Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-09-08

tfah the Inventor ut tue 'tffgtuaf
Grinder Z"
A STRANGE CASE. II. Boron,
the well known perfumer aud hair
dresser on st. Charles street had been
unwell for some days past, with
sort Of bowel complaint. lie was no,
confined TO his bed, however, aud p
friend saw him on Tuesday evening,
looking at the procession M IL passed
on iis return through st. Charles
street Yesterday morning, about 4
O'Clock. DO felt very i'll and sent for
his physician, who prescribed for him
About hslf.past six or seven O'Clock.
he died, and preparations were made
for his funeral, which was TO have
taken place in the afternoon.
The body remained supple and
warm, the features unchanged, and
only a little paled, and the general
appearance so natural, that strong
doubts were entertained "a to his be.
ing really dead. At the time sppoin.
ted for the funeral, the carriages came
and a host Of friends assembled 60
accompany him to his last resting
place. But the suspicion Of his be
ing still alive had increased, and up
on tho advice Of physician. the fun.
sral was postponed, and the body
remains laid out with oil the appear
snoe Of gentle sleep rather than rigid
death. This state of things has nat
uraiiy caused much anxiety among
his friends, many Of whom pronounce
hin alive.
The truth will be known to-day
Strange cases Of lethargy have been
known, and we remember one, for the
truth of which We can voncb, although
IL happened many years ago. A gen
tleman of wealth and standing, re-.
Gently MARI, d to a charming wife,
fell sick, and after n few days illness,
apparently breathed his last. The
body was laid out, mt dressed aud
uncovered rs done in our days. but
sewed up in n sheet OF shroud, nc.
cording to the custom Of those times.
The occurrence had taken place
during the day, and ut a late hour at
night the family who had been sit.
ting up for several nights. and we're
worn out by grief and fatigue, had re
tired, and confidential servant,
named Alexander, was left alone To
watch tho corpse. This man was
sitting not far from the bed, when he
thought be heard n sigh. lie sp-
preached quickly the bedside, aud
listened there was no mistake, he
distinctly heard heavy breathing,
and saw a slight motion Of the body
Nine,y-nine out Of a hundred men
would have probable run out the
room but not so The faithful servant.
With remarkable presence Of mind,
he split open the sheet, arranged il
ss if it was the natural covering OF
the sick man, blew out the lights
leaving only one burning, and, in fact
took every precautioned TO prevent
his master, il he awoke, FROM being
shocked at the idea Of his supposed
death. He then sat down by the
bedside, and waited anxiously. Pres
emily the dead man moved, yawned
audibly, and, looking around. asked
ALEXANDER, what time is in"
"Near twelve o'clock, sir" "Bring
me q broth" The faithful Alexan
der went out of the room, called a
male member Of the family, and broke
the news cautiously, telling him to
advise the young wife, and to prevent
any demonstration of joy that might
make the sick man suspect the truth
He then ordered the cook to get q
broth, and returned to his masters
chamber, where the now overjoyed
family soon assembled.
The gentleman recovered, aud it
was only after he ct quite well that
he was told how he had been dead
for eight hours. lie lived many years
after this, and had several children
His eldest daughter, whom we knew
well, used to say tina, she was the