The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-16
WANT PENSION FOR
HERO WHO OFFERED
HIS LIFE
Ex-soLDIER. lNocuLATED WITH
GERMS OF YELLOW FEVER AS
EXPERIMENT, is AN lNcuRAeLE
INVALID.

SOUTH BEND. Ind. March l5.-
One OF the brayest OF the heroes who
served in the Spanish-American war
is John X. Kissinger. OF this city This
young man. 81 years old. who today
lies In his little home in remote
section OF this Hoosier City. does not
realize this, however. and but for the
Intervention OF friends the history of
his remarkable career would have
been screened from the knowledge OF
the world. although recorded in the
archives OF the war department. His
friends will ask pension FOR him.
A, martyr TO medical science. Kiss
niger is an invalid for life, the last
hope OF recovery having been sent
Pickering from his thoughts when the
doctors attending him pronounced his
case myelitis. or inflammation OF the
spinal marrow. His ailment is the re-
suit OF experiments made upon him
when he volunteered 10 become a sub
ject for xperimenting purposes in
the yellow fever hospital in Cuba.
L lie UlhiucT III Which Nhc ypuhN
South Bend soldier made the offer 10
sacrifice his life was an exhibition OF
courage not surpassed In the annals
OF medical science. Knowing that the
chances of recovery were greatly
against him, Kissinger walked up
10 Major Reed. the Walter surgeon
in charge OF the army camp, with the
simple words, Doctor. | will go TO
the. hospital as one OF your patients.
believe | can be inocuated with the
germs OF yellow fever from the bite OF
mosquito"
IL salute you" replied the major. A
few days later Kissinger was suffer
ing all the tortures Of the awful dis
ease
Kissinger at the time he made his
noble sacrifice was a private in the
hospital corps OF the regular army.
Previous to his enlistment he served
as a member OF the Studebaker Tig-
ers. the One Hundred and Seventy
fifth Indiana volunteers. having en-
listed at North Manchester, Ind. In
answer to the call OF President Nc.
Kinley for troops.
Refused a Reward.
While on duty in the hospital he
learned OF the desire OF the govern
ment to conduct the yellow fever ex.
periments. The brave trooper stipu-
lated that nothing was to be said CT
his case. at least until he was dis
charged as cured or had been claimed
by death He even refused TO accept
the 5000 which the government was
Offering TO the men VIII weore to risk
their lives for the benefit of a great
cause.
IF am to undergo this experience
IL must not be in the hope OF secur-
ing financial reward or glory" he told
the officers in charge, whatever l do
will be for the benefit OF mankind, and
were TO think of accepting a reward
would feel that there was COM
mercial side TO the case and that
would be unpleasant"
The story OF his sacrifice. told by
Kissinger In his own fashion, is thrill
ing yet he feels that he did only what
any other man under like circum
stances would have done.
Il enlisted for service In the Span.
ish-American war; he said During
the time | was stationed in Cuba as a
member of the hospital corps. Dr.
Reed began talking about the expert
ments which were to be made by In.
oculatng a patient with the yelloW
fever germ through the bite OF mos
quito When | became imbued with
the idea that | ought to be one OF the
men TO submit to the ordeal | offered
myself to Or. Reed.
"'Do you know tina. the chances for
death far outnumber the chances OF
recovery for the men who suffer vel
low fever?' he asked.
81 have considered all that re-
piled
Well. there will be considerable
money in II for you II you recover
That's where you make mis-
take" | told him. IL am not going
into this matter with the idea that |
am TO be paid"
Mosquito Applied to Wrist.
Following the interview Kissinger
was placed In quarantine for 8 days
to make sure that he had not been ex
posed 10 the fever. A mosquito was
applied TO Kissinger's wrist, but the
bite failed 20 take effect, and Il was
found necessary to bring a second
mosquito into play. On Dec. s Kiss
niger was taken Ill., the fever gripping
him with a suddenness AMI In so ur.
expected a manner that Kissinger did
not al first realize that he was SER
iously ILL.,
"On the morning OF the day was
taken ILL.," said Kisslnger. II felt a.
well as | ever did in my life. When
/ was awakened from my Afternoon
nap. though ! was having a heavy
chill. and when | attempted TO rise
TO secure covering. | was unable to
move when began 20 warm up, sue
ceeded In attracting attention. and
with the arrival Of the physician
came the announcement that the fever
had me in It's grip and that the case
was regarded as serious. From then
on until Dec lg | knew nothing that
transpired. When | was finally dis
charged as cured vas appointed as
hospital steward TO act in that capaC
ity until ! was able 10 travel. Then !
was given three months furlough.
Before leaving camp for my -
diana home. was called before the
headquarters and presented with
gold watch and chain. on the watch
being engraved the words. To Jonn Il
Kissinger. for courage This was the
only thing that | received. and this
being a gift, I was not averse % a
cepting it KissinEer carries he
watch and looks upon Il as his choic
est possession.
DEDCs nEEEA nDTxyES