The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-12-09
DEATHS SENSATIONS.
A MAN WHO PRACTICALLY DIED
THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR.

Personal Experiences with Death Go T.
Show That the Moment of Final Disso
luton Is Absolutely Painless and With
out Fear of Future Life.
Although neither a physician nor
clergyman wish to corroborate tn
views of the physicians contradictins
Rev. DIR. Epworth under the heading
"What Is Death?" in your Sunday issue
AS a Federal soldier, May 81, 1862,
was one of those who fought agains
the surprise of General Johnston, a
the time commander of the Confed
crate army, at Fair Oaks. The sur
prise was made at noontime, Will,
our boys were eating lunch. l remem
Der one soldier being struck in vita
part and killed while leaning upright
against tree in the act of carrying &
fapjack to his mouth, remaining after
death in precisely the same position
When saw him standing there / mis-
took him for live man, especially al
he seemed to me intent only on eating
his fapjack, but the illusion was dis
PEELED when touching him, because as
an officer wanted him to join his com
rades.
Ny own personal experience in the
matter confirms the physicians also
The 30th of April, 1885, a fire was rag
ing in my factory in San Francisco. By
some means was about $50 feet from
the main entrance in the burning build
ing when, to my dismay, l beheld the
five story wall topple over me through a
skylight. Passively lowered my head,
thinking only of my coming death and
wishing it would be swift. In less than
a second thousands of bricks fell on me
sounding like big drumstick beating
on a big bass drum. l remember a
crash, then nothing, but when came to
my senses | was wedged in between
heavy timbers, the upper part of my
body only being free.
About dozen steps back of me was a
stranger to me who had not received a
scratch, but ascertaining that my leg
was broken, and also my utter inability
to save myself, he crawled over to me
and attempted to pull me out of my ter
rible situation. But all his efforts only
increased my suffering, and as saw the
flames come up entreated him to leave
me to my fate and try to save himself.
Finally he crawled away, promising,
however, to return with help and axes.
must have been bewildered, for no act
of my past life came to my memory, but
suddenly thinking of my small, mother
less children | shouted for help, whis-
Ting at intervals through my fingers.
Some fremen must have heard, for
presently there were several streams of
water poured on me. | then realized
my danger, yet I, who had never gone
into battle without pang, felt none
whatever while in that deathtrap. The
water and smoke combined must have
asphyxiated me, for when my stranger
returned leading brave party of fire
men and policemen laid as one dead
Believing me dead, and being in very
dangerous position, they cut away part
of the timbers and rudely but safely
passed me over the debris in the street.
A deafening shout from an immense
throng which had witnessed the gallant
rescue, streams of cold water and fresh
air revived me, and l begged of them to
be careful with my limbs, which were
dangling from my body.
After many weeks of suffering the
physicians decided to break my leg
again, but being unable to do it well
while had my senses they decided to
chloroform me. Being subject to heart
disease l objected, but the matter being
urgent l finally consented to take the
anasthetic. Fully convinced, however,
that l should die under it's influence, but
knowing that either way l would have
to die, l agreed to take the only chance
of life had and laid myself resignedly
on my back; yet, although convinced
that my last hour had come, had not
the slightest recollection of my former
deeds. AS heard the physicians whis-
pers gradually lost in the distance was
only wondering what would come next.
recovered, however; but, breaking
my leg third time on account of some
adhesions in my knee, it was decided
that should undergo another operation,
which necessitated the use of anasthet-
les again. This time the physicians
thought was a goner sure, for it took
them nearly two hours to revive me;
yet, although certain of. my last hour,
could not recall my past life, and in
neither case did fear death when had
squarely to face it.
In each instance the passing away was
painless, while in the fire suffocation
came almost unconsciously, while al
most the same sensation came in the
other cases. In the case of the soldier
at Fair Oaks Seven Pines) certain time
must have elapsed between his decease
and my notice of him, yet heaven OF
hades did not seem to bother him; his
hapjack seemed to be what he wanted
his eyes were on it and his mouth was
open ready to receive it. In my own
case could claim to have died three
times within year, yet do not think
had any other but a sensation of rest.
DR.. Epworth, in his assertion also that
either look of horror or beatitude
overspreads deceased persons face
seems to forget that the Scriptures teach
US that the soul leaves our terrestrial
envelope at once on dissolution; hence
the body cannot show what reception
the soul hal on the other side of the
Styx.-An Interested Reader in New
York Press