ACT OF HEROISM.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9076, 17 February 1908, Page 7

ACT OF HEROISM.

it -:' .jv v< New York', December 16. The death of Mrs Julia Ladson on Friday in the New Brunswick hospital, Brooklyn, recalls a memorable instance of heroism,- says the New York Herald. Mrs Ladson had blood poisoning, and it became necessary to amputate her leg to save Jher life. It was found, however, that she was too weak to undergo the operation. The Rev. Dr. John Lewis Clark, the Congregational minister, who recently became the subject of much criticism for performing the marriage of Mr William Ellis Corey and Miss Mabelle Gilman, had been praying with * Mrs Ladson in r the hospital, and was about to leave, when one of .the surgeons in attendance announced that transfusion of blood was the only chance the patient had. Mr Ladson offered himself, hut the surgeons declared that he was not in condition. Dr. Clark, who is an athlete, thereupon said he would take the husband’s place. He was warned, that if a drop bf the?-woman’s blood’ got, in his veins medical oskill could, not save him; but he persisted in his; determination, and declined to take an anaesthetic or even to have his face covered while the operation was in progress. One of the small arteries was connected with one of Mrs Ladson’s, and for two hours he watched the surgeon’s operate. Mrs Ladson rallied after the operation, and the doctors were hopeful of her'recovery. Dr. Clark afterwards said : "I had been telling Mrs Ladson how Christ had died to save men, when, without warning, the test was put to me whether or not I had the courage tb live up to my teachings. If I had failed to make good and the woman had died, I would never have forgiven myself, and would have branded myself as the worst kind of hypocrite. ’ ’