Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-12
From BlaekwoOd's Edinburgh .Rqga1ine.
THE BURIED ALIVE.

From Blaekzvoods Edinburgh .lf1gaai'se.
THE BURIED ALIVE.
had been for some time i'll Of low
and lingering fever. My strength gra-
dualiy wasted, hutthe sense Of life seem
edt become more andmore acute as my
corporeal powers became weaker. |
could see by the looks of the doctor that
he despaircd of my recovery; and the
soft and whispering sorrow Of my friends,
taught me that had nothing to hope.
One day towards evening, the crisis
took place. l was seized with strange
and indescribable quiycring--a rushing
sound was in my ears,-i saw around my
couch innumerablc strange faces they
were bright and visionary, ard without
bodies. There was light, and solemnliy,
and tried to move but could not.--tor
a short time terrible confusion over
Whelmed me,--and when it passed off all
my recollection returned with the most
perfect distinctpess, but the power
of motion had departed. | heard the
sound ofweeping at my pilow--and the
voice OF the nurse say, 9 lie is dead" |
cannot describe what felt at these words.
Iexerted my utmost power OF volition to
stir myself, but could not move an eye
lid. After short pause my friend drew
near; and sobbing, and convulsed with
grief, drew his hand over my face, and
closed my eyes. The world was then
7 et.I ool
and suffer.
When my eys were closed, | heard by
the attendants that nay friend had left the
room, and | soon after found, the under
takers were preparing TO habit me in the
garments OF the grave Their thought
lesness was more awful than the grief of
my friends. They laughed at one ano-
thes as they turned me from side to side,
and treated what they believed corps,
with the most appalling ribaldry.
When they had laid me out, these
wretches retired, and the degrading for
inality of affected mourning commenced.
For three days, number of friends call
ed to see me. Ifeard them, in low &C
cents, speak of VIVA, was: and more
than one touched me with his finger. On
the third day, some ofthem talked ofthe
smell of corruption in the room.
The coffin was procured-l was lifted
and laid in-My friend placed my head
on what was deemad my last pillow, and
I felt his tears drop on my face.
When all who had any peculiar inter-
est in me had for short time looked at
me in the coffin, l heard them retire; and
the undertaker's men placed the lid on
the coffin, and screwed it down. There
where two of them prescnt--one had &C.
casion to go away before the task was
done. heard the fellow who was left
begin to whistle as he turned the screw
nails but he checked himself, and COM
pleted the work in silence.
was then left alone--cvery one shun-
ed the room. knew, however, that |
was not yet buried, and though darkencd
and motionless, had still hope-but
this was not permitted long. The day
of interment arriyed-I felt the coffin
lifted and bore away-I heard and felt it
placed in the hearse. There was a
crowd of people around-some of them
spoke sorrowfully of me.-The hcarsc
began to novel knew that it carried
me to the grave. 1t halted and the cof-
fin was taken out--I felt myself carried
on shoulders of men by the inequality OF
the motion-a pause ensued-I heard
the cords of the coffin moved-I felt it
swing as dependent by them-it was low
cred, and rested on the bottom of the
grave-the cords were dropped upon the
lid heard them fall. Dreadful was
the effort then made to exert the power
of action, but my whole frame was i'm
movable.
Soon after, few handfuls of earth
were thrown upon the coffin-then there
was another pause-after which the sho-
vel was employed-and the sound ofthe
rafting mould, as it covered me, was far
more tremendous than thunder.-But
could make no effort. The sound gra.
dually became less and less, and Iby a
surging reverberation in the coffin,
+ knew the grave was filled up, and that
the sexton was treading in the earth, slap
ping the grave with the fiat of his
spade. This too ceased, and then all was
silent.
l had no means Of knowing the laps
of time and the silence continued. This
is death thought l., and am doomed to
remain in the earth till the resurrection.
Presently the body will fall into corrup-