Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-07-11
Ruryiu1 0lirei

There can be little doubt that burying alive is
much more frequent than the world supposes, or
has any inclination to believe. There are condi-
tons of suspended life closely resembling death,
and Of such long continuance, as 10 deceive the
physician. and induce sculpture. The late emf.
nent and most worthy Philip Doddridge was within
an ace of meeting the dreadful fate of being bu.
ried alive, and what made it worse, with perfect
consciousness of all that was passing. He was
supposed to be dead having fallen into state
actly resembling death, so far the body is con.
cerned His pulse and respiration ceased, his
limbs became rigid, his face assumed the sharp
outline characteristic of death, and ne remained
in this condition until the family, physicians and
friends (all but one y supposed that his spirit had
passed: That one was Mrs. Doddridge her love
refused 10 despair, and she continued to RENE.
dy after remedy to restore animation Finally she
poured spoonful of brandy Ia case of breach OF
teetotalsm which we think Father Mathew him.
self would excuse) down his throat and the pow.
full stimuant almost Immediately dissolved the
trance, and restored Mr.. Doddridge to the COM
mand of his limbs, and TO many years of distin-
guished usefulness. But for it, he had in all pro-
liability been buried alive; for the weather was
He used to relate with thrilling effect, his sensa.
fions during the time of his supposed death. He
could not stir little finger 10 give notice of his
being alive, but his sense of hearing remained
perfect, and his mind collected. He heard the
fact Of his being dead announced, and the outburs;
Of grief that followed, the directions for shroudng
him, and the usual preparations in the chamber
Of death Desperate, but vain as desperate, were
his efforts to give some token Of llfe-not a
muscle could he move. Even despair, and the
immediate presence of fate appalling pro.
badly to the conscious than He'll itself, could not
rouse his dormant body 10 perform the slightest OF
its functions. At last he heard Mrs. Dodiridse
call for the brandy, with delight and rapture OF
love for her which the horrors of his situation may
easily explain. He felt that he was saved. and
he was saved. He himself wittily said, that it was
as little as the brandy could do to accomplish his
resurrection, as it had produced his living death
When we reflect that of the buried, the coffin
Of probably not one in many millions Is afterwards
examined, and that yet among these few several
instances have occurred in which il was obvious
(as from the deceased having turned on his side }
that the dead had been buried too soon, we cannot
well reject the horrible conclusion that the occur
renee is not rare shuddering natures
would desire it. An examination Of lie cata.
combs Of Paris, some years ago, (whcre the dead
are slowed away in open boxes, or simply deposit.
cd in the vault,) led TO the discovery that some
had turned their sides, and others had quit
their places and died at distance in the agonies
OF famine having gnawed away their flesh
The following authenticated and afft citing story
has suggested these reflections:
ain the year lSI0,a Ofly,ng nhumation happen
cd in France attended with circumstances which 20 far TO
the assertion that truth IT, indeed than Tic
ton. The heroine Of the story Mudamoisie Lafou-
seade. young girl OF Iusuous family, Of wealth and Of
great personal beauty. Among hor sutors WIS
Julien Bosuet poor ltcfatcuT, Journalist, OF Paris
His talents and genera amiabiy had recommended him
the notice Of the heress by whom hc seemed TO have
been truly beloved but her pride Of birth decided her, final
y 10 reject him. and 10 wed Monsieur Renoie. banker
and dPlomoiist ofsone emInsnce After marriage how.
ever this gentleman neglected. and perhaps, even more
positively iltreated her. Having passed with him some
wretched years she died,-at least Ter condition cose
resembled death deceive every one who saw her
She bured-not in a vau-Jui in On ordinary grave
10 the village Of her nativity Filled with despair and still
inhamed by the memory Of profound aachncn the low
erjourneys from the capital to the remote province which
the village lice, with the romantic purpose osinerring the
corpse sad possessing himself Of tresses lie
reaches the grave A. midnight he uneaths the coffin
opens IT, and Is in the Of deiachng the hair when he
10 arrested by the Enclosing Of the beloved eyes la
fact. the lady had been buried alive. Vitality had not
altogether depared and she SOuscd by The
OF her lover from the lehsgy which had been msake
for death. lie bore her antcaIy TO his lodgings I'M the
village. lie employed certain powerful restCrat,rs sUg-
gesed by little medical learning ia fine sine revived
She recognized her pfeseryer She remained with him
until by slow degrees. she fully recovered her original
besh. Her wOman's heart not adamsnt and this
last lesson Of love susctd soften H. She bestowed II
upon Bossuet She returned ~ her husband bat
cOnceSlng from him her resurrection fed with him a,
hmenea Twenty years ntieswa.d. the returned 70
France IN the percussion that time had q, create, altered
the adys appearance that her trends would be unable a.
recognize her They misiEon however. for Of the
hfst meeting. Monsieur Renco did nciuay recognize and
make claim TO his wife. This claim she resisted. and n
Judicial tribunal sustained her IN her essnco; deciding
that the peculiar circumstances with The long lapse Of years
had etungushod not only equitaby butegsy tho author.
ty Of the husband. "