The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-12-06
BLIND MAN GETS
ANOTHER BLOW
ANACONDA MAN WHO HAS SUE
FERED MUCH INJURED IN
AUTO ACCIDENT.
Story of Hardships of Richard Young
Shows He Has Much Grit and a
Perseverance That Has Surmounted
Many Obstacles.

After being deprived of his sight
for years, Richard Young, OF Ana
conda, better known as Blind Dick"
is in an Anaconda hospital suffering
from an injury to his spine that has
paralyzed him from the waist down;
three broken ribs, a dislocated shout
der and internal injuries received in
an automobile accident. Attending
surgeons hold out little hope for his
recovery, but if he does there is ev-
cry likelihood he will be a helpless
cripple for the rest of his life.
Car Skids on Ice.
Young spent Sunday visiting coun-
trymen and friends in Butte, as has
been his custom during the last few
months. He made the return trip
with r. Steenkist. On a stretch of
icy road in the vicinity of the hump
the rear wheels of the light car be-
gan to skid. While Steenkist was
endeavoring to regain control, he was
blinded by the brilliant lights Of an
approaching machine and his WI
went into the ditch and overturned.
Steenkist suffered a fractured rib and
severe bruises but was able to pull
Young, who was unconscious, from
beneath the wreck. Later the two
were picked up and brought to the
hospital.
Brave in Adversely.
Mr.. Young, who is a native of Bel
GUM, has been a resident of Ana
conda and Butte for more than 80
years. He is about so years of age
and held in the highest esteem
throughout the community. He sus-
tanned an injury while blasting
stumps in Arkansas in the '90's, and
a tumor developed. In May, 1903, he
underwent what is said to have been
one of the most remarkable opera
ever performed in St. James
hospital in Butte. DR.. Gregg re-
nor measuring five and one-half inch
IS in circumference. The following
rear he contracted a cataract on his
light eye and other complications de-
Another operation followed
)ut 1t was too late and he became :
blind.
Despite the hardship under which
lie was placed, he refused to become |
discouraged, and started to train him t
elf for the future. Being able to t
peak a number of languages fluent 1
he started what he termed a "cit- r
zenship'' course, and instructed per- :
ons of foreign birth in the rudi-
nents of American citizenship. His
uccess soon attracted and his classes :
rev in size. 1t is said that no ap-
licant for citizenship who had stud 0
ID under "Blind Dick aver failed /
} pass the required examination. e
He was also a proficient musician, +
both brass instruments and E
lie accordian. Paradoxical as 1t a
ounds, he played by note, using a de- !,
ice of his own invention. It con- :
of a one-inch plank about three I
Get long and several inches wide. {
q it he had bored a number of quar- v
holes, arranged in perpen- e
rows, in a series of three rows e
} each line of music. In one of the +
ows are short pegs with their tops q
happened to points, which signify =
sharps." Pegs with flat tops, repre- :
ent flats, and pegs with beveled :
Dps represent the different positions e
f the scale. BY taking the board on l
is lap, he would have a friend read N
ne score of some popular piece of n
lusic, and he would place the pegs O
} agree with the written score. That d
Ompleted he would study the piece F
y feeling the tops of the pegs with
is fingers, and woulGr have it MEM
rized before attempting it on an
h