Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-06-19

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York Star, June ,. l-One OF the most remark
able instances of restored animation which has
ever taken place in this city occurred on Sun
day night last in Vayick street, near Med
the particulars Of which are as follows:
An aged lady, named Rebocca TOwnsend,
who has been aiing for several weeks past,
exrired, as was supposed, Oh Sunday morning
last That she really was dead no one whu
saw her for a moment hesitated 10 believe The
set eyebalis, the rigid limbs aud the apparent
cessation OF respiration, all pointed to the sup
posed fact that death had come to the relief Of
the invalid
Accordingly, on Sunday the sorrowing house
hold, acting on this belief commenced making
preparations for the burial of the body. a
burial permit was obtained, coffin ordered,
I'D the remains washed and attired in the ha-
bil;ments CT the grave. Delay arising relative
TO the preparation OF the coti0, the remains
were temporarily laid out upon tho bed In
which the old lady was supposed to have died,
and the services Of watcher Ia young female
residing in neiehboring house, were secured
TO attend tie body during Sunday night,
About IL O'Clock, on Sunday evening, the
members OF the household retired, leaving the
watcher alone to her disagreeable task As
O'Clock in the morning, and ensconcing hep
self in an arm chair, short distance from the
,,orpss, soon tell into doze. She had slept
above an hour, when she was awakened by o
low moaning sound, which apparently Issued
from the couch upon which lay the supposed
corpse. Startled by the strange noise, the
watcher Immediately sprang from her chan
and approached the bed for the purpose OF as
cert,ininS the cause of the mysterious sounds
At this moment the noise suddenly, ceased. :.
There lav the corpse just as the watcher had
Isft IL one hour bsiore, the eyes still set as 10
death. the limbs still rigid, and not sign OF
lite visible.
Relieving the sounds which she fancied she
had heard were but fancies copjured up by q
mind excited By the uncomfortable positioq
IN which she was placed the watcher returned
TO her seat and resumed her nap. She had not
remained 10 this condition more than hall an
hour, when she was again aroused by SOUNDS 5
similar TO those which had previously alarmed
her. Again che sprang from her chair and ap-
preached the bedside, when her eyes met the
wandering gaze OF the supposed corpse. Cou Id
IL be possible that she was dreaming She
passed her bands to her eyes to convince her'
self that she did not sleep. Slowly the eyes OF
the corpse commenced rolling in their sockets,
the muscles of the face relaxed, the jaws con-
tracted, and, as the 6my eyeballs rested upon
the couutenauce of the appalled, watcher, they
Appeared to entreat the woman to come to her
relief.
Horror riveted the watcher 10 the spot. She
attempted to scream for assistance, but her
tongue refused her utterance. As she contlnu'
ed to gaze upon tbs living corpse, the arms De-
gan to move and the right hand was slowly
lifted to the mouth as il the corpse implored
drink. The corpse next commenced assuming
an upright position, and, finally, after ap effort
Of several minutes, sat bolt upright 10 bed.
This last movement proved too much for the
nerves OF the fright stricken wato her, and stag
gering from the bedside she fell tainting on the
6oor.
The noise occasioned by the fall awoke the
inmates OF the house, who fastened to the room.
There sat the woman still upright in bed, at
the foot Of which lay the convulsed iorm OF the
terror stricken watcher.
Discovering the state Of affairs, the house
hold Immediately dispatched servant for the
the nearest physician, who shortly alter arrived
upon the sceGe, and by due application Of
restoratives succeeded in reviving the supposed
corpse sufficiently to enable her to respire free
IL. The watcher, by the administration OF the
proper restorstiveS, was, after much difficulty,
a,so restored TO consciousness, but her nerves
received shock which will probably tell upon
her constitution until her dying day. She VOWS
she will never again serve as the watcher OF
corpse, and no wonder at 1t.