The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-02-26
CADIZ, OHIO. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 49, 1863

solid, and evidently put together with ce.
ment. There seemed little hope. of my ev>
er finding my way through them. l follow
ed the wall along till came to a pile Of
cofins. one upon the other reaching up as
high as my head. Trey had evidently I,een
there for long time, and | fancied, from
the slippery fe. ling, were mildewed and de-
cayed. After passing these, l came to an
other pile of coffins, not so high as the first,
but even more decayed. In turning from
these NV feet slipped, fell against them
and the upper one came down with crash,
burst open and the bones fell out with a
phosphores>cent glare, lighting up tn.
darkness, and looking like SO many orbs of
fire. I staggered back with an invol intary
yell ef horror-the thing was so sudden and
the spectacle so awful.
My reason returned in a moment, ard,
though my nervous system had received q
shock that for long time kept me weak
and trembling, yet saw at nnce how much
| was the gamer by the accident since by
this M ans now had dim view of the
charHel house, which had become nv pris
on. if not my grave. The vault was not
large, hut contained quite number of cof
fins, not one of which was new save nv
own. which led II to believed that it had
seldom been used of late years, except, per
haps, as place Of temporary deposit. 1t
wa, a strange light to see by, the pnos>
phorescenre of dead mems bones; and,
when take every thing into consideration.
my return to consciousness, the horrible
suspicious certaintes, and discoveries which
compelled TO wonder bow it was possible
Tor me to keep my senses, and to continue
my effort to escape with the coolness | did.
soon found the door to the vault 1t was
a wooden one, and see~3ed much drcayed on
the inside, like the cofins have mentioned
ed. | tried it with trembling eagerness;
hut discovered, alas! it was fastened on the
outside-probebly secured by heavy iron
bolts. On! for the use OF an axe for half
an hour! would willingly have given
for it all l was worth in the world. |
struck against the door with my first, and
threw MY body h"avily against; but only to
discover it's massive soliaity, and to know
that. without some implement to work with,
all my efforts to escape would be worse than
vain that | might as well set down and
wait my appointed time.
But perhaps some tool might be found
in the vault left there by mistake? Some
Ratchet. hammer, pick, crowbar-sone.
thing! | shearched everywhere, as well as
could by the dim, ghastly light bnt found
only two things that could possibly use
large spik' d nail and pebble stone weigh,
ing over pound. How precious did even
these secml No miser ever clutched his
gold and diamonds with such intense and
heartfelt joy as did these possible keys to
the living world
There was portion of the door SO decay
ed that, with the use of the nail and the
stone, believed could work a hole large
enough, perhaps. to admit my arm; and as
this place was near where the bolt if a sin.
gle one, would naturally be. | had great
hope that might be able to reach and slide
1t back With this idea, commenced at
once, with all the energy of man in my
situation; and for hours | lahored unremit
tingly-hammering, p,ying, and getting off
could pass my hand through the aperture.
thrilled me then! tremhled from head to
foot, my respiration became gasping and
difficult; large beads of perspiration seemed
to start from every pore, and, sinking down
on my knees, | prayed God to have mercy
on me, and restore me to the world of life.
Then l rose slowly, thrust my arm through
the aperture, and felt around for the bolt.
My hand touched it. With trembling eager
nerness worked back; and then the heavy
door came slowly open, harshIy Whit a
moment was that! phehaps was to be
delivered from that awful sepulcher! The
very thought was an overpowpring joy,
which my nervous system. so long wrought
up to the most intense excitement, could not
bear, and tainted, and fell at the foot Of
stairs which led upward from tho charnel
v.ult.
When consciousness and strength again
returned to me, went slowly and trcmbig.
ly up the damp, dim and narrow stairs. till
[ came to the flag that shut in the whole.
On my power to raise this depended every
thing! put my shoulder against it. and
pressed upward with all my might. Gracious
heavens! 1t did not move! was doomed!
| uttered a wild, piercing shrek, and fell
hack in despair the most wretched being in
existence. As sat there, on one Of the
cold, Shiny steps, in an agony OF mind that
must soon have deprived my burning. hrob.
bing brain of reason iancied heard steps
above me. What Human lifa above and
| to be doomed to death in sepulcher? No,
no! Never! never! sprane to my feet with
the determination and strengh Of mad-
man, and again putting my shoulder to tte
stone, sent it upward with force that turn
I'd it over with crash. Fresh air and light
burst in upon me. saw | was bentath The
roof Of Il church, Az d leaping UP from my
pit, yelled forth my joy.
1t was an early hour in the morning, and
the sexton had come into the church to put
certain things TO rights. Seeing me spring
upward from the tomb with an appalling
yell, h. instantly fled. with shrek Of ter.
ror He soon. returned, however, with hall
dozen excited spectators, and found me
on my knees. giving thanks to God for my
wonderful deliveraDce.
scare ly need add that my friend s tami.
" were astoni,hrd beyond measure to see
me back among them, a living man. The
next day | had the pleasure OF taking my
frienl himself by the hand. aud giving him
an account of my death, burial end resurrec
ton. As had been arranged he went home
with. my body, but not with my corpse.
Since then have never travled alone, fol
fear of again being buried alive. The doc.
tors after Wise consultation pronounced
mine rather singular case Of catalepsy.