The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-08-02
MR.. OTIS TELLS OF HIS DEATH.
Doctors Call It Suspended Animation,
but He Knows Better.
Sensations Of a Man Who was Buried and AfteIHai *
humed and Brought 10 Life By Medical Students

Levin P. Otis of Hammond, Ind, was
stricken with pneumonia in Chicago and
was taken to a hospital. After prolong-
ed illness he was pronounced dead and III
due time buried. He had been permitted
to rest for but one day and part of night,
when several medical students dug him
up. They shipped him back to Chicago
and placed him in the dissecting room in
the college of which they were students,
and after getting out their knives and roll
Ing up their sleeves were about to proceed
to cut him up after the most scientific
mode when he opened his eyes and asked
them for a drink of water. The students,
in spite Of their calloused nerves, were hor-
ror struck and fed from the room, leaving
Mr.. Otis in full possession. lie in mo-
ment sank again into insensibility and
would no doubt have died in earnest in
short time had the frightened students not
recovered themselves and returned to APP
ply restoratives.
In speaking of his horrible experiences
and sensations while sinking into the
grave and thence to the dissecting table,
where he so narrowly and miraculously
escaped the keen and eager knives of the
students, Mr.. Otis said:
81 was sick and in great pain. Once l
thought that | might die, and then, fear
ing TO invite death, / dismissed the idea
But my suffering increased, and | knew
that was becoming weaker and weaker
day by day. Oh, the drearness of the long
nights! l lay sketching plans for future
work, and looked back upon the skele-
tons of good resolutions. But my life, my
misdeeds, did not pass before me in re-
view | simply pronounced myself fail
ure in the aggregate and regretted it, and
am now constrained to think that, no
matter how much a man may have accom-
plshed, he must, as death draws nigh, re-
gard himself as a failure.
Zone night all pain suddenly ceased.
This was hopeful, and / thought I'd tell
my attendant about it, but when attempt
ed to speak found that could not. This,
however, did not worry me any. But why
should so heavy weight be placed upon
my breast? | looked down to see what ii
was, but could see nothing. Oh, how tired
| was, but | suffered no pain. 1t was the
rest that must come after so long and eX-
| haustive fight. | attempted to raise my
hand and couldn't. couldn't raise ever
finger. This was strange, but not alarm
ing. What was that | heard2 The doctor
had said that could last but few mo
ments longer. That was nonsense. Iwoult
show him. How quiet were my nerves
and had been so nervous! What relief
| The heaviness was gone, but l couldn'
move.
"Why had they put out the light? VIVA
was that? Some one said: Pull down tn
shade? The sun is shining in my fnce.
| Sun shining in my facet Why, the SUI
had gone down hours ago. Oh, how tn
human family persisted in lying Wha
was that drop? They had taken the pillow
from under my head. What was tina
faint sound away off yonder? A voice tina
said, How he must suffer- Suffer-
wasn't suffering at all. But couldn't re
main much longer in this condition. Ant
unused that if l could only turn over
would go to sleep. couldn't move, though
and lay there thinking.
Suddenly thought: This is death
| Why didn't l think of it before? Whe
did | begin dyingY Oh, it must have bee
years agol Why, have been dying all m
life Well, was glad it was all ovel
Then l unused: Il wonder if | am dea
now. How am to know when am dead
put it all aside. will sleep
1.-The next thing knew was feelin
of thirst, and that was when asked thos
carvers for drink of water. And | wan
to say that they may call it suspended ar
imation and all that sort of thing, but
know that have been dead. -IndianaI
| oils Sentinel