Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-09
BURIED ALIVE.

One day last week. a funeral procession. arriv-
ing at the burial ground on Passyunk Road, found
the gate closed, and no Sexton there to receive
them. One or two individuals climbed the fence,
whose EXPLANATIONS VI alarm soon brought the
whole company after them. The grave was
there, and, in that grave, the sexton, standing
erect, but buried literally to his mouth, by earth
which had caved in from the sides, while he was
giving the last finish 10 the receptacle of the
dead. Only few inches in thickness, at the
top. held together BY the frost, BY the sod,
manned unbroken. Had that portlun given wav, he
must inevitably have been smothered. To ex-
tricate him from this periious situation, was no
easy task: nor could it be effected without dig
ging out the whole contents Of grave. There
was constant danger that the weight of those
whom curiosity brought to the brink. would break
down the slight crust which remained above, and
worse than that. a half decaved monument on
one side, already partly undermined, showed
strong symptoms OF disposition TO slide in upon
the hapless grave digger. This monument bring
secured BY rope, aud firmly held in an oppo.
site direction, the operation Of digging out the
quick, to make room for the dead, began.
In about three quarters Of an hour, the poor
Sexton was uneartheJ, in a state between dead
and alive,--h,s clothes saturated with moisture,
frame shaking, from mental and bodily suffering.
4 medical gentleman, who CHANGED to pass by,
gave the necessary directions for his restoration.
which soon took effect; and the poor fellow was
then able to explain the whole natter. Ii seem
ed that, abou, halt an hour beforesthe funeral
was expected, he went INTO the grave, to make
all ready for the reception Of its tenant;-and
was in the act of ascending, when the sides fell
in. burying him to the chin. In this situation
he remained, unable to move hand or foot, mo.
mently expecting that the upper edge would also
give way, and certain that when il did SO, it must
produce Instant death He described the half
hour which elapsed before the arrival of the fu-
neral, as the longest he had ever known, equal
in duration to days and weeks He was tr0u.
bed also by the recollection, that the gate was
locked, land feared that, on that account, he
might not be discovered, even when the funeral
did arrive.
tits difficult to imagine a situation more help.
less-more hopeless, or more awful 1t reminds
US of dreams we have experienced, when under
the influence Of night mare--dreams. by the way,
we should be shy TO realize in our waking mo-
ments. An active and powerful ,masina ton
might find ample scope, in concerning and des.
cribng the sensations which passed through the
mind Of the sufferer, during the long agony which
this half hour of uncertainty contained.
PHILADELPHIA Commercial Herald
From the Easton PEN. Democrat E. .argus,
March l.
Owing to the great anxiety upon the following
melancholy subject. We are induced TO publish
an Extra. merely detailing facts as they actually
occurred
On Wednesday evening the eth Of February,
q murder was committed in Forks township. IN