Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-04
SAYS HE WAS IN HEAVEN.
And His Pastor Seems to Be Much ts TmnreSsnd

< 1 W. R. Roberts, residing at Carrier Mills, eight miles south of this city,
 and assistant postmaster at that place,
 will publish a book on the experence
 of his brother, U. 4. Roberts. who died
 in this city on January l, revived and lived five and one-half days and con-
 versed freely, telling of his experience
 in the other world.
 Since the death of MT Roberts, Rev A. s. Maxey has been the recipient of
 so many letters of inquiry in regard to
 the story he has had circular letter
 printed giving the main facts, and one
 of these he sends to each anxious in- quirer. This letter is as follows:
 I "So many sensational and erroneous
 stories have been circulated regaralng the deathbed experience of the late U.
 A. Roberts that a correction is deemed
 necessary, and for this purpose the fol-
 lowing true statement of the event is
 made. do not care to express an
 opinion or attempt any explanation of the circumstances, but simply t1arrate 1 the facts and leave the reader to draw 1 his own conclusions. s..,
 Some four months ago Ulysses A.
 Roberts moved to Harrisburg. He had
 been afflicted for some time with ill- testinal trouble, which finally ended in
 consumption of the bowels. About the
 middle of December 1903, he became
 so sick that he gave up his work and
 took to his bed called to see him occasionally until he left us. I was at 1 his bedside December 31. about ' i o'clock in the evening. While I was there he called his mother, wife and others to his bedside and bade them goodbye. noted that he said to Miss Ella Heinemann. Be good girl. Ella After singing and praying with him I Left him in the care of R. ;. Marsh, J. H Nyberg. Rev l. Rose, his uncle, and ". $. Roberts, his brother, expecting to return. which did about 12 o'clock, to stay the rest of the night. The four named above attest the state ment I now make.
 "After my departure Brother Rob- erts began to sink rapidly, his body becoming motion1ess except the breathing. which grew shorter and shorter for three hours. the watchers thinking each breath would ha the last. When, as it seemed to tAem, it came, they smoothed back the pillow and strengthened the body. Tn but a moment he opened his eyes, and. look ing about, said: "How strange every body looks.'' He then lapsed into a serni-conscious state and remained so for about three hours more. Mean while had returned and all had re- tired except W. R. Roberts and my self. At about 3 o'clock, or perhaps 3:3O, while I was on one side of t--e bed and I on the other, he became as rational as anyone could be, and, turning to his brother. said: How long was gone?' His brother seemed em- barrassed as to what to say, and he noticing 1t. said: Now don't deny it, rn1l all thought I, was dead and gone, didn't your The brother said we thought so. Then he said. 1T was gone and will tell yoll where ! was. went to place where the streets were so beautiful, and walked up and sat down by the throne.' I asked: Whom did you see?" Without turning to n1e he laid his hand on his brothers shoulder and said: T saw father there' ! ask ed: What did he sayg
 "Agafn turning to his brother he said: He put his hand on my back and said: son. praise God you are here, but you are not to stay lof1g- you must go back, He spoke Of see ing others but do not remember whom. Then asked: 'Dfd you see Jesus?, Turning to me for the first time, he said: oh, yes, saw Jesus asked: 'How did he look. Dfa he look glorious Tn reply he<said: "Yes, at times, but angry at other times: but he was good to me- When asked as to the light where he had been, he replied: It was not like the lights here-not like the electric light. but just light Afterward in speaking of this point to his mother, he said:- ri I had been given new body while there could stay here with you. but l as it is this body cannot contain me- \
 .'In speaking to K. s. Marsh as to 1 the cold stream of death. he said: l For a moment 1t seemed dark, but l then if seemed that was Just waited 1 upward, and that it was so short. only 1! step.' He lived five and half days ! afterward. leaving us at just 12:3O in 1 the afternoon of January 6, in vic l torfous shout. Five minutes before i leaving he clapped his hands in praise and lifting his hand. pointed with ! smiling face and whispered to me, See ! them? See themT
 "Once. while I was telling some friends what he had told me, callin. it vision. he laid his hand on me ana said: Don't call 1t vision. was there: 1t was reai.'
 "Hfs funeral was conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church. or which I am pastor, January '. 1904 Harrisburg, H., special to Chicago Inter-Ocean.
 Difficulties of Early Diplomats.