The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-20
REMARKABLE CASE
Returning SIGHT
FROM BIT FRONT

WASHINGTON, May 18.-The gas
cloud the bayonet thrust, and the but
let wound have caused many q repe-
tition in the war OF the familiar story
of the Light that Failed" But,
among the thousands Of combatants
whose blindness will ever through
their lives prove poignant sacrifice
is one who almost miraculously has
recovered his sight. And, as an inspir-
ing sequel to the story OF his physical
rehabilitation, the victim has an
nounced his intention OF going back to
the trenches.
It was in the fierce fighting before
Gallipoli in 1915 that Thomas Skeyhill.
a signaller in the Anzac forces, was in
stantly blinded by the blast OF an ex-
nloding she'll Following a terrific
bombardment from the Franco-Darda-
nelles. thousands OF Irish. Australians
and New Zealanders with British and
French troops landed in an effort to
sweep past the defenses OF the PENN
sula and take Constantinople.
The world knows the story. For
nearly a year the Allied forces strove
valiantly to take defenses that proved
impregnable Thousands of lives were
sacrificed, and many bodies We're
manned by the whitening fire that
came from the foes positions on the
hilltops. 1t was in December, 1915, jus.
about a month befor, the Allies car
ried out their splendidly successful
evacuation that the light was taken
from Skeyhills eyes.
Months of service had given Skey.
hill a deep insight into the motives
that had induced his comrades to sac
rifice gladly their lives. Incapaciated
for further fighting, he sought to
preach the gospel Of the Allied effort
from the lecture platform and through
the press. Although barely over his
maiority-he enlisted at the age OF
nineteen-he soon became known as a
powerfully effective lecturer. His
speeches were instrumental in ralfying
hosts of Australia's manpower to the
colors, and his verse, published under
the title of Soldiers Songs of Anzac, =
through the Antipodes as the blind
soldier poet"
Recently he left Australia. where his
name had become household word. to
come to America for a series of lee
lures in the interests of the Red Cross.
His first addresses at San Francisco
We're heard by more than 10000 peo-
pie. He met with similar successes IN
Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver and finally
In the national capital.
Although suffering from his physi-
cal disabilities, Skeyhill announced his
intention OF inaugurating an individual
drive with the object of raising a nli-
lion dollars for the Red Cross. He had
been afflicted with violent headaches
for more than a month. In San Fran
cisco he had been obliged to go to q
hospital, in Reno he had b1ed nearly to
death from hemorrhages, and in Wash
ington he suffered greatly from pains
in his neck.
A Washington specialist found that
the vertebrate at the base Of Skeyhill's
neck had been dislocated in three
placed, presumably by the shock that
had blinded him. A simple osteopathic
operation was undertaken, and as the
yertebrae were snapped back into po-
sition the sight returned to the SOL
dier's eyes. 1t was explained by the
physician that the displaced bone had
impaired circulation and nerve connec-
tions with the eye centers of the brain.
AS the realization came to Skeyhill
that the darkness that had hung over
him for more than two yeyars had been
dispelled, he became seized with an
ecstatic joy that nearly unhinged his
mind. His mind became blank con-.
corning the years that had elapsed
since his injury, and he imagined him
self back in the bayonet charge In
which he had been wounded. His con-
dition became so acute that he was re-
moved to hospital, but after nights
sleep he regained his mental poise.
Skeyhill Immediately after the opera
ton was able to see objects with per-
feet clarity, but for several days was
afflicted with color blindness. This
rapidly is disappearing, and his sight
is expected to be as good as ever in a.
short time. His case is believed to be
the first in which complete cure of
has been effected
The soldier-poet will complete mis-
work in the Red Cross drive, and then
will try to reioin his Anzac comrades
in the trenches.
LAx-FOS WITH PEPSiN
A Liquid Digestive Laxative pleasant
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