The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-12
DYING IN A SWAMP
2. e. JOHNSON OF SAVANNAH WAS
FOUND
IN WOODS NEAR PINE0RA.
HAD HAD NOTHING TO EAT FOR
FOUR DAYS.

Left Home Saturday Night and After
Wandering About for Four Days
His Strength Gave Out-Is suffer-
er From BriGhts Disease-Wns
Discovered by "a NeErO-A Train
Was FIngged Down and the Man
Was Taken AbOnrd-QuarreI With
Relatives the Direct Cause for His
Leaving HOme-Was Going No
where in Particular.
Starving and dying from ex-
posture, Il. ]. johnson was found in the
woods near Pineora. and brought to
Savannah. and is in critical eondi-
ton at st. Joseph's Hospital. When
found he had been without food for
nearly four days, and for day and
night had lain in the woods suffering
from chills and fever. and from a
wound to his hand.
When picked up by the side of the
railroad by the incoming "Shoo-fy'
train, he was in a pitiful plight. Had
it not been for the presence of mind
and prompt action of several passen-
gers. and the careful nursing
which the unfortunate young man
received at their hands. it is probable
he would not have withstood the
ravages which hunger, disease and ex-
pcsure had made on his system.
story Of His Rescue.
Wednesday morning at Pineora,
shortly before train time. when the
passengers were awaiting the arrival
of the local accommodation train from
Guyton, a negro reported that he had
seen a young white man lying beside
the railroad track about three-quarters
of a mile from Pineora. He was
stretched out on his back and, judging
from the groans, was in great pain
The negro had seen blood on the
mans hand. and was of the opinion
that he had been run over by train.
1t was then but a few minutes of
train time, and the passengers realized
that something must be done at once.
Mr.. w. L. Gignilliat had just arrived
in his buggy, which was still standing
near the station. Securing a red flag
from the agent, he gave 1T to Mr.. ID.
II. Dixon. who left at once for the
place pointed out by the negro. The
two men drove out of Pineora just as
the train came in sight. Mr.. Gignilliat
informed the conductor Of the ne2ro's
discovery, and asked him to keep a
lookout ahead.
Covered with Dirt and Blood.
The engineer, seeing some object
on the track-side, had just be-
gun to decrease the speed of his en-
CINE, when the man bearing the flag.
followed by the negro, appear
ed and signalled the engineer
to stop. A place was provided for the
young man in the baggage car, and he
was placed on an improvised stretcher.
He was in a pitiable plight, and
with difficulty told of his experience in
the woods. His clothes were dirty and
dusty, and dirt and blood covered one
of his hands. In crawling from the
woods to the railroad. he had cut his
hand upon broken piece of bottle.
To those VINO. gathered about him on
the train Johnson told his story. He
had been out of employment for some
| time, and had suffered from Brights
disease. These things had almost GRAZ
ed him, and in a fit of anger and des-
| peration, caused by a recent quarrel
with relatives, he had set out on Sat
urday evening, he knew not exactly
| for what place-on foot, resolved to
shake the dust of Savannah from his
| feet.
with Chills and Fever.
Being in i'll health, after walking
| nearly thirty miles, he was exhausted.
| He had trudged along until he could go
| no further, and when he sank down to
rest in the woods near Pineora, he was
so completely overcome by fatigue and
| disease, that when he attempted to rise
and move on, that he was not physical
| ly able. A short distance from the
| spot where he had lain down to rest, he
was found the next morning. By an
effort he had dragged himself to the
| track-side, where he might be seen. He
| had eaten nothing since Saturday
night. Disease had undermined his
| system, and he had suffered agonies in
the woods. All through the cold night
he had shaken with chiTls and fever.
! The abstinence from food and exposure
had aggravated his malady, and he had
| commenced to give up all hope, when
| found by the man with the danger flag.
shown Many Kindnesses.
Those who heard the mans story,
| the truth of which was written on the
| features of his face. were touched with
pity for him. DR.. Mingledorff, who
| was a passenger on the train, secured
| immediate needs. A lady on the train
| gave the unfortunate man bottle of
milk which she had brought with her.
DR.. Gignilliat paid his fare, and on
| reaching Savannah, engaged a hack
and sent him to the hospital. All were
anxious to do all in their power for
! him.
1t was reported last night at the hos
| pital that Johnsons health was slowly
mending, and that all that was needed
TO bring him to his previous condition
of health was careful and patient nurs-
ing. This he is receiving at the hos
pital. and it is probable that he will
| be out after a short while