Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-06-14

| by lifting my back and by violent strain, TO
burst open the cofin lid, but the screws re-
s!steu my utmost strength. 1 could not, be-
ades draw up my knees sufficiently high 10
anord tenth part Of the purchase I should
otherwise have made to bear upon it, 1 had
no neip out 70 return again 10 the position Of
tue dead, and reluctantly gain little agoni-
zing repose from my exertions. I was con-
Sclous how weak my efforts had made me, vet
L resolved TO repeat them.
| While thus at rest-if inactive torture couId
be denominated rest-I wept like child when
tnought OF the sunshine and blue skies and
fresh air. which I should never more enjoy-
now living beings thrOnged the streets, and
thousands around me were joyous or busy,
Wnle 1 was doomed to perish in tortures.
that of others? / had no monstrous crimes 20
| repent OF. Hundreds Of criminal men were
in the full reyelry Of life. / fsncied heard
| the toll OF bell. Bresthless listened. Ii
was clock striking the hour. The sound
| was new life to me.
" am not inhumed Mt least -, such ware
| my thoughts "Interment will take place
| my coffin will be moved-I shall easily make
| myself heard then
| Men may fancy how they would find them
| selves under similar circumstances, and on
tho like trying occasions; but il is seldom n
correct Judgment can be previously formed on
| such matters. 1t was only at intervals that
was SO fearfully maddened by my dreadful
situation as TO lose the power Of rational re-
| hectlon, or SO overcome as to be debarred the
| faculty of memory Stretched in pos ition
| where my changes consisted only of turn on
my side, upon hard boards, the soreness Of
| my limbs was excruciatingly painful When
L drew my feet up few inches, my knees
pressed the cover, so that the slight shift of
position brought no relief My impatience of
the restraint in which 1 was kept, began az
length to drive me we'll nigh to madness.
was fevered. Ny temples burned and
throbbed, my tongue became dry, light fash
ed across my eyes, and my brain whirled
| round
am certain that my existence was pre-
served solely by the diminished strength and
| subsequent feebleness which / experienced,
| aud which, from its rendering me insensibIe
| to the increasing exacerbation Of nv brains
| heat, allowed nature TO resume her wonted
| temperature. But, alas this was only that
| might revive to encounter once more IRENE
diable horror. Who could depict the frenzy,
| the unspeakable anguish of my situation
Burning tears flowed down my cheeks. Nv
heart was swollen almost TO bursting. I be-
| came restless in feeling, without finding space
tor fancied relief in a new change of position
In my mental anguish, at times, however
1 forgot my motionless bodily sufering-my
rack of immovable agony
How many hours lay in this state of active
and passive torture l cannot tell NV thirst.
seemed fall of hot ashes. 1 heard again the
hollow sound of clock bell, of no small mag
/ nitude, judging frem its deep intonation No
Granny which had hitherto observed in NV
prison let in light-thOugh I well knew there
must be some fssure for the fresh air, for the
continuance OF life SO far. How else had
existed?
1t was night perhaps, when first came ID
myself in my prison of "six dark boards 1
CROPPED in vain over every part Of their wood
en- surface which L could reach could find
10 chink, could see no day. Again L heard
the hollow knell, which tended 10 increase my
fearful agony. Oh, what were my feelings
For a long time after this / lay steeped in NV
suftering-or at least for long time as il
seemed TO me. My head was bruised all over.
my limbs were excessively sore-the skin
rubbed Oh in many places with my struggling.
my eyes aching with pain. sought relief by
turning on my right side-I had never before
| turned but on my Ieft-when L felt under me
a hard substance, which L had not before
perceived. L grasped it with some difficulty,
and soon found il was knot from the coffin
plank, which had been forced inwards, in all
probability, after L was placed there / saw
also dim light through hole, about as large
as a half-crown piece, just below where my
chin came. L put my hand to it, and found
1t covered with coarse cloth, which easily
imagined was the lining Of my coffin. L soon
contrived to force my finger through this
cloth, though not without considerable diff
Guilty. Faint enough was the light it revealed,
but 1t was monday sun Of joy 70 me. By
an uneasy strain Of my neck, could see OBJ
llqueiy through the opening, but everything
was confusst in my brain Ny sight was
cloudy, heavy, and thick. I at rst could
only see there was light, but could distinguish
no object.
new hopes arose. closed my eyes for min
ute together, and then opened them, TO restore
their almost worn out power of vision. At
length L could distinguish that immediately
opposite to me there was q small window,
crossed by massy iron bars, through which the
light saw streamed in upon me like Joy into
the soul Of misery. 1 now cried with delight.
thought l was among men again, for the
pltchy darkness around me was dispersed. L
forgot for moment my suferings Even the
fearful question, how should / get free from
my durance before famine destroyed me- wa.
a long time absent from my mind, and did not
recur until / could look through the fssure no
longer, from the giddiness caused by a too
earnest fxedness of gaze.
l soon concluded, from the massy stones on
each side of the opening, and the strength of
the bars, that was in a church vault and
this WIS confirmed when came to distinguish
the ends Of two or three cofins which partly
interposed between me and the light. 4
watched the window until the light began to
grow dim, with feelings no language can de-
scribe, 10 tongue tell. As the gloom Of night
approached, my heart began to beat fainter,
and my former agonies returned with tenfold
weight, notwithstanding which, L imagine
must have slept some. L was sensible Of
noise, like the grating Of a heavy door upon
its hinges, when 1 revived or swoke-I can
not say which-and saw the light Of a candle
stream across the fssurs in my coffin.
called out
% For the love Of your soul, release me
am buried aliven'
The light vanished in o moment Fear
seemed to have palsied the hand that held it,
for heard a rough voice desire the holder of
it TO return
IF there's any one here, he's soldered up,
Tom, hand me the light. The dead never
speak. Jim, the Snatcher, is not to be scared
by rotten feshr
Again l called as loud as / could" am
buried alive-save mei''
I t.Iom. the axatp creid the undaunted body.