Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-20


MEssRs. EDITORS The sad accident which occurred on
Saturday afternoon last involving the loss of four valuable
our citizens and many of them with generous impulse
have devoted their eXerons while others have spent their
Tor the OF the BODIES OF the lost BY qnre
has been recovered and since which heavy ordnance has
been repeatedly over the spot of sinking with
paud the spirit which has prompted the gentlemen in their
exertons, by firing, please permit me to dissent from it's
p ps2eG 50 SOON after the sinking Why SO: may be
In reply will that in considering case similar to
the alluded to above all the guns EARTH fired
the spot of sinking Immediately after the
drowning can have no more influence to raise the dead
the surface than would many popcrackers fired in China
with the view of operating the bottom Cape Fear
err, in North Carolina
In of this kind people are too apt actng under the
influence of benevoence and anxiety to adopt any
suggested to them, which may have origin with them
selves without reference its character eliminating
the "spur of the moment" Leaving entirely out of view
the that might have been adopted for the immediate
recovery 1esuscaon of those under suspended ANNA
ton propose to show, upon well established facts and
philosophical principles, that human body by the dis
the surface soon after its Descent but that according to
the laws OF gravtatOn and chemistry must remain at the
bottom till chemical action takes place and during which
action specific gravity holds to its place. Besides there
is another power acting the body, known under the
common name of suction the principle of which every
has tendency to hold body to the bottom. Now fol.
lows by plain reason that natural laws must be obeyed,
raised to the surface till becomes lighter than the fluid
which submerged Now how does it become lighter,
With all due Difference to my fellow citizens many
whom are no doubt much better qualified than myself to
explain the rationale please permit to give my opinion
and should it be shown to be faacous will cheernly,
seeking after knowledge and votary ofseience
cumb to the demonstration.
My position this that the body of when drown
ed deprived o. its oxygen and nitrogen Cor, in other
na1t and the body BY its specific gravity must in water
commences does that of decomposition The latter prn-
cpe, Of course, acts independently of the other and
agreeably to the well known laws OF Chemistry the body
containing in Its system the germs of hydrogen urged
its productions and when in consequence of this soppage
of the epglos and the closing OF the pores of the cuce
such hydrogen is retained in the body rendering lighter
than the fluids surrounding it, hence showing disposition
to the surface Such action agreeaby the laws
of nature requires several days perfect originate
it, but it is perfected and have to ask when such
perfection has taken place. why does not the body being
SO inflated with hydrogen, rise at to the surface =
answer, the body is ready and prepared to obey
this law of natures but there is another to be over
come before its execution can take place The thing
plain enough The body is confined to the bottoms as be-
fore stated by suction and cannot be released without
some movement Of the waters around such movement be-