Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-31
An Army Surgeons Story

A number of veterans of the Span
ish-American war were telling one am
other notable instances of bravery that
had come under their individual OBJ
servation In the Santiago campaign.
A number of heroic deeds were re-
counted, all Of them cases where men
carried away by excitement seemed 10
have lost realization of danger. All
had given experiences In the line OK
bravery except one who had been
surgeon In the war. One OF the vetsr-
ans, noticing that the surgeon naa
not spoken and assuming that acts e
bravery weIN not to be expected Of
the medical officers, said:
Cheer up, doctor. Remember thar
when man is once wounded the sur
geon to him is Of morefmportance than
his commanding general"
81 remember an instance" replied
the surgeon, where one of our de
partment was Of more Importance to a
soldier than not only his commanding
general, but a whole army"
LET us have it," chimed In every
one present.
ut was just before the surrender OF
Santiago" said the surgeon, clearing
bis throat rather from nervousness
than necessity, as II about to enter up
on n distasteful recital. "There was
one battery on one especial day about
half an hour before dark upon which
the Spaniards concentrated heavy
FIRE. A surgeon was directed to go
over there and look after the wounded.
He went and after giving hasty pre-
lminary treatment to several cases
turned to the next, boy not more
than nineteen years old. who had had
his leg torn by shell only few mo-
ments before. The surgeon saw arte-
rial blood being pumped from the
wound. Thrusting his fingers In, ne
took hold of the artery and, squeezing
Il between his thumb and forehnger,
stopped the flow.
"The Spaniards must have MADE up
their minds to eliminate that particular
battery, for every minute the fire grew
hotter and every minute they got a
truer range. One gun after another
was knocked over, and 80 many OF the
men were killed that the rest, picking
I'D the wounded, got away under cover.
But two live men were left, the boy
and the surgeon. The boy couldn't go,
and If the surgeon let 90 Of that artery
for half a minute the boy would die"
The speaker paused, lighted cigar
and added: 81 leave 1t to you, gentle
men. II that was not a case where the
medical man was Of more importance
to the wounded man not only than the
commanding general, but whole ar
my" He paused for a reply.
"Wellw exclaimed the listeners.
"Isn't that enough to prove the POSI-
tionp
position, rats. Go on with the sto-
ryw
"Oh. the story. Well, the boy knew
well enough that his life depended on
the surgeons holding on to that artery
that is, II some of the shells or frag-
ments Of shells exploding about them
every few seconds didn't kill them both
in the meantime-but he was a brave
little fellow. l mean morally brave'
not brave like men who make dashes
and capture forts, and he looked up
into the surgeons face and said:
can expect. confess do want to get
home again and see the folks, but I'd
rather not face them feeling that l had
chung to you and kept you from get
ting back. Goodby, doctor. Thank
you"
The surgeon paused again, this time
to relight his cigar.
"Wellw chlmed In the crowd.
"Well," repeated the surgeon, don't
you see that the medical man was OF
greater Importance to that boy than
ooh, get of that side track and go Oh
with what you're talking about"
Holding on with his right hand,
pursued the story teller, 1.-THE surgeon
felt through his left pockets-he coul(
not reach his right-for something will
which to make a tourniquet. II he haC
only had q piece Of string about him,
bit Of bandage, anything! But he haC
not. All he had brought with him TO
the days use had been applied to othe
cases. He wanted to get his hand II
his pocket to get out his knife
HAD the firing ceased"
Ceased? No. 1t was growing hot
ter every minute. One shell burst be
side them and covered them with dirt
A fragment Of another knocked Off tn
surgeons hat
Didn't he find anything to tie up tn
wound WITH
Yes. AT last he thought Of tn
locket containing his ladylove's pic
ture, which he had worn suspended b.
narrow ribbon around his neck. II
got his left hand In under his coat
broke the ribbon, managing to slip tn
locket into his pocket, and with ribbo
and pencil made tourniquet."
Again the speaker paused.
Ibid the firing ceaseT
"Of course it did. Everything cease
If you give 1t time enough. 1t got s.
dark tie Spanlards couldn't see. b
sides, when they had made up thel
minds that the battery had been knocl
ed out they had no occasion to fire an
more. 1t was only matter OF te
minutes anyway"
"a pretty long ten minutes, / reckon
That surgeon deserved a lot Of credi
What did he say TO his sweetheaI
about the ribbon that was missingT
Nothing. But the boy did"
1.-The boy! What did he know aoor
herr"
"She was his sister. 'Twasn't muc
credit to the surgeon, seeing that !