The Delta independent., 1888-08-28
A Strange Renaissance.

Aiohiilaii, IL pnllOSOpnlcul enthusiast,
science mad.
His room was filed with electrical
apparatus and all it's adjuncts. l
WAS often at loss to know how he
could afford so much extravagant
research, as knew that his father
was broken down merchant, who
lived very plainly in a small cottage
some fifteen miles from the city,
originally a porter's lodge to some
gentleman's seat in the eneigborhocd.
accepted Hoffman's invitation to
the first vacation we We're together,
and spent part of the holiday at
the cottage, where l became ac-
qainted with his family, consisting of
his father, mother and an only sis
Ter.
The father was large, athletic
man of apparently forty years of
age, with "A bold but scornful look
and treacherous eye. The mother
and sister were more like Hoffman.
Still l noticed that his mother had d
constant habit of clasping her hands
as if in prayer and turning her eyes
heavenward. This surprised me very
much, as Hoffman had never pro-
fessed any religion whatever; but on
the contrary, he would sometimes
N of f,,.I Il ln1
He wanted me to lend him certain
sum topay for the making of an cleo
trio apparatus of great size, with
which he intended to restore life. l
cculd not assist him; but two days
after our return to Leipsic he called
on me to say that his father would
furnish him with thereduisite amount
in a few days.
This was the acme of bliss for him.
and just three weeks after the even
ing he 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 be hanged and
he had made arrangements for his
body.
Strange, is it 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 a fine,
large, square room which you entered
from a wide stair on the outside near
the ceiling, and on looking down you
would perceive a semi-circular area.
Two stairs led down among the
seats on either side to this area, in
which stood the electric apparatus,
and a long mahogany table, bound
with brass, with a number of hinges
and foldings, which was capable of
being swung around in all directions
by means of a ball and socket Joint
in its pedestal.
On this table was q small box,
mounted in silver, which contained
dissecting instruments; there were al
SO several basins of water and bun
die of towels.
Soon after we had taken our seats
several elderly gentlemen entered the
area also, one of them completely
covered with his black gown. This
and he it was who would to-day oper-
ate upon the dead body of Scanned,
the notorious highwayman.
The old church bell had pealed out
it's twelve strokes some time before
any news reached us; but at quar-
ter to one young man entered hast
lily, whispered something in the ear OF
the doctor who was enveloped in the
black gown, and everything was ex-
element The machine was put in
action and the table prepared, and
in another minute several men hur-
ried into the room bearing u body,
with sheet thrown loosely over it.
A loud murmur was heard through
out the hall, and each one sprang to
his feet to try and get q look at the
body, which was placed ON the table
with its face downward.
The sheet was at once removed,
and l shuddered as / saw before me
all that was mortal of the highway
man Scammel. Hoffman clutched
my arm as the preparations were be-
ing made. Every fibre in the body
seemed to be in a state of rigid ten
sion, which displayed the strength
and elegance Of his muscular frame
to q great advantage.
DR.. Bremner, the anatomical lect-
urer, stepped forward Immediately
and commenced to address the gen
tlemen present. He informed them
that, very fortunately for the expert
ment about to be made now, the
neck of the criminal did not seem to
have suffered any very great percept-
ible injury. He then explained what
he was going to do.
With his scalpeI he made incisions
upon important nerves in various
parts of the body and applied the
wires, and under their influence the
limbs were 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 was now in
tense. The wires were applied in
different portions of the body with
the same effect, and the result was
30 fearfully strange that many
tainted in their seats.
The wires were now applied to the
phrenic nerve, and now almost i'm
mediately respiration began; low at