The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-22
A STRANGE STORY.

Archibald Forbes contributes 10
Belgravia the curious story found be-
low. He says: Concerning the history
of the subjoined curious narrative. the
original manuscript of which, written
in now faded ink on the rough dingy
paper of sixty years ago, was placed in
my hands in the course of a recent visit
to America, only few words are nee
essary. The narrative is addressed to
Mrs. Rodgers and sister, and ap-
pears to have been written at the re-
quest of the former lady, after the
authors return from the sea on the
termination of his service as surgeon
of the frigate President, the famous
fighting cruiser of the American repub-
lie in the war with England of 1924.
Commodore Rodgers, who commanded
the President during the war, and who
was the husband of the lady for whom
the account was written, gave to DIR.
Turks narrative his Endorsement of its
perfect accuracy. OF the authenticity
of the document there can be no pos-
sibility of a doubt.
''Some time in the latter part of
December, 1918, man by the name of
William Kemble aged % "a seaman on
board of the United States frigate Pre-
sident, commanded by Commodore
John Rodgers, on cruise, then near
the Western lsland), was brought to
me from one of the tops, in which he
was stationed, having burst vessel in
lis lungs, the blood gushing with
great violence from his mouth and
nostrils. With much difficulty l sue
ceeded in stopping the discharge, and
he was put up on remedies suited to his
case. l visited him often and had the
best of opportunity of becoming &C
quainted with his temper, habits, and
intellectual attainments; and under
all circumstances, during his illness
found his language and behavior such
as stamped him the rough profane and
illiterate sailor. 1t is my belief, al
though l cannot positively assert it,
that he could not either read or write.
1t is certain that his conversation never
differed in the least from that of the
most ignorant and abandoned of his as
sociates, constantly mixed with the low
est vulggarity. Had he possessed talent or
learning, he must have betrayed it to
me during his long confinement.
'ln the early part of January, 1914,
a vessel, bore down upon Us, with every
appearance of an English frigate. All
hands were called to quarters and after
a short and animated address by the
commodore to the crew, all prepared
to DO their duty. Before descended to
the cockpit, we'll knowing Kemble' s
spirit and how anxious he would be to
partake of the glorious victory (defea,
never entered our thoughts), l though,
best to visit him. After stating to him
the peculiar situation he was in, and
the great danger he would be exposed
to by the least emotion, l entreateC
and ordered him not to stir during the
action, which he promised to observe.
We were soon obliged to fire. At the
sound ofthe first gun he could restrain
himself no longer, but regardless OF M,
admonitions and of his own danger
he rushed upon deck and flew to hi.
gun, laying hold to hell
run her out. A frcsf
and tremendous discharge from hi
lungs was the consequence, and he wa
brought down to me again il mos
deplorablc state. l unprecedented i'm
mediate death, but by the application
of the proper remedies l Succeeded
once more in stopping the hemorrhagc
by which he was reduced to state O
the most extreme debility. Being neal
the equator, and suffering much from
heat, his hammock was slung on thu
gun-deck between the ports, atfordine
the best circulation of air. He contin
ued for some time free from hcmorr
hage, but was under the constant ust
OF medicine, and was confined to par
ticular diet. This made him fretful
and he would frequently charge M,
mates with starving him, at the sam,
time damning them in the true sailo
fashion. After some time, being agair
called to quarters at night, he wa;
necessarily removed below to the sick
berth Commonly called bay). This
was followed by another discharge Of
blood from his lungs, which was re-
newed at intervals until his death.
con Jan. II. in the afternoon, Dr.
Birchmore, my first mate. came to me
on deck, and reported Kemble to be
dead. l directed him to see that his
messmates did what was usual on such
occasions preparatory to committing
his remains to the deep. About two
hours after this DIR. Birchmore again
called on me. He said that Kemble
had come to life, and was holding forth
to the sailors in a strange way. di.
rectly went down, where l witnessed
one of the most remarkable and I'm.
accountable transactions that, perhaps
has ever fallen to the lot of man to be.
hold. Kemble awakened as it were
from sleep, raised himself up, and
called for his messmates in particular
and those men who were not on duty
to attend to his words. He told then
he had experienced death. but
was allowed a short space
of time to return and give
them, as we'll as the officers, some di.
rection for their future conduct in life.
In this situation found:him, surround.
ed by the crew, all mute with aston.
ishment, and paying the most serious
attention to every word that escaped
from his lips. The Oldest men were in
tears, not a dry eye was to be seen, or
a whisper heard; all was as solemn as
the grave. His whole body was cold as
death could make it. There was no
pulsation in the wrists, the temples, or
the chest perceptible. His voice was
clear and powerful, his eyes uncom-
monty brilliant and animated. After a
short and pertinent address to the
medical gentlemen, he told me in a per-
emptory manner to bring Commodore
Rodgers to him, as he had something
to say to him before he finally left US:
The commodore consented to go
with me, when a scene was pre-
scented truly novel and indescriba-
BILE. and calculated to fill with awe the
stoutest heart. The sick bay Cor BERTH
in which he lay is entirely set apart to
the use of those who are confined to
their beds by illness. Supported by the
surgeons. surrounded bv his wecninu