Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1915-05-06
Richard Keane

The friends ands contributors to the
Richard Keane fund 1.-THE little boy
whose feet were crushed by the cars in
the yards four weeks ago and who had
one foot amputated and three days lat
er was taken TO St. Mary's hospital at
Madison) will be sorry to learn of his
unnecessary suffering. Wednesday last
ne had to undergo another amputation
on the same limb from which the foot
was removed, this being the second am
putation at Madison. Infection had set
TO such degree before he was taken
to Madison that an amputation was
made couple of days after he was
there. The bone was scraped as far as
could be reached, but, not withstanding
all this, another amputation was neces-
sary and portion of the bone removed
Thursday night word was received (also
Friday night that he was doing as
we'll as could be expected considering
the conditions which existed.
These conditions should never have
existed, nor would have, had Richard
Keane been other than a poor boy.
The night the accident occurred his
mother had just returned from her
days work, washing and cleaning,
which work she does and has been doing
for the past two years to support her
self and three children, this being the
only support she has. She started to
build the fire to get supper and going
out into her yard to get some kindling
she was startled on hearing faint cry
for help coming apparently from the
freight train which was in the yards.
with horror she recognized the voice of
her boy. Mothers, can you imagine what
ner feelings must have been during those
few seconds. She ran with all the speed
her strength would allow, only to find
herself blocked by the train, she being
on the south side of lthe track and the
boy had crawled under the train from
the north side and his feet were crushed
On the north track. He called to her
telling her not to fear that he was all
right. Before she could get around the
long train he was picked up and taken
away in an auto. He begged of them to
wait for his mother, who, he said, was
on the other side Of the train, but they
did not, and Isome one assisted her to
her home. Later she was taken to the
boy. The right foot, which was crushed,
was dressed and the little sufferer taken
home, put to bed, just as he was picked
! up, his clothing left on.
ENobody was left to care for him; re-
action set in couple of hours later in
the left foot. One of the neighbor
] women who had volunteered to stay
all night thought the boy was surely
going to bleed to death. She wrapped
soiled sheets and every rag she could
find around that foot to stop the
flow and finally called up other ply
sicians to come. They refused. The
poor boy suffered untold agony until
ten O'Clock the next day. Then that
foot was amputated in that awful
house where, owing to the moth
er's absence every day, nothing
was clean or in any fit condition to
have an operation performed on a hu-
man being. Is it any wonder that an
awful case Of infection set in. He was
left in these surroundings for three
days. Why was he not taken to the
Baraboo hospital or some place where
sanitary conditions existed, if for
nothings more than this. He at least
could have been made comfortable and
clean andShad someone to attend him
that night, who had experience and not
be left to thta mercy of people who
did not know, nor were not told what
to do when reaction should set in. The
hospital was suggested but was not
favored. If lives are to hang in the
balance of petty prejudice, what is Bar
aboo coming to and why boost for new
enterprises when those we already
have are ignored.
From one who thoroughly knows and
keeps in touch with the case.
Mrs. A. G. Ringing.