The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-23
MIDNIGHT IN NADEAD-HOUSE A

luck.
11e1leIeoSlcans 11Ae1elzIeeeSSe1xLskosEssgAItrS
MIDNIGHT IN ADEAD-HOUSE "A
We wcto sitting alono in the twilight
lcisurelY ,puil'ng at our cigars when one
of tho hospital nurses camo out and
whispered TO tho doctor that Sailor
John was "agoin." The passing away
OF mortal is an event about which
there is always something of the mys-
ferrous, and so we walked down the
long corridor-and entered Ward II.
The nurse was right. John was
'aGoin." Like an alto relieve, out of
tho crumpled pillow rose ~" face that
g. vas Rom;tn in its rugged outline. and
even thoI pinched, nose, sunken cyes
and compressed lips did not oblitcrato
the likeness 10 somo of those historic
busts dug up among the ruins of early
Italy. A student said il looked like
Seneca, and truly thorc was much TO
recall the old philosopher in the wrin-
kled features.
Tho man in, bed 27, restless with
fever, turned over SO rs to face the
couch Of tho dying man, and with wild
staring eyes watched every sinking
respiration Of the old sailor.
An awkward plethoric beetle buzzcd
around the gas jet in an irregular or
bit, its hum being tho only sound to
break tho Silence which the faint breath
"a ingsSof tho sufferer softly punctuatod.
f1he doctor lifted the shetland felt tic
pu.Sc OF the patient. Its about over"
he remarked, and lie laid down the
helpless ann. v.--s
These was II rattle in the throat q
lonS-draWn sigh, as if all tho, sorrows
~ in, ,.x>1,
away, and then the eyes opened. They
looked into the doctors, and scemin@
to lind comfort in tho returning, glance
of compassion, thcy closed slowly.
Then there was q twitchnm of the mus
cles around tho mouth, and in n Sill
prcmc climax of, effort. the lips moved
and faintly came FORTH Hard port it
Is sir. :" A slight tremor shook his
frame, and all was over. Z"
John had reached harbor.
Then there was Il tread of feet in tho
corridor and the carriers of the dead
came IN, and John was taken out to the
dcad-house and laid beside other storm
Tossed barks that had that day found q
last moorf1Tg-place, whittier The whole
armada OF humanity drift at last. The
hoSp1tat bell gave one stroke to an
nounce the departure of another soul.
ana then the nurses looked over the
ward book to seq who next should re-
cove his dose Of medicine, and hos
pltal life resumed its quiet current. I'd
We went back 10 the pOrtico and re-
Sumod our cigars. ~ curious fellow
that, said the doctor; this is his fifth
VISIT here, and he knew it would be his
last. He. was ALWAYS Begging me to be
at his side when the end came, and by
good luck l changed here tonight.
Strange as it may seem to you, this
same man was once q king. You
smile. but, nevertheless, it is true He
was cast away in tho Pacific and
reached one of the small islands out
there, where he lived and became the
ruicr Of q little Kingdom. He lonpcd
for white, society and abdicated and
went bacb Mo the sea.
'But that is not what I wanted to
speak about" the doctor went on.
Lighting fresh cigar 'Its his Cur
ious. ideas of his ability to como back
from the othor world. He has talked
10 me by tho hour OH this subject until
put him down as spiritualist of tho
most orthodox kind, Ho has promised
me to make his presence known on tho
night OF his nativity, Juno 80, and has
excited my curiosity}not ~ littlo."
"If he could only do that" said r
lit would be the solving Of all our
doubts" '.....|
Yes, replied the doctor, "no mes
sage ever came from beyond the Styx,
and good sailor rs John was, no can
not, | believe. recross that inky flood"
The abovcY little episode happened in
the Charity hospital about tho middle
OF May, 1869, and the doctor spoken of
was one known and. beloved through
out the city and state. 1t is but q little
over year since he, too, crossed tho
Lethenn stream, but before his death
ne told tho writer the facts given be-
!oW' speaking of them rs q curious CO.
, incidence, IN and not for moment look.
! slng NJ them IN q suRcrstitious light.
nc was man of remarkable nerve
was Us DraVc as Cmur do Leon and
would "be as little daunted by tho
appearance OF simon-purc ghost
as he would by the approach of an old
hisidesth and whilst Canal street VOC
pand6monium Of sound, and borno no
and firccrackers werc making Christ
mas Eve hideous, that, seated in his
office, t3e conversation turned ON
things Supernatural. Tho tropidations
OF youth over spooks and the fears. of
tho superstitious of Older growth were
laughed at, and it was not till after tho
subject driftedg to hospital lifc' that tho
doctors exclaimed: 80 III ~ r,i..
"Thats fact; 1 don't believe [ ever
told yon my experience in. tho dead
house OF the hospital after Sailor Johns
death, never cared about saying
anything regardingit, for if have to
was little woak.