| Show HIS LAST MOMENTS ON EARTH the divine manifestations made to him some time ago we announced the death of elder collett in mexico but had no particulars of it the following letter to the brother of the deceased gives the facts pertaining to it ACADEMIA VALBUENA no 5 cejas do la conception city of mexico may collett vernal utaji dear brother yesterday I 1 wrote you of death on the ath instant having been restored in part of fatigue I 1 proceed to give you a more full account of his sickness and death april ho had a fever supposing it to be a chill but saying it was a very curious one he immediately began tho application of quinine in order to break it up this did him no good apparently and the nature of the fever being different to the usual chill I 1 told him wo would have to do something else accordingly we got some catnip tea and another herb called barabo which helped him to a certain extent but he gradually grew worse our experience peri ence being limited and not knowing the nature of the disease we did not know what to do but as he was in no wise dangerous until may ast 1st we expected every moment for him to bo changing for the better on may ast 1st he was very uneasy and tolerably sick first in bed then out up and down occasion called me out for about fifteen minutes on returning I 1 found him bowed before the loid supplicating protection from on high tor says he the adversary has just given me a terrible shaking up internally I 1 immediately agreed with him that satan was trying to take possession of the habitation for I 1 had felt him for days I 1 joined and wo continued in fasting and praying until a quarter to three when the answer to our petitions came apparently in a bright tight saying all is well the lords will be done juat at that instant I 1 repeated the same words and feeling tilled with the holy ghost spoke with power making many declarations of the goodness of israels god and of his miraculous protection over us for the past two years saying gods will bo done sylvester theu spoke in the same strain by saying that he would eventually meet family and friends with perfect satisfaction but the thought struck me very forcibly that helid not say he should be restored and meet with those dear to him for about two months past ho had often made remarks about the young at lehi and mesa who had passed behind the vail which appeared to me very strange and I 1 asked him why he made such frequent and peculiar remarks ho answered it was another of his peculiarities ho would say lk wonder how it will bp in meeting those who have the same satisfaction as here or will things appear new and strange but to return he slept not one wink the night of the ast 1st nor had he done so but one hour since sunday next morning we decided to call in a physician I 1 therefore went to a friend douglass ap jones who is a nice man for recommendation to one who could be relied upon he sent me to sr vallejo who I 1 think did all ho could but the disease being a serious one ho had no success the arst day he hardly thought it was typhoid but on returning the next morning there were sufficient visible spots to discern its nature I 1 being alone with him and not daring to leave a sister camo in the afternoon to straighten up the house I 1 sent her to tell brother perez a native elder 10 comae and stay with me that I 1 might get a little sleep as I 1 was greatly fatigued he came staying that night giving me a little rest and expecting to return the next night but was prevented this day 1 was ieffa alone and sad as it was my feelings shall never be forgotten me was quite rational in the forenoon apparently feeling better he ate some bread and drank some tea saying that it was nice but did not come as with an appetite and said ho could not believe it to bu one at he began to wander in his mind and was soon entirely out of his head talking all tho A G p m mr jones came to see bow he was seeing his condition ho immediately went for the doctor who did not get there until therefore you may imagine my waiting in despair he brought a man to stay with me but on learning abs tbs nature of the disease he got frightened and could not bo persuaded to stay only just long enough to go out for some medicine and to assist me in applying it preparatory to giving sylvester a sweat this was one of tho most doleful nights of experience that ever overshadowed my life he soon began to sweat then uneasiness set in birst kicking then throwing off the boyers I 1 just held him down in bed the whole night through without taking my hand off him I 1 finally got BO badly worn out that I 1 had to tie the cover on him I 1 never worked harder in all my life then when I 1 camo to change his clothes after sweating him it was a task but I 1 did it with satisfaction when morning came all hops had fled and my feelings can better be imagined than described language cannot give them utterance to think of being in a foreign land amongst strangers and loft in this wido and dreary world all alone almost sank me in despair to get assistance aes istance my only alternative was to call a by from the window whom I 1 sent for mr jones to bring the doctor and to carry a note to a near church member to como immediately all this was dono and it was 8 a m before anybody came the doctor got chero at and brother peroz at 1030 I 1 then went for medicine returning at 1130 prepared things so that brother perez might attend him while F slept and I 1 haan hadn hours rest thus we continued with all possible diligence war til 9 p m when I 1 went to rest telling brother perez t 0 wake me at 1130 and if anything vent wrong before at 1005 10 05 lie me saying that sylvester was deiy low I 1 could see the end was very near he quietly passed away at 1115 p m as the two of us lay by his side everything being arranged the hearse and car arrived at p m and conveyed the remains to san cosme or the american cemetery after the dedication all returned and I 1 abandoned the house on the of november when deceased took his first long walk in company with brother eying and myself on passing the cemetery foot knowing it was the american sylvester said there would be a nice place to rest under the shade of those trees eight where he pointed he now sleeps JOHN D |
