Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-25
FALLING FROM GREAT HEIGHTS.
The Sensation as Described BY One
Who Has Tried II.

| A German scientist, Prof. Albert
Helm, who fell over a precipice in the
Alps but lived to tell the tale, makes
that story very encouraging account
to those with an inclination to high
jumps and the like.
His fall was only seventy feet, yet
that would be more than enough to sat
isfy a temperate person. He has mar
rated his sensations in minute detail.
At first, says the Gateway, he seemed
to himself to be flying through the air.
His fall really could have occupied only
few seconds. but his train of thought
was long and full of interesting detail.
Il clearly saw" he says, "the possi-
bility of my fate. said to myself, The
rocky wall from which am now being
hurled prevents my seeing what is at
it's base. The snow may be melted
there or there may be none: IL there is
any my life may be saved. Otherwise
death is inevitable.
"If / am conscious on reaching the
earth have by me bottle Of aroma
tics and my alpenstock I will still
grasp it, for it may serve me in good
stead I thought. too, of removing my
eyeglasses lest their splinterlng might
cause injury. ..
"Other and gentler thoughts for those
was to leave behind came upon me-.
For myself I felt Indifferent, caring
Ia, ,tyha I ohnY,lJ hn Y1annh
injured or not; but from motives Of
consideration for others felt impelled,
as 1t were, to make light Of the matter.
seemed to call aloud, am not much
hurt
II recollected that in five days more
was to have delivered an inaugural
discourse, and thought Of the grief my
death would cause to those near and
dear to me. Anon, lying as it were, on
the limit of far distant horizon, ap-
peared distinct and divers images and
episodes in my past life. The whole
mental picture stood out clear cut and
illumined by divine and mysterious
light.
"All things seemed lovely and Of good
report. There were no misgivings, no
anxieties, no sorrow, pain or terror.
There were no sensations Of contest
or strife. All was merged in feelings
Of genial good will and kindly feeling.
Such feelings predominated over all
and formed what was truly unique
and lovely picture.
Gradually heaven Of glorious blue,
f1ecked with crimson clouds Of gossa-
mer lightness, surrounded me. In them
I was waited to and fro, borne up from
below, but painlessly and pleasantly,
while a vast and moving snowfeld
seemed to accompany me. Anon the
perception of objects, subjective
thoughts, medley of various feelings,
seemed to circle in concentric mazes
around as a common centre.
Then came dull thud, which I
heard very distinctly, but did not feel
and my fall was ended. At that in
slant a dark veil passed before me.
II called aloud three or four times I
am not much hurt grasped my glasses,
which lay near me, and touched my
limbs to make sure they were'not brok-
en-.
"Then 1 saw my companions slowly
approaching. They told me a good half
hour had elapsed after my fall before
spoke.
Il had lost consciousness, and that
explains the dark veil. Later the power
of thinking returned. was conscious
only so long as I was falling Of the
perception Of beautiful images. At
the moment of contact with earth they
disappeared"
On another occasion DR.. Helm was
injured in a carriage accident He said
that he distinctly heard and counted the
bone fractures-seven in all-which he
received. He quotes the evidence Of
an Italian who had a similar exper-