ourdes at next
morning. Here lost sight of the In
valid and parted with Mr.. Boutin. Al
4 in the evening went to the benedic