Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1916 — CROSSED OCEAN ON. COT—BACK BROKEN [ARTICLE]

CROSSED OCEAN ON. COT—BACK BROKEN

Young Man Injured In South America Is Now at Father’s Home Near Roselawn—Hurt in July.

’ C. C. Smith, 27 years of age, an expert mining engineer, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Smith, live on the Wentworth farm, south of Roselawn, lies, in his bed at the home of his parents with a broken back and although he was injured last July he is still paralyzed from his waist down and there ‘•is only a remote chance that he will ever get on his feet again. Smith, it seems, was in the employ of a large English corporation that had extensive mining interests in South Africa. He had been sent there with another expert to repair some machinery. The job had been completed and the men were ready to start back to England and haxj returned to the mine to make a final inspection. A large rock became loosened above their heads and fell <m them, killing the other man and breaking young Smith’s back. It was expected that he would die, but the best surgical aid was secured and Smith was placed on board a ship and taken to Wales, England, being accompanied by two surgeon® and a nurse. He was placed in a hospital

in Wales and there underwentm Surgical operation, It was found that his spinal column was badly splintered and the operation was a very delicate one. Every effort was made to save his life, the corporation for which he had worked giving orders to save him if possible and to spare no expense. The young man was anxious to get back to his parents, who had moved from Michigan to Roselawn during his absence from home. The corporation instructed that a 'bed be made to order on which he might make the trip home. The bed was made of bamboo and was cushioned so as to protect his body on all sides. A surgeon and the nurse accompanied him home, coming on board the ship to New York and thence by train to Roselawn. His bed was too large to get into the ordinary coach of the train and it was found that it could be passed through the double window of a dining car and this was done and Smith reached home about ten days ago, and had withstood the long trip remarkably well. With him and looking after every comfort is a pretty Fngdtfih nurse, who remains with him now, trying, to restore him to health. It .is rumored that notwithstanding his injuries and the uncertainty of the outcome himself and the nurse are to be married soon. It is understood that the corporation for whom the young man worked regard him as one of the best mining engineers in their employ and that they gave orders to the surgeons to spare no expense in their effort to save his life. He is paralyzed from the waist down and only recently has been able to move one toe a little. This has caused much hope that greater improveirfent is to follow. S. M. Laßue, the merchant at Roselawn, has met Smith since he was brought to that place and says that he is a very bright and pleasing gentleman and has Jiope of getting on his feet again some day.