HOW IT FEELS TO DIE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1907, Page 5

HOW IT FEELS TO DIE.

A remarkable story has been, told, to v "Daily Mail"- representative by Mr. James J, Kane, who for 30 years was a chaplain in the United States Navy, from which ho onh recently retired. Mr. Kane pays occasional visits to London. \

'"I have ten no fewer than eight times at' the-poiht of death/' said Mr. Kane, "and oh tliree occasions I was pronounced dead by physicians. On one. of.these occasions I rested in "my coffin for Ui hours. ■''',■' '~ ■'■ "During the third" year, of the American Civil War T was attached .as an executive officer .to a gunboat of the .'West' Gulf Block' ading .'-squadron, which was. under the commancl of the hte Admiral Farragut. Yellow lever was .virulent, and ultimately I contracted the disease.. ~..-_ . "I struggled hard against the disease, which was.deeply rooted in the system. I gradually,' grew' worse, and began to welcome the. approach of death. ' , :r "All this time I was perfectly conscious, and as■ the body grow weaker' the' mental powers grew stronger. Ir.ecognised. the'peculiar distinction between the soul r and thp body, and made the startling discovery that 1. was possessed of woudcriul\ faculties belonging, to the soul, wheih were gradually developing as the separation from the body' war taking place. 1 1 am unable to describe them. Their power' was' marvellous. For each faculty 1 .had in the body I had ten in the spirit form'. "Weaker, and yet still weaker, I grew; my breathing becamo difficult; pulsation almost ceased. ' Without' losing '.consciousness' I nt last passed.through the final, stage. In at? instant the spirit was freed, and I,stood beside'my body, pronounced dead'by'.the doctors and 'nurses. • 'All is' over,- he is gone,*' said"they,. as-they- closed.my.eyes. . ... . "I claim that the act of dying is one of the'most delightful and exciting episodes of my life,-filled, with pleasurable-emotions, not only -at the' thought-of- meeting- long-parted friends,' but'the' increase of knowledge arid froedom from earthly elements. When > awoke; a coloured preacher, who was very much; attached '.to me," and who >as ..weeping at my bedside, said: .'Thank God, you are once more alive;' and there' was .rejoicing ..at m'y - restoration'. My vision, haunted me. ' 1' mourned'over'iny return. I soon fell into' s deep sleep,, and. the,next morning, felt in-creased-vitalisation. ....''<— ■ > ••-

"I once had a cataleptic seizure in London, when Dr. ; Qeorgc W. Callender was in attendance upon nib. He afterwards stated that I was the only, man in his varied experienco who had recovered after beina; so far gone in the throes of death. Two other medical men were also called, and they conctired. with Dr. .Callenderl" ....