Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-08
BURYING ALIVE.


In recent article with this heading, the
Richmond Wing says: "There can be but lit
tie doubt that buryng alive is much more fire.
quent than the world supposes or has any ncll-
nation to believe" Ofthe truth of this terrible
announcement, we have not the least doubt.
Awful as it is, we have good and sufficient
reason for believing it to be correct. From
personal knowledge of facts, and other good
authority, we believe that many an individual
whose spirit is supposed to have departed from
the body, is borne away from the midst OF
weeping friends to the sepulchre, and lett In
that last and lonely repose of all men to ava
ken to the horrors of situation which can
neither be described or imagined. Recovered
to animation and consciousness, the unfortu-
nate sufferer has realized the dreadful truth that
he has been consigned to the place of the dead
a living being, and he has died in torture I'M
known to the millions who pass from life amid
the living throngs. The Wing refers to the
late distinguished Philip DodJridge, who fell
into state so precisely resembling death that
life was supposed to have become entirely ex-
tinct, and preparations were about to be made
for his funeral. lie laid without the power Of
motion and with perfect consciousness, ofwhat
was going on around him. He heard his
death announced, aud the outburst of grief
that followed, and the directions that were
} given to prepare him for his burial, The
effect was horribly exciting, but he was COM
PEELED to endure the pain, not having the pow
er of motion over a single muscle. He was
restored by spoonful of brandy administered
; by his wife, and lived some years afterwards
A case similar in many respects to that Of DR..
Doddridge, occurred some years ago in this
? city. The wife of a clergyman was declared
by his physician to be deceased, and the prep
: eratioGs were made for her sepulture. She
was laid upon the board in her shroud, and
every arrangement completed but the last fol
her burial. Suddenly, to the surprise OF al
r around her and to the fright of some, she rails.
ed herself up from the board and asked to be
relieved from her uncomfortable situation
. We do not remember TO have heard Of The
death Of this lady, and the probability is tina
! she is still living.
We speak with confidence in relation to on
| confirmed convictions that many persons are
q buried alive. We have seen the head Of al
a exhumed'corpse short time after burial turned
i upon its side in the coffin. And this was on,
ont of three or four that we have looked upon il
t the process of decay which the body undergoes
in the grave. And in further proof Of the ap
y palling declaration, we have the testimony 0
n the sexton of one of the largest and most re
Il spectacle congregations in this city. He is
S nan of the most sterling character, and hi
S word may be relied on in the utmost conf
S dehce. In the course of his official duties h.
d has frequently to remove the corpses of the blu
S rled persons from their place Of temporary re
n pose in the public vault, to be buried in tn
n ground. And, in doing so, his custom is +
j. ofcn the coffin and examine the corpse.
u the course of his ministratlons to the dead h
has discovered that either three or five bodies
IT we do not now recoIlect which is the correc
5 number, were turned completely over on on
l. side-perhaps in one case the corpse has bee
lying breast downward. This is the exper
ence Of single sexton, and if he has disco,
cred, say the smaller number, three upon the
;, sides, how greatly would the number be il
=, creased if all the sections were in the sam
20 habit and Were to make a joint report upo
i i the subject. Surely the account would b
startling Of the number buried before life VIZ
20 extinct, if all sections wereto relate what the
T. have the opportunity of knowing upon til
- fearful subject.
What we have to say further is that theE
:. is generally too great haste practised in tn
IF burial of those who are supposed to have d.
as parted this life. We are too anxious TO g
- the dead out of our sight and out OF our wal
The pale corpse of even beloved friend
o hideous to US, and We seize upon the earlie
q possible moment to bear it away to its burIa
IL And we seldom think wien we are engage
"a in these solemn duties that we may be col
o OF veying a living friend to the place of the d
il parted. To avoid an act which is so revol
-, inc to our sensibilities, and at which human
Is, ty is so terribly shocked, we should retain ii
l ~ bodies Of our friends in possession as long
ms possible, and ascertain with certainty that Ii
~ is extinct before we commit them to the dus
az Baltimore Sun, 28th ut.