Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-21
EXPLOSION FOR RHEUMATISM.

''The blowing up of the Maine is responsible for many things in recent history, but I know an instance ill which it cured effectually bad case of rheumatism," observed war de- partment official. land a case which is worth telling about.
 sThe man cured is Brigadier-Gen- eral Francis s. Guenther, of the artil- lery, who was retired to-day. In Jan uary, 1898, a month and half before the blowing up of the Maine. General Guenther, then lieutenant-colonel, was a member of the court-Inarlial which tried the famous Captain O. NJ. Carter case at Savannah There were fifteen army officers on the court, which was presided over by Maior-General Otis then brigadier- general. Down there, as well as hereabouts, there was con- l siderable war in the air long before the disaster to the Maine.
 l "A couple of weeks after the trial I got under way. Colonel Guenther had an awful attack of rheumatism. His legs swelled up so much that he had to be lifted about, and when he sat in the court they rested unon pillows on chair under the table around which the court was seated. The case got to be so serious that the war department sent an army surgeon down to Sayan- nah from Port McPherson to attend him. Now, every one who knows Gen eral Otis knows that he does not have much to say on any subject and i writes even less, as was evidenced by l his reports on the war in the Philip pines. It is also pretty well known that he does great deal of thinking, however. On the assembling of the officers of the court each morning they went into a side room in the custom house, where the court was held, and put on their uniforms and swords. Colonel Guenther, being in rather bad shape from his rheumatism, was some what slow in getting on his military harness. The officers, from General l Otis down, constantly rigged him in a 1 good-natured way. for they claimed to have discovered that as the rumors of war increased the rheumatism got worse and worse.
 One morning the reports ill the morning papers were particularly war like, and by coincidence Colonel I dutuIueT WAS very late III drrlVlQg Ill attendance on the court. The officers waited for him, however, to get ready and as they marched into court Gen eral Otis remarked to them as they l took their seats: T suppose if what the papers say to-day is repeated to- l morrow Guenther won't be able to take q step.' Another one suggested to the surgeon that if he expected any l favorable results from his treatment he had better keep the newspapers from him altogether. Anyhow, the rheumatism grew worse and worse and it was plain to be seen that Col onel Guenther suffered a great deal
 Things ran on that way until the night the report came that the Maine had been blown up. February 15. This news acted like magic on Colon el Guenther, actually curing his rheu- matism. In one hour after he had heard of the fate of the Maine he was l cured thoroughly, and he has never had pain or an ache since, the Maine cure having been a permanent one. The moment the court had found it's verdict and dissolved, Colonel Guen- ther telegraphed the war department for active duty in the field, which ser vice was given him. and every reader knows the rest. All hands agree that it was the fate of the Maine which cured him. Washington Evening Star.