Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-09-13
LIFE IN rHe SEVERED HEAD.
the Survival of consciousness Amer he
capttstion Proven

capttafton Proven
A volume has Just been published |
at Paris in which DR. Paul Loye. un-
der the title Of La Mort par la De
capitation," studies the question as 10
whether, after decapitation, conscious
ness survives for short time in the
severed head and physical suffering is
felt in both parts OF the executed body.
Every time a head falls under the
sword or under the executioner's ak,
says DIR. Loye. the Imagination Of the
spectators has. in the physiognomy Of
the victim, looked for proofs Of the
survival OF will and consciousness.
The eyes turned, which was sign OF
/ pain; the lips moved, which showed
| that they wanted To speak the mouth
| opened. in order to bite in kind Of
| fury. There is not a movement OF the
face which has not been interpreted as
a mark OF the continuation OF feeling.
And ever since the guillotine moved
down the heads Of multitudes during
the reign OF terror, scientists have
stood around the scaffold, bidding all
their humane faculties vanish, and
concentrating their whole intellect on
the one question, Does consciousness
remain after the victims head ls sew
cred from the bodyf
In connection with this belief DR.
Loyc quotes terrible story told by NJ
Petitgand about an Anamite who was
beheaded by the sword in 1875 at Sal
gon.
THE place of execution was the
Plain of Tombs. vast sandy tract,
serving as cemetery To the Anamites
and the Chinese. -Four Anamite pirates,
taken with their arms In their hands
were to be beheaded The chief of the
; band, man in the prime OF life, ener
; getic, muscular, brave without boast
, ing, and tirm TO the very last. had at
tracted my special attention, and de
cided to make my observations on hin
only. Without losing sight Of hin
for asingle moment exchanged a few
words in loud voice with the office
in charge, and noticed that the patien
was also looking at me with the liveli
est attention. The preparations having
: been completed. took my stand at tn
+ distance Of about two yards from him
He knelt down, but before bending
n his head he exchanged rapid loo
!. with me.
a His head fell down ut the distanc
OI ABOUT yaTu anu u uudTlcT tToI
!, where stood. Ii did not roll in tn
n usual way, but stood with the surfac
}. Of the wound resting on the sand,
o position by which the hemorrage wa
!. accidentally reduced 10 a minimum
"a At this moment was terror stricke
n at seeing the eyes of the doomed ma
= fixed frankly on my eyes. Not da
!, ing to believe in a conscious mantle
= tation, | went quickly TO one side {
!" the head lying at my feet, aud foun
that the eyes followed me Then r.
: turned TO my first position; still III
= eyes went with me for short distanC
g g and then quilted me quite suddenl.
ii The face expressed at that moment
10 conscious agony. the agony of pc
er son in a state of acute asphyxia. tt
mouth opened violently as if TO tai
in breath of air and the head throw
off its equilibrium by the motto
Of rolled over. This contraction of Il
n, maxillary muscles was the last sign
,y life. Since the moment of decapit
ne ton from fifteen To twenty secon,
n had passed. New York Press.