RESCUED FROM THE COFFIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1525, 14 December 1886, Page 4

RESCUED FROM THE COFFIN.

“ Yes, it is true ; I did have a trance while in Brooklyn some 'days ago, and for several hours I was believed to be dead !” The speaker was the Rev. lather Smith, of the Order of Dominicans, writes the Montreal Star. Father Smith is young and intelligent. He is a native of Ottawa, and from the Oblate Fathers in that city he received an honorary classical education. Being religiously inclined he abandoned home and kindred, and left for France, where be was admitted into the order be now belongs to. Scarcely had he been cloistered a few months, when, by a parliamentary decree, the Dominicans and Jesuits were banished from the country. Father Smith, with several of bis associates, repaired to America, and has resided in Brooklyn ever since. It was in Brooklyn that he fell into a trance. “And how did the unfortunate affair occur?” was asked. "Well, you see,” said the reverend gentleman, “I am suffering from a malady which weakens me greatly ; but never did it cause me to enter into a trance before, except once in Italy. For several hours I was believed dead, but it was only when the chapelle ardeute was being prepared that I woke. In Brooklyn the trance began in the same manner. I had been ailing for several days. Gne evening when I was lying on my conch I sudden!, felt a great weakness coming over me. I tried to call for help. My month refused to articulate any sound. A moment after I bad entered into a trance like the one I had had in Italy. When my friends came into ray room they found me pale and motionless. They felt my heart, but its pulsa’ions could not bo felt, and they conjectured that 1 must have passed away during their absence from my bedside. I could hear them walking about my couch, but I was so overcome with weakness that I was unable to move a finger. It is customary in religious communities to bury one of their deceased members shortly after his demise. In accordance with the custom they wired the news of my death to my fandly in Ottawa, and charged one of my confreres to prepare my funeral oration. When the time came to place me in my coffin I fully realised my horrible position. I tried to move, but the effort proved fruitless. When in the coffin I made a supreme effort, and called upon Heaven to hear me and save me from such a horrible fate. I succeeded in partly raising my head, and this is what saved me. The first to congratulate me was the priest who had been summoned to preach roy funeral sermon.”