The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-02-10
rCor. Of tho Cincinnati Commercial |
Buried AliYe-Tho Effect Of Iron Collins
upon Dead Bodies,

WASHINGTON, January Ill read
in the IntcUiyencer--a frightful state.
mcnt Of burying alive that is said to
have occurred in Now Orleans, and is
now going the rounds Of The press, to
the intense horror Of all sensitive pco.
pie.
The mother Of the unfortunate, it is
claimed, was informed cf he hc:.;b!c
event, through dream, and insisted
upon having the body dsnterrcd, for
investigation. On opening the grave
the horrible fact was manifested. The
glass over the jace was broken, the face
was mulilatcd, and the fingers wound,
cd.
Now, it would DO well to let this pass
ns warning to the thoughtless who
hurry dead bodies in their graves before
positive assurance that life is extinct.
But the case Is 50 horrible that it is bet
ter 10 know the truth. The corpse had
been encased in an iron coffin, called
caslset, made alright. The consequence
is That the gases generated by the de-
caying body produce tho most lrightiul
disiguration, and in somo instances
shiver the glass over the face. know
all about this, for 1 had q case come
under my Immediate observation, the
death Of q friend in tho country, caused
by an accident, so sudden and uncx.
pcctcd that few Of tho friends and rea.
tivcs could be called to the funeral
within tho ordinary time incident to
such occasions, An iron coffin was
procured. the body placed in it., and the
I'D sealed and screwed down in the usual
manner. with a thick glass plate over
the head. TO those who watched tho
loved faco through tears there soon ap.
re$rea singular change ; the veins OF
tho forehead began to swell, and soon
stood out like cords. Theas the face
began to swell, and soon the ewes part.
ly opened and the lips fell apart, giving
to the face wrathfu!, Mortified expires.
sion that was painful to look upon
These changes continued until the dead
seemed 10 be striving to breathe, and
strange noises were heard inside. Wo.
men shrickcd and tainted, and at last a
cloth was thrown over the glass, and
persons were forbid looking in. During
the night of tho second day (if rcmem
Der correctly, an explosion occurred,
accompanied By the sound Of broken
glass, aud it was found that the plate
over the faco was shivered and tho room
filled with the most sckenng stencil
The dead body was horrible to look at,
and it required no active stretch OF the
imagination to believe that life had re-
turned and a etruggle cnsued.
l doubt whether one could return to
lie from the counterfeit condition that
had been taken for death, while sealed
up in ono of these iron cases. Such
return must Of course, be slow, unccr
tain, and feeble. How long the mir OF
the coffin would continue pure enough
10 strengthen the lungs, so as to start
the circulation, / am not prepared to
say. But [ should think not long :;
certainly not sufficient length Of time
to enable tho subject buried alive to
make much OF a struggle.
FRldHrFuL ENcoUNrER WITH A MAD
Doa.-A fow days ago, Mrs. Eckersol,,
OF Rocklana county, New Jersey, while
going to the barnyard, was attacked by
large dog, and great portion of her
clothing WAS torn from her person. Uer
legs were several times between tho
jaws Of the brute, but her clothing prc.
vented the animals teeth from pene.
tratmg the flesh. She ran into the barn
to her husband, the dog following, and
sprngng at Mr.. Eckerson's throat
MIR. Eckorson Tended of, and the dog
caught his hand and tore it dreadfully
Mr.. Eckerson in his efforts to get one
hand out Of the dogs mouth, had his
arm torn in shocking manner, and an
artery broken. The dog thon caught
the other hand, and literally ohewede i
up. and retained his hold until Mrs
Eokorson, with presence of mind, thrus,
broom handle down the beasts throat,
when he let go his hold of her husbands
hand, and was killed with an axe
Physicians soon arrived, who cut of the
laceretea flesh. and are attending Mr.
and Mrs Eckerson. Mr.. II. las made
his vii, and iapfeparing for death.
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