Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-10-31
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A STRANGE, ,REMINISOENGE.r,;d7,

; My greatest friend among The stu-
dents at the Liepsic Medical College
was a strange, erratic genius, ,np.ped
Hoffman, philosophical enthusiast,
science man. ~ lH'3 'e''''0 ''"''
His room was filed with electrical
and all its adjuncts. / was
often at o loss to know how be could af-
ford so much extravagant research, as I
knew that his father was. a broken:
down merchant, who lived very piairfly
in a small cottage sUm9 fifteen rhites
from the city, originally poiteEs lodge
to gentleman's estate in the neighbor-
hood.
I accepted Hoffman's invitation the
first vacation we were together, and
spent part of my holiday at the cot
tage, where 1 became acquainted with
his family, consisting of his father,
mother and only sister.
The father was large athletic man
of apparently forty-f years of age,
with bold but scornful look and
treacherous eye. The mother and Sis
ter were more like Hoffman. Still 1
noticed that his mother had a constant
habit of clasping her hands as if in
prayer, and turning her eyes heaven
ward. This surprised me very much,
as Hoffman had never professed any
religion whatever; but on the contrary,
he would sometimes almost scoff at me
for being believer. He wanted me to
lend him n certain sum to pay for the
making of IN electric apparatus of great
size, with which he intended to restore
life. / could not assist him; but two
days after our return to Leipsic he
called on me to say that his father
would furnish him the requisite amount
in few days.
This was the acme of bliss for him;
and just three weeks after he received
the money from his father, he called on
me to say that the machine was finished,
and he would have an opportunity of
using it on the following day, as noto-
rious murderer was to he hung, and he
had made arrangements for his body.
I" Strange, is it not" said he, "that
this scoundrcl will furnish the means.
whereby the scientific world will learn
to honor me?" The hall at the cot,
tage was q fine large square room,
which you enter from a wide stair on
the outside, near the ceiling; and on
looking down you would perceive a,
semi-circular area. ,.. i T.. g..
Two stairs led down among the seats
on either side to this area, in which
stood the electric apparatus, and long
mahogany table, bound with brass J
with number of hinges and foldmgs,
which was capable of, swinging around
III all directions by means of a ball and
socket joint in its pedestal. 'r".''''''
On this table was a small box mounted
in silver, which contained dissecting in
struments; there was also several ba-
sins of water and a number of towels.
Soon after we had taken our seats,
several elderly gentlemen entered the
area also, one Of them completely Gov
cred with his black igownc this was the
demonstrator OF auatomyh and he it was.
who would day operate upon the.
dead body of Scanned, the notorious
2at ,f Ife1 .It s'.i "ntt -
The old church bell,had pealed out
its twelve strokes some, time Lsfore any
news reached US; but at. fifteen minutes
to one q young man entered hastily,
whispered something in the ear OF the
doctor who was envelGped in the black
gown, and everything was in excitement.
The machine was put in action and the
table prepared, and in another minute
several men hurried into the room bear
ing body, with sheet thrown loosely
over it.. -. .,A....e. 4n.ot 9oA ol'H
A loud murmur was heard through
out the hall, and each one sprang to his
feet to try and get look at the body,
which was placed on the table with its
face downward. .t $50 iait ForoleI
The sheet was at once removed, and
! shuddered as saw before me all that
was mortal of the highwayman Scam
mel Hoffman clutched my arm as the
preparation were being made. Every
fiber in his body seemed to be in state
OF rigid tension, which displayed the
strength and elegance of his muscular
frame to a great advantage. .oo og "a
DIR. Bremmer, the anatomical lecturer,
stepped forward Immediately and COM
menced to address the gentlemen pres
ent he informed them that, very fortu-
nately for the experiment to be made
now, the neck of the criminal did not
seem to have suffered any very great
perceptible injury. He then explained
what he was going to do. inesl1Y .s1
With his scalpel he made incisions
upon important nerves in various parts
of the body, and applied the wires, and
under their influence the limbs We're
contracted, the muscles seemed dubbed
up in knots, and the legs were drawn
up and thrown out with great force.
This ELECTED repeated applause. .. .,t.-.,
The excitement now was intense.
The wires were applied to different por-
tions of the body with the same effect,
and the result was so fearfully strange
that many tainted in their seats. ,,u ar
The wires were now applied to the
phrenic nerve, and almost immediately
roc nj ro tion bauon. 1Oy, ok Grck xbA,