Washington sentinel., 1854-01-08
From the Saturday Evening Post.
Do We Ever Forget.

1t is no idle question Do we ever forgot2'
from the German of SEYGUERN. Among the
interesting facts bearing upon this important
question, Cist's Adcertiser tells the following
anecdotes, as to the power of memory in drown
ing:
An accident occurred some time since, at
New York, which threw number of persons
into the North river. Among others were
Mr.. ---, and his sister, the frst-named edi-
tor of weekly paper in Philadelphia. They
were both finally saved. Mr.. - describes
the sensation while under water, and in a
drowning condition, to be pleasant but pecu-
liar. 1t seemed to him that every event in his
life crowded in his mind at once. He was sem
sible of what was occurring, and expected to
drown, but seemed only to regret that such an
interesting item as his sensations would make
should be lost.
In noticing this statement, am reminded
Of an incident which, dissimilar as it is to the
one narrated in its general features, had the
same remarkable awakening of the memory
which cases often exhibit.
can vouch for the truth of what follows, as
well as testify to vivid recollections in my own
case when exposed to the hazards of drowning,
reproducing in q few moments the events of my
entire past life.
Some years since A held bond of b for
several hundred dollars, having some time to
run. At its maturity he found that he had put
it away so carefully that he was unable to find
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 cir
cumstances of its disappearance, and proposed
giving him a receipt as an Offset to the bond,
or rather an indemnifving bond against its
collection, if ever found.
To his great surprise, b not only refused to
accept the terms of meeting the difficulty, but
positively denied owing him anything what
ever, and strongly intimated the presence of a
fraudulent design on the part of A. Without
legal proof, and therefore without redress, he
had to endure the loss of his money, and the
suspicion of dishonorable intention in urging
the claim.
Several months passed away without any
change in the nature of the case, or its facts
as above given, when, one afternoon, while
bathing in the James river, A, either from ina
bility to swim, or cramp, or some other cause,
was discovered to be drowning He had sunk
and risen several times, and was floating away
under the water, when he was seized and
drawn to the shore. The usual remedies were
applied to resuscitate him, and although there
were signs Of life, there was no appearance OF
consciousness. He was taken home in state
of complete exhaustion, and remained so for
many days.
On the first return of strength to walk, he
left his bed, went to bookcase, took a book,
opened it, and handed the long-lost bond to n
friend who was present. He then informed
him that, when drowning, and sinking as he
supposed to rise no more, in moment there
stood out distinctly before his mind, as pic
ture, crery act Of his life, from the hour Of
childhood to the hour of sinking beneath the
water and among them the circumstance of
his putting the bond in a book, the book ITSELF
and the place where he had put it in the book
case 1t is needless to say that he recovered
his own with usury.