Observations placeholder

From the American Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 1918 volume XII
PITTSToN, PA.,  December 15, 1906

Mr. G. H. Tench died in 1902 , after years of patient though intense suffering of cancer. He lived in Wilkes-Barre, but was formerly a near neighbour of mine in West Pittston, during a portion of the time he was a foreman under me enjoying mutual confidence and esteem.

He received deserved promotion by another Coal Co., but our personal relation remained the same.

During the last weeks, I watched with him as often as I could, going back and forth by rail.  While suffering intensely he would not take narcotics nor stimulating medicine, saying,  ‘I have lived HaIl Tench and I am going to die that way.’

The night the end came he roused his younger son, telling him to call the family as he was going away.  He talked entirely rationally to them and was fully conscious. Later a brother came to the house and upon entering the room G. H. Tench said,

'Good-bye, Will; I am going soon,' and. Closed his eyes. The family thought the end had come, but after a short interval he opened his eyes and, Iooking over and above the bed foot, with raised head and every appearance of interest, said clearly and distinctly,

'Why, they're all plain people’

This closed the scene, which was described to me by his wife soon after the funeral.

Now Tench was not a religious man, but ………..a moral, upright man in every relation of life thoroughly courageous, as was shown by his refusal to have his sensibilities dulled in his suffering.

Not highly educated, nor a great reader, yet I have no doubt he had thought about conditions he had to face, and was likely to have imbibed the wings and harp idea. Is it not possible that he at the last expressed surprise that the people waiting for him should be ' all plain people' ?

(Signed) S. B. Bennett