The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
science mad.

science mad.
His room was filled with electrical appa-
ratus, and oil its adjuncts. l was often at q
loss to know how he could afford so much ex-
travagant research, as / knew that his father
was broken-down merchant, who lived very
plainly in small cottage some fifteen miles
from the city, originally porter's lodge to
some gentleman's seat in the neighborhood.
l accepted Hoffman's invitation to the first
vacation we.were together, and spent part of
the holiday at the cottage, where I became ac-
quainted with his family, consisting OF his
father, mother and an only sister.
The father was large, athletic man of ap-
parently forty-fye years of age, with bold
but scornful look and treacherous eye. Tho
mother and sister were more like Hoffman.
Still 1 noticed that his mother had constant
habit of clasping her hands as If in prayer
and turning her eyes heavenward. This sur
prlsed me very much, as Hoffman had never
protested amy religion whatever; but, on the
contrary, he would sometimes almost scott at
me for being q believer. He wanted me to
lend him certain sum TO pay for tho making
OF an electric apparatus Of great size, with
which he intended to restore life. could not
assist him; but two days after our return to
Leipsic he called. on mo to say that his father
would furnish him with the requisite amount
in q few days.
This was the acme of bliss for him, and Just
three weeks after the evening he received the
money from his father he called on me to say
that the machine was finished and ne would
have an opportunity OF using 1t on the follow
ing day, as q notorious murderer was to be
hung and he had made arrangements for his
body.
Strange, is il not" said he, "that this
scoundrel will furnish the means whereby the
scientific world will learn to honor me ?'
The hall at the college was fine large,
coN which anti In
stair on the outside near the ceiling, and on
looking down you would perceive semi-circu-
lar area.
Two stairs led down among the seats on
either side to this area, in which stood the
electric apparatus, and long mahogany table,
bound with brass, with number OF hinges
and foldings. which was capable of being
swung around in all directions by means OF d
bali and socket joint in itspeaesta!.
g On this table was u small bog mounted in
silver, which contained dissectiDg Instruments;
there were also several basins OF water and
bundle Of towels.
Soon after we had taken our seats several
elderly gentlemen entered the arena also, one
OF them completely covered with his black
gown This wasathe demonstrators OF anatomy.
and he it was who would today operate upon
the dead body OF ScaIauel, the notorious high
wayman.
The old church bell had pealed out its
twelve strokes some tiane before any news
E6dCtlHu uS Dub III I'D u young Dltbn eUItfCu
hastily, whispered something in the ear of
the doctor who was enyeloped in the black
gown and everything was excitement. The
machine was put in action and the table pre-
pared, and in another minute several men
hurried into the room bearing body, with u
sheet thrown loosely over it,
A loud murnrur was heard throughout tho
hall, and each one sprang to his feet to try
and get look AZ the body, which was placed
ON the table with its face downward.
The sheet was at once removed, and / shud-
dered as / saw before mo all that was mortal
of the highwayman Scanned. Hoffman
clutehed my arm as the preparations were
being made. Every fibre in the body seemed
to be in a state Of rigid tension, which display
ed the strength and elegance of his muscular
frame to great advantage.
DIR. Bremner, the anatomical lecturer, step
ped forward Immediately and commenced to
address the gentlemen present. He informed
them that, very fortunately for tho experiment
about to be made now, the neck OF the crimi-
nal did not seem 10 have suffered any very
great perceptiblo injury. lie then explained
what he was going TO do.
With his scalpel he made missions upon i'm
portant nerves i'll various parts of the body
and applied the wires, and under their in
fuence the limbs We're contracted, the muscles
seemed dubbed up in knots, and the legs were
drawn up and thrown out with great force.
This elected repeated applause.
The excitement now was intense. Tho wires
were applied in different portions of the body
with tho same effect, and the result was so
fearfully strange that many tainted in their
seats.
The wires were now applied to the phrenic
nerve, and almost Immediately respiration be-
gan; low at first then moro natural, and in
proportion as the current kept up, it became
hurried and at last gasping.
The wires we're now affixed to tho nerves be-
hind the thigh. and powerful current from
tie huge voltalc pile carried to them. The re-
suit was fearful.
The body turned suddenly around and sat
up perfectly straight, eyory muscle fixed with
that terrible appearance Of rigid spasm Its
neck was thrust forward; the hair seemed to
stand out, each individual ono In regular order.
Its eyelids were drawn back whils the eye
balls, with their dead, glazed pupils protruded
in hideous, CLASSY stare. The nostIlls were
dilated, as if breathing heavily, and horrible
greenish foam oozed out OF the corner Of tho
rapidly-working lips.
l could not remove my eyes from IL for q
moment. Never was l 30 spellbound, and
never did behold such terrifcally hidcous
object My whole soul was bound with a
denly towards where Hoffman and myself
were sitting, and conyulsiyely pointed It's
finger in that direction, while every fibre in
its face seemed distorted by q CHASTITY, dia-
bolic, gibberiDg grin. swooned. The hall
seemed TO swim around me; but still my ears
seemed pierced by the most agonizing cry /
ever heard, and 1 distinctly caught "My
fatherp
/ could not think, Mt once, whence IL pro-
ceeded, but before / had any time for reflection
a heavy body fell against me. IL was poor
Hoffman. lie had sprung up into the air, like
stag when the hunters bullet enters his
heart, when he met that gaze. 1t was his
father
The gentlemen went on with their expert
ments, but with 10 success.
Hoffman mover recovered from the shock
that Inc received that day, but sfor several
months was q raying maniac. About three
days before he died he asked for his father and
mother and sister his mother and sister came,
but they told him the father was III. IIo for
tunately had no recollection Of II until few
days before lie died, when all seemed to come
back Ike the recollectiOus Of some horrid
dream. His last words TO me were: "My
dear friend, there is an aycnging God, instead
Of system Of nature"
I made inquiries and discovered that his
father was a NOTORIOUS highwayman, and,
moreover, the roblSfy and murder for which
lac was sentenced were the crimes which ena-
bled him 10 furnish his son the necessary
means ~ complete bis electric apparatus.
.