Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-25


RrMARKAntp CASE OF TRANcE.-The Indian.
apolis Heraid says that the people Of Whiteand
johnson county, Indiana, have been much excited
recently on account Of young named
Van Arsdae, Il years Of age living in a house in
the capacity of a servant, who had recently been
taken i'll aud had to all appearance died. Pre-
paration was made for her funeral, but it was
stayed on account Of certain phenomena connect
ed with the body After remaining in this state
twelve hours the young woman awoke and told
strange things Of her visit to the other world, and
who and what she saw in heaven and elewhere-
The Hcraid says:
"Aliss Van Arsdale sent for a number of per
sons in the noighborhood, and not only impaired
20 them news OF lost friends but told Of sins COM
mitted by them supposed to be unknown by any
one. Among others was a man who had particip-
ated in the execution Of men who were lynched
she told him that he had been there that night
(Which he Acknowledged, and had in the sight Of
God committed murder Previous to this the
names Of the band bad been kept a profound
secret, and this man had not even been suspected.
She narrated good many strange things. rclat-
ing mainly to individuals both in this world and
the other, many of which it would have been al
most impossible for her to have invented But
the strangest part Of the story is yet to come. A
few hours after the expiration of the first trance
she predicted that she would have another. and
told TO a minute the time at which it would com
mence, and at which it would end. Everything
turned out as she had said at the exact time she
fell into the same state. In ordinary trance.
or cataleptic state, respiration is not suspended,
but in this case breathing could not be observed.
She was to all appearance dead but the pulse
beat family and the body not cold. All SEN
sation was gone. The physician made numerous
experiments, prcking the body, opening the veins,
and so forth, to discover if there could be any
deception. In the end be was perfectly convinc-
ed that there was none. At the expiration of the
time set by herself she to, and in few hours
was well enough TO leave her bed and go about
the house The story Of her experience in the
second trance was similar to the first one and was
unable to describe the places she had been in but
gave histories of events and persons with remark
able minuteness. She also said that she would
never have recurrence of the trance unless she
should commit some lagrant sin her authority
for this prediction that the Lord himself had
told her so. The girl is uneducated, and has lived
about as a servant ever since she was able to work
She has always borne a good character for truth
fitness, and is a member Of church. She is al
most the last person in the world to have manu-
featured such stories and one thing especially
noticeable is the fact Of her sending for persons
to whom, before her illness, she would have been
afraid to have spoken, and conversng with them
without tue least restraint, and telling them stories
and facts not the most palatable to worldly people
She was visited by great many people, some Of
them cminenty respectable, who vouched for many
of the statements of her illness. The physician
in attendance is positive as to her condition dur
ing the whole time, and had it not been for him
she would have been buried alive