Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-16
A STRANGE STORY.
The Remarkable Resurrection Of
Common Sailor.
How Dead Man Returned to Life TO
Admonish Commodore Rodgers
and His Former Comrades
An Incident of the
War OF 1913.

lON. IlC says OOlCCIuIuS bHG UlSUOIJ
of the subioined 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 recent visit
to America, only few words are
necessary The narrative is addressed
to ''Mrs. Rodgers and sister," and ap-
pears to have been written at the
request 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 fight
ing cruiser of the American republic II.
the war with England OF 181z-145
Commodore Rodgers, who Commanded
the Presidentduring the war, and who
was the husband of the lady for whom
the account was written, gave to DR..
Turks narrative his Endorsement Of
its perfect accuracy. OF the authen-
ticity of the document there can be no
possibility of a doubt
''Some time in the latter part of
December, 1913, man by the name of
William Kembie, aged twentg-three Ga,
seaman on board of the United States
frigate President, commanded by Com
modore John Rodgers, on cruise. then
near the Western Islands), was brought
to me from one Of the tops, in which he
was stationed, having burst vessel III
his lungs, the blood gushing with great
violence from his mouth and nostrils.
With much difficulty [ succeeded in
stopping the discharge, and he was put
visited him often, and had the best of
opportunity of becoming acquainted
with his temper, habits and intellectual
attainments; and under all circum-
stances, during his illness, found his
language and behavior sdch as stamped
him the rough, profane aud illi.orate
sailor It is my belief, although | can
not positively assertit, that he could not
either read or write. T. is certain that
his conversation never differed in the
least from that of the most ignorant
and abandoned of his associates, con-
stantly mixed with oaths and the lowest
vulgarity. Had be possessed talents or
learning, he must have betrayed it to
me during his long confinement.
SIN the early part of January, 1914,
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, well knowing Kemble's
spirit and how anxious he would be to
partake of the glorious victory defeat
never entered our thoughts), [ thought
it best to visit him. After stating to
him the peculiar situation he was in,
and the great danger be would be ex-
posed to by the least emotion, ] en-
treated and ordered him not to stir dur
ing the action, which he promised to
observe. We were soon obliged to fire.
At the sound of the first gun he could
restrain himself no longer, but regard
less of my admoniton and of his own
danger, he rushed upon deck and flew
to his gun, laying hold to help run her
out a fresh and tremendous discharge
from his lungs was the consequence,
and he was brought down to me again
in a most deplorable state. | appre-
hended immediate death, but by
the application of the proper RENE
dies [ succeeded once more
in stopping the hemorrhage, by
which he was reduced to state of the
most extreme debility Beng near the
equator and suffering much from heat,
his hammock was slung on the gun
deck between the ports. affording the
best circulation of air. He continued
for some time free from hemorrhage,
but was under the constant use of med
icine, and was confined TO q particular
diet This made him fretful and he
would frequently charge my mates with
starving him, at the same time damn
ing them in the true sailor fashion.
After some time, being again called to
quarters at night, he was necessarily
removed below to the sick berth (com-
monty called bay.) This was followed
by another discharge Of blood from his
lungs, which was renewed at intervals
until his death.
''On January II, in the afternoon,
DR.. Birchmore, my first mate, came to
me on deck, and reported Kemble to be
dead I directed him to see that his
messmates did what was usual on such
occasions preparatory to comm ting
his remains to the deep. About two
hours after this DIR. Birchmore again
called on me. He sad that Kemble
had come to life, and was holding forth
to the sailors in strange way
directly went down, where L
witnessed one of the most remarkable
| and unaccountable transactions that,
perhaps. had ever fallen to the lot OF
man to behold. Kemble had awakened
as it were from SLEEP, raised h mself up
and called for his nlessmates in partlc-
ular, and those men who were not on
duty TO attend to his words. He told
them he had experienced death, butwas
allowed short space of time to return
and give them, as well as the officers,
some direction for the r future conduct
in life. In this S tuation | found him,
surrounded by the crew, all mute with
astonishment, and paying the most
serious attention TO every word that es-
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