The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-12-01
DEATHS SENSATIONS.
A MAN WHO PRACTICALLY DIED
THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR.

A MAN WHO PRACTICALLY DIED
THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR.
Personal Experiences with Death Go to
Show That the Moment of Final Disco
luton Is Absolutely Painless and With
out Fear of Future Life.
Although neither physician nor
clergyman l wish to corroborate the
views of the physicians contradictlng
Rev. DR.. Epworth under the heading,
"What Is Death?" in your Sunday issue.
AS Federal soldier, May 81, 1862, l
was one of those who fought against
the surprise of General Johnston, at
the time commander of the Confed-
crate army, at Fair Oaks. The sur
prise was made at noontime, while
our boys were eating lunch. l remem-
Der one soldier being struck in vital
part and killed while leaning upright
against tree in the act of carrying a
fapjack to his mouth, remaining after
death in precisely the same position.
When Isaw him standing there l mis-
took him for a live man, especially as
he seemed to me intent only on eating
his flapjack, but the illusion was dis
PEELED when touching him, because as
an officer I wanted him to join his COM
rades.
My own personal experience in the
matter confirms the physicians also.
The 3Oth of April, 1886, 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, / 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 l was wedged in between
heavy timbers, the upper part of my
body only being free.
About dozen steps back OF me was
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 firemen must have heard, fol-
presently there were several streams OF
water poured on me. then realized
my danger, yet l, who had never gone
into battle without q 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 l laid as one dead
Believing me dead, and being in very
dangerous position, they cut away par
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 fresl
air revived me, and begged of them t.
be careful with my limbs, which were
dangling from my body.
After many weeks of suffering the
physicians decided to break my les
again, but being unable to do it wei
while ! had my senses they decided tx
chloroform me. Being subject to hear
disease objected, but the matter being
urgent finally consented to take thu
anasthetic. Fully convinced, however
that should die under its influence, bu
knowing that either way would have
to die, Iagreed to take the only chanct
of life had and laid myself resignedly
on my back; yet, although convinced
that my last hour had come, had no
the slightest recollection of my forme
deeds. As heard the physicians whis
pers gradually lost in the distance wa
only wondering what would come next
recovered, however; but, breaking
my leg third time on account of som,
adhesions in my knee, it was decided
| that should undergo another operation
which necessitated the use of anesthet
les again. This time the physician
thought was goner sure, for it tool
them nearly two hours to revive me
yet, although certain of my last hour,
could not recall my past life, and il
| neither case did fear death when I hat
squarely to face it.
In each instance the passing away wa
painless, while in the fire suffocatiol
came almost unconsciously, while al
most the same sensation came in tn
| other cases. In the case of the soldie
at Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) a certain tim
must have elapsed between his deceas
and my notice of him, yet heaven O
hades did not seem to bother him; hi
fapjack seemed to be what he wanted
his eyes were on it and his mouth wa
open ready to receive it. In my owl
case could claim to have died thre
times within year, yet do not think
had any other but sensation of rest.
| DR.. Epworth, in his assertion also tina
either look of horror or beatitud
oyerspreads a deceased PERSONS face
seems to forget that the Scriptures teacl
us that the soul leaves our terrestrial
| envelope at once on dissolution; henc
| the body cannot show what reception
the soul had OH the other side of tn
Btyx.-An Interested Reader in New
(! York Press.
/
Louis Philippe and the Queen.
Louis Philippe and Queen Victori
were once walking in the garden at Eu
when he offered her "A peach. The queel
seemed rather embarrassed how to ski