The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-16
THE SENSATION OF DROWNING.
A survivor Of the Dixon Bridge Disaster
Relates his subaqueOus Experience
strange and Thrilling Narrative.

Relates his subaqueous Experience
strange and Thrilling Narrative.
DR. Hoffman, of Dixon, I'LL. who was
on the Inflated bridge at the time the
structure went down, thus relates his
experience to a Chicago Tribune re-
porter:
NV 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 abut-
ment We were surrounded by people
men, women and children. Suddenly,
while Mr.. Pratt was entering the water
with female, heard report similar
to that made by small cannon, and In
an instant the water closed over me, and
| felt that something was pressing me
down. A heavy weight appeared to be
over me. / did not sink to the bottom.
/ was perfectly conscious, and immedi-
ately thought of getting out if possible.
Nv hands came in contact with the
trestle-work, and crawling up as if as
cending a ladder, L was fortunate in
finding an opening through which L
crawled and Immediately arose TO the
surface. l was then, as near as L can
Judge, about seventy or eighty feet from
but when near it my strength gave out,
and l 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 suddenly as he had taken hold,
and 1 gave stroke or two, when L en-
countered dress. Thinking it was my
wife, who was standing beside me when
the span fell, L grabbed it, but having
become enervated, was obliged to let
it go. L was almost exhausted at the
time, and do not know that the dress
was that of my wife. 1 did not notice
it particularly. My thoughts were al
most solely confined to her, and l mag
ined when saw the dress it was hers.
When L sank L was still sensible of
the surroundings. 1 went 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 run
ming down my throat and in my ears,
and all at once experienced the most de-
lghtful sensation. l seemed to be at
peace with everything, and perfectly
happy. Ny whole life passed before
me like flash of lightning, the events
appearing in sequence, the most promi-
nent appearing to be indeibly impressed
upon my mind. Circumstances / had
forgotten appeared wildly, and L did
not want to be disturbed. L should have
preferred to remain where L was. While
in the midst of beatific reverie, think
ing what my wife would do if she were
saved, and L drowned, L felt a hand on
my shoulder. L was pulled out and
placed on a rock. / was almost insensi-
bic, but gradually came to myself. Oh,
how sick and wretched | felt.
After remaining on the rock about an
hour [ was taken TO my home. Here L
commenced vomiting, and frequently
elected water and partially-digested food
until 4 O clock in the afternoon. l was
taken out of the water about 600 feet
below the bridge. L was very thirsty
after vomiting, and tried to drink some
water, but the taste was so disagreeable
that / could not bear it. The only way
L could quench my thirst was by putting
vinegar into the water, about an ounce
and half to quarter of pint. That
struck me as a rather curious circum-
stance. L was greatly astonished Mt the
my mind while under the water. Moth
ing that occurred during childhood was
evident, but everything since was about
10 years old appeared before me as if
photographed. The sensation L expe-
rienced while the water was going down
my throat was not unpleasant. 1t
seemed as if 1 was going on journey,
and was surrounded by all kinds of
beautiful things. While on the rock L
felt very bad and desired to he let alone.
The sudden transition from the beatifc
state in the water to the dry land seemed
to have bad effect, and made me indif-
ferent to what was going on around me.
Several people came to me and wanted
to take me home, but L told them to let
me alone. l was so miserable. The
corpse of my wife was found after she
had been in the water about three hours.
1t is said that Mrs. Hoffmans counte-
nance was lighted up with a life-life
smile, so peaceful and suggestive of
such pleasant thoughts when dying that
everybody's attention was attracted to
her.