The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-03-24
DEATHS SENSATIONS.
A MAN WHO PRACTICALLY DIED
THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR.

Personal Experiences with Death Go ia
Show That the Moment of Final Disco
luton Is Absolutely Painless and VII,
out Fear of Future Life.
Although neither u physician nor IA
clergyman | wish TO corroborate the
views of the physicians c~ontradicting
Rev. DR.. Epworth under the heading,
What Is Death?' in your Sunday issue.
AS "a Federal soldier, May 81, 1862, ]
was m of those who fought against
the surprise of General Johnston, mt
the time commander of the Confed-
crate army, at Fair Oaks. The sur
prise was made at nOontime, while
u boys were eating lunch. remem-
Der one soldier being struck in a vital
part and killed while leaning upright
against a tree in the act of carrying a
Aapjack to his mouth, remaining after
death in precisely the same position.
When l saw him standing there l mis-
took him for n live man, especially as
he seemed to me intent only on eating
his 1apjack, but the illusion was dis
PEELED when touching him, because rs
an officer | wanted him to join his com-
rades.
My w personal experience in the
matter confirms the physicians also.
The 30th of April, 1856, Il 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 n
skylight. Passively | lowered my head.
thinking only of my coming death and
wishing it would be- swift. In less than
II second thousands of bricks fell on Inc
sounding like IL big drumstick beating
on Il big bass drum. | remember Il
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 u dozen steps back of me was a
stranger to me who had not received Il
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 ont of my ter
rible situation. But all his efforts only
increased my suffering, and as | saw the
flames come up ! entreated him t. leave
me to my fate and try to save himself.
Finally he craWled away. promising,
however, 10 rrturn with help ana axes.
| must have been bcwildered, for no net
of my past HE came TO my mymcry. hut
suddenly thinking OF my small, mother
less children | shouted for help. wins
tling at intervals through my fingers.
Some tiremcu must have heard, for
presently there were several streams IF
water poured on me. ! then realized
my danger, yet !, who had never gone
into Il battle without II pau1. fr!; !."No
Whatever while in tll&t 0earltral. The
water and smoke combined must have
asphy Mated me. for when my stranger
returned leading II brave party Of fire
men and policemen | lald - one dead.
Believing me dead, and being in Il very ,
dangerous position, they cut away para
Of the rimbers and rudcly but safely
passed Inc over the debris in the street. /
\ deafrning shout from an immense
which had witnessed the gallant
rescue, streams of cold water and fresh
air revived me, and | begged Of the,n H. |
be careful with my limbs. which were
from my body.
After many weeks of suffering the
physicians decided Il break my leg
again, but being unable TO do it well
while had my senses they decided to
chloroform mt. Being subject to heart
disease | objected, but the matter being
urgent l finally consented to take the
anasthetic. Fully convinced. however.
that | should die under its influence, but
knowing that either way | would have
to die, | agreed to take the only chance
of life had and laid myself resignedlv
on my back; yet, although convinced
that my last hour had come, | had not
slightest recollection Of my former
deeds. As ! heard the physicians whis-
pers gradually lost III the distance | was
wondering what would come next.
recovered, however; but, breaking
my leg Il third time on account of some
adhesions in my knee, it was decided
| should undergo another operation,
which necessitated the use Of a~niesthet-
les again. This time the physicians
thought l was q goner sure, for it took
them nearly two hours to revive me:
yet. although certain of my last hour. |
not recall my past life, and in
neither case did | fear death when | hal
to face it.
In each instance the passing away was
painless, while in the fire %sufrocation
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 a certain time
must have elapsed between his decease
and my notice of him, yet heaven or
.ades did not seem to bother him; his
seemed to be what he wanted
his eyes We're on it and his mouth was
open ready to receive it. In my own
l could claim to have died three
times within a year, yet | do not think
had any other but u sensation Of rest.
DR.. Epworth, in his assertion also that
either u look Of horror or beatitude ,
overspreads II deceased persons face.
to forget that line Scriptures teach