The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04

POUNDS, ana the powder charge about As
pounds. The range is close to five miles.
The 1ye-lnch gun weighs about 40
hundred weight, and the four-inch gun
about 26 hundred-weight. The prof &C.
tile OF the latter weighs 33 pounds, and
the range is over three miles.
Three Deaths Seen in a Dream.
Philadelphia Times
Philadelphians nowadays are matter
of-fact, and not given to the belief in
spirits, ghosts or visions, but in the last
century, especially among the Society
of Friends, there lived in this city a re-
markable number of men and women
who, like Joseph of DID, claimed to have
experienced visions and viewed the spir-
it's of the departed. The stories told by
these public Friends" as they were
often called, were given credence as Cos
pei by the best and most highly edu>
Gated people of the Quaker City. In
truth, they must have been difficult ssto
refute, as generally they were promnl
gated by persons of steadiness and great
responsibility, whose veracity was con>
sdered by the community beyond ques-
ton.
Some of these stories, as family tradi-
tions, have come down to US to-day. One
of the best authenticated and most in
teresting of them was related to the
writer recently. 1t is known as the
most uncommon vision of Thomas Say,
who was the grandfather of Thomas
Say, the noted naturalist, and father of
DR.. Benjamin Saw.
Thomas Say was one of the earliest
natives of this city and during his day
was quite a prominent doctor and pubs
lie man. He was born on the 10Th of
September, 1909. His father, William
Say, married at Friends meeting in
Thomas Paschell, who came to this
country with William Penn in his good
ship the Welcome When Say was five
years old his father died, and his moth
err, some Yeas after, married again
Benjamin Says stepfather was mem
Der of the Episcopal Church, and the
boy was therefore brought up in the
doctrine of that faith, but his inclina-
tions were towards the belief of his
father, and when quite young he joined
the Society of Friends. When he was
seventeen years of age he was taken sick
with pleurisy, at which time he expe
rienced his vision, or trance, an account
of which, found in his diary handed
down by his family, can be best told in
his own words:
DEATH-LIKE TRANCE.
"On the ninth day, between the hours
of 4 aud 5, fell into a trance, and so
continued until about the hour of or
the next morning-for | left the body
my father and mother, Susannah Rob
inson, and others, who watched me,
shook my body, felt my palse and tried
if they could discern any remains of life
or breath in me, but found none.
"Some may be DESTROYS to know
whether was laid out or not found
myself when l opened my eyes laid on
my back ON my bed, rs corpse is on q
board, and l was told, after l got better
the reason they did not lay me on a
board was because my mother could not
at that time find freedom to have it
done. Then they sent for DR.. Kearsley
who attended me, to have his opinion
When he came he felt for my pulse and
found none, nor any remains of life in
me, as he told them; but as he was 60
ing away he returned again and said
that something came into his mind TO
try further.
He then desired somebody to get him
a small looking glass, which Catharine
Souder, who lived with my father, pro-
cured The doctor laid it on my mouth
for short time, then took it off and
there appeared on the glass little
moisture. Then the doctor said to
them: If he is not dead, l believe that
he is 50 far gone that l think he will
never open his eyes again. But l would
have you let him lay while he continues
warm, and when he begins to grow cold
lay him out.
SAYS WONDERFUL VISION.
'Ths they told me when l returned
into the body, at which time inquired
why so many sat up with me, not know
ing that they thought me dead Upon
hearing me speak they were all very
much surprised. The second time
spoke they all rose out of their chairs,
and when | spoke the third time they
all came to me. My father and mother
inquired how it had been with me? |
answered and said unto them | thought
had been dead and going to Heaven,
and after left the body | heard, as it
were, the voices of men, women and
children singing songs of praise unto the
Lord, G ID and the Lamb without inter
mission, which ravished my soul and
threw me into trans ports of joy.
''My soul was also delighted with most
beautiful greens, which appeared to me
on every side, and such as never were
seen in this world; through these pass
ed, being all clothed in white and in my
higher STATE Of bliss | cast my eyes upon
earth, which | saw plainly, and beheld
three men-whom | knew-die. Two of
them we're white men, one of whom en-
tered int ) rest and the other was cast
off. There appeared a beautiful trans
parent gate opened, and as l and the
one that entere into rest came up to ii
he stepped in, but as I was stepping in
stepped into the body.
LONGING FOR THE FINAL CHANGE.
ssWhen | recovered from my trance
mentioned both their names, and the
same time telling how 1 saw them die
and which of them entered into rest ant
which did not. | said to my mother
'Oh, that had made one step further
then shout not have come back again.
After told them what l had to say
desired them to say no more to me, TO
| still herd the melodious songs O
praise, and while heard them | felt n,
|