The Washington times., 1918-05-05
BLINDED SOLDIER
TELLS HOW It FELT
TO REGAIN SIGHT
Continued from First Page.)


writing for patriotic purposes, I have
felt the most intense gratitude to the
good people who have showered me
with kindness. ! must say that when
! found that the curtain OF darkness
was lifted from my eyes, ! expert
Fenced a thrill which will be my most
vivid recollection for the remainder
OF my life.
Thankful For sight.
When I became certain that the re-
| turn OF my sight was not a cruel
dream, and that henceforth I should
be able to look upon the faces OF
my friends and view the world as /
I did when. a light-hesrted boy. I
sprang the colors in defense of the
I empire. menaced by the Hun. l could
not help stopping for a brief moment
and offering a silent prayer OF thank
| fulness. No man who has not expert
enced the shock entaiIed in the loss
hottest degree the feelings which
I surge through me, now that / am
again in a land OF light and / know
| that can go on as other men and see
tho Glories OF a breaking day or
watch the sunset sink at eyentime be-
( hind the hills or far horizons in the
/ level country.
I want to say TO the people OF the
United States, through the columns OF
| The Times. that just as soon as have
/ completed my lecture contracts on
behalf OF the various patriotic activi-
ties in which / am engaged, l will
again join the colors and go back
7
an opportunity OF putting a number
OF Huns in the place where they will
be pushing up daisies" as we say
in the service when a man is buried
The battle in which ! was blinded
was fought on the GallipOli peninsula
December s, 1915 We were charging
up a steep declivity when there was
an awful, woodworking explosion.
and ], among others, staggered back
and fell to the ground. / was uncon
scious for some time, but at last came
sense OF returning consciousness.
which was followed by the dread
realization that though still alive, !
was blind.
Given Small Hope.
Regular physicians ascrlbed my
condition TO shell shock and were
not at all encouraged as to the pos
sibility OF my ever regaining sight.
l. however. kept on and hundreds OF
physicians. some famous specialists
in England, France and the United
States, have examined my eyes, all
coming to the same conclusion, that
only a medical miracle could save
me from going through life in the
black mists.
Now that Moore has, by a simple
manipulation, restored my sight. !
shall proclaim his name wherever
20 and tell my audience. wherever |
I speak. OF the simple manner in !
which this man brought my sight |
back to me.
My one ambition now Is TO com |
plete my lecture arrangements and !
get back into action. where every |
able-bOdied man should be. There is
a battle line in France that needs |
strengthening and II is there 1 want |
to be. lighting shoulder to shoulder |
with the gallant American lads. the |
brave French. the indomitable Brit |
Ish. the fine Italians and the men OF
Canada and Australia whose dash and |
daring have won the admiration OF |
the world and the bitter hatred OF
the Huns. who haven't got the ply
steal or moral courage to face u.s. |
man to man. in the open field.
In closing my statement I desire 10
express TO The Times my thanks for |
Its courtesy and enterprise In giving |
to the readers OF The Times the full
truth as to the manner IN which my
eyesight was restored.
Goes to New York.
Mr.. skeyhill will leave Washington
this afternoon for New York where
he will take 4 weeks rest at a SAINT
tsrium. He Is accompanied by seTEt.
J. Roy McLennRn. who is also vet
eran OF the war and who still carries
a Goodly supply OF shrapnel IN his
body. Sergeant McLennan Joined
SiRnaller, Sksyhill at San Francisco
p few weeks ago and will accompany
Aim TO New York, after which he will
make a trip back to his. home at Van
noklyer, b. C