The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-23

Letter Jrom Dr. II 4maa. Suycicu If tie
OirOn niNnStir.

Letter .Jrom DR.. H4maa. Surcicu qf tie
DLr0R DiMSt,r.
My wife and | went to see the haptism
of the converts, and too, up position on
the bridge about thirty iyet from the first
pier, and between it and the abutment
We were surrounded by peolle-men, wo-
men, and children. suddenly. while Mr..
Pratt was entering the water with Il fe-
male, | heard a report similar to that made
by 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 a ladder, | was fortunate in
finding an opening through which
crawlcd and Immediately arose to tlIe 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 graspcd il tight, for minute
preventing me from going forward. The per
son let go as suddenly as he had taken hold,
cred dress. Thinking it was my wife,
who was standing beside me when the span
fell, grappled it, but, having become en-
crvated, | was obliged to let it 20. ! was
almost exhausted at the time, and do not
know that the dress was that of my wife
| did not notice it particularly My
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
ly 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 ap-
pearing to be indelibly impressed UPON my
mind. Circumstances had forgotten APP
peared wildly, and did not want to be
disturbed. | should have preferred to re-
main where | was. while in the midst of a
beatic reverie, thinking what my wife
would do if she were saved, and drowned,
| felt a hand on my shoulder. | was pulled
out and placed on rock, | was almost
insensible, but gradually came to myself.
Oh, how sick and wrctched 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, hut the taste
was so disagreeble 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 a quarter of a
pint. That struck me as rather 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 asAif photo
graphed. The sensation ! experienced
while the water was going down my throat
was not unpleasant. 1t seemed rs if was
going on a journey, and was surrounded