Evening star., 1909-08-27
BILL" A JOlyIAR At los
LAST SURVIVOR OF FRIGATE
CONSTITUTION BREAKS LEG.
Head Is Clear, but His stPins" Are
Weak-Loves His OF
Pipe Still. >

NEW YORK, August 27.-William Mace
abee, 105 years old, the sole survivor on
the crew of the famous old frigate Con-
stitution, is lying in a critical condition
in the hospital of the United States Naval
Homo. on Grays Ferry road. as the re-
suit OF fracture Of the thigh.
The veteran salt, who, until the acci-
dent, was accustomed to take little walks
| unaccompanied, was recently stroiling
down the corridor OF the home when he
became weak, and went to a chair to
rest. In his attempt to reach the chair
he fell and fractured his right thigh.
He was carried at once to the hospital
of the Naval Home. which is on the
grounds, and has been confined 10 his
! bed since the accident. Yesterday It was
learned that he was In a condition which
has left the physicians in doubt as to
his. recovery
Previous to the fall no man at the
home within a quarter of century OF
his age was more spry than ''BilP' Mac
abee. But. as he sometimes explained
to the distinguished naval officers who
called to pay their respects on his birth
days, his legs at times vert back on
him. Lying propped up with pillows
in his bed yesterday. his eyes were clear
and, when spoken to, his look was COM
prehensive. but his words came slowly
and with difficulty.
MY head Is clear he said, when ask
ed how he felt, but my pins gave out.
Broken bones don't bother me much.
sonny, I'm too old for that. Now, il
they didn't let me have my old pipe [
oil pipe have good time whenever we
get together. We've been together quite
spell. and I reckon are about's COM
Portable as any pair our age Yes, I'm
restin' quite comfortable, thanks
Physicians say that the bones Of a man
los years old are practically lime. and
that for this reason the fracture caused
little pain. But regardless OF the painful
ness of the operation, a fracture OF tho
hip coming to one at this age is necsssari-
ly a delicate injury. The physician In
charge said yesterday that while Macabee
may outlive the results Of the fall he
would be compelled to spend the remain
der of his days on an invalid's chair.
His case is being watched with the ut
most care. AS the attendant expressed it
yesterday, Under such conditions life
may end at any minute"
Nearly 100 Years Old.
Should Bill Macabee live TO see the
sun on the I'D day OF next month he will
then have reached the age OF lO6 years.
His life. entw.ned as ii is with the hts
toric old frigate Constitution. is sumcient-
ly remarkable to stamp him as a man OF
extraordinary interest. Macabee, who was
porn in Bait more in 1903. enlisted as u
cabin boy on board the frigate Constitu-
ton shortly after the War OF 1872 and
became an able seaman on the famous
craft.
He was in active service during the civil
war until its close and remained In the
service of the government until his age
compelled him to go on the retired list.
Since then he has been at the United
States Naval Home, this city, where he
has been a favor!te among his comrades
and has received much attention from Of
ficers of the navy.
On his 1OOth birthday Macabee was
visited by Secretary Moody, accompanied
by a stan Of men high In the ranks Of
the navy. On this occasion he joked
much I'm regard to his age and laughingly
predicted that he would be 'one OF the
crew. for some days to come. He spoke
of his room as the "forecastie" and dub
bed the corridors OF the home the 'up-
per- and the ''main decks
Since then each birthday has been prop
erly celebrated with a big dinner and 'iex-
ira rations" all round, his comrades join
ing in the celebration.
Although subject to the infrmitiee OF
age. Macabee has enjoyed good health
until the day OF the accident.