The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-01-11
HELL'S BEND.
A Horrible Story of Attempted Raising
of the Dead in this Iowa Town.

of the Dead in this Iowa Town.
A most shocking aud horrible affair
occurred at Hell's Bend, Ida county,
short time ago. The facts, as reported
to the Ida County Pioneer, are as fol
lows About the middle Of November,
one Mr.. Heycock was taken down with
typhoid fever, and DR.. Rice, of Smith
land, was summoned to render medical
aid. The patient was getting along as
well as-could be expected under the Cir
cumstances-the patient being quite low
before medical aid vas received. One
day a Spiritualist, residing in that Yicin-
iJy, by the name of Frank BigIow, called
at the house of MIr. Heycock, won their
confidence, and boldly asserted that he
could perfect s. rapid cure upon Mr..
Heycock through the medium OF spirit
ualism, providing they would let him
have his own way. After short time
Of consideration, Mrs. Heycook informed
BigloW that they were at his mercy
Biglow threw out all the medicine pre-
pared by DR.. Rice and sent the doctor
word not to make another visit. From
this time nc medicine was administered,
save Biglow's spiritual aid. He COM
menced talking and groaning to the pa
tient, rubbing his brow, pulling his
beard, etc.
Mr.. Heycook finally sunk into kind
Of stupor, and seemingly suffering less
pain, which led the vile and Biglow to
the belief that he was recovering. Wis
ztors were finally forbid coming. Inthe
course Of day or two a few OF the citi-
zens again went to the house and asked
admission, which was granted. There,
in bed, lay the dead body of lIr. Hey
cock the eye sockets already turning
black. One Of the visitors exclaimed,
s'He is dead" Big1ow aaia; 1.*ffIe is not
dead, but sleepeth, /" at the same time
endefvoring TO blow out the light. - -.
The neighbors then suggested that
the body be laid out for burial. Biglow
objected, and said, eff my brother be
dead, I can raise him to life again. and
raising up his feet, stretching out his
arms over the corpse, and lifting his
eyes toward heaven, shouted at the top
of his voice, ''Come forth my dear
brother! Grave give back thy dead !"
He then kneeled over the dead body
saying. "Open thy eyes, my dear broth
er,' at the same time pushing the eye
lids open with his thumb (thinking no
one saw him, and, with q feeling of
satisfaction, he turned to the bystanders
nna 5rnl1ad ssPraisa the Lord" But to
his surprise the ''brother" did not rise
worth cent. The citizens again want
ed possession of the body for interment,
but the Spiritual doctor stubbornly re-
fused, saying, s'I can raise tiny brother
at the end Of the third day" Heavy
blankets were then piled upon the corpse
by Biglow to retain the animal heat.
The doors were locked and no lights
used during three days, but what else
the third day Mrs. Heycock sent word
to few Of the neighbors to come and
bury the body. They came, and among
them were the most stout and hardy men
of the neighborhood, but they became
faint and sickened upon entering the
room on account of the uncomfortable
stencil resulting from the decomposition
of the body. They were compelled to
bring ice from the river which they
placed around the corpse to freeze it be-
fore they could arrange 1t in the coffin.
Those present say they never witnessed
such disgrace to humanity In theirEves.
Mr.. Heycock was about 45 years Of
age, aud was recently from Wisconsin.
He was by faith an Adventist, and was
highly respected by al his sacquaintances.
The whole neighborhood is filed with
great indignation over the affair.