Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-20
From the unpublished diary of c: Hods,n' Esq
lately deceased, forner'yo OF BRISTOL thnS'J
living INHUMATJON

dSceaSep,
LIVING INHUMATION.
had been subject 10 epileptlc his from my
xou,h upwards, which, though they did not
deprive me Of animation IN The sight OF 'hose
about me. completely annihilated my own con-
sciousntss. used 10 be attacked IA, all times
and SEASONS but most commonly about the fuil
Of the moon. l generally had a warning
of a peculiar nature when these attacks were
coming on, that il would be difficnl, to describe;
/, was sensation that, to be known must be
experienred.--Mv excellent vile Martha Il
mean my first wife who has beer dead now to
the best part of forty years. used 10 say, that
she always observed an unusual paleness over
nv complexion, otherwise rudy, for day or
two before the I'll came upon me. Bless her
soul! she never let me be one moment out oil
her sight, from the instant she had 4 Suspicion
ef nv approaching maIady. This benevolent
caution on her part was great means OF ena-
bling her to subdue the violence ot the nj when
ii came, for which purpose her ex2' r'ence hao
pouted out to her several useful applications
I married again after her decsase, because
was Oppressed Beyond bearing by my loneliness
which none but persons in such suualoh-
I mean widower's-can tell. MY second
wife, whom have also burird, Was not so pens
Grating in the facslry of observation She was
a
nv il was, that, under God, owe my preserva-
ton. in the terrible event am about TO detaiE
Had been inferred In lead it would have been
all over with me.
Our family burying. place in Bristol is in -
Church, where there is a general vault, IN
which al persons who can fee the officials high
enough may De iuterred, untl! their Friends Tor
GET thsm; which, Tor that matter, III trading
towns is not usually very long time; but this
is ONLY granted provided they are buried In
lead. ! suppose they are turned out OF their
metal cofhuS in1he end; as they are IN London
and other places, tnat the Old lead may buy
carcussl for The churCh>wardens and sexton,
and make room for new tenants TO be served In
---,s-,rs-"trr-s t'"ifS owe my preservation
Willing 10 save IS much money as possible al
my funeral, SHE had ms body, with all the u
sual and groner 81 VIZ VI.
which was increased by couple Of old hundred
weights placed one al my head, the other at
my feet. Thus the thing passed off very well,
and money was saved TO my heirs. hereby
cast no reflections upon my dear departed
wife's regard for me. ! was convinced, as |
told her, that her motive was good; and well
did ii turn out tor me that she was thrifty aud
consid. rate. She was true Bristol woman
and as the good citz, ms generally are there;
pretty keen and Close fingered; bul il is error
On the right side. She wss called Susannah,
the daughter Of opu!en, and cien' com
mon councilman, and got my freedom Of the
city by marrying her; she was plain IN her pcr>
son, as all Bristol born womsn formerly were
but wander again from my story.
/ hsd made most excellent dinner-of this
/ have perfect recollection. OF more tnan
this ! can recollsct nothing, until on coming
gu, of my fit, as suppose--tror quickly inn
sgint d; feeling the usual sensations, that WIS
recovering from one OF them)-I say, that on
coming 10 myself, was surprised 10 feel pins
toned and in utter darkness. | had no space
10 stir, il would, as s>on found, while n
struggled TO loosen a sheet some such thing
in which Twas >cantily enveoped. My hand
would not reach my he adj when 1 attempted TO
make il do So, BY reason If my elbow tout hing
the bottom and my hand he top OF the enclo-
sure around me. was he attempting To Go
this, and finding myself naked, except with The
Aforesaid covering, that struck me had be,n
en,ombed alive, The thought rushed sudden
Iy upon me. My first sensations were those OF
simple surprise. Twas like child aroused
out of deep sleep, and not sufficiently awake
TO recognise It's attendants.
When the real truth flashed upon me in all
its fearful energy, Inevcr can forget the thrill
Of horror that struck through me. IT was as
TX bullet had perforated my heart, aud all
the blood in my body gushed through the
wound! Never, never can he'll be more terri
bic than the sensations of that moment. I!ay
mouonless for time, perri6ed with terror.
Then clammy dampness OURS, forth from cv-
cry pore OF my body. My horrible doom
seemed inevitable; and SO strong at length oe.
came thus unprecedented heret Of hope app
Peared my siruation--tbat ultimately recov,
cred from it only to plunge into the depths of
calm, resoluie despair. AS not the tan,est
ray oil hope could penetrate the darkness
around my soul, resignation TO my fate follow
ed. began TO think of death coolly and to
calculate bow long might survive before fam
Inc closed the hour ofmy existence. / PRAYED
70 God that might have ior,Iiude to die with
out repining, calmly as frhen felt. I,ried if I
couG remember how long man could exist
without food. Thus the tranquility of my des-
pair made me comparatively easv, if contras,ed
With the situation in witch Jfelt myself AFTER
wards, when home began to gimme. upon me.