The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-10-18
Buried Alive.
FROM THE DIARY OF C, HoDCsoS, ESQ,


The following story, taken from European
magazine, will be the more interesting to our
readers as 1t is said to be true account, unadul-
terated with particle Of fiction. 1t should serve
Ms a fearful warning to those who hasten 10 "bu-
rv the dead out Of their sight"
had been subject to epieptic fits from my
youth upward, which, though they did not de-
prve me Of animation in the sight Of those about
me, completely annihilated my own conscious
ness. | used to be attacked at all times and sea
sons but most commonly about the full OF the
moon | generally had a warning Of nature
when these attacks were coming on, that it would
be difficult to describe. 1t was sensation that,
to be known must be experienced, My excellent
wife, Martha, Il mean my first wife, who has
been dead now for the best part Of forty years.
used to say that she always observed an unusual
paleness over my complexion, otherwise ruddy
for day or two before the tit came on me
bless her soul she never let me be one moment
out of her sight from the instant she had a sus'
picon of my approaching malady. This benev'
olent caution ON her part, was great means Of
enabling her to subdue the violence Of the tit
when it came on, for which purpose her expert
ence had pointed out several useful applications
| married again after her decease, because |
was oppressed beyond bearing with my loneli'
ness. which none but persons in such situation
Il mean q widower's-can tell. My second
wife, whom have also buried, was not SO pene-
traing in the faculty Of observation. She was a
woman of an admirable thrift, and to her econO.
my it was that, under God, owe my preserva.
tion am about to detail Had been buried in
lead, it would have been all over with me.
Our family burying place IN Bristol is in -
Church, where there is general vault IN which
all persons who can fee the officials high enough,
may be placed until their friends forget them
which, for that matter in trading towns, is not n
very long time; but this is only granted provid'
ed they are buried in lead suppose they are
turned out Of their metal coffins in the end MS
thev are in London and other places, that the old
lead may buy a carousal for the church wardens
and sexton and make room for new tenants to be
served in the same manner. But to my story
To my excellent wife | owe my preservation
Willing TO save as much money as possible al
my funeral, she had my body, with all the usua
and proper grief attendant on ihs ceremony, put
into a stout firm coffin. the weight of which was
increased by q couple Of old 100 weights placed
one at my head, the other at my feet. THUS tn,
thing passed off well and money was saved to my
heirs. hereby cast no reflections upon my deal
departed wifes regard for mel was convinced
as told her, that her motives were good: and
well did it turn ou, for me that she was so thrift
" and considerate She was true Bristol wo
man, and, Ms the good citizens there generally
are, pretty keen and close fingered; but it is er
ror on the right side She was called Sussnnah
the daughter Of nn opulent and ancient common
council man, and | got my freedom of the city by
marrying her She was plain in her person n
all Bristol born women formerly wcre-but
wander again from my story.
had made most excellent dinner---of this
have perfect recollection. OF more than this
can resollect nothing until coming out Of my hts
as | suppose--for quickly imagined, feeling th,
unusual sensations, that | was recovering from
one Of them. | say that on coming to myself
was surprised TO feel pinioned and in utter dark
ness. / had no space to stir If | would, as
socn found, while struggling to loosen sheet o.
some such thing in which was scantily cnvelop
ed NY hand would not reach my head when
attempted to do so, by reason Of my elbow touch
ing the bottom, and my hand the top Of the cn
cosnre around me. II was the attempting to d,
this, and finding myself naked, except with th
aforesaid covering. that struck mo that had beef
en,ombed alive. The thought rushed suddepl,
upon me. Ny first sensations we're those Of sin,
pie surprise. was like child aroused out Of
deep sleep. md not sufficiently awake to rscog
nizc its attendants
When the truth flashed upon me in all its fear
ful energy never can forget the thrill OF hot
ror that struck mo. Ii was M II bullet had pc
netrnted my heart, and all the blood in my bod
had gushed out through the wound, Never new
er can hell be moro terrible than the sensation
Of that moment ! lay notonles, for a time, pc