Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-14

| was now stepped in fearful agony. Shrek
ed with horror. plunged my nails into my
thighs and wounded them. The coffin was
soaked in my blood and, by tearing the
wooden sides of my prison with the same ma
niacal feeling, | lacerated my fingers, and wore
the nails to the quick, and soon became mo-
tionless from exhaustion. When / was my
self once more, | called aloud my wife's name
prayed, and | fear | blasphemed for /
know not what | said and | thus continued
until my strength again left me, and nature
once more sought repleniShment in temporary
insensibility.
At this time had vision of q most indie
Enable character, if it was one and not
glance, as am induced to think it was, be-
tween the portals of death into the world of
spirits. 1t was all shapeless and formess-
Images of men, women, often numberless-in
sort of shadowy outline-came before and
around me. They seemed as if lifeless from
decay. Their featureless heads moved upon
I trunks hideously vital-in fgure-like bodies,
which have seen drawn forth from burned
dwellings, each being rather hideous mis-
, shapen mass than human resemblance. Thick
darkness and silence succeed-the darkness
/ and silence of too horrible reality.
If, as l suspected, | slept about this time
from weakness, it was but to awake again to
more fearful consciousness of my dreadful
situation. Fresh, but vaia efforts to make
myself heard were reiterated as far as my
strength would allow. l found with great
difficulty could turn on my side, and then
over. L tried, by lifting my back and by
violent strain, to burst open the coffin lid, but
the screws resisted my utmost strength. l
could not, besides, draw up my knees, sufi-
clently high to afford a tenth part of the pur-
chase thould otherwise have made to bear
upon it. l had no help but to return again
to the position of the dead, and reluctantly
gain little agonizng repose from my exer-
tions. | was conscious how weak my efforts
had made me- yet l resolved to repeat them.
While thus at rest-ifinactive torture could
| be denominated rest-I wept like a child,
when | thought of the sunshine and blue
skies and fresh air which | should never en-
! JOY how living beings thronged the streets,
and thousands round me were joyous or busy
while | was doomed to perish in tortures.-
| Why was my fate differently marked out to
that of others? ? had no monstrous crimes
to repent of. Hundreds of criminal men were
in the full revclry of lfe / fancied / heard
! the toll of bell. Breathless listened 1t
was O clock striking the hour. The sound was
new life to me.
81 am not inhumed, at least I" such were
my thoughts. Interment will take place
my coffin will be moved. l shall easily make
myself heard then"
Men may fancy how they would find them
selves under similar circumstances, and on the
I like trying occasion but it is seldom q cor
rect judgment can be previously formed on
such matters. 1t was only at intervals that I
was so fearfully maddened by my dreadful sit
uatiOn as to lose the power of rational refec-
! ton, or SO overcome as to be debarred the fa-
Guilty of memory. Stretched in a position
where my changes consisted only of turn on
my side upon hard boards, the soreness of my
limbs was excruciatingly painful. When /
drew up my feet few inches, my knees press
ed the cover, so that the slight shift of posi-
bility brought no relief. My impatience of
the restraint in which l was kept, began at
length to drive me well nigh to madness. L
was fevered. My temples burned and throb-
bed, my tongue became dry, light flashed across
my eyes, and my brain whirled round
am certain that my existence was preserv-
ed solely by the diminished strength and sub
sequent feeblenesS which I experienced, and
which, from its rendering me insensible to the
increasing exacerbatien of my brains heat, al
lowed nature to resume her wonted tempera-
ment. But alas this was only that might
revive to encounter once more irremediable
horror. Who could depict the frenzy, the
unspeakable anguish of such situation
thought my eyes would start from my head
Burning tears flowed down my cheeks Ny
heart was swollen almost to bursting. / be-
came restless in feeling without finding space
for fancicd relief in a change of position
In my mental anguish, at times, however /
forgot my motionless bodily suffering, my rack
of immoveable agony.
How many hours | lay in this state of ac-
tive and passive torture | cannot tell My
thirst however, soon became intolerable-
My mouth seemed full of hot ashes | heard
again the hollow sound of clock bel of no
small magnitude Judging from its deep intona-
ton. No Granny which had hitherto observ-
ed in my prison let in light, though | we'll
knew there must be some fSsure for fresh air,
for the continuance of life so far. How else
had | existed?
1t was night, perhaps, when first came to
myself in my prison of six dark boards. l
CROPPED in vain for every part of their wooden
surface which / could reach. | could find no
chink, could see no ray. Again / heard the
hollow knell, which tended to increase my fear
full agony. Oh what were my feelings For
long time after this lay stepped in my suf-
ferings-or at least for long time as it SEEM
cd to me. My head was bruised all over-my
limbs were excessively sore-the skin rubbed
off in many places with my struggling-my
eyes aching with pain sought relief by turn
ing on my right side-I had never before turn
cd but on my left-when / felt under me
hard substance, which / had not before per-
ceived. Igrasped it with seme difficulty, and
soon found it was knot from the coffin plank
which had been forced inwards in all proba-
bity after was placed there, l saw also a