The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-08-26
MR.. OTIS TELLS OF HIS OEATh.
Doctors CAN 1t Suspended Animation, bn
He Knows Better.

Doctors Cal 1t Suspended Animation, bn,
He Knows Better.
| Levin P. Otis of Hammond, Ind, was
stricken with pneumonia in Chicago and
was taken to II hospital. After prolong.
ed illness he was pronounced dead and in
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 MIN 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
70 cut him up after the most scientific
mode when he opened his eyes and asked
them for drink of water. The students,
in spite of their calloused nerves, were hor-
ror struck and fled from the room leaving
Mr. Otis in full possession. He in a mo-
mcnt sank again into insensibility and
would no doubt have died in earnest in a
short time had the frightened students not
recovered themselves and returned to ap.
ply restoratives.
In speaking of his horrible experiences
and sensations while sinking into tho
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
thought that | might die, I'D then, fear
ing to invite death, disn..avu the idea
But my suffering increased, and l knew
that | was becoming weaker and weaker
day by day. Oh, the dreariness of the long
nights! | lay sketchng 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 a fail
ure in the aggregate and regretted it, and
| am now constrained to think that, no
matter how much man may have accom-
plished, 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 it
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 even
a finger. This was strange, but not alarm
ing. What was that heard? The doctor
had said that | could last but few mo-
ments longer That was nonsense. Iwould
show him. How quiet were my nerves,
and had been so nervous! What relief!
The heaviness was gone, but | couldn't
move.
"Why had they put out the light? What
was that? Some one said Pull down the
shade? The sun is shining in my face.
Sun shining in my facet Why, the sun
had gone down hours ago. Oh, how the
human family persisted in lying! What
was that drop They had taken the pillow
from under my head. What was that
faint sound away off yonder? n voice that
said, How he must suffer- Suffer!
wasn't suffering at all. But ! couldn't re
main much longer in this condition. And
unused that if | could only turn over
would go to sleep, couldn't move, though,
and lay there thinking.
"Suddenly thought: This is death.
Why didn't | think of it before9 When
did | begin dying? Oh, it must have been
years ago! Why, have been dying all my
life Well, | was glad it was all over.
Then | unused: Il wonder if l am dead
now. How am to know when 1 am dead?
put it all aside. / will sleep.
1.-The next thing l knew was feeling
of thirst, and that was when l asked those
carvers for drink of water. And l want
to say that they may call it suspended an
imation and all that sort of thing, but l
know that | have 'een dead --Ipdianap-
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