Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-24

Ut. norman, OF Dixon, Ill, VINO nearly lost
his life by the recent bridge disaster at that
place, gives the following vivid account of his
experiences in drowning
" My wife and L went to see the baptism of
bridge about thirty feet from the first pier, and
between II and the abutment. We were sur
rounded by people-men, women and children.
Suddenly, while Mr.. Pratt was entering the
water with a female, heard report similar to
that made by small cannon, and in an in
slant the water closed over me, and felt tn At
something was pressing me down. heavy
weight appeared to be over me. did not sink
to the bottom. was perfectly conscious, and
Immediately thought OF getting out, II possible
My hands came in contact with the trestle-
work, and, crawling up as if ascending lad
der, was fortunate in finding an opening
through which crawled and Immediately arose
to the surface. l was then, as near as | can
judge, about seventy or eighty feet from the
it my strength gave out, and 1 sank. While
swimming, some person, who must have been
under the water. caught hold of my left leg,
and grasped tight for minute, preventing me
from going forward. The person let go as sud-
denly as he had taken hold, and gave a stroke
or two, when encountered dress. Thinking
1t was my wife, who was standing beside me
when the span FELL l grabbed it, but having
become enerv ated was obliged to let it go. I
was almost exhausted at the time, and do not
know that the dress was that of my wife. | did
not notice IL particularly. My thoughts were
almost solely confined to her, and imagined
when saw the dress twas hers.
''When sank was still sensible TO the sur
roundings. Invent apparently very close to the
bottom. The current rolled me over and over
and my hands frequently came in contact with
the gravel. | could feel the water running
down my throat and in nay ears, and all at once
experienced the most delightful sensation.
seemed to be at peace with everything, and
perfectly happy. My whole life passed before
me like flash of lightning, the events appear-
ing in sequence, the most prominent appearing
to be indelibly impressed upon NV mind. Cir,
cumstancps i had forOOftan rod vi
and did not want to be disturbed. should
have preferred to remain where / was. While
in the midst of a beatifc reverie, thinking what
my wife would do if she were saved, and
drowned, felt hand on my shoulder. was
pulled out and placed on a rock. was almost
insensible, but gradually came to myself. On,
how sick and wretched felt.
After remaining on the rock about an hour
was taken to my home. Here commenced
vomiting, and frequently elected water and
partially digested food until four O'Clock in the
afternoon. was taken out OF the water about
600 feet below the bridge. was very thirsty
after vomiting, and tried to drink some water
but the taste was so disagreeable that l could
not bear it,. The only way could Iuenc my
thirst was by putting vinegar into the water
about an ounce and half to a quarter of a
pint That struck me as a rather curious cir
cumstance. L was greatly astonished at the
number of events that passed through nv
mind while under the water. Nothing that
occurred during childhood was evident, but
everything since | was about nineteen years
old appeared before me as if photographed.
The sensation / experienced while the water
was going down my throat was not unpleasant
1t seemed as If was going on a journey, and
was surrounded by all kinds of beautiful things
While on the rock felt very bad and desired to
be let alone. The sudden transition from the
beatifc state i'm the water to the dry land seemed
to have bad effect, and made me indifferent
to what was going on around me. Several people
came to me and wanted to take me home, bat
told them to let me alone. / was so miserable
The corpse OF my wife was found after she had
been III the water about three hours"