The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-06-16
GATE AJAR.v

2 si s-tfL So GATE AJAR.yz4---5 :
Dying Man Sees Millions of Spirits and
( Recognizes Departed Friends in Heaven.
Major Charles e. Fulton, promi-
nent and highly esteemed citizen of
Ottumwa, recently Mayor of the city,
died on fhe 28th of March, under cir
cumstances of peculiar character
We have the statement given below
with profound interest. We knew
Major Fulton, having met him in bust
ness circles, and knowing as we do
that he possessed a sound, practical
mind, we give full credence to his dy-
ing words. He was not man to be
deluded by an hallucination, or be
carried away in his dying hour by re-
ligions fancies. The following ac-
count was written by friend, who
was with him in his last moments, and
was originally printed in the Ottum-
wa Courier: 9 9.'i..t ''i'. e. @
After an hours conversation with
the family and relations of the late
Major c. E. Fulton, was impressed
that your readers, and the community
at large who knew his every day life,
would be interested in an account of
his somewhat remarkable close. -
His disease, acting almost wholly
upon his nervous and eirculatory sys-
tenn, left his mind clear and of its usu-
al vigol to the end. And those who
watched by him, day and night, in
form me that there was no one hour,
during his protracted sickness and in
tense sufferings that reason failed or
that his intellect appeared clouded.-
About three weeks before his death,
he had given up hopes of recovery,
and conyersed freely on the approach
ing.event, eyincingg no fear or dread
fof death, and only desiring life for the
sake of his family, and repeatedly
Saying that the faith that had been his
through life was sufficient for the
hour of death. During the last days
of his life he arranged his business,
and left kind words of affection and
advice to his family and friends, with
as great composure as in health he had
transacted the ordinary duties of life,
|. In the early part of Sabbath night,
and as early as 2 O'Clock of March 2S,
he recognized the icy arm of death as
they began to be folded around him,
and at four o'clock had his children
brought and bade them laat farewell,
then summoning his falling strength
uttered the following prayer:
"Qhl Almighty Father, if yet Thou
art God upon earth, and hast compass
sion on human woe if yet Thou art
husband 10 the. widow and a father
to the fatherless, look in pity upon
this my stricken wife, and these my
father1ess children.
The many words, expressions, and
the prayers of the next two hours,
though recorded, and of sacred inter-
est to his family, we must pass over.
At about 6 40 o'clock he sank yisi-
. bly, INTO the arms of death, all think
ing that they had heard the last whis-
| per from his lips. After lying thus
for some ten minutes, he aroused with
the exclamation, family uttered:-
T" Not unto us, Oh! Father but unto
Thee, be all the glory" Pausing a
moment, he exclaimed: Five mil
lionsl" His wife leaned over him
said aNeEton, what does he mean"
Newton replied aspirits;;' he whis-
pered, q g Yes, that's It." Then follow
ed the conversation here given, in the
familiar terms in which it was accu-
rately recorded by the members OF
the family, within a few hours after
his death, ~ e. 5.. 70. y - :
/ His wife then asked, g Are they re-
deemed spirits ?" Answer" Yes
Some came yesterday, others just get
ting in." His wife then said, /" And
you, darling, swell the NUMBER" AS
sented to by z" Yes" She then asked
care they coming to welcome. YOU
home ?"'a Answer" Yes" Newton
asked, Charley, do you know them p
, Answer" know all that knew OF
earth." His wife asked, g Do you see
; Fatherbn Answer Which Father p
During the night and day previous
to test his falling sight, he had beel
repeatedly asked if he could see GER
tain persons standing near; Fathel
Mast was then standing by the bed
side-hence his reply-he doubling
whether she meant spiritual or natu
f raj slightly His wife said, "Fathe
Fulton, died 6 years ago." Answe
=" Yes" Question by the same, ed
you see little sister Mary who die
o long ago in Virginia ?" Answer
It "Yes." She then exclaimed, "Thel
we do know each other in Heaven
He turned his face toward her with
: faint.smile expressive of knowledg
and surprise at the doubt, and whis
i pered, I e Certainly~ Newton the,
asked, ais Heaven then reality 9"-
Answer--ss Yes" His wife then ask
~ ed, t" Charley, do you see?"e Answe
II -" Yes" lat this point victory owe