The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-25
USES HIS OWN SKIN
TO PATCH HIS WOUND
Brave Crippled Engineer Re-
fuses to Permit His Mates
to Suffer for Him.

DENVER, Colo, March 24.-Tbe
wonderful courage of Harry Bailey may
prevent the acceptance ot the voluntary
contribution OF cuticle that was to have
been cut from tho arms and legs Of
his fellow train and engine men.
Sooner than witness the sight of the
surgeon s knife scaling live skin from
the limbs of Colorado g. Southern rail
road men, Harry Bailey has insisted
Oh submitting to the knife himself. and
the process has been going on the past
three days at st, Luke s hospital, with
no one 10 suffer the pain or make the
sacrifice but Bailey.
This is the result of his ultima tum
and it is the reason his fellow-men
have not been called in Such rush
of volunteers TO aid the wounded engi-
neeT has never been heard of in the
railroad history of the State. aud was
touching evidence of the bond of fel-
lowship that exists between the men in
all classes of service on The road
Naturally the engineers were first to
express their desire TO aid the man who
handled the flyer on the day of the
collision. but the 6remen, who had
learned to know Bailey as the most
considerate man on the road to the fel-
low on the other side of tho cab. were
almost as swift in their proffers of hu-
man cuticle; while the conductors. the
brskemcn, the haggagemen, and even
the tram butchers, were early on hand
TO make sacrifice for one who was
admittedly the most popular. and who
held the throttle on a run that was
easily the fastest and most perilous III
Colorado because Of the schedule and
the condition Of the roadbed.
Appreciated the Offer
Harry Bailey did not spurn the offer
Of these loyal men when he was called
on by representative of the various
branches of the railroad calling. lie
simply told them that he was hardened
to suffering, as any man would be who
went through the terrible crash and the
subsequent ordeal of having every par
ticle Of skin torn from his foot from
toes Ia heel; that he deeply appreciated
the offer and the motives of brotherlv
love and friendship behind the profier,
but he could not accept.
Then the surgeons in charge put
Harry Bailey under the influence of
chioroform and cut strips Of flesh two
inches long from the loft thigh: and
laid them on the right side Of the foot
where the flesh had grown gradually
since tho accident of several months
ago.
Bailey is . man of powerful physique
and before the wreck was in perfect
physical condition. and tho skin from
his own body promptly reunited with
the growing flesh Of the foot when APP
Piled 10 IT,
The right side of the foot is now in
good condition and the surgeons arc
greatly encouraged over the success
they are having with the skin grating
The bottom OF the foot and the heel
will next receive attention. The flesh
is gradually forming over the protrud-
ing heel bones, but it will be many
days before it will be possible 10 graft
skin on the heel as it, Will be necessary
TO allow the flesh full growth before
tho skin Will he transferred from tho
body TO the heel.
Even for this operation Bailey says
that he will stand for the loss of his
own skin.
Ut is stated that if future skin-graft
ing operations are MS successful as those
already completed, Bailey will some day
mount his seat in the right side Of the
cab with the same agility as he did
before tho accident.
When that day arrives it viii he one
of great rejoicing all along the line of
the Colorado & Southern road.