The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-01-19

Handicapped by an impeachment In
His Speech. Joseph Eager Took a
Desperate Chance That He Might Be
Better Fitted to Work For the
Cause of Socialism.
Blanched by loss of blood and the
closest call from death known to Dies
lIo.aesIaD physicians in many months,
5oscph Eager lies on a cot at Still col
lee hospital, slowly regaining the
stYen2th which he lost after delicate
s;l:.-.c,,. operation performed a few
Cs;..rs ag9. says a Des Moines special to
tie Il Louis Post-Dispatch.
;~ci' IS q Socialist.
During the past few weeks he has
been negotiating with the Des Moines
branch OF that party with a view to
becoming it's business agent for the So
cialists of Polk county and giving all
his time ard energy to the cause, for
which an ardent devotion had devel-
oped in the young engineer. Eager has
been for months in charge of the en-
CINE room of the Elliott hotel.
From babyhood he has been ham
pered by an impeachment in his speech,
resulting from the growth Of the inner
flesh of his cheek against the gums OF
his upper and lower jaw. Three times
within the past few years he consulted
specialists in regard to this detorm1ty.
One noted surgeon in New York told
him the operation for the separation
of the parts might be successfully per-
formed. but that the chances were IS
in 100 that the patient would bleed to
death under the surgeons knife. An
otier specialist in st. Louis and third
sChicago gave the same opinion. The
operation, therefore, was delayed In
definitely.
"I'll take it this tfme," Eager told his
friends and the doctors when he an,
nounced finally his determination to
have the operation performed. IF 1t is
successful I will be able to speak eff
fectively for Socialism. If it fails you
can get another for the work." he told
the comrades" who protested that the
risk was too great.
Surgeons at the college performed
the operation. The flesh of the cheek
was deity cut away from the jaws,
the raw surfaces were packed with an
antiseptic preparation to induce their
healing apart the patient was fed, and
recuperation set in. Eager grew steadi-
~ better. The comfort and WEAKNESS
of the sickbed gave way to restless
ness, and in a few moments Of the
nurses absence Eager got up, dressed
himself and took a few turns about his
room for exercise.
The shock to his weakened system
started his wounds to bleeding. Eager
got back into bed and waited for the
nurse to return. To her he explained
what he had done, and the doctors
were sent for. By the time they ar
rived the patient had weakened from
the loss Of blood. Desperate efforts
were made to stop the bleeding. Ev-
cry plan known to the surgeons was re-
sorted to. They all failed. All day and
all night the lifeblood Of the young en-
gineer flowed from the open wound in
his cheek.
More doctors were called in. Other
measures for stanching the flow Of
red blood were tried. Again they fail
ed, and all that day the bleeding went
on, slowly, steadily, mercilessly. The
patient grew weaker and weaker.
He cannot live" said the surgeon
whose keen blade had opened the
wound.
''My friend" the doctor said turning
the whitened face of the sufferer,
-s-ryOu have any people, any very
dear friends, any father, mother, tell
u.s. We must send for them
Eager smiled family. His lips part
ed as if to speak The doctors bent
close to catch his words There was
no sound
Hes too far gone to talk the doc
tor said
A series Of questions were put to the
young man, and after many minutes
the physicians and Pagers friends IN
derstood that the man had no rela-
tiVes anywhere. He was a member Of
the Highland Park lodge of Odd Eel
lows and signified that he wanted that
order to take charge of his body.
All hope had been given up when
another doctor came into the sick
room. He suggested a new remedy.
Eager helpers rushed across the street
to tbs college, broke open window
and gst a quantity Of gelatin. 1t was
fed to Eager generously. He took it
eagerly and showed signs Of gaining
strength Within an hour the new Of
blood had ceased, and the doctors an
nOunced that the young man would
get we'll
In MemOriar1.
Admirers of Mark Twain believe he