Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-03-12

think its perusal will convince our rea-
ders of the entire truth of all that is said
about Modern Spiritualism.
GRAND TRAVERSE, Mich. !
Dec. %, 1856. E.
EDITOR ENQUIRER: [ send the fol-
lowing account of Il most extraordinary
event, or transaction-or what you will
because, in my opinion, it ought not
to be suppressed; but on the contrary,
thoroughly investigated. In the midst
of the excitement here, such thing as
calm, unbiased examination, is alto
gether out of the question, nor would it
be safe to attempt it, inasmuch as the
determination of the people is very strong
to hush it up. As l myself am one of
the chief characters concerned in the af-
fair, [ dare not attempt, if [ possessed
the ability, to determine the character
of what am about to relate.
1 left your city to establish myself
here, as you viii remember, some time
in July last-a young and ineXperienc
cd physician. Almost the first patient
l was called to see was a Mrs. Hayden,
woman of thirty years of age, a
strong constitution and we'll balanced
mind, and apparently, with little or no
Imagination. She was, however, spir-
itualist, with the reputation of being
superior medium. Her usual physician,
DR.. j. n. Williams, was absent, and
hence her application to me. [ found
her laboring under Il severe attack of
typhus fever, which threatened to prove
fatal. Having prescribed for her l left,
promising to send DR.. w. as soon as he
returned. This was on Saturday morn
ing. At night, DIR. w. took the patient
off my hands, and 1 did not see her
again until Friday evening Of the cnsu-
ing week. 1 then found her dying, and
remained with her until her decease,
which took place precisely at midnight.
She was, or appeared to be rational du-
ring the whole of my visit, though |
was informed she had been delirous TIE
greater part of the week. There was
[ should say the disease had taken its
natural course.
At the time of disease, there was in
the room, besides myself, her husband,
Mrs. Green, Cher sister, and Mrs. Miles
Ga neighbor.) Her husband, whom L
particularly noticed, was very thin and
weak. then suffering from quick con-
sumption, already beyond recovery
He bore the character of a clear mind
ed, very tirn, illiterate but courteous
man, and most strenuous uubelicver
in spiritualism.
There had been some subducd con-
versation such as is natural in such
scones-the patient taking no part in it,
except to signify, in faint and gradu-
ally diminishing voice, her wants, until
about an hour before her death, when a
sudden and indescribable change came
over her features, voice, and whole ap-
pearance-a change which her husband
noticed by saying, with as l thought,
wholly unwarranted bitterness,
''Thcre go those cursed spirits again.
The patient hercupon uncloscd her
eyes and fixed look Of unutterable
emotion on her husband-a look so di-
rect, searching, and unwavering, that l
WAS not Il little startled By it Mr.. Hay
den met it with something like an un-
happy defiance, and finally asked of his
wife what she wanted. She immediate
ly replied in voice of perfect health,
You know
Twas literally astonishcd at the words,
and the voice in which they were utter
cd [ had often heard and read of re-
turn of volume and power Of voice just
preceding dissolution; but the voice off
the patient had none of the unnatural
intonation of such-it was, as [ have
said, perfectly healthy. In a few mo-
ments she continued, in the same voice,
and with her eyes still fixed upon her
husband:
''William, in your secret soul, you do
believe"
"Wift,' was the imploring reply,
THAT is the devil which has stood be-
tween US and Heaven for SO many
months. We are both at the very verge
of tlfe grave, and in God : name let him
be buried first
Apparently without hearing or heed
ing him she repeated her words:
You dare not disbelicvc"
Il do" lie replied, excited by her
manner, ''while you are dying-nay, if
you were dead, and speak to Inc, I dare
not believe
ssThen she said I Will speak to you
when [ am dead [ will come to you
at your last moment, and, with Il voice
from the grave, [ will warn you of your
time to follow me-
''But shall not believe a spirit
Il Will come in the body, and speak
to you. REMEMBER y
She then closed her eyes, and straight
way sank into her former state
IS soon as we had somewhat recover
ed from the shock of this most extraor-
dinary scene, her two children were
brought into the room, to receive her
dying blessings. She partially reused
herself, and placing hand on the head
of each, she put up a prayer to the throne
of gracc-faint in voice, indeed, but a
prayer in which all the strength of her
unpublished soul, heart and mind, was
cxerted to it's utmost, dying limit; such
Il prayer as a seraph might attempt, but
none but a dying wife and mother could
accomplish. From that moment her
breathing grew rapidly weaker and moro