Smyrna times., 1879-07-16
For the Smyrna Times.
A Curious Psychological Faot-Who
Will Explain It?

A prominent member of the Dover Bar writes to the
Euery Evening detailing the following strange fact
which presents difficult problem for students Of
psychology to unravel:
few days ago heard that Conductor Hastings
who lost his hand by the accidental discharge OF a
gun at the late railroad collision at Dover seemed to
suffer very greatly in the amputated hand, when Is
buried here; that he felt the hand drawn up and
cramped in unnatural position, causing the suffer
ing. Also that he had sent u man down from VII
mngtOn to Dover To disinter the amputated 1nemper
and sraghten it out and that when this was done ne
obtained relief.
Wishing to know the exact truth of the report, ad-
dressed note of inquiry to Mr.. Hastings Here is his
reply: Who will explain the phenomenon? III any
aspect, it is odd and interesting
WIIMINGToN, May 49, 1S79-Dedr I'm answer to
your inquiry would state that suffered great deal
as my hand was in cramped position. teltlt Just as
plain as the one that was left on or if 1t had been
attached to my body. did send man TO u, ana
after it was fixed in natural position felt relieved
Yours, respectfully, c. W. HASTINGS
Many similar instances of this remarkable power OF
mind soul life or whatever it may be that takes cog
nizance of the condition of dismembered portions OF
the body even though they may be separated by a
condiderable distance from the body itself have been
related. Many of our readers doubtless remember the
sad accident by which Mr. A. NJ Frazer lost his life al
the p W. e. B. depot in this city the night of Satur
! day, May 2Oth, 1876 Mr.. Frazer was in the act o.
| alghting from the cars when, through some misad
venture, he was thrown under the train the wheels
passing over both of his legs and severing them en-
| tirely from the body The dying man taken int
the dead house" near the depot, and his severed
| limbs were also brought in and laid on the floor
| few feet distant. From the report of the accden
given in Every EUcnug of May 22d, 1876, clip th
| following:
| Detective Legg removing the shoes from hi
feet which were apart from his body and lying SOM
two feet distant, when he suddenly started up ant
begged the detective to be careful adding that he
hurting his corns, and insisted with such earnest
ness at each attempt to his shoes that Mr. Leg
was compelled to desist.
story, apparently well authenticated, that wa
published in many of the leading papers of tn
country few years ago, shows that this strang
vital telegraphic current may exist even in the in
ferior animals. large rattlesnakc had been bcate
and bruised and left for dead but to make the matte
more certain its head had been cut off and the hea
and body lay on the ground over two yards apar
Two or three hours afterwards a bystander trod o
the tail of the snake when instantly the body NJ
reared itself and the headess stump struck forcibl
against his leg. The experiment was tried again an
again and every time the tail was trodden upon III
body of the snake sprang into the air and at the
instant the jaws Of the severed head opened an
closed with vicious suNp.-ErTy Ercniag.