The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-10-14
A Man Buried Alive.

We have often heard Of persons buried
alive having been rescued from the grave
after long interment. But these stories
were received with considerable doubt. and
looked upon as more marvellous than the
Incarceration Of Jonah 10 the belly Of the
whale. Yet this thing of burying alive
actually occurred recently near Newark,
New Jersey.
The person thus laid so prematurely I'M
der the sod was a German, named Franz
Wester. The sad affair created great
sensation among the Teutonic population
of Newark and the surrounding neighbor-
hood. Men. women and children hocked
in hundreds to the scene, and detail of
police was sent to the grounds to keep or
der and prevent any disturbance over the
grave of the man buried alive. The crowd
hurriedly and loudly gave expression TO
their feelings in broken English and pure
German, and in a jostling, crushing, up
roarous crowd sought glance of the grave
which held its living, breathing occupant.
Those that comprised his premature in
terrment had the plot so admirable ar
ranged that the cofhning and burial did not
occupy more than twenty minutes The
grave was dug deep in the rear Of Boen's
Brewery. within scent Of good lager beer,
and the last nail was ready to be driven
into that little piece Of furniture which
was about to receive the poor exile from
Rhineland. Going into the garden at the
rear Of the brewery, at about twenty min-
utes to three o'clock, he was seized by six
men who lay there in wait for him, thrust
into an open coffin, which was Immediately
lowered to the bottom of the grave and
the earth hurriedlv thrown in, and the last
home of poor Franz made as close, COM
pact and comfortable as any poor corpse
could expect-be it from Rhineland or
Ireland, or our own Westerland This act
was done in the. full blaze of day and in
presence of the red-hot sun, who was no
respector of persons on that occasion,
either in or out of the flesh.
The reality of the affair is this, Franz
Wester, of Newark. has invented form
of coffin from which person. buried
during suspended animation, might effect
his escape in the event of revival, even
after the coffin hid been placed in the
ground. The coffin is constructed in the
ordinary way. having square box or
shaft inserted in one end in perpendicu-
lar position. This shaft rises above the
level of the grave about two and half
feet, and is covered with square hatch,
surmounted by cross. 1t has three aug
er holes in each side to admit air for breath
ing purposes, and pane of glass is insert
ed in the top, through which the occupant
of the coffin can be seen.
At three O'Clock the work of interment
commenced. Wester was placed in the
coffin, which was duly lowered into deep
grave and the earth filled over it. By look
ing through the glass his head and shout
ders could be seen. He seemed rather
warmer than on ordinary corpse. He took
care to bring down with him to the grave
something to moisten the clay, to refresh
the inner man, and make his short abode
in the tomb as comfortable as even tenn
porary resident in that long home possibly |
can be-
After remaining an hour and a half in |
the dread abode-aiter hundreds gazed |
down upon the living corpse-a tinkie of |
a bell was heard. the crowd was pushed |
back, policemens batons made ample room,
and space enough was cleared for old |
Rhneland to emerge from his grave. he
came out a conqueror or defer of death |
for the time being. shutfied off the hatch.
way which sustained the cross and the
wreath of evergreens which were placed
upon it and made it look like a real grave.
When the self-disinterred came once again
to the surface, he was greeted with the
widest enthusiasm. A song was chaunt-
ed in the tones of Fatherland, in which
joined in the chorus. Impulsive
friends Rugged and kissed the inventor of
this patent coffin, as no man was ever hug
red and kissed since the days of Queen
Dido, when she nearly squeezed Plus
Eneas TO death. Wine and lager flowed
N such profusion after the disnterment
hat the gardens of the brewery would
rave been fairly deluged if there had not
oeen a supply of vessels thirsty and open
% receive it.
The patent coffin is certainly an i'm
1rovement in the undertaking business, be-
.ause, in cases of suspended animation, if
persons recovered they could be rescued.
By keeping continual watch for some
line, any movement of the body could be
zen through the glass, or if string were
.ttached to bell, any motion would give
signal, when person could descend and
escue the occupant Of the graye.-N Y.
Sun.