Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-06
Tales and Sketehes.
A CASE OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

The st. Louis Republican has the follow
ing account of n curious case of suspended
animation
"On Monday night last Mr.. Jos. Fred
erick Heitkamp, German, who resided
over his store, at 907 South Fourth street,
was reported to have died suddenly. The
funeral was deferred indefinitely
On Christmas Eve, just as the store was
| closed, the clerk handed Mr.. Heitkamp q
watch, and was surprised that he let it
drop on the floor Subsequently, when
Mr. Heitkamp attempted to unlock the safe
to put some money in it, it was observed
that he could not find the keyhole, and was
heard to remark that he could not see clear
| ly. At the time the clerk handed him the
watch he had just finished trimming tur-
key for the Christmas dinner. 1t tappeared
as if two of his fingers had paradEzed, and a
little afterwards it was noticed that he
dragged one leg when walking across the
store, as if he had received a paralytic
stroke. Subsequently his speech became
affected, and then one side. His daughter
| said to her mother that he seemed strange
ly, and when it was evident that he had
been visited by illness of some kind, he
was placed on the clerks bed in the rear
of the store, and DIR. Gregory was called
in. All possible medicinal aid was afford
ed, but no restoration took place, and after
lingering until Monday night death APP
pearcd to have supervened, and, as above
mentioned, the funeral was duly adver-
tised to take place on Wednesday. We
now come to the singular feature i'm the
case: the causes for the postponemo ut of
the funeral. According to the rumor
which prevailed, the body was free from
some of the ordinary indications of death,
and that some hours subsequent to his sup
posed decease it was alleged a faint trace
of perspiration was perceptible.
The strangest feature in this mysterious
affair is an apparent premonition of his
long sleep which Mr.. Heitkamp received
in dream, and which he related to his
daughter, fourteen days before he had the
paralytic stroke This was in substance as
follows;
Josephine, have had most singular
dream which must tell you. | dreamed
that l was taken sick and lost my power
of speech. l was pronounced dead, and
was placed in a coffin. understood what
was going on, but was unable to speak to
you. | was taken to the church, which
was full of people, and when you were
mourning over me, burst the end of the
coffin on. with my feet, then broke the lid
OH, got out, anu All the people III tne cnufcn
except the carriage driver, became so
frightened that they ran out of it. The
driver remained
This dream was not regarded seriously
by his daughter, but the recollection of it
was revived upon his being taken i'll. and
his supposed decease.
Apart however, from this most curious
premonition, it is claimed that there is
good reason for postponing the funeral.
The body is entirely destitute of any trace
of decomposition, and has not the rigidity
and aspect of a corpse four days old.
DR.. Gregory pronounced him dead. and
said he would stake his reputation for it.
He however, told the anxious family to
keep the body until they were themselves
convinced of it. One or two doctors have
corroborated DR.. Gregory in his opinion.
Quite a number of persons have called to
see the body. :.
The case is one of interest, and will re-
pay investigation by the medical fraterni-
iy. The family are determined not to
have the body inferred until there are some
indications either of life or DEATH"