The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-27

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The Pocketbook That Saved Aaron
Wark's Leg and the Bullet 1t
Stopped.
away to war. The story has even been
swiped by the movie manufactur-
ers. But tho experience OF Aaron
Warlk, q soldier OF the list Indiana,
who is a visitor in Topeka today. was
q little different. It wasn't Bible.
but q little iron-bound leather pock-
etbook. and he didn't carry it just
above his heart. 1t was in his trou-
sers pocket, but it delayed the jour-
otherwise have passed through his
thigh bone. and resulted. most prob
ably, in an amputatton.
Mr.. wark enlisted in tho list In
diana, Company r. in July, 1862. 1t
was in the battle Of Richmond, KY,
that the little purse played part by
DETECTING the ounce of rebel lead. but
did not prevent a serious wound. The
bullet denied the iron rim Of the
purse and then slid around into the
Thigh. but did not fracture the bone.
1t would have crushed the bono had
1t not been for tho detection caused
by the obstacle.
NOW 0I. w dxh Ia a "a OoPCA0u0 A0A
mer Of Birmingham. Kan, where he
owns 400 acres Of good land. And
when he came to Topeka, he brought
along the old, battered purse and the
battered slug of lead that was re-
moved from his leg. The bullet end
left it an interesting relic Of Ameri-
can history in the making. A little
ivory folding comb that was in the
purse at the time. is stin in the COM
partment, where the bullet removed
some of its teeth-rough dental work.
1.-The comb was not all the purse
contained that day." says Mr.. Wark
in telling 1t. 1.-THE battle was the day
after pay day, and the purse was full
of money-we were too busy to
spend it them
A Suit Of Clothes.
Today, we all honor the blue uni
form, and consider it a mark of dis
tinction. whether the full-buttoned
coat Of the veteran from the soldiers
home or the civilian cut that marks
the g. A. r. 1t would be hard for
the youner of us to imagine q time or
place where new suit of civilians
clothes. worn by a man between II
and So years OF age. made the wear
er Intentionally conspicuous, while
a uniform attracted no attention
whatever. A story of such q time
and place was told, several years ago.
by G. W.. ellis Of Wabaunsee county,
a soldier who has since passed to his
month after Lees surrender, and the
place St. Louis. -
Thousands of soldiers gathered in
st. Louis when they were mustered
out" said Mr.. Gillis in telling the
story of his new suit. There was
not new, clean uniform among
them, as for months the clothing Is
sue had been light. on the theory that
the war was about over, and st. Louis
was the gathering place of a great
army Of the worst dressed men in the
world, but everything they wore was
OF government origin. Shoes that
were worn and broken, trousers with
six-inch whiskers on the bottoms OF
each leg, battered, colOrless caps and
campaign hats and ragged blouses
buttoned to the chin to hide the alb
sence OF q shirt; that was the regular
garb. I had not worn anything that
was not issued by Uncle Sam for four
years, and I yearned for some good
clothes. I had some money, and I in
vested q wad of 1t in some garments
OF the current style. went down to 9
wharf. made a complete change and
showed the discarded uniform under
g. pile of lumber. But when I agar
invaded the main streets, I saw my
mistake. That new suit of clothes
shone out like q lighthouse on a DARK
In less than an hour my modesty lee
me back to the wharf and the lum.
Der pile, and I came forth q plain
unnoticed soldier. with q funny look
ing bundle Of store clothes under my
ARM
Like Knights OF Old.
II was the same soldier ellis wht
modestly explained the scar of g. wount
that had almost separated his RICH
thumb from the hand. 1t was told no
boastfully, but rather as a tribute t.
Al powerful foeman. But the battle o
Hastings furnished no incident tina
beat IL for the romantic part Of war.
ft was q sabre duel between two stron,
men who met in tho southern hills. i
troop Of Union cavalry met a rebel ad
vance guard. and the fight was on a
short range. ellis and q huge, blacl
bearded, well mounted reb seemed to b
paired or by mutual consent. Thei
revolvers were empty when they rod
together with the rush Of plumed Cru
saders at tournament Without
word they went to It and: FOUGHT
The slxirmish drew away In the THO
woods, leaving them alone to. thei
grim duel. Both were swordsmen. an
they needed their skill. Even tn
horses understood the struggle an
entered into 1t. biting and sQualing
the fighters circled. ducked. parted an
slashed. The point OF Gillis's weapo
split the rebels hat brim. and tn
blood from q long tear down his tempt
and cheek dripped from his black hear
and then. with a mighty cross shouide
stroke he drove his blade through IN
- ~ IN