Montana oil and mining journal., 1937-11-27

Plunged into a world Of darkness
by the loss of his eyeslght, Ray
McOuay, 80, Butte, CROPPED his way
with a cane or was led through the
streets and business establishments
of the Mining City for the last five
wears. Now Ray McQuay traverses
freely those same streets Of Butte's
business district, thOrOughfares
with which he had become familiar
when he was a newsbOy, q high
school and college student and
young mining engineer embarking
on a career.
His eyesight has been restored;
Raw needed no assistance to locate
places and he didn't have to rely on
sound to recognize those frlenoS ne
Knew before cataractS-brought about
bv an inflammation that was not dis
coyered-blotted out his vision.
"rhere have been many changes in
the last five years" Ray related after
a tour of the business district. Some
of the places are as / viSualized them
from remodeling descriptions given me,
and others are different.
'sThe greatest change I notice" he
continued. "iS the extreme stream1lne
designs Of the late AUTOMOBILES, tne
brilliant colors in which tney are
painted and the greater NUMBER n
use.
"Anpearances of many friends have
,l,o,,stej h11t not to the degree that
cannot recognize them. OF course, there
are the people met during my olind-
ness and must rely on my. sense. OF
so1Ind to recognize them when they
..probablv the greatest change I have
seen in any one individual IS In the
appearance Of my wife, have been a
preat burden on her during the 1lVe
Years and her face Is marred py hnes
of worry-but I know they Will leave
her now"
Mr. and Mrs. McQuay returned to
E,1tfa early last week from Portland,
Ore where Ray underwent two opera
tions OF an extremely delicate nature
on his left eye. The right eye Is stlll
without sight but only for the present.
before leaving for Portland two and
q half months ago where Mr.. McQuay
nlaced himself in the care Of DR.. E.
Merle Taylor, an eye specialist, he was
able only to distinguish between light
and dark and he could detect pro-
nounced shadows.
Now he can recognize places, dis
tino11ish colOrS and read large type.
Until the scars of the operation on the
eyebau are completely healed, Ray VIII
he unable TO read fine type. Correction
win be required
Raw virtually went blind over night.
He had been bothered FOR. some time
by falling sight and had consulted
Socialists. He found no aid for his
Condition and the cause was equally
hard to discover.
within a brief space Of time the
eyesicht was blotted out. Specialists
In All parts Of the nation were con-
suited but none could give him any
hope that the vision would or could
be restored.
Refusing to become discouraged, and
Handicapped as he was, Ray related,
he sacrificed everything to consult
doctors and always clung TO the belief
that his sight could be restored If he
could find the specialist who would
take chance.
His perseverance and that Of Mrs.
McQuay finally led the couple to Port
land and the result Is his ability to
find his way around. He Is patiently
waiting the time he can renew his
professional career.
In addition to taking in the sights, =
Ray tried his hand at driving an auto
mobile-one OF the late models He was
also impressed by the large number
and the intricate designs Of the neon
signs-one Of the last developments
before his blindness.
While In Portland Mrs. McQuay was
featured as a radio entertainer on O.
broadcast chain there. Mre. McQuay lg
an accomplished pianist and organise