The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-07-14
Memory while Drowning.

most singular features in psychology is
the fact, which is perfectly notorious, that
the faculty of memory acquires an ac-
tivity and tenacity, in case of persons
about being drowned, which it never ex-
hibits under ordinary circumstances
An accident occurred some weeks since,
at New York, which threw a number of
persons into the North river Among
others were Mr.-and his sister, the
first named editor of weekly paper in
Philadelphia. There were both saved.
Mr-describe the sensation while un-
der.water, and in drawing position, to
be pleasant and peculiar. 1t seemed to
him every event in his life crowded into
his mind at once He was sensible of
what was occurring, and expected to
drown, but seemed only to regret that
such an interesting 'sitem" as his scnsa-
tons would make should be lost.
In noticing this statement in an ex-
change a1n reminded of the incident,
dissimilar as it is to the one just related
in its general features, had the same re-
markable awaking Of. the memory which
some cases sometimes exhibit l can
vouch for the truth of what follows, as
well as testifyto vivid recollections in my
own case, when exposed to the hazards of
drowning, reproducing in few moments
the events of my entire past life.
eSome years since, A held bond "a
gainst B for several hundred dollars, hav-
ing some time to rum At It's maturity
he found that he had put it away so care
fully that he was unable to fndi it. Every
search was fruitless. He only knew that
it had not been paid or traded away
In this dilemma he called on B, related
the circumstances of its disappearance,
and proposed giving him receipt as an
offset, or rather an indemnifying bond
against its collectioni if ever found.
To his great surprise, Bnot only refus-
ed to accept the terms of meeting the
difficulty, but positively denied owing
him any thing, and strongly intimated the
presence of a fraudulent design on the
part of A. Without legal proof, and,
therefore, without redress, he had to en-
durc both the loss of his money and the
suspicion of dishonorable intention in
urging the claim. Several years passed
away without any change in the nature
of the case, or of its facts as above Civ.
en-; when, one afternoon, while bathing
in the James river, A, either from inabili
ty to swim, or cramp, or some othe1
cause, was discovered to be drowning
He had sunk and risen several times, ant
was floating away under the water, whel
he was seized and drawn to the shore
The usual remedies were applied to re
susitiate him, and although there wer'
signs of life, there was no appearance o
consciousness He was taken home in
state of complete exhaustion and remain
ed SO for some days.
! On the first return of strength to wall
he left his bed, went to his book case
took book, opened it, and handed hi
long lost bond to friend who was pres
sent. He then told him that when h
was drowning, and sinking, as be suppos
ed, to rise no more, in a moment Their
stood out directly before bis mind, as
picture, every act of his life, from tn
hour of his childhood to the moment 0
sinking beneath the water, and anon!
the circumstances, that of putting th
bond in book, the book itself, and tn
place in which he had put it in the book
case. 1t is needless to say that be re
covered his own with usury.
There is no doubt that this remarkabl
quickening of memory results from tn
process which in such cases, is going OF
5 the extinguishment of life. Itis some
what analogous to the breaking in of tn
light of another world, which, in.so man
well attested cases of death-be scenes
: enables the departed spirit, even before
: has left its clay tenement, to behold an
exult in the glories of a future state. /
it not a fair inference, that when the sou
shakes off the clogs and membranes {
the body, it will possess capabilities fo
enjoyment, of which on earth it is un
, susceptible? As regards the memory,
will be observed by most persons, hoy
readily we forget that which we do nc
desire to remember, and in this way w
e get rid of much unhappiness. Can W
do this after death? This is an impor
: tant, practical question. n.-Cist's Adee,
tiser.
p Gg7 You have destroyed my peace {
: mind, Betsy said a despairing lover to
truant lass.
e 1t cam t do much harm. ohm, for 'twa
: but an amazing small piece you had, an
l way