The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-01-26
A Thrilling sketch.

The following comes to US from friend,
now successful practicing physician. If
true as it certainly may be, it is one Of the
strangcst tales We have ever read. Occur
r.nces equally marvellous have happened,
. I'd we know not why this may not be true.
Ed.
Good evening, Tom-s;t down, take Il
cigar, and make yourself at home
II cant very well, partially promised to
spend the evening over the river
80 never mind that. Suy, I'm lone.
some"
Don't YOU rccolect," said Tom, chat
you promised to tell me something more Of
your excursion last fall? lfyou viii fulfil
your promise tonight, III remain with you,
for I'm sure there is much Of mystery con
nectcd with timc which you have never
spoken Of"
"iou judge correctly, and to crafty you
| will relate il. although had designed ne
yer 10 speak OF it to any one.
"You will recollcct that was gone nearly
three weeks, and that my friends supposed
that spent most o! that time III y. y,
when the truth is that remained in the city
less than u hours.
"When reached Albany found my bro
ther there, and also sailor friend, who was
slightly acquainted in y. !.
/ From him | obtained a letter to the
/ agents Of Liverpool Steamship Co.-the
house of Tapscot, & Co. and lief, Albany on
the evening boat.
"We were hindercd 80 that we did not
reach the city until nearly ten the next
dav. Iprocccdcd at once TO deliver my let.
tcrs and soon found that could not hope to
/ succeed without remaining there several
which was impossible, as had but s. in my
pocket; SO took the evening boat and left
/ for Albany.
/ 1--WE arrived there at O'Clock in the
morning, and leaving my satchel at the
Delcsan, (without registering my naInr,)
went to the whllf 10 look fJr the vcssc
which my friend commanded.
"The moon shonc brightly and could see
I quite number of schooners IN the river
and moorcd together with them was very
many bargcs and canal boats.
after walking along the wharf for hal
an hour or so, without finding the vessc
which was searching for, | thought Sa"
il outside of five or six bargcs, aud IN walk
ing across them to the schooner, my Too
slipped aud fell down between two OF then
into the river.
Il sank down nearly to the bottom Of thu
river, and when | arose my head touchc
the bottom of the boats. ] felt the curr, n
carving me along but before | could sc
from under the boats, | sank again.
at is impossible fully to describe my feel
ngs at this time. knew that was drown
ing, and yet it did not seem to awaken an.
feeling Of dread or sorrow for myself
thought of how my parents, brothers an
sisters )ud feel when they came to hear q
my death, and almost wished that the.
might not hear Of it, so that they nigh
avoid the pain which such knowIedg
would cause them. had nothing about IN
by which my name could bc known, and
thought how puzzled the coroner would b
to ascertain who was, if was not foun
until had iioatcd below the, city.
"With Just such queer IDEAS as these wa
my mind filled, until at last lost all col
sciousncsS.
"Thc next that remember was an indi'
tnct fee ing Of pressure about the head all
very great difficulty of breathing
81 seemed to be awakng from dsarret
ao'e uieah', ""' W.. W.! ~ w "'
caused gradual ana increasing pam
"Ths grew to be almost insupI or'ao'
but soon felt pang lar more severe tha
anything ever experienced before or shc
, and then felt as easy and comfortable :
though had been lying on bed of dowl
but without the power OF motion, or u
, ability OF seeing anything.
. II had not lam IN tins position long, pc
haps an hour, before heard noise as o'
door opening, and several persons approach
ing the spot where lay;
Zone OF them placed nus hand upon IN
breast, aud seeming to address the other
said
f Gentlemen you know the theory whl,
= advanced the o'her uay III rcla'ioh 10 u
& presence OF water IN the chcst IN case
drowning, ana now unless Mr. d. afrN
with that battery soon, we sho'l nave an
y portunity OF testing the correctness q II
!, oplnioh on the present SUBJECT
y "Ahe thought flashed upon me IN m
mcnt that was in the private d''Scct'ns roo
e Oh W. D, anu l,at my Me,e "oou.
B. make al examination OF my lungs previo'
i to taking the usual course OF dlssecting II
;. body.
:, 81 was not long in suspense Tor hea'
the DIR. say, we Will not wait any long
for Mr.. B., but will proceed at once WI
u, the examination, and sultlng the action
the word, he made an oblique inclsion on II
breast about IL inches long.