Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-06-11
the demonstration reached It's eli

| Of sanity. His head was in bandages
| and he muttered incohercnt phrases
as he tossed in a fever of delirium.
Among those who greeted the re-
| turned castaways at New Orleans
was Robert Van Horne, editor of
the Record, who arrived in New York
| in time to take the special train
south. Mr.. Van Horne did not re-
turn to New York with the happy
| throng. He brought with him three
of the most famous specialists in
the country, and soon stood at the
bedside of Walter B. Hestor. Mr..
Van Horne alone knew the recent
history of the man who now hovered
between life and death. He gave the
physicians the essential facts in the
case.
A year or more before Hestor had
been injured in China. While CON
Quoting an expedition into the inte-
rior of that country his party had
been ambuscaded and in the melee
which followed Hestor was knocked
senseless by a blow on the forehead,
delivered with great force by some
blunt instrument. The attacking
Tartars were driven off. The i'm
mediate effects of the blow were
slight, but several months later Hes
tor had a severe attack of acute
traumatic meningitis, from which he
apparently fully recovered after
long illness. Later he complained to
Mr.. Van Horne that his head troubled
l.
symptoms and was much worried.
Acting on Mr.. Van Horne's advice,
Hestor consulted specialist in brain
diseases. He was informed that in
all probability a clot of blood from a
ruptured blood vessel had formed and
was pressing against the brain tissue.
Hestor agreed to submit to an oper-
alton, but postponed it and went on
another cruise. He suffered no fur
ther attack, and the incident was
forgotten by Mr.. Van Horne. 1t was
wildly recalled when Chalmers wired
his suspicious.
An examination at the hospital dis
closed the fact that the Seymour bull
let had plowed it's course past the
point where Hestor had sustained
the blow some il months before
Without going into details of sun
gerry, it is sufficient to say that the
gun shot wound exposed and par
TALLY relieved the blood clot; the
existence of which had been sus-
pected. 1t was successfully removed.
For month Hestor hovered on the
border line, and then slowly moved
away from the danger point. Sidney
Hammond and MIR. Van Horne alter
mated in remaining in New Orleans
until he was on the road to recovery.
Hestor had no recollection of events
subsequent to the Chinese expedition.
In his delirium he imagined himself
at the head of his men in that far
away Celestial empire. When he
awoke from this fantasy, clothed in
his right mind, he recognized Sidney
Hammond and greeted him with a
pleased but mystitied smile.
How came you here, dear old fell
low?" he asked as he reached out
a wasted hand. "What are you doing
in China? What is the matter with
me? All, l remember now! That
pig-tailed beggar hit me on the head.
But where did you come from, Sid
ney?"
Sidney made nOn-cOmmittal an
swer and warned Hestor that he
must not talk or disturb himself in
any way until he regained his
strength. During the period of con-
valescence Hestor's curiosity was too
great to be denied, and Sidney evolved
a wonderful fabrication, which gave
a rational explanation of how Hestor
happened to be in New Orleans,
rather than in some city of the
fowery kingdom. 1t was apparent
Hestor did not believe or understand
this statement; but like all inyalids,
he was compelled to accept with the
best possible grace what was offered
him.
The physicians in charge of the
case prepared a statement in which
it was set forth that Mr.. Hestor had
been suffering from clearIy-de-
fined attack of amnesia, preceded by
a period of mild dementia. 1t pos
sessed many remarkable features,
"Do you believe his recovery per-
mancnt one, doctor?" asked Sidney,
anXiously.
"Quien sabe?" replied DR.. Brown.
There is no reason why it should
not be a permanent one. The cause
is removed, and Hestor is now appar-
emily in fun possession of his fac
ulties. He is a strong, healthy man.
and there is no taint of insanity in
his family. The truth must be kept
from him until he has entirely re-
gained his physical strength. lie
should take a long ocean cruise, in
company with some one in whom he
has complete confidence. That means
you"
When these facts were explained
to MIR. Morton and his associates,
they were unanimous in a decision
TO take no legal steps against Mr..
Hestor or against Capt. Waters.