New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-22
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
Colonel Ayme's Recovery from Loco
motor Ataria, Thought Incurable.

HtOtOf tUttfLy II HOtbs1 'U
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The writer had the pleasure of meeting
Colonel Louis II. Ayme who may be recalled by
many as being associated with the exciting
events that crowded upon the heels or the
awful Martinique catastrophe. for being at or
near the scene of this wholesale asphyxiauon'
this incineration of the community Of st. Pierre,
the Colonel was the first intelligent white man to
stand amidst its ruins-seventy-twO hours after
it's destruction-and he sent forth the story OF
Pelee's dreadful work forty-eiSht hours be-
fore any other newspaper man Che is an eX-re-
porter arrived the ground: and. as United
States Consul at Guadalupe he was in charge or
all the relief expeditions and supplies sent from
this country. his particularly notable action in TINS
latter connection, having been his prompt tahd at
the time. seemingly unwarranted) stoppage OF
what afterward proven to be the indiscrimi-
nate and excessive shipments OF these supplies TO
the of disaster. Only those on the spot knew
though. the really heroic part he played.
Since 1886 he had been sufferer from locomotor
ataxia. and when the news of Peees fierce havoc
reached him he was stretched upon such a couch
of pain only sufferers from that dread disease
can know. With the instinct Of the newspaper
man. which hesitates at cost to or sacrifice or
self when the chance of scoop presents ITSELF
he had his clothes drawn his bandages. and,
dragging himself from his bed. he set out for
Martinique what he thought would be- at most
four days trip. but which really extended over
some five weeks, during which, besides performing
the relief work, which of itself would have taxed
the strength of a in robust health. he was
constantly the beck and call of host of news
Survived the ordeal bu: another instance of what
the feeble tenement OF clay can WIthsiand ~4 1S
the spirit occupying il is brave and faithful 20 the
When at last Colonel Ayme sailed for America
his friends said, They viii bury the poor fellow
at sea" And one whom he met recently-a news
his obituary! He then weished but 1C4 pounds, his
But it viii perhaps interest the reader the more
if the tale of Colonel Aymes suferngs and OF MS
he is interesting talker. one possessing the gift
Il did not notice" said he "any serious trouble
until about 1896, when the disease first began 10
N rtan command OF the powers CT locomoti9n;
yd lSs the9e SIMMONS 9 f5G duy fraaercy
and intensity. soon arriving at the stage
nuence of my pain racked merry es-tne ne[Ce Ior-
pTicks compared with my agony.
Il had taken no treatment of any description un5
til them but; unable to hold out longer obtained
leave of absence. and, coming home, placed my
self in the hands OF The best physicians and under
went a course of palliative treatment when gave
some slight mOmentary relief; but the attacks of
my post and continued the tTeatment for two
years. though the disease rapidly went from bad
and unable to walk the least distance without ex-
cruciating pain and a sense of overpowering
fatigue rhe great strain Of the Martinique epi-
sode aggravated my case and caused TWO coiiaPseS'
Just then fYlend sent me clipping from Inc
extraordinary interest taken by the physicians of
that city in the cures of ocomOtor ataXia and GER
}
WIFE, afs4 fb Anditorm FEiIdnr NoV would
nue. ; Sa ' iTt HIM fbat Held ont even the
faintest hope of succOr; so | fastened TO Chicago
featment of Dr. White at his great Goat Lymph
Santarium. after which l returned to Guadaloupe
walks without experiencing any undue fatigue.
treatment internationally, whereas the latter, to
accomplish the best results. should have been con-
'Do you not then consider yourself entirely re-
stored?' the writer asked.
well suppose 1 answer you thus: / was down to
about 10 per cent, am now up to 50 per cent; ana
cent assuming the latter to represent a condition
nights and DAYS Of torture I endured-I once had
a siege of eighty-four hours. without moment 5
bore his internal auger into my bones. just above
Knee, and then, suddenly lifting the handle. would
tear up the splintering bone and quivering nerve,
eyes moment since alight with joy at the mere
thought OF ms e1ahcllduoI IIoin 'ie Aohe OF tlts
more eloquent of the story of his sufrerings Than
But his is naturally bright, hopeful spirit and
the next moment he was moving about The room
and turning quickly face about, to show the writer
limbs. A minute later he was relating the story
Of his long and unaided tramp oyer souhTiere, on
tiles given him by Mr.. James Gordon Bennett (at
the truth of Colonel Aymes boast that he had been
snbect in III Herad Of sTnGaS Sn May
10, 1903. he said; and then he added. his animated
/ but that was chid's play to the expedition I
made IN April last when l climbed three much ,
miles of the toughest kind of travelling en-
! countered-and I have tackled high peaks in all
parts of the world. | made this trip in company
with government and certain other well known
biologists, and though l permitted none to render
me the least assistance, wishing to accomplish this
arduous climb unaided TO prove to myself. perhaps
much to my friends, entire recovery,
experienced I'll effects"
It naturally occurred to the writer to inquire
why is not the Goat Lymph Sanitarium repre-
scented here in this great city?'
at is ne answered. 1T has just leased the
handsome residence No. II East Thrty-second-st
where It has installed competent staff and is al
ready work relieving the stricken In this and
certain other diseases in which it is peculiarly eff
cacoUs. Why don't you look ii up?
visit would amply repay the time expended"
Colonel Ayme in recognition Of his services dur
ing the exciting period following the Martinique
catastrophe has been promoted to the consulship
At Para. He intends making trip up to the
headwaters OF the Amazon, and expects to eat his
Christmas dinner in the shadow OF the mighty
Andes. And that's certainly not q journey that
sufferer from locomotor ajax ia-or, indeed. any
other sick man-would undertake.
RICHARD WAYNE WILSON.
New-York, Nov 20, 1903.