The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-24
A Strange "Reminiscences.

ucltS tU liic lNlISlc Mcitlcul LOlIGeC
was u strange, crmtic genius named
Hoffman, IL philosophical enthusiast,
science mad.
His room was filled with electrical
apparatus and all it's udjuncts. l
was often ut IL loss to- know how lie
could afford 80 much cxtravagant
research, as l knew that his father
was 81 broken down merchant, who
lived very plainly in IL small cottagc
some fifteen miles from the city,
originally a portcr's lodge to some
gcntleman's seat in the hcncigborlood.
accepted Hottmm's invitation to
the first vacation we We're together,
and spent Il part of the holiday at
the cottagc, where became ac-
qaintcd with his f;,mily, consisting OF
his father, mother und an only Sis
ter.
The father was Il large, athletic
man ofaplmrrntly foity-fivc years OF
age, with Il bold but scornful look
and a trracilrrous eye. The mother
and sister were more like Hoffman.
Still noticed that his mother had IL
constant habit of clasping her hands
ns ifin prayer and turning her eyes
hcavcnwara. This surprised me very
much, as Hoffman had never pro-
trsscd any religion whatever; but on
the contrary, hr would sometimes
almost scoif at mcfor being a believer.
lir wanted me to lend him IL certain
sum topay for the making of an clrc-
tric apparatus of great size, with
which he intended to restore life.
could not assist him; but two days
after our return to I.eipsic he called
on me To say that his tntlcr would
furnish him with tllclpquisitcamount
in II few days.
This WAS the acme of bliss for him,
and just three weeks after the even
ing lie received the money from his
father he called on me to say that
the machine was finished and he
would have an opportunity of using
it on the following day, as a. notori-
Gus murderer was to lc hanged and
he had made arrangements for his
body.
Strange. is it not" said he, chat
this scoun,lrrl will ful'nisl, the means
whereby the scientific world will learn
to honor mr?'
The hall at the college was IL fine,
large, squire room which you entered
from wide stair on the outside near
the ceiling, and On looking down you
would perceive IL scmi-circular area.
Two stairs led down among the
seats on either side to this area, in
which stood the electric apparatus,
and II long mahogany table, hound
with brass, with IL number of hinges
and foldings, which was capable OF
l'cing swung around in ull directions
by means of Il ball and socket Joint
iii its PEDESTAL
TN this table was Il small box,
mounted i'll silver. which contained
dissrcting instruments; there were al
so several basins of water and Il bun
die of towels.
Soon after VIC had taken our seats
several elderly gentlemen entered tho
area also, one of them completely
covered with his black gown. This
was the demonstration Of anatomy,
and he it w;ls WHO would to-,lay oper-
ate upon the dead body of Scanned,
the notorious highwaymnn.
The old church bell had pcnlcd out
it's twelve strokes some time before
any news reached us; but ut n quar-
ter to one Il young man entered hast
lily. whispered something in the ear of
the doctor who w:is cnvclopct in the
black gown, and everything was ex-
citrnrn'. The machine was put i'll
action and til" table prepared, and
i'll another minute several men llur-
ricl into the room bearing u body,
with Il sheet thrown loosely over it,.
a loud murInur wnsllcar'l through
out the hall, and each one sprang to
his feet to try and get II look at tho
body, which was placed Oh the table
will its face downward.
The sheet was Mt once removed,
and shll'l,lcrcd as | saw before me
all that wtls mortal of the highway
man Scnmnel. Hoffman clutclm,l
my arm as the preparations were he
ing made. Every fibre in the body
seemed to he i'll Il state Of rigid ten
sion. which displayed the strength
and elegance of his muscular frame
to II great advantages.
DIR. Brcmncr, the anatomical lcct-
nrcr, stepped forward Immediately
and commenced to address the gen
tlrmcn present. He informed them
that, very fortunately for the expert
mcnt about to be made now, the
neck OF the criminal did not seem to
have suffered uny very great pcrccpt-
lille injury. He then explained what
he was going to do.
With his srnlpcl he made incisions
upon important nerves in varions
parts of the body and applied the
wires, and under their influence the
limbs were contracted, the muscles
seemed clubbcd up in knots, and the
lr~s were drawn up and thrown out
with Il great force. This elected
repeated applause.
The excitement was now in
tense. The wires We're applied in
different portions Of the body with
the same effect. and the result WAS
SO tcnrfully strange that many
fnintcl i'll tlleir seats.
The wires were now applied to the
plrrnic nerve, and now almost I'M
mcdintrly respiration began; low MT
first, then more natural, and i'll pro-
portion as the current kept up if be-
came hurried and mt last gasping.
The wires were now affixed to the
nerves behind the thigh, and pow
erful current from the huge voltnic
pile carried to them. The result was
fearful.
The body turned suddenly around
and sat up perfectly straight, every
muscle fixed with that terrible APP
pcarancc of IL rigid spasm. Its neck
was thrust forward; the huir seemed
to stand out, each individual one in
regular order. ltscycli,ls wcrs drawn
back, while the cycballs, with their
dead, glazed pupils protrudcd in u
hideous, CLASSY stare. The nostrils
were dilat"l. us il breathing heavily,
and II horrible grccnish foam oozcd
r L., ~ II