Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-09-19
From the Diary OF c. IIod1Son Esq, deceased
formerly OF Bristol, Eng
Buried Alive,

The following story, taken from u European
magazine, will be the more interesting to our
readers, as 1t Is said TO be true account, and
unadulterated with 4 particle of fiction. 1t
should serve as fearful warning to those who
hasten to bury their dead out of their sirht
had been subject to epileptc fits from my
youth upwards, which, though they did not de-
prlve me ofanlmaton in the sight OF those about
me, completely annihilatcd my own conscious
ness. used to be attacked at all times and
seasons, but most commonly about the full of
the moon. | generally had a warning of Il pc
cular nature when these attacks were comur
on. that 1t would be difficult to describe. 1t
was a sensation that, to be known must be OK
pericnced. My excellent wife Martha. Il mean
my first wife, who has been dead now. for the
last forty years used to say that she always
observed an unusual paleness over nv COM
plexion, otherwise ruddy, for day or two be-
fore the tit came upon me Bless her soul she
never let me be one moment ont of her sight,
from the instant she had a suspicion of nv an
proaching malady. This benevolent caution
on her part, was great means Of enablmg her
to subdue the violence of the fit when it came.
for which purpose her experience had pointed
out to her several useful applications. mar.
red again after her dcccasc, because | was
oppressed beyond bearing my loneliness. which
none but persons in such n sltuation-T mean
widower's-can tell. Ny second wife. whom
have also buried, was not 50 penetrating in
the faculty of observation. She was woman
of admirable thrift and to her economy was
that, under God owe my preservation in the
terrible event am about to detail. Had been
buried in lead, it would have been all over with
me.
Our family burying-placc in Bristol is in -
church, where there Is a general vault, in which
all persons who can fee the official high enough
may be placed until their friends FORGET them
which for that matter in trading towns. Is not a
very long time; bat this is only granted proyI-
ded they can be buried in lead. suppose thcv
are turnc ont of their metal coins in the end
rs they are IN London and other places, that
the old lead may buy carouSal for the church
wardens and sexton, and make room for now
tenants To be served in the same manner. But
to my story-To my excellent wife ! owe my
preservation. Willing 10 save as much money
as possible at my funeral, she had my body.
with all the usual and proper grief attendant on
the ceremony. put into stout fir coffin, the
weight of which was increased by couple of
old hundred weights, placed one at my head,
the other at my feet. Thus the thing passed
hereby cast no reflections upon my dear de-
parted wltes regard for me. | was convinced
as | told her, that her motive was good; and
well did 1t turn out for me that she was SO
thrifty and consderate, She was true Brls
tol woman, and, as the good citizens there gen
orally are, pretty clean and close fingered bu,
IT is error on the right side. She was called
Snsannah the daughter of an opulent and an
clent councilman, and got my freedom of the
city by marrying her. She was plain in her
person, and all Bristol women formerly were
but wundero again from my story.
had made most excellent dinncr-oft this
] have perfect recollection. OF more thar
tins can recollect nothing until coming out of
my fits as suppose-for quickly imagined
feeling the usual sensations, that | was recov
erng from ono ofthnm. say that on comm,
10 mysolfl 0aF surprised to feel rjn,on-J and