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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1190, 30 January 1864, Page 3

Touching Incident.—We clip the following, told by an American of the Crimean Volunteers, from the ' Sidney Morning Herald'.—" I was in the hospital as nurse for a long time, and assisted in taking off limbs and dressed all sorts of wounds; but the hardest thing I ever did was to take my thumb oft' a man's leg. It was a young man who had a. severe wound in the thigh. The ball passed completely through, and amputation was necessary. The limb was out off close (o the body, the arteries taken up, and he seemed to be doing well. Subsequently one of the small arteries sloughed off. Ail incision was made and it was again taken up. 'It is well it was not the main artery.' said the surgeon as he performed the operation; 'he might have bled to death before we could have taken it up.' But Charley got on finely, and was a favorite with us all. I was passing through the ward one night, about- midnight, when suddenly, as I was passing Charley s bed, he spoke to me 1 '' 11 ,my leg is bleeding again.' I threw back the bed clothes, and the blood spirted iu the air. The main artery had sloughed off. Fortunatelv, I knew just what to do. and in an instant I had pressed my thumb on the place and stopped the bleeding. It was so close to the body that there was scarcely room for my thumb, but I succeeded in keeping' it there, and "arousing one of the convalescents, sent him for the surgeon, who came in on the run. 'I am so thankful II said he, as he saw me, ' that you wore up and kneu- what to do, for he must have bled to death before I coiilu have not here.' But on examining the case he looked" exceedingly serious, and sent out for other surgeons. All came who were within reach, and a consultation was held over the poor fellow. One conclusion was readied by all. Tlicro was no place to work save the spot where my thumb was placed; they could not. work under my thumb, and if I moved it lie would bleed to death before the artery could be taken up. There was no way to save his life. Poor Cluu'ley! He was very calm when they told him, and requested that his brother, who was in the same hospital, might be called up. lie came and sat by the bedside, and for three hours I stood, and by the pressure of my thumb, kept up the "life of Charley, while the brothers had the last conversation on earth. It was a strange place for me to be in; to feel that I held the life of a fellow mortid in my hands, as it were, and stranger yet. to feel that a:i act of mine must cause that life to depart. Loving the poor fellow as I did, it was a hard thought, but there was no alternative. The last words were spoken. Charley had arranged all his business aifairs and sent tender messages to absent ones, who little dreamed how near their loved one stood to the grave. The tears tilled my eyes more than once as 1 listened to those parting words. All were said, and ho turned to me. 'Now, II , I guess you had better take off your thumb. 1 '■ 0, Charley! how can I? 1 said. ' But it must be, you know,' he replied cheerfully; 1 1 thank you lor your kindness, and now. good bye.' lie, turned away his head, 1 raised my thumb, once more the life current gushed forth, and in three minutes poor Charley was dead."

Maoiii Kixg-ism.—Mr. D. Munn, jmir., and Mr. Smith, returned yesterday by the overland roil to from Poverty Bay. in travelling through the upper Waivoa country, in company with two chiefs of this district, their lives were threatened by the kingnatives, who occupy that part of the country, and they were finally imprisoned for the offence of passingover the king's land. They were released at the expiry of the fifth day, upon the promise to pay ft fine. They believe, from the violent demeanour of the people, that, but for the presence of the two native chiefs, they would have been tomahawked. — Htmkea Bay Herald, Jan. 9.

A serious loss has boon occasioned in a consignment of sheep to New Zealand, by the ship Game Cock. It appears that over 2.000 were forwarded for shipment by that vessel, and were confined foi two days, without food. On lucsday 600 of them were found to have died, and the remainder were so weak from want of food and the heat of the weather, that it was necessary to send them to a paddock.—* Melbourne Leader. Dec. 30.