St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-06-05
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM
DEATH.
Two Years Spent In Suffering and
Then Speedy Recovery.

situated ABOUT TWO miles from 81.
Johnsbury, at an elevation that com
mands a fine view, is the farm OF
Frank Prescott, consisting OF seventy
five acres OF land, well titled and in a
good state OF production. A GALE
DOMAIN reporter out for a spin on his
bicycle, recently took the road that
leads past Mr.. Prescott's house. 1t
was a fine day, but warm, and hav-
ing heard that Mr.. Prescott had just
recovered from long and painful
sickness, the reporter took the oppor.
tunity to make few inquiries, get a
drink OF water and cool off. Mr..
Prescott was just returning from the
field driving a span OF horses and
had spent the day narrowing, get
ting ready for spring seeding, a very
different occupation from that in
which he was engaged year or so
ago.
Judging from appearances he was
in splendid health, the heat ofthe day
not seeming to give him much trouble,
and the idea that he had been sick
and at the door Of death would not
have entered the visitors head had
he not heard of the case. Mr.. Pres
colt is man of middle age, has spent
most of his life in st. Johnsbury and
vicinity and is consequently well
known in this locality. Up to the
summer OF 1898 he had always been
IN excellent health and able to do
big days work. When questioned
in regard to his late sickness, he told
the story in the following manner:
'1n the summer of 1893 | was en-
ployed as ornamental carver in the
furniture shop Of Jones & Shields, iii
St. Johnsbury, where | had been
working for several years. For
few weeks | had not been feeling very
well, but did not think there could be
anything serious, as | had always
enjoyed such excellent health that
the idea OF serious sickness seemed
foolish. One day was feeling worse
than usual and it was with great
difficulty that | managed to do any
work. During the day | had dizzy
spells, everything would seem to
vanish from my sight, and | had to
catch hold of something to keep from
falling. tried as hard as | could TO
drive the feeling away, but it was
impossible. 1t had me completely in
its clutches and would not let go.
All the time ! worked that day Twas
in perfect misery. and finally being
taken with a dizzy spell that was
more severe than any other that had
come upon me / went to the door for
air. But it was no use; the time had
come when must give up, and | fell
to the floor unconscious. | was
picked up by some of my fellow
workmen and carried home, where |
remained week, and then, thinking
that | was sufficiently recovered to
begin work again, returned to the
shop. But the old trouble was still
with me, the dizzy spells came back
in their old form and | was soon car
ried back home in the same condition
as before.
"a long struggle now commenced,
which to me seemed like a contest
between life and death. | was mis-
cradle, discouraged and hardly cared
whether lived or died. Sleep was
almost impossible, and mornings l
would awake with a tired feeling
that was terrible could eat but
little, and unless very careful what
that was it would cause me pain.
AS to work | was perfectly useless,
the slightest effort exhausting me. l
had little strength, in fact felt as
weak as baby, l suffered with
pains in my back, which also ex-
tended to my head, and / sometimes
thought that l was losing my mind.
81 put myself in charge of the doc
tors for a year or more. They did
all in their power to relieve me, but
relief didn't come. went to several
different towns, stopping while in
each and trying doctors that had
been recommended, but they did me
very little if any good. | returned
home thinking that | might as well
make up my mind to die and that
home was the best place for that.
For over a year had been in this
miserable condition, had spent much
money for treatment and not expert
encing any relief it can easily be seen
that | was more than discouraged
and scarcely cared what became of
me.
when in this condition OF mind a
friend, Mr.. Smith, of st. Johnsbury,
called at my house one day, inquired
as to my health and what seemed to
be the trouble. told how | had
suffered for so long, and he then adj
vised me to take DR.. Williams Pink
Pills. He had four with him and
gave them to me. took one after
dinner and one after supper, and that
night ] slept better than / had in
nearly two years, They gave me
relief so quick that was astonished.
took the remaining two and then
purchased box. After taking few