Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-11-25
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER %. 1882.
Details OF the Miraculous Cure Of
Richard HOffman-ais Prayers AM

Details OF the Miraculous Cure Of
Richard HOffman-Iiis Prayers AM
swered. ffHFhFb
The details Of the apparently miracu'
lOus cure by prayer of Richard Hoffman,
a cripple of Bentleysville, Washington
county, which has already been briefly
referred to, make a wonderful story.
Hoffman is 40 years old, and was born
near where he now lives. He Is car
penter by trade, and very ingenious
mechanic. When ID years old he sus-
tanned fall which injured his spine.
He suffered more or less until about five
years ago, when he was compelled to re-
linQuish his trade, and had to use
crutches to assist him in walking. As
he grew weaker his feet refused to sup
port him, and for about year he walk
ed on his knees. After that he travelled
about in a wheel chair, operated with
levers, but finally he became unable to
sit up, even, and resOrted to the use of
continuance which was combination
of chair and lounge, in which he could
sit erect or lie down as he felt able. He
designed both chair and lounge himself.
A year ago he was given up by his ply
sicians, who
PRONOUNCED HIM INCURABLE,
and said his death was only question
of time. About that time he read
accounts of remarkable cures of cripples
near Erie, Pa, through the medium of
prayer. He opened correspondence with
them, and they confirmed the statements
he had read. Mrs. Ella Thompson and
Mrs. Ward, of Erie. one of whom had
been an invalid for eighteen years, both
wrote him that they had been cured by
prayer. 1t was long time he says, be-
fore he could bring himself to have faith
that prayer could effect his cure, but
eventually such faith inspired him, and
after correspondence with the persons at
Erie it was mutually agreed that Thurs
day evening,the 9th inst, should be de-
voted by them to prayer for his recovery.
That night he says he crawled out in the
dark and rain on his knees to the wagon
shed, where he prayed for two hours. He
felt that the very door of Heavens mercy
was open, and that he could see Jesus
stretching forth His hands to lift him
from his infirmities. When done pray
ing he arose and walked upa hill some
five rods, next up flight of steps, nine
in number, and then forty feet across
porch aud through ia kitchen into the
house, where he called his relatives to
see
HIS WONDERFUL RESTORATION.
Ever since that day he has walked
erect and unaided, and has been con-
stantly growing in strength. The
story of Hoffman's marvellous recovery
can be youched for by hundreds of per-
sons, among whom is the Rev. Marquis,
of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian church,
who says Hoffman has been for years
very religious man. DR.. Jesse G. Scott,
who attended Hoffman, was very much
surprised to hear of his sudden recovery.
He says Hoffman was afflicted with
hardening Of the spinal chords, COM
pressing the nervous fbers and break
ing the connections by which sensations
are transmitted to the brain. When ha
had exhausted every resource at his COM
mand, he took Hoffman before the Wash
ington County Medical Society, which
pronounced the case incurable. In con-
GLIDING his statement, DR.. Scott said:
Hoffman was on his knees last week,
but last night saw him walking. He
is of an excitable disposition, but a
strictly good man, and don't think he
would practice deception. have had
no chance as yet make an examination,
and as have said before, the disease Is
considered incurable, but the fact of his
walking is the best evidence of his re-
cOyery." Hoffman has done something
in the way of local preaching, and Is
now travelling through Washington and
Greene counties telling nightly to great
crowds the story of his miraculous res
tOratiOn to perfect health.
GENERAL CHALMERS, Of Mississippi,
has had to take very bitter dose of his
own medicine, and loses his seat in Con-
gress by disreputable trick on the part
of his opponents, which is very similar
to one he himself played two years ago.
and by which he obtained seat at that
time. II appears that some unauthorized