One of the most interesting cases of resuscitation that ever came to my knowledge was that of George Lennox, a notorious horse thief, in prison for stealing horses in Sedgwick County.

     During the winter of 1887 and 1888, while in prison, he worked in the coal mines.  The place where he was working seemed dangerous to him.  He reported the fact to the officer in charge, who made an examination, and deciding that the room was safe, ordered Lennox back to his work.  The convict obeying, had not continued his work more than an hour when the roof fell in and completely buried him.  He remained in this condition for fully two hours.  He was missing at dinner time, and a search was instituted for the absent convict.  He was found under this heap of rubbish.  Life was extinct.

    He was taken to the top, and on examination by the prison physician was pronounced dead.  His remains were carried to the hospital where he was washed and dressed preparatory to interment.  His coffin was made and brought into the hospital.  The chaplain had arrived to perform the last rites prior to burial.  Two of the prisoners were ordered by the hospital steward to lift the corpse from the boards and carry it across the room and place it in the coffin.  They obeyed, one at the head and the other at the feet, and were about halfway across the room when the one at the head accidentally stumbled over a cuspidor, lost his balance and dropped the corpse.  The head of the man struck the floor, and to the utter surprise and astonishment of all present, a deep groan was heard.  Soon the eyes opened and other appearances of life were manifested.

    The physician was immediately sent for, and by the time he arrived some thirty minutes later the “dead” man had called for a cup of water and was in the act of drinking.  The coffin was at once removed and later was used for burial of another convict.  His burial robes were taken from him, and the prison garb substituted.

    On examination he was found to have one of his legs broken in two places, and was otherwise bruised.  He remained in the hospital some six months and again went to work. I learned of his experience while apparently dead, soon after, from a fellow miner.  Prompted by curiosity, I longed for an acquaintance with Lennox to get his experience from his own lips.  This opportunity was not offered for months.  At last it came.

    After being removed from the mines, I was detailed to one of the prison offices to make out some annual reports.  The subject of this man’s return to life was being discussed one day when he happened to pass by the door and was pointed out to me.  It was not long until I had a note in his hand and asked him to come where I was at work.  He did so, and here I got well acquainted with him, and from his own lips received his wonderful story.  He is a young man, probably not over thirty years of age.  He is not a hardened criminal, is possessed of a very good education and very bright.

    Being a shorthand reporter, I took his story from his dictation.  “I had a presentiment all morning that something terrible was going to happen.  I was so uneasy on account of my feelings that I went to my mining boss, Mr. Grason, and told him how I felt, and asked him if he would come and examine my ‘coal room,’ the place where I was digging coal.  He came and seemed to make a thorough examination and ordered me back to work, saying there was no danger, that he thought I was being ‘cranky.’ 

    “I returned to my work and had been digging away for something like an hour when, all of a sudden, it grew dark.  Then it seemed as if a great iron door swung open and I passed through it.  The thought then came to my mind that I was dead and in another world.  I could see no one, nor hear a sound of any kind.  For some reason unknown to me, I moved away from the doorway and came to the bank of a river.  It was not dark, neither was it light.

    “I had not remained on the bank of this river very long until I could hear the sound of oars in the water, and soon a person in a boat rowed up to where I was standing.  I was speechless.  He looked at me for a moment and then he said he had come for me, and told me to get into the boat and row across to the other side.  I obeyed.  Not a word was spoken.  I longed to ask him who he was and where I was.  My tongue seemed to cling to the roof of my mouth.  I could not say a word.  Finally we reached the opposite shore.  I got out of the boat, and the boatman vanished from sight.

    “Thus left alone, I knew not what to do.  Looking out before me, I saw two roads that led through a dark valley.  One of these was a broad road, and seemed to be well traveled.  The other was a narrow path that led off in another direction.  I instinctively followed the well-beaten road.  I had not gone far when it seemed to grow darker.  Now and then, however, a light would flash up from the distance, and in this manner I was lighted on my journey.

    “Presently, I was met by a being that it is utterly impossible for me to describe.  I can only give you a faint idea of his dreadful appearance.  He resembled a man somewhat, but much larger than any human being I ever saw.  He must have been at least ten feet high.  He had great wings on his back.  He was as black as the coal I had been digging and in perfectly nude condition.

    “He had a large spear in his hand, the handle of which must have been fully fifteen feet in length.  His eyes shone like balls of fire.  His teeth, white as pearl, seemed fully an inch long.  His nose, if you could call it a nose, was very large, broad and flat.  His hair was very coarse, heavy and long.  It hung down on his massive shoulders. His voice sounded more like the growls of a lion in a menagerie than anything I can recall.

    “It was during one of these flashes of light that I first saw him.  I trembled like an aspen leaf at the sight.  He had his spear raised as if to send it flying through me.  I suddenly stopped. With that terrible voice I seem to hear yet, he bade me follow him—that he had been sent to guide me on my journey.  I followed him.  What else could I do?