New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-22
THE RETURNING DEAD.
4 v.pv or THE PRESIDENT FRIGATE.

narrative the original mlnuscrpt OF whIch.
written i'm now faded ink on the rough dngy paper
of sixty years ago. was placed m my handS III the
course of recent VISIT 10 America V1y ~"
words necessary. The narrative Is aH"I'. ~ 10
Mrs Rodgers and sister," and bears 10 have been
written at the request OF the former Lady, ater us
authors return from sea on the termination OF ms
service As surgeon 81 the - IIs'nrHI T,aa,E 'H -;
famous fighting cruiser Ui The American h'pubIie ~
The war with England Of l~l2-lI. Commodore
Rodgers who commanded the President curing
the war, and who was the husband OF me lazy i9f
whom the account va, written. gave 70 Dr. Turks
narrative his Endorsement Of Iis perfect accuracy
CT the authenticity OF the document there can De ID"
some time IN the latter part Of December 1913,
a man bv the name Of William k"inDlr. aged aPOaC
twcnty-thrce 10 seaman on board 81 tine - :.
Friqate President commanded by Commodore
John Rodgers, on a cruise ih'n near tLG Ncsteih
Islands. was brought 20 inr rom OF. o. l' I'p''in
which he was stationed, having buT't N'Sri III nus
lungs being at the time IN great danger oI instant
death. tine blood gnshIng with great violence from
his mouth and uostrlls. WIN much diWculty
succeeded in stopping the discharge and hc was put
upon tho use of remedies shifted To ms case.
visited HIM often. and bad the o'st o. opP"l t"HIS
of becoming acquainted with his temp T, habits,
and intellectual attIinmcut7: and under all crcum.
stances. during Iii, Illness found MS language anu
behavior such stamped hun the rough Pl0IA!ie.
and llltcratr sailor II - ny pIi!eIt dIou~, IN
not positively assert n, That Ic cohid hot either
never tcred in the least from that of the most ~
n0raut aud abandoned Of his associates, constantly
mixed with oaths and The lowest vugaTlty liai ne
possessed talents, or learning. DEE must nave De
iraycd il 10 me duI ing his long confinement
"In the early part OF January 'lHlI'a ,yesSeI
bore down mon u'. win every appraTanci 81 oeuls
ters and after a short and animated address Dy the
Commodore 70 the crew: all prepared to do Their
duty. Before descended 10 the cockpit, wen
knowing Kcmbc'S spirit aud how aDXious he would
be to partake in the glory of the victory defeat
never entered our thonghtsl. thonght u pest 10
visit him. After stating to him the peculiar sltua
ton he Was ill., and the great danger he would be
exposed 10 by the least emotion. entreated NM
and ordered him not 70 stir during the acton, which
he nrprp i-p1 a ~
ire At the sound of the first gun he could RESTRAIN
himself no longer. bu regardless oI IN, adnonltoh3
and of ms own danger. ne rushed upon deck ahd
flew 70 his g1In. LAYING hold to help Tlln her out
fresh and tremendous discharge from his lungs was
the consequence, and he was brought down 10 me
again i'm "A most drplorable state. applehended
immediate death, but by the Application OF the
proper remedies, | succeeded one" n0lc IN stopping
the hemOrrhagc, by winch he wa reduced 10 i stat
of the most extreme debility. Bong near the eqna
tor. and suffering much from heat ms hammock
was slungOn the gUndeck between tie pOr'> AFFORD
iur the best circulation of air. lie continued for
some time free from hemOrrhage. but was under the
consttut use of m Medicine, and WAS confined TO
particular diet. This made HIM irettul, ana he
would frequently charge my mares WIN stdItInS
him. AT the same time damning them ID me true
sailor fashion After some time. being again ca led
10 quarters at night h" was hrGr~@aIi -
low to the sick berth commonly called BAY! lhiS
WAS followed by another discharge Oh ol2'd nom ~
lungs which was renewed at intervals untl MS
death. ~. ~
on January y, in the afternoon; DR.. B'rchm9rri
my first mate came 10 me on deck, and reported
Kembc 10 be dead directed INN 10 -er that ms mess
mates did what was usual on such occasions pTepar-
atory to committing hS remains rs TO 'io u,'P,
called on me- He said that Komhlc hat come 10
life and was folding forth 10 the sailors IN a
strange way. | directly Went down. where Wiz
messed one of the most rcnlarNaoie ana HhtIIolt-
able tran~act tons that. perhaps had ever Idl'h 10
| the lot of man t. behold Kemblc had awakened as
il were from sleep raised hImS IF mp ana called Tor
| his messuate' IN particular, ana th"NI men WIZ
were not on duty, to attend 10 his words He l9d
| them he bad NpcrIrnced death, INT WAS aIloNeu
| -ln of - return anu tnti Is wei
rs The officers some direction Tor lher lHtUIe con-
| Jnct in ifr In this situation found him, SUI.
| rounded bv the crew. all mute with aStonlShnrnt.
and paying the most SeriouS attention to every "onl
that escaped from his lips. / !" oldest men were ~
! tears not dry eye was 10 be seen, OF = whisper
| heard all wa, as solemn rs the grave. His whole
| body was a. cold rs death could make Il lhcrc
| was no ml,ation in the wrists. the temples on the
chest prTcrptlbir ~, voice wa "I aH" P2"VLf"i'
| his eyes uuoowmou'y brilliant ana dnWlt'l Atlcl
short and pertinent address 10 the medical gentle
men, he told me ID a Uriempt9I\ manner 10 OrinS
! Commodore Rodgers To- him, a. hc bad something to
saw to him before hc finally LETT rs III" Commo-
| dore consented 70 90 with me. when scene wa
presented truly novel and indcScribablr. and calcu
lated to fill with awe the ~tOgte-t heart The sick
BAY or BERTH in which he lay Is entirely let apart
to the Use Of those who confined &c their beds by
! illness supported by the surgeons, surrounded by
his weeping and a,tonIsied comrades. a crowd oi
spectators looking through the atticc-Worh WlloA
iurlo,rd the room. 20 common jlpauuoI Lamp throw
ing ont q sckly light and candle held opposite hi
face by an attendant. was the situation 81 thing.
when our worthy Commander m@dc DIS appearance;
and well does hc rcmcm'er d." effect prod need y 50
uncommon q spectacle, c>prrl!Iy WH'h i"'lgWrd bN
the uttemUc, oi these words from tn mouth ~ one
long supposed 10 have been dead: 'Comm"dorc
Rodgers, lave sent for AoU, ST; beng com
mi,-ourd bv hi.h,r power 20 address yoU Tor
short time and f. deliver the message ntrU-'cl ~
me when was permitted to revisit the Garth Ongrl
trcmhicI m your presence. aad Wa eager To obey
your commands; but now | tlu your sup. LOT, h'iiS
no longer I'M inilhtaut OF the earth baNc seen Tho
gloT.,, of the world oi spirits. | ain NOT permitted
tO make known what have b"LclI indeed wrn.
not iorhud'1. ilueuae" would bee IHad.P4't' 10 thr
task; It's enough for Won and the crew 10 know that
/ have been sent back 20 earth t. r'"nEate i't q
few hOUis my .ro>S botV. commissioned by G0d 10
nrrfolIl fine work aIu uoN engaged iu H. thO1 "a
language s, .ha~te and appropriate US would not
L9yr fe.,r...I tI. Inns OF The pen Of divine took
a hasty view Il the moral AMI religions duties IN
;,J tc ,.,s iclt ON shin hoard uolut,-l
ont the relative dut IS of officers au men. ald t"
cluIcd bv urging thc necessity Of reformation AMI
repentance tie lid not rs was feared ~ our brave
COMMANDER attempt 10 prove the slniuln''S OF
fighting and wars: but. on the contrary Warmly
recommended to the men the performance of their
duty To their country with courage ana idelIty.
His speeches occupied aboui thr'e-quatlcrs OF an
hour aud II the whole could have been taken down
at the time they won'd have made q considerable
pamphlet which would ~ doubt, have been IN
great demand. Dr. Brcmorr now at Boston,
heard all the addresses only the last
when he finished with the Commodore his head
dropped upon EIs breast his eyes closed and he APP
pclred 10 have passed through a ,rc"uu Gc'h, 20
nul,atiou nor the least degree OF warmth could I've
perceived during the time that he was speaking
ordered him 10 bee Land aside. and lett Nun.
&c retired to bed. deeply rejecting upon the past.
unable 10 sleep. when about O'Clock p. M. many
boUrS after ktmblc had been lad hy. was called
ont of bel TO visit a man taxi Suddenly lll IN ms
hammock hanging near keu'hi"N apartment. 1t
wa, an hour wutu all bat th, watch on deck had
turned I'm: general silence rciened and all the
Light, below pat ont with the exception OF single
lamp lu the sick apartment, where i.t tHr remains
of Ecmb!e hal brl the 5. h Wan-hc was re-
licyrd. | entered the sick room before retired tn
replace something and Va, tuuug round % leave
It. beng alone when suddenly was almost petrl-
lcd upon bchodug kcmhle sitting up in ms berth.
with his (Which hat l.-Il lI.il lulN.tr
huliiaucy and iut.illgrnee h>rd Htcutly upon
mine became for a moment. S.'rrhl.-N and mo-
t.oulesS. Thinks | 80 myself, what have done, ~
lett uudOuc ia tins mans case, that should Cda~e
him Tim, To stare at me aJ th', bate hour aud
alone? | wai,,d a long time pa painful SuSpcnse,
dIrttliug some hnrrid disclosure when ! WAS re,