Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-05-22
DROWNING MANS SENSATION.
An Incident Ct the Dixon Bridge Disas-

Ter. II
A correspondent Of the Chicago
Tribune, treating of the bridge ac-
cident at Dixon, Ill, says:
After many hours spent in inqui-
ry the right individual was at length
found, in the person of DR.. Hoffman,
who was taken out of the river in
an unco nscious state, and full OF
water. He is very weak yet, but
Notwithstanding the shock to his
nervous system, and the mental de-
preston caused by the death of his
wife, he gave an interesting account
of his narrow escape from drown
ing. Your correspondent interview
ed him this morning particularly
with reference to his sensations
while under water, and learned from
him what is subjoined.
Ny wife and I went to the bap-
tism of the converts, and took up a
position on the bridge about thirty
feet from the first pier, and between
it and the abutment. We were
surrounded by people-men, women
and children. Suddenly, while Mr..
Pratt was entering the water with a
female, I heard a report similar to
that made by a small cannon, and in
an instant the water closed over me
and I felt something was pressing
me down. A heavy weight ap-
peared to be over me. 1 did not
sink to the bottom. l was perfect
ly conscious, and Immediately
thought Of getting out if possible.
Ny hands came in contact with the
trestlework, and, crawling up as if
ascending ladder. I was fortunate
in finding an opening through which
1 crawled and Immediately arose to
the surface. l was then as near -as
I can judge, about seventy or eighty
feet from the shore / swan to-
wards the bank, but when near it my
strength gave out, and 1 sank.
While swimming, some person, who
must have been under water, caught
hold of my left leg and grasped it
tight for minute, preventing me
from going forward. The person
let 60 as suddenly as he. had taken
hold, and 1 gave a stroke or two,
when encountered dress. Think
ing it was my wife, who was stand
ing beside me when the span fell. l
grabbed it, but having become en-
ervated, / was obliged to let go, l
was almost exhausted at the time, and
do not know that the dress was that
of my wife. / did not. notice it par
|ticularly. My thoughts were a lmost
solely confined to her, and imag
ined when / saw the dress it was
hers. n'..'' "H' i''i-- --a.-i--"i',i- --''
When sank was still sensible
of the surroundings. I went appar.
entity very close to the bottom. The
current rolled me over and over, and
my hands frequently came in con-
tact with the gravel. aI could feel
the water running down my throat
and in my ears, and all at once ex-
perienced the most delightful sensa-
tion. l seemed to be at peace with
everything, and perfectly happy.
My whole life passed before me
like flash of lightning, the events
appearing in sequence, the most
prominent appearing to be indeli-
bly, impressed upon my mind. Cir
'cumstances had forgotten appear
ed vividly, and l did not want to be
disturbed. l should have preferred
to remain where l was. While in
the midst of beautific reveric, think
ing what my wife would do if she
were saved, and l drowed. 1 felt a
hand on my shoulder. was pulled
out and placed on rock. Dohir.