Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-21
Singular Anecdote.


One of the most singular features in Psycholo-
gy, is the fact which is perfectly notorious, that
the ficully of hearing acquires an activity and
tenacity, in the case OF persons about being
drowned, which it never exhibits under ordinary
circumstances. An accident occurred some weeks
since at N. York. which threw number of per-
sons into the North River. Among others were
Mr.. -, and his sister, the first named, edi-
tor of a weekly paper in Philadelphia. They
were both finally saved. Mr.. describes
the sensation while under water, and in drown
ing condition, to be pleasant but peculiar. 1t
seemed TO him that every event in his life crowd
ed in his mind at once. He was sensible of what
was occurring, and expected to drown, but SEEM
ed only to regret that such an titcm' as his SEN.
Stations would make should be lost
Ia noticing this statement in an exchange,
am reminded fan incident, which, dissimilar as
it is to the one just narrated, in its general fea-
lures, has still the same remarkable awakening
Of the memory, which such cases sometimes ex-
hlbt. | can vOuch for the truth Of what follows
as well testify to vivid Iecolections in my own
case, when exposed to the hazards of drowning,
reproducing in few moments the events of my
entire past life. tsaSs
Some years since, A, held bond ofB, for sew
eral hundred dollars, having some time to rum
At its maturity he found that he had put it away
so carefully that he was unable to find it. Every
search was frutess. 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 to the bond, or rather an indemnify
ing bond against It's collection if ever found.
To his great surprise, B. not only refused 10 ac-
cept the terms Of meeting the difficulty, but posi-
lively denied owing him anything, and strongly
minated the presence Of fraudulent design on
the part of A. Without legal proofs, and there
fore without redress, be had TO endure both the
loss Of his money, and the suspicion of dshonora-
bic intention in urging the claim. Several years
passed away without any change in the nature
of the case, or its facts above given, when one
afternoon, while bathing in the James river, A.,
either from inability TO swim, or cramp, or some
other cause, was discovered 10 be drowning He
had sunk and risen several times and was float
ing away under the water, when he was seized
and drawn 10 the shore. The usual remedies
were applied to resuscitate him, and though there
were signs oflfe, there was no appearance of con-
seriousness. He was taken home in state Of
complete exhaustion, and remained so for some
days.
On the first return Of strength TO walk, he left
his bed, went to his book case, took a book,
opened it, and handed his long lost bond TO
friend who was present. He then informed him
when drowning and sinking, as he supposed 10
rise NO more, in a moment there stood out dis
tnctly before his mind, at picture, every 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 in which he had
put it in the bookcase. Ii is needless TO say that
he recovered his own with usury.- Cists .dduer-
tiser. e#F