Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-04-24
BURIED.ALlVE:
A True Narrative of Facts.


years practising physician, say
that he has seen during the last fe,
months sundry sketches of person
buried alive; and always feeling
deep interest in the subject from al
occurrence that took place some twsnt,
years ago, he sends that Journal tn,
following account of it for publica
ton. He adds that the narrative il
a true one--unadulterated with
particle of fiction. 1t was writer
out by near relatives Of his, and is
given in the narrator's own words
1t should serve as warning to those
who ''hasten to bury their dead out
of sight
I have been subject to epileptic
fits from my youth upward, which,
though they did not deprive me Of an
imation in the sight of those about
me, completely annihilated my own
consciousness. used to be attacked
at all times and seasons, but most
commonly about the full of moon.
generally bad warning of a peculiar
nature when these attacks we're com.
ing on, that it would be difficult to
describe. 1t was a sensation, that 80
be known, must be experienced.
My excellent wife Martha-I mean
my first wife, who has been dead
now for the best part of forty years
used to say that she always OBJ
served an unusua! paleness over my
complexion, otherwise ruddy, for
a dsy or two before the fit came on.
Bless her soul! she would never let
me be one moment out of her sight
from the instant she had a suspicion
of my approaching malady. This
benevolent caution on her part
was great means Of enabling her to
subdue the violence of the fit when
it came, for which purpose her expe-
rience had pointed out to her several
useful applications.
| married again after her decease,
because | was oppressed beyond
bearing by my loneliness, which none
but persons in such a situation-I
mean a widower's-can tell. My
second wife, whom | have also buried,
was not so penetrating in the fac
ulty of observation. She was a
woman of admirable thrift, and to
her economy it was that | owe my
preservation in the terrible event
that am about TO detail. Had /
been inferred in lead it would
have been all over with me. Will
ing to save as much money as pos
sible at my funeral, she had my
body, with all the usual aud proper
I grief attendant on the ceremony,
put into a stout wooden coffin, the
weight of which was increased by a
couple of old hundred weights, pla.
ced one at my head, the other at my
feet. Thus the thing passed off well
and money was saved to nay, heirs.
/ hereby cast no reflections upon
my dear departed wife's regard for
me. / was convinced, as | told her.
that her motive was good; and well
did1t turn out for me that she was
so thrifty and considerate. She was
a true woman. and was plain in hel
person-but | wander again from
nv story.
i had made most excellent dinner
-of this | have a perfect recollection
OF more than this / can recolIect
nothing until coming out of my fit:
as / suppose, for quickly imagined
feeling the unusual sensations, that
/ was recovering from one of them
/ say that on coming to myself,
was surprised to feel pinioned and il
utter darkness. / had no space t.
stir if 7 would, as / soon found, while
l struggled. to loosen sheet Of
some suct thing in which ! was scanty
enveloped My hand would not reacl
my head when / attemped to make i,
do SO, by reason Of my elbow touch
ling the bottom, and my hand the
top of the inclosure round me.
1t was in the attempting to do this
and finding myself naked, except
with the aforesaid covering, thai
! struck me that I had been entombei
!, alive. The though rushed suddenly
upon me-. Ny first sensations ver
i those;of simple surprise. Iuas Iii
& : child aroused out of 3e1 a|5
ead. nlf' sp||isIzs ] &