The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-05-26
LEG AMPUTATED TODAY
AT LOCAL HOSPITAL
Operation Was Successful and It Is Be-
Iieved That the Aged Patrent Will
Be Restored to Permanent Health
Soon.

Mr.. J. L. Bufxin, of Buckatunna,
Miss, was operated on at the South
Mississippi Infirmary this morning,
having his left leg taken off at the
knee joint.
The operation was most successful
one and the surgeons are confident
<hat he will pull through yitReut any
riotfs trouble or incident. Although
B years of age, he stood the opera
tfon all right and the surgeons thihk
he will be able to be out within rea-
sonable time, when he will return to
his home at Buckatunna.
The surgeons taking part in the
operation were Drs. Crawford, Donald
and Bufkin.
The wound was one that was re-
ceived in the civil war.
Among the heroes of the Lost
Cause" there are many who have not
been named in history, but their deeds
of valor on the field of battle are
shown best by the unparalleled fight
made in the greatest internecine strugs
gle the world ever saw.
Such a man is Mr.. j. L. Bufkin, of
Buckatunna, Miss, who was one of the
bravest men that ever shouldered a
gun in his country's defense.
Last Friday Mr.. Buflxin came to the
South Mississippi Infirmary to con-
suit with the surgeons of that splendid
institution in regard to the diseased
and painful condition of. his left leg.
He was shot during the battle of Jones'
boro, Ca, August 81, 1864 AS a result
of the wound he was crippled for about
two years. The wound finally healed
and caused him no especial inconven-
! ience for about twenty-four years
when it again commenced to pain him
| forcing him TO use his crutches, the
old wound being the seat of pain. For
the past sixteen or eighteen years, he
has been an almost constant sufferer.
Upon his arrival at the Infirmary
last Friday, the surgeons made a care
ful investigation of his wound and
possible relief for him would be to
submit to an operatior-to have the
left leg amputated at the knee. The
brave old soldier never once fiinched
when the news was broken to him. but
calmly said that he was there to- fol-
low the direction of the surgeons and
whatever their opinion was would be
satisfactory to him. Again he dis
played the true metal that made the
Southern soldier famous the world
over The same true spirit of bravery
that characterized him when he stood
amid shot and shell was with him.
But the shot that has made the
amputation of his leg necessary at this
late day is not the only one that .thi;
brave hero had to contend with
When he was shot in the left leg ant
when comrade was bearing hin
from the blood-stained battle field, h,
received a painful wound in the foo,
I but fortunately this wound never CAV
him any serious trouble. Then, agar
earlier in the conflict, he received
wound in the thigh at Perryville. Ga
but no sooner had he recovered froi
this than he at once re-entered II
service, proving that he never shirks
duty when he was at all able to pc
a. form 1t.
s. The wound for which Mr.. Bufk
Dr. was operated on today was In the C;
.. of the left leg. 1t had grown to be
deep-seated wound. reaching to I
= bone, and there was danger of bic
- poisoning or some otner complicati
II the lower part OF the leg was not
moved.
y Mr.. Bufkin received bis wound
81 GootIuuad IN :, ~ uI&H<