Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-03-16
AThriIIins scene.


A Thrilling Scene.
One of my fathers brothers, residing in
Boston at the time when the yellow fever
prevailed to such frightful extent. became
victim to the pestilence. When the FIRST
symptoms appeared, his wife sent the chill
dren into the country, and herself reSnain-
ed to attend upon him. Her friends warn
ed her against such rashness. They told
her it would be death to her, and no be-
impression on her affectionate heart. She
felt that it would be long life of salts
faction to her to know who attended him,
if he did not. She accordingly stayed,
watched him with unremitting care. This.
however, did not avail to save him. He
grew worse and finally died. Those who
went round with the death carts had Vi
sited the chamber, and seen that his end
was near. They now came to take the
body. His wife refused to let it go. She
told me that she never knew how to ac-
count for it, but though he was perfectly
cold and rigid, and to every appearance
quite dead, there was a powerful impress
sion on her mind that life was not extinct.
The men were oyerborne by the strength
of her conviction, though their own reason
was opposed to it
The half hour again came around, and
again were heard the solemn words,
q Bring out your dead" The wife again
resisted their opportunities but this time
the men were more resolute. They SAID
the duty assigned to them was painful
one, but the health of the town required
punctual obedience to the orders they re-
ceived if they ever expected the pesti-
lence TO abate. it must be by prompt re-
moval of the dead, and immediate fumi-
CATION of the infected apartments.
She pleaded and pleaded. and even knelt
to them in agony of tears. continually say
ing, =" I am sure he is not dead.' The
men represented the utter absurdity of
such an idea but finally overcome by her
tears; again departed.
With trembling haste she renewed her
efforts to restore him. She raised his
head. rolled his limbs in hot flannel. and
placed hot irons to his feet. The dreaded
half hour again came round, and found him
as cold and rigid as ever. She renewed
her entreaties SO desperately, that the mes
sengers began to think little gentle force
would be necessary.
They accordingly attempted to remove
the body against her will but she threw
herself upon it and clung to it with such
frantic strength that they could not easily
loosen her grasp. Impressed by the re-
marksble energy of her will. they relaxed
their efforts. To all their remonstrances
she answered. you bury him, you shall
bury me with him." Al last. by dint of
reasoning on the necessity of the case,
obtained from her promise that, if he
showed no sign OF life when they again
came around, she would make NO further
opposition to the removal.
Having gained this respite, she hung the
watch upon the bed-post, and renewed her
efforts with redoubled zeal. She kept
Kegs Of hot water about him, forced hot
brandy between his teeth, and breathed
into his nostrils, and held hartshorn TO his
nose but still the body lay motionless
and cold. She looked anxiously at the
watch, and in FIVE minutes the promised
half-hour would expire. and those dread
full voices would be heard passing through
the atreet. Hopelessness came over her
she dropped the head she had been sustain
ing-her hand trembled violently-and the
hartshorn she had been holding was spill
ed on the paid face. Accidentally the
position of the head had been slightly tip.
ped backward. and the powerful liquid
flowed into the nostrils. Instantly there
was a short quick gasp-a struggle-his
eyes opened ! and when the death men
came again, they found him sitting up in
bed He is still alive. and has enjoyed
unusually good health.-Ars. L. M
Child.