Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-07
From The ~ e>ten Wachman."
PREMATURE sEPULTURE----No. l.
ny G. +. IL. CROCHET, NJ. D., LIBERTY, MO.

That many persons supposed to be dead have
been revived, -bolh before and after inerment,
restored to health and lived for years after
wards, is fact well established as any claim
ing the attention of mankind. The subject adj
dresses ITSELF clothed with interest, Ia every
intelligent living being, and has received the
attention OF wise and good men in all ages. Il
is remarkable. that ii has been so much more
regarded by savage and barharous tribes and nj
tons th1n the civilized and Christian and that
in The United States--the land of the civly,
morally and religiously free and enlightened
less regard is had TO it, than, perhaps, in any
other part of the world. A late writer re-
marks, that in England, in respectable families
the funeral seldom takes place I'LL q week after
death;' during which time the coffin. containing
the body, is usually placed on a center table in
the parlor. and the daor kept locked
| In order to approach just conception Of its
importance, we must make the case CIR own
Suppose we die-in appearance only--are has
tily shut up in coffin-put in a vault, the door
locked-thsFe 10 rem lin unseen for months, OF
years ;-or deposited in the cold pit.--covered
with three or four feet OF earth - and in few
hours revive and become conscious of our awful
situation, and the fact, that we can neither ex-
tricsle ourselves therefrom. nor make any sig.
nal BY which our friends can be informed OF
our condition! Such has been the fate Of thou
sands and similar cases are being frequently
discovered by those who disnter the dead.
Aware of the danger of being buried alive
many persons have given positive instTuctio ns
in reference 10 the disposition Of their bodies
after death some directing that they should
b; burned, others their heart taken cut, &c
The Hon. Hsnry LaTrsnS, President of the first
Congress, U. s., ordered ia his will, that his
body should be burned the third day after his
death, which was accordingly done.
At on early period in my professional career
ny attention was arrested by this most interest
ing subject, and become strongly impressed
with the improperly, nay-the inhumanity, OF
hasiy inerments. IN reference to myself
had rather die one hundred times above ground
than once in a vault, or covered up in grave
On certain occasion when expected TO die in
tweniy-Four hours, dreaded nothing but the
possibility of reviving after being buried. Such
were my convictions and feelings in reference
to it, that was constrained to request my
friends in the event of my apparent decease
to keep my body out Of the grave as long as
practicable, --appoint no time for interment, I'M
Ill they were sure was dead ;---and before in
terment, would have my chest opened and the
large artery severed from the heart.
| am strongly penetrated with the belief, that
very many who are buried are conscious of all
that Occurs about them while on the cooling
board and during their interment but are inca
plb'e of the least manifestation of their con-
,cionsness and feelings No language can ex.
press the agones which must seize a person
hus cireunstauced. On the ground of the hare
possibility of this being true, humanity would
plead for more attention being given TO the signs
re death, aud that we be less has,y in commit.
ting our friends TO the inextricable p,isor
house. r. .r...r .ff. ...r. lyon