The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-18
LIEUT.. READ WINS
STRUGGLE To LIVE
Former Naval Aid to Taft
Leaves Hospital.

After fighting against death for more
than a year. Lieut.. Semmes Read.
! L. S. ~, former naval aid 10 the Presi-
dent whose back was broken in two
places while taking the officers riding
test, is on the road TO complete recovery
Once given up by naval surgeons as
hopeless. Lieut. Read has fought for life
with grim determination, and has won
At the Naval Medical School Hospital.
where ne has been confined since the ac-
cident. physicians are now confident ne
will soon be well,
Lieut. Read took a carriage ride about
the city yesterday, and is in a happy
frame of mind He has recovered to such
an extent that he is able TO make his
way about the hospital in wheel chair.
though he has not yet found the use OF
his lower limbs.
Physicians at the hospital lay his mi
raculous recovery to his indomitable
fighting spirit Since the day ne was in
jured. Lieut.. Read has displayed remark
able grit and fortitude. never for a mo
ment giving up hope that he would re-
cover. As he gradually regained strength,
his spirits improved.
statement of Physician.
At the hospital yesterday, Assistant
Surgeon Olds, L. s. n, said: Lieut.
Reads complete recovery. is looked for.
He Is progressing- every day. He cannot
use his lower limbs yet. but that is one
thing we hope for ultimately"
Lieut. Read, at the time of his injury.
was executive officer Of the Mayhower.
as well as aid 10 the President While
riding with other officers in Rock Greek
Park on March IS 1863, his horse fell
upon him.
He was taken at once to the Medical
School Hospital. Besides many minor in
juries, it was found that the spinal
column was fractured in two places, ana
that slight brain paralysis had de- |
veloped
An operation was performed a few
hours after the accident and TWO spinal 1
arches that were pressing against the |
spinal cord were removed. He recovered |
before the operation was |
begun and bore the ordeal bravely
After the operation. Lieut.. Read saw
President Taft and talked with him for |
some time Lieut.. Read was cheerful in /
the face of death and talked with his /
chief about the accident Il thought I /
was jumping a five-foot fence" he told /
the President smilingly. as his only ex- |
planatOn of the accident.
Members of his family, who We're out /
of the city at the time, were called to his /
bedside by physicians. who believed death /
10 be but a matter of a few days Lieut. /
Read rallied and has steadily improved /
since.
Expects to Walk Soon.
During the past winter. Lieut. Reads
condition led physicians to believe that
he paralysis which has rendered the Off
Ger helpless might be cured. Lieut. Read /
believed the same and is sanguine that
he may soon walk Some time ago, when
the warm days set in, he expressed the
desire to be Out-of-doors.
Several times a week, when the weather
IS clear, he may be seen driving on the
speedway with members of his family
and chatting gaily about the outdoor
beauty.
His parents Mr. and Mrs William ]. |
Read. of West Virginia. have been in the
,ity almost constantly since Lieut. Read
vas hurt. John NJ, Welsh, of 5000 T
street. is cousin of the officer.
Lieut. Read is one of the most popular
# the young officers OF the navy His
light for life has been watched with
oneern throughout the service.