The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-09

his way from the shadow Of death,
lies Wilson S. Fredericks, the subject
of the most marvellous skin grating
operation in the history Of medicine.
To the loyalty of fellow -Masons aud
business friends and the skill of the
surgeon will the wreck victim owe his
unheard Of rescue from sure and
painful end. When he leaves the
hospital one half the skin on his frame
will be from the bodies OF others, q
cuticle patchwork of overs 900 pieces
donated by scores Of men, who, living
miles apart, travelled without pay or
profit to testify under the knife their
sense of fraternity.
The case presents o trinity of re-
markable features,
No man has ever survived the loss
Of such o large area of skin.
No previous grating case on record
shows suoh IN honor roll as shis-lO6
m3s already cheerful martyrs TO the
call Of suffering, while eshs7s compete
fer che privilege.
No case c0ntradiots medical outhori-
ties 30 completely as that Of Fred.
erieka. The authorities have elvays
claimed that che limis OK ousSaoe over
which maa may be burned or seald-
ed and survive 10 ons.third OF the
body. FredeFioke lost fully one-halR
the total area os his ekiu. He is not
only practically certain 60, survive,
but it is neas!y %, sure chat he will
go through life practically unmarked.
The wonder works OF this feat Of
science 10 DR.. Albert fittia. DE-.
Pittis has made Fsederioks' case q
labor Of love from che time no saved
him from the steam and flames Of q
dreadful train wreck, and now he has
saved him from Deaths second as
sault, the slow, stealthy invasion of
the sick room. To DR.. Pitts friend
ship, enthusiasm and skill Fredericks
owes his life as we'll as to the UNIQUE
outicle overcoat given by company
Of friends. ~
On the afternoon of January,s2e
1903, the express from New York for
Philadelphia, on the Central railroad
OF New Jersey, plunged into the rear
OF the eastern looal'' near Grace
land, three cars Of the local being
telescoped, and almost every person
In them was killed or injured. The
tremendous momentum Of the express
train, composed Of heavy vestibuled
cars, carried the engine Of the Ayer
clear through the rear car OF the local
and half way through the second car,
which in turn telesooped the one in
front. Sire broke out in the wreck,
adding torture to the helpless injured
and steam escaping from an overturn.
ed engine boiled and blistered many
OF those who had escaped the crash or
the flames.
One of the first Of the rescuing band
at the wreck was DR.. Pitts. He was
busily at work when Frederioks saw
him and cried to him as he passed.
Fredericks was a friend Of the physi-
cian and q felloW-lodge member, and
wasl no saw his plight DR.. Pitts
fought dcsperately to get him out be-.
fore the end. Beyond that he had
little hope, for il was evident then
that Fredericks was q terribly injured
man. ..:
Az soon as he was freed OF the
wrsckage DR.. Pitts had the sufferer
hurried TO the hospital. He was
given o private ROOM, placed in an air
bed, and 10 charge Of two trained,
nurses. and then began the long battle
for life. It seemed hopeless .fight,
for the soalds were extensive, the
parts affecsed being the left side Of
the face, the left arm, both ears and
both legs from the groins to the shoe
tops, The shoes saved the feet from
injury. Frederioks was entirely raw.
! and denuded Of skin on one.half, his
body. &. \
Under the circn mstancsS skin graft
! ing, the forlofn hope, seemed auda.
scious. Bnt Dr.. Pitts ID; 4 milita.nn,s
surgeon. While the patient VA Gar.
ried through the often fatal period 81
shock 81 the administration 81 whis.
key /. and champagne ID large qnanti.j
ties, the Doctor cass about busily for
she needed puticle. he consulted;
I. iirst With the Anohor lodge 81; Iaaonis,
sof Plainfioid, % which both Re and
Fredorieks belonged. DE. Pitsis told
his fellow Masons that there was no ]
9ocus left for new skis TO form otis| GIG
FEreds rioks burns, and thai their COM,
srsde's only chance FOR life lay. inI|
seeming skini IA llargs Is QUAINT itiss from from