Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1920 — DORRIS CROOKS TAKEN TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL [ARTICLE]

DORRIS CROOKS TAKEN TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL

Dorris Crooks, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Crooks of this city and an employe of the Hilliard & Hamill clothing store, was taken to Martinsville Thursday evening where he will be treated by the government at “their hospital for. an injury received during his services as a memos the American navy overseas. He was accompanied by Cope J. Hanley, Adjutant of the Dewey Biggs chapter of the American Legion here. For the past three weeks Mr. Crboks has been suffering intense pain and for a greater part of the time has been bedfast. Repeated efforts had been made to secure his admission to the hospital by the government representatives here without avail and it was not until the American Legion took charge of the case, two days ago, that any success was met with. Mr. Crooks’ injury was the result of being struck with one of the sixteen hundred pound mines as it was being swung overboard into the sea. Mr. Crooks and his comrades were employed at the time in mining the North Sea and he was helping steady the mine before it was lowered into the sea. The mine struck Mr. Crooks on the back and left hip, driving him against the side of the boat. Examination disclosed that the sciatic nerve of his left leg had been bruised. He was laid up for several weeks. Following careful treatment he showed improvement and it was thought by his attending physicians at that time that the wound was permanently healed. However, the old trouble developed again a few weeks ago and grew steadily worse until it became imperative that he be placed under the care of skilled surgeons. Although it is certain that a permanent cure • can be affected, it is the belief of the physicians who have been attending t him that it will be many weeks Before the desired results obtained. Mr. Crooks Was reluctant about making application to the government to care for him, but was finally prevailed upon to do so by his friends who felt that since the injury was incurred during his service in the navy that it was the duty of the government to care for him. . Mr. Crooks saw twelve month of active service in European waters and had many and varied experiences. The greater part of his time, in the service was spent in laying mines* perhaps the most dangerous work a soldier is called upon to do. He spent much time in Mediterranean waters and was also in the Black Sea for several weeks. Dorris also suffered the loss of a finger oh his right hand during his return trip to this county when a large steel door on the boat swung to, catching his finger beneath it. Mr. Crooks and his mother are vtery grateful to the local Legion for the quick results obtained in the way of securing him admission to the hospital and feel that the Legion movement is one that every citizen of the community should get behind. The submarine Deutschland arrived in Chesepeake Bay four years ago today, July 9, being the first under water craft ever to cross the Atlantic.