The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-22
QUEER WAYS OF DYING.
Some of the Thousand Doors by Which
Men Make Their Exits.

The resent catastrophe on, or rather
in. Mount Nesuvins probably stands at
the head of the unusual or sensational
ways by which men have lost their
lives. writes James Pawn III the UiuS-
trated L0ndoN Ncacs. There is actually
nothing more shocking about it than
in similar accidents elsewhere-as, for
instance. those which sometimes occur
to men in our Black Country. But the
falling into Il crater of Il volcano sew
eniy feet deep. and ut the bottom
burning marie, has Il strong claim
upon the Imagination. There is, III
deed one parallel case. that of Empe
docles-for Pllny only persisted from
the vapors" Ca common complaint in
oldfashioned times) but it happened
Of it did happen) very long time
ago. and Notwithstanding the increased
opportunities that are now afforded
for ending life in strange ways the
ancients beat the modern record
The Emperors Anastasius and Garus
were both killed by lightuing-a finale
which, if it happened to modern
monarch (and far more to two of
them), would certainly give occasion
for much journalistic enterprise. But
in those days it really seems rs though
great sovcreigns. by no means admir-
able IN other respects, went out of
their way in the manner of their exits
to give their subjects sensation.
Thus Johann, emperor of Constanti-
nople. in drawing bow at n bear too
strongly, shot the arrow through his
own hand. and. since the barb had. as
usual. been dipped in poison. died in
consequence. Tarouinius PriscuS was
choked to death by tish-bone.
Charles II. of Navarro, having become
paralyzed, WAS sewn up in sheet
dipped in distilled spirits "in hopes to
recover his benumDed joints" and the
surgeon wanting knife 10 cut his
thread, made use of the flame of
candle. which caused the poor king to
perish miserably. Henry |. of Spain
was killed by a tile falling from
houseton. Pope Clement VII died of
the fumes from a poisoned torch. and
Pope Adrian VI. from swallowing a
ny in glass of spring water.
Among lesser persons, the fate of
HeracliuS, the Ephesian. would have
been most singular had he not been
acting under medical advice; but now
that so many people are killed "by the
doctors orders" it cxcites less sur
prise. The particular fad of his family
physician was mud baths (of peculiar
kind; and having anointed himself all
over with this beastlineSs. and sitting
in the sun" the dogs, ''supposing him
To be wild beast" tore him 10 pieces
Similarly, the poet Anacreon. giving
ear 10 his physicians statement that
the juice of raisins would prolong his
life, shortened it by swallowing a
grape stone.
In English history. perhaps the most
sensational catastrophe in the way of
exit Is that of the outbreak of Jail
fever at Oxford in 1877. when there
arose such a sudden damp in court"
that all present We're in danger of be-
ing smothered. The gentlemen on
the grand jury died that Instant
The lord chief justice and the high
sheriff sickencd aud died within the
week. In all persisted 800 persons.
amongst whom there was neither
woman nor child The means by
which the abbot of TaviSiock got the
manor OF PlumStoek into his posses
sion IS indirectly connected with this
subject, for, though The manner of
death was common enough. the device
used for evading it Uhuugh in vain)
was most peculiar. One Child, a rien
landowner in Deyonshire, was lost on
Dartmoor in a deep snow. He killed
his horse and crept under the carcass
for warmth having first written with
his blood these words:
lie that tiRds me anu brings me to my tomb
Ny land of Piunstocs shall be his doom.
The monks of Tavistock found him.
and took his land under that singular
will.