Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-27
4 SEVERED HEAD ALIVE.
a Remarkable Recital by Veteran,
Chicago Engineer.

Chicago Engineer.
Chicago Herald
GLOW was it about the explosion you wit
nessedg'
''Well, one was near Susquehanna, on the
York & Erie, now the New York, Lake Erie
G. Western. Poor Walter Arnold was run
ming the engine. He was as nice chap and
as steady and careful an engineer as you ever
saw. [ was standing near the Office door
talking to the mechanical superintendent
about some new hammers that we were put
ting into the shop. 1t was in the fall of 1857,
but l remember it as if it occurred yesterday
Walter hauled up about 200 yards to
the right of where we were standing,
and his engine had hardly stopped when
the explosion took place. 1t was fearful
sound. 1t stunned US for a second or two.
Then we rushed down to see sight which
don't want to see again. A lot Of the work
people and their wives and children had got
on the tender. 1t was pay day, and they
were nearly all cut to pieces. The fragments
of the bodies were seen lying around, mixed
up with the wreck of the engine and tender.
Immediately on getting up to the spot I
rushed across the track to see if could find
anything of poor Watty, for he and I were
close friends. Well, sir, sure enough, there
was his head resting upright on a fiat stone
In little stream of water by the side of the
road, and the color of life was still seen in
his cheeks. My Cod said to the man next
me, there is poor Watty'S head and with
that the eyes actually closed and opened as
much as to say, Yes, old man, here I am.'
This is as true as you and I are here now
No, [ don't want to be in any more explo-
sions."
''And you really think the head heard your
remark and answered it by winl1ing his
eyes?"
Eyes, sir; it is true as death. Watty Ar
mold knew me, and heard my voice. and an
swered it. You see, the head was taken of
clear, below the jaws, and very likely the
superheated steam scared the ends of the
veins and stopped the flow of blood from the
head and face. There was good color in
the face and the eyes were full Of intelli-
gence"
The reporter ascertained that the name Of
the speaker is William Nugent, mechanical
engineer and draughtsman. The person who
was with him at the time of the accident was
one Richard Bates. who afterward removed
to Philadelphia. Mr.. Nugent is employed in
the Office of the ChicagoTire andSpring works
As to the possibility of the head being
conscious after severance, it is on record
that several of the heads taken off by the
guillotine in Paris during the reign of terror,
showed signs of life and consciousness after
execution took place, and that vital action
continued for a considerable time in some
cases. It is by no means impossible that a
nervous contraction of the eyelids might
have taken place. Whether there was really
conscious motion is another question. 1t is
certain that Mr.. Nugent thought at the time
that there was, and that he continues in that
belief 10 this day. The conditions are Ger
tainly more favor able for the momentary
maintenance of consciousness in Walter Ar
nold's case than in the cases Of victims of the
guillotine There was much less loss of
blood, and the whole system was probably in
condition of more robust and active life.
There was also the fact that the flow of blood
from the head in this case had been partially
checked, first, by the superheated steam, and,
second, by the cold water of the creek.