Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-11
DESCENDED INTO HE'LL
Rev. Mr. johnson Relates n Remarkanie
story A Young Man Dies Returns TO
Life and Dies Again iu an Hour.

Rev. Mr. johnson Relates Remarkanie
story A Young Man Dies Returns TO
Life, and Dies Again in an Hour.
The following story was printed In
the Boston Globe, OF Tuesday, under
Clarksburg, w. Va, date line: :,
Rev. John T. Johnson, the celebrated
mountain evangelist, who has been
travelling through this State for nearly
forty years, states that during revival
at RouRd Bottom, MonoDgahela coun-
Nv. a Young man, OF that place, who had
been i'm OF consumption for some time,
died. descended into hell, returned to
life in an hour, and, after describing his
trip, embraced religion and again dled
happily in the full belief OF his future
salvation.
After stating that the young man,
who was one Of the most intelligent In
the county, was skeptic, Mr.. johnson
says:
"He was apparently lying at the point
Of death. Rev Mr.. O'Daniels and my
self were called upon to endeavor to
bring him to Christ. While Mr.. O'Dan-
iels was talking to him, holding him by
the hand, he seemingly expired and
was pronounced dead by all those in the
room.
ale remained in this condition for
some time, when he suddenly began
breathing heavily, and then struggling
as though with some mighty monster:
He seemed endowed with supernatural
strength, and il required the utmost ex-
ertions of several powerful men to keep
him on the bed. The struggle continu-
ed for an hour, when he Gained down,
and regaining his senses requested that
we sing and pray with him.
after these exercises were over he
told US that when he became insensiole
TO earth he found himself at the brink
OF yawning black chasm. Lurid hires
seemed to be burning at great dis
lance down, and shrlekS OF the most
unearthly kind greeted his ears. After
remaining quiet for short time, he
felt thread by his hand. He grasped
it, and hal hardly done so when
mighty wind struck his body, almost
tearing his limbs out OF their sockets,
and dashing him into the mouth OF the
Dit, where he swayed from side to side,
clinging TO the thread which alone Kept
him from falling in the flames below.
He knew that should the thread
break, or he lose his grasp, he was
doomed forever, and he thought TO
himself, 4 have been a skeptic and
God Almighty is showing me that there
is a nell Of darkness and fire, to which
unbelieyerS are exposed, and he
grasped the thread the tighter. After
what seemed to him an interminaole
time the wind ceased and he knew
nothing until he requested the ministers
10 pray with him.
shortly after his return to life, he
made his peace with God and after
giving full directions regarding his
burial, bidding his friends goodoy and
requesting Mr.. O'Daniels when he Off
ciated at his funeral to relate his re-
markable experience for the benefit OF
Others, died peacefully in his Saviour's
arms
That MesSrS. johnson, O'Daniels and
other, who witnessed this strange
affair, believe actually in the super
naturalneSs, Is unQuestioned. They
are all persons whose veracity is beyond
question, ana even the physicians
assert the young man was actually
dead.
The relation of the story at the
funeral caused considerable excitement,
and people are flocking to the churches
throughout the vicinity, meetings be-
ing held day and night since Thursday,
the day upon which the young man was
buried.
1t is said that the final request OF the
youth was that report of his expert
ence be published broadcast, so that all
men might know there was hell.