The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-20
A Strange "Reminiscences.
From The NeU York Graph,c.

MY greatest friend among the students at
the Leipsic medical college was strange,
erratic genius named Hoffman, philosophy
cal enthusiast science mad.
His room was filed with electrical appar-
atus and all its adjuncts. Twas often at a
loss to know how he could afford so much
extravagant research as l knew that his
father was a broken down merchant, who
lived very plainly in small cottage some
fifteen miles from the city, originally por-
ter's lodge to some gentlemaniS 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 l became acquainted with his family,
consisting of his father. mother and an only
sister.
The father was large, athletic man of
apparently 45 years of age, with bold but
ScOrnful look and treacherous eve The
mother and sister were more like Hoffman.
Still | noticed that his mother mad q con-
slant habit of clasping her hands as if in
prayer and turning her eyes heavenward
This surprised me very much, as Hoffman
had never professed any religion whatever
but, on the contrary, he would sometimes
almost scott at me for being a believer. He
wanted me to lend him certain sum to
pay for the making of All electric appaTa-
tus 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 me to say that his father would
furnish him with the requisite amount in a
few days.
This was the acme Of bliss for him, and
just three weeks after the evening he re-
ceived the money from his father he called
on me to say that the machine was finished
and he would have an opportunity of us
thac oil Il
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 where
by the scientific world will learn to honor
mes"
The hall at the college was 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 long mahogany
table bound with brass. with q number Of
hinges and foldings, which was capable of
being swung around in all directions by
means of ball and socket joint in its pc
destal.
On this table was small box, mounted in
silver, which contained dissecting instru-
ments; there were also several basins of
water and bundle of towels.
Soon after we had taken our seats sew
eral elderly gentlemen entered the area
also, one of them completely covered with
his black gown. This was the demonstra-
tor of anatomy, and he it was who would
to-day operate upon the dead body of
Scanned the notorious highwayman.
The old church bell had pealed out its
twelve strokes some time before any news
reached us; but at a quarter to one young
man entered, hastily 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 MIN
ute several men hurried into the room
bearing body, with sheet thrown loosely
over it.
A loud murmur was heard throughout
the hall, and each one sprang to his feet to try
and get look at the body, which was placed
on the table with its face downward.
The sheet was at once removed, and l
shuddered as l saw before mo all that was
mortal of the highwayman Scanned
Hoffman clutched my arm as the prepara-
tions were being made. Every 1ber in the
body seemed to be in state of rigid ten
sion, which displayed the strength and ele-
gance of his muscular frame to a great ad-
vantage.
DR.. Bremner, the anatomical lecturer.
stepped forward Immediately and COM
menced to address the gentlemen present.
He informed them that, very fortunately
for the experiment about to be made now,
the neck of the criminal did not seem to
have suffered any very great perceptible in
Jury, He then explained what he was going
to do.
With his scalpel 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 a great force. This elected repeated
applause.
The excitement now was intense. The
wires were applied in different portions of
the body with the same effect, and the re-
suit was so fearfully strange that many
tainted in their seats.
.rhe wires were now applied to the phre-
mic nerve, and now almost Immediately res
piration began; low at first, then more nat
ural, and in proportion as the current kept
no it became hurried and at last gasping.
The wires were now affixed to the nerves
behind the thigh, and powerful current
from the huge yoltaic pile carried to them.
The result was fearful.
The body turned suddenly around and
sat up perfectly straight, every muscle fixed
with that terrible appearance of a rigid
spasm Its neck was thrust forward the hair
seemed to stand out, each Individual one in
regular order. Its eyelids were drawn back
while the eyeballs with their dead glazed
pupils protruded in a hideous, CLASSY stare.
The nostrils were dilated, as if breathing
heavily. and horrible greenish foam Oozed
out of the corner of the rapidly working
lips.
/ could not remove my eyes 'front.' for
moment. Never was | 80 spellbound. and
never did behold such terrtically hide
Gus object Ny whole soul was bound with
a feeling Of unutterable horror. 1t turned
suddenly towards where Hoffman and my
self were sitting and convulsively pointed
its finger in that direction, while every
fiber in its face seemed distorted by a
CHASTITY, diabolical, Ribbering grin. |
swooned. The hall seemed TO swim around
me: but still my ears seemed pierced by tn
most agonizng cry ever heard, and dis
timely caught MY father"
could not think, at once, whence 1t pro
ceeded but before had any time for refec-
ticn a heavy body fell against Inc. 1t was
poor Hoffman He had sprung up into the
air, like a stag when the hunters bullet en-
ters his heart, when he met that gaze. 1t
was his father
The gentlemen went on with their expert
ments but with no success.
Hoffman never recovered from the shock
that he received that day, but for several
months was q ;aving maniac. Abont three
DAYS before lie died he asked for his father
and mother and sister, his mother and sis
ter came but they told him the father was