The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-03-14
Keeping Him
Alive
BY F. A. Mitchell


a captain III the army in the Philip
lines, was on his way to see his fathe
before he died and was expected every
hour TO arrive. He was the apple o.
the old soldiers eye. They had Tough
together in the Spanish war
The colonel had seen his son wounded
and carried past him to the rear, but
had refrained from any further ex
preston of grief than God bless
you, my boy" and had pressed on at
the head of his regiment. The son had
recovered and after peace came had
been sent to the United States posses
SiOns in the Pacific.
When it was known that the colonel
had not long to live the son was mott
tied and, having secured Il leave of alb.
Sence, sent word that he would start
for home Immediately. They told the
father that his boy was coming, and
for time it buoyed him up wonder.
fully. But his disease was rapidly
wearing him out. and he soon fell back
again.
Doctor" he said to his physician.
"can you keep me alive till my son
arrives"
Il shall try, colonel"
But you must"
Il can't work miracle"
The colonel was not satisfied His
doctor was an old man brought up in
| the old time school, and his patient
wished for younger blood, one who if
he could not defeat natures laws could
by daring and a knowledge of their
workings produce some marvellous re.
suits. So the next day he called in Il
young man noted for his original meth
DDS and, dismissing the old doctor whs
had been attending him, placed himself
under the young doctors care. These
were the instructions he gave him in
the language he would write an order:
You are not to attack my disease
with view TO curing me- You will
use every effort, take every risk, to
keep me alive till my son arrives that
we may meet once more on earth. In
case you succeed $4,000 will he poil
you from my estate by my son, whom
| shall instruct verbally to do so. If |
am able to give him the Instructions
you will receive the money. If am
not able to give them you will receive
nothing but an ordinary fee"
Never did Young musician have n
better chance to make start in his
profession. The doctor devoted him |
self personally day and night to his M. |
tient. Ten DAYS remained from tha |
time he was engoped haPore +ba c,n-
tain could possibly reach the bedside |
Of his father. Every stimulont known
to the profession was administered 70
the invalid but in spite of NIL of tham
he gradually sank. EIGHT DAVIS naSsad
md there was barely enough strength
left in him TO keen him conscious
Then came a message that the shin
in which the son WAS coming was
making port at San Francisco
Whpr n TELEGRAM was rnceivod an.
nouncing that the caDtoin had Iaft tba
1 known
that he would arrive ON time in threo
DAYS at noon. The doctor fold tho
colonel of the time his son would hp
with him and urged him TO nerve him.
self to fight death.
lie is coming" said the old sol
der resolutely. land l will hold the
position till he arrives"
But twenty-f0ur hours before the
captain was due severe storm set in,
and the weather conditions have
marked effect on those struggling with
disease The old soldier held out man-
fully till the morning of the day his
son was expected to arrive. Then he
fell away 50 rapidly that his doctor
felt obliged to administer the most
powerful heart stimulant known to the
profession. 1t revived the patient, but
not for long. Then oxygen was APP
piled and lastly galvanism.
BY such means the doctor succeeded
in keeping his patient alive till the I
hour and minute the train was due
Then came word that it was an hour
dlc' Nul HlOIIleHt INC uuctOf was
Then he resolved on what
proved a stroke of genius. The colonel
lived near an army station, and the
lOctor telephOned the situation to the ;
,onmandant and asked him to send t
detachment, with firearms and blank I
In half an hour twenty t
men under command of 4 serpeo nt yyere !
before the coloners door. {
\ carriage darted up to the house, |
md n young man alishted and ran in. '
;ide and upstairs. Kneeling by the bed
lie exclaimed: /
4