The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-10-01

Cuinly upon me, IL the pabgs VI munger
had been at oil bearable; and | have been
told they are much more 80 than is com
monty believed.
! II my memory serves me correctly. this
calm state of mind did not last long. Rea-
s9n soon began 10 whisper me, thatifl had
been buried and the earth closed around
my coffin, ] should not be able to respire,
which could now do with ease. / d.d not
of course, dream Of the vault in which
was placed, but considered at first had
been buried in earth. The freedom ofre
spration gave me the idea that after all,
was not carried forth for interment, but
that | was about 10 be borne 10 the grave,
and that there should be suffocated inev.
itably. Such is the inconsistency Of the
human mind, that |, who had just now re
signed mvself TO die by famine. imagined
this momcntary mode Of death hundred
| times more formidable. The idea that !
was not yet Inferred increased my anxiety
to make myself heard from without. |
called aloud and struck the sides and lid
| Of the coffin to no purpose, till was hoarse
and fatigued, bot all in vain. A deathly
silence reigned around me amid my un.
broken darkness. was now stepped in
fearful agony: shrieked with horror:
plunged my nails into my thighs and woun-
ded them: the coffin was soaked in my blood
and by tearing the wooden sides ofmy pris.
on with the same nanacnl feeling, lace
rated my fingers. and wore the nails 10 the
! quick, and soon becoming motlonless from
exhaust ions When was myself once more,
! called aloud ny wfe's name ] prayed,
and, fear, I blasphemed, for know not
| what ! said: md thus continued until my
! strength again left me, and nature once
| more sought replenishment from temporary
| insensibil.y Al this time had n vision Of
o most indchnsblc character. ifit was one.
and not n glance as am induced to think
it was, between the portals Of death into
| the world of spirits II was all shapoless
md formless. Images Of men and women,
often numberless, in sort Of shadOwy out
! line, came before g. around me They seem
"a as if limb!ess from dccay.-Their feature
| less heads moved upon trunks hldeousI Vi
in figure like bodies, which have seen
drawn forth from burned dwellings, each
being rather hideous mis- shapcn mass
/ than a human resemblance. Thick dark
ness and silence succeeded: the dark ness
and silence off too horrible reality. If, "a
! suspected, | slept bout tins time from
weakness, it was but 10 awake again TO a
more fearful consciousness Of my dreadful
situation
! Fresh but vain efforts to make myself
! heard were reiterated az FIR as my strength
would allow found with no great diff
Guilty | could turn on nv side, and then
over on my belly. Tiried,by lifting my bock&
! by violent strain 10 burst open the cofiinlld:
/ 4. IL 4 a.
I could not. besides draw up my knees
sufficiently high to afford q tenth part Of
the purchase should otherwise have made
! To hoor upon it. l had no holp but to re
turn again to tho position of the dead, nnd
| reluctantly gain n little agonlzing repose
| from my eXertons ! was conscious how
| weak my efforts Ind made me, yet rosolv
ed To repeat them. While thus AZ rest. if in
active torture may be denomlnated rest,
wrpt like child when thought of the
sunshine, and blue skIes,and fresh airwhich
| should never more enjoy: how living be-
ings thronged The streets, and thousands
round me were joyous or busy, while | was
doomed to perish in tor,urcs! Why was
nv fate so differently marked out to that of
o,hers2 had no monstrous crimes to re
pent Of, vet hundreds Terminal men were
IN he fnll revery Of life! Ifnnced Ihcard
the toll Of a hel;breathless, ,IlistcneG:it was
a clock striking the hour The sound was
new life 10 nc. am not lnhumcd.
at least, but perhaps am unwatched;" such
were my thoughts; ''Interment will take
place my coffin will be removed 4 sbnll easi
Ily make myself heard Mtn." This was
balm to me: | shouted Rncw. struck my
prison boards with sll the power left me,
and ceased only when eXertion was 10 long.
er possible.
Men may fancy how they would
find themselves under similar circun:stan
ces and on the like trying occasions, but II is
seldom correct Judgment can be previous
" formed on such matters II was only at
intervals that was So ieartully mCddeped
! by my dreadfu situation as TO lose the
| power ofratiopal reelection, or so overcome
as TO be debarref the faculty of memory
Stretched in position where my changes
consisted only of turn on one side upon
hard boards. the soreness of my limbs vas
excruc iatngly painful When drew IN
my feet a few inches, my knees pressed
the cover of the coffin, go that this slight
shift of position brought no relief. NV I'm
patience of the restraint in which ] was
kept began at length to drive ne well nigh
into real madness. ] was fevercd my
temples burned and throbbed, my tongue
became dry, light flashed across my eyes,
and my brain whred round. am cerlain
that my existence was preserved solely by
tho diminished strength and subsequent
ieebleness which experienced, g. " hich,
from its rendering me insensble 20 the in
creasing cxacerbation Of my brains heat,
allowed nature TO resume her wonted TEN
psrature. But alas! this was only that
mi pht revive to encounter once more IRE
4. ylh, .n,,lJ dame, 4 la,