Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-20
A SiOry of Life and I'D Ii sEsiFln
Taking Possession of a I'D issg
Esuasy,

Taking Possession OF "a Dying
Es"ssy.
The Boston rs dentist" says that il
Lawrence, Mass, Susie M. Smith, Il young
lady about seventeen years of age, daughtel
of DR.. Grepnleaf Smith. after q short i'll
ness, died on Wednesday, September
at 9 o'clock in the evening, and from tina
t me until Friday, at Il O'Clock, the bod,
was apparently possessed in part by othei
SPIRITS. 1t goes on t. tell the following
strange story:
On Wednesday. the day of her death, sh'
said: Father, have attended my owl
funeral" Size described it as very real.
4 ,clared herself perfectly conscious o
what she was saving, and also spoke OF
singing and gave the names of hymns sM
ilad heard.
she continued rational during the q y
when finally, about six O'Clock $ ie passed
into violent spasms; IL gradual palenesS
| .vers ,read her face f,rMn the f.,rt ZEAL ;
she became speeciless, clos ii her eyes, an, I
to the senses of those about her bedsiG@
life vas extinct. Indeed, there seemed t.
re no question about it. Onr reader
ale aware how loving heart refuses tt
believe it's companion has departed this
life, how it hopes again It hope almost t.
tie tomb. So with the father, mot her.
brother, and sister gathered around this
bedside. The body had the unmistakabl
drath-damp ON its face.
Many minutes had elapsed, when sud
.lenly, to the iudescriblble surprise of ali
in the room, came deep. gfuff voice, the
parted and moving lips of the b"ly indi
eating its whereabouts, which said ''Rui
both of her arms as hard as you can. -
Without Il second bid ling, an recovering
from their surprise, the Command wa
obeypd, when came second voice: Raise
her up on end" This being only partly
understood, brought the heavy voice to
say: ''ltaise her up on end-you're deaf,
ain 'ty9u 20 Up came the body it breathed
naturally, but did not speak for a few mo-
mentS.
DR.. Smith sat behind the body holding
it up, when it again spoke in another
voice III | could move her legs around s."
that could SET her up Oh the foot board,
she'd be all right - The doct II was pre-
pairing to carry this suggestion into effect.
when he, with the body, WAS actually la
ken-lifted from their positions together
and Doth placed upon the font board by
some unseen power,
The body wds now possessed by spirit
that was cheerful, lively, and not unlike
its natural.
The doctor was about to ask if she had
not better d. laid ba3k, wlen the same
force again lifted them, carried them both
backward he to his feet, and she falling
to Ter first position in be |, apparently
a gain us dead as could possibly be.
A few moments eltpsed--t ,ubt. was
settling into q eertainy-w zen u mild
voice opened conversation which con-
tinued three ho IFS during this time it
u :knowledged that the DO !y had been con
troled by spirits out Of the flesh.
A trance sleep followed.
Tie next morning the body opened its
e'ps and said to the doctor, PLEASE lie
down OH the si'le of the bed" He ob4yel
and the voice said, ''Who am [, anyhow ?"
He repl d, you are Susie smith, Ii an
sWere'i, No, amt Susie Smith died list
Dight," a"d this opinion it maintained
o. Fridty the sym )tnm3 were again
worse: there Were several fAinting So lis,
but after l i! O'Clock there were no in ica-
tions Of life
The next morning, while in lower
room, and IN leavofing to decide where to
.ay the body, al ap.,ariIon, OF Susie Smith,
Us the incre iuI ,is " cred Il ,u3 will have
it, walked into the roo with plum foot
steps and $ id. Right on the school hill
right on tue side Of the road then disap-
peared.
The location Indicted was selected. In
Denmark, near Brighton, Me-, the body
lies in a ltew selected lot Oh the school
louse hillside.
The illness and decease occurred at the
residence OF her sister, corner of Cedar
and Franklin streets. The young lady re-
sided in Lawrence for number of years,
and was organist at Webster Hall, with a
large circle of acquaintances. We advance
no explanation or theory tocover the case;
we give the facts, easily attested, and the
circumstances warrant the truthfullness
of the statements.