The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-23
\ Drowning Mans Sensations.
Letter from DR.. Hobman, q sureicor IF N
DirOj2 Disaster

LCtt6f Jf0m DF. L0DHldn, q SHrCtc0F 81 the
Dir0n Disaster.
My wife and went to see the baptism
of the converts, and took up position on
the bridge about thirty feet from the first
pier, and between it and the abutment.
We were surrounded by peoplc-men, wo-
men, and children. Suddenly, while Mr.
Pratt was entering the water with fc-
male, heard II report similar to that made
by a small cannon, and in an instant the
water closed over me, and | felt that some
thing was pressing me down. A heavy
weight appeared to be over me. | did not
sink to the bottom. | was perfectly CON
scious, and Immediately thought of getting
out if possible. My hands came in contact
with the trestle work, and, crawling up as
if ascending ladder, ] was fortunate in
finding an opening through which /
crawled and Immediately arose to the sur
face. | was then, as near as can Judge,
about seventy or eighty feet from the shore
| swan toward the bank, but when near it
my strength gave out, and sank While
swimming some person, who must have
been under the water, caught hold of my
left leg, and grasped it tight, for minute
preventingime from going forward. The per
son let 90 AS suddenly rs he had taken hold,
and | gave n stroke or two, when encOunt-
cred dress Thinking il was my wife,
who was standing beside me when the span
fell, grapplcd it, but, having become en-
ervatcd, | was obliged to let it go | was
almost exhausted at the time, and do not
know that the dress was that of my wife
! did not notice it particularly. Nv
thoughts were almost solely confined to her
and | imagined when | saw the dress it was
hers When | sank was still sensible of
the surroundings. | went apparently very
close to the bottom. The current rolled
me over and over, and my hands frequent
~ came in contact with the gravel. could
feel the water running down my throat and
in my 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 APP
pearing to be indelibly impressed upon my
mind. Circumstances had forgotten ap-
peared wildly, and did not want to be
disturbed. | should have preferred to re-
main where ! was, while in the midst of
beatific reverie, thinking what my wife
would do if she were saved, and drowned,
] felt hand on my shoulder. | was pulled
out and placed on rock | was almost
insensible, but gradually came to myself
Oh how sick and wretchcd felt. After
remaining on the rock about an hour, /
was taken to my home. Here | COM
menced vomiting, and frequently elected
water and partially digested food until 4
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 dsagreeble that could not bear it,
The only way could quench my thirst
was by putting vinegar into the water,
about an ounce and half to II quarter of a
pint That struck me as rather a curious
circumstance. | was greatly astonished at
the number of events that passed through
my 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 photo
graphed. The sensation | experienced
while the water was going down my throat
was not unpleasant. II 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
left alone. The sudden transition from
the beatlflc state in 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 want
Ell to take me home, but | told them to let
me alone, ! was so miserable. The corpse
OF my wife was found after she had been
in the water about three hours. IL is said
that Mrs. Hoffmans countenance was
lighted up with life-likc smile, SO peace
full and suggestive of such pleasant thoughts
when dying, that everybody's attention
was attracted to her.