The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-09-02

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powers were now restored to me, and coul,
use my limbs. "lf,' thought land tb
thought inspired me for the first time will
hope,' II don't smother, may be can burs
myself out of this. And though by thi
time was suffocating, I drew up my knee
with the strength of Hercules, and by al
ed up the mahogany lid, and shivcred it tt
pieces. But the cold granite stone Of tn
vault was only a few inches above me, and
could not rise; still 1 could use my hands
and by placing them against the rough gran.
tie over head, and bracing my feet against
the end, literally stretched myself beyond
the length of my coffin, aud forced out the
head of it. Then, worming myself little
further through in the same direction, l got
my head against the stone slab, which, by !
very easy additional movement, | succeeded
in displacing. To get entirely ont Of my
coffin afterwards was but the work Of a minute
or two, sni4 g# ttsstEsssri sas. u83E
When again stood uprights j was in the
area Of the, vault, looking out through the
wire door, and inhaling the abundant air, foi
heaven. s4ett sssaI l.sat . 10 s1aiaia a{5i1
But though, out, of the coffin, Twas not get
out of the, vault, and In order to get as
sistance, | bawled att the, top, of my voice,
murder !! thieves! help !! y and the like,
and Immediately there came a pack of bull
terrier dogs-the night 3 police Of Green
mount*.--aDd set up an unearthly yell at its
door! Their fury, when they saw me in my
white shroud, and a strange---a very strange
intrudcr--there among q. them, knew no
bounds, and | perceived at once there was
danger they would break through the fragile
wire work, and tear me to pieces. Indeed,
so determined. did they, seem to have me,
that they thrust their noses and paws through
the iDterstices of the wires tryingito snap at
me, and growing. in low but meaning tones
all the while, and frothing at the mouth,
Such hidious monsters | never saw outside
the cages Of a menagerie.s And, so, to save
myself from the dogs in the event of their
getting in, which was most imminent, l. got
back into my cofin-with my face down.
wards. And reaching down, and lifting up
the stone slab, adjusted it in its place, and,
in the very nick Of time, for the dogs had
forced the door, and were actually inside1
Now the slab was quite smooth on the ou-
ter surface, and it fitted the opening exactly,
an aperture in the centre of it of about an inch
and half in diameter (and in which was, to
be placed knob) being the-only means where
by it could be manipulated by person from
without. But the inner side thanks to the
stone scutter who fashioned it, had several
rough projections, by which I could easily
steady it in its place from within, and without
recourse to the ohious, but dangerous expedi.e
entof putting my fingers through the aper-
ture. Besides, my place Of refuge was five
feet from the ground floor, and though the
dogs continually jumped up, and dashed fu-
riously at the slab, they could not seriously
cndanger my safety, except when one of their
paws would happen to catch in the hole, and
then it would require all the strength of my
fingers to keep the slab in its place! Once,
and once only, during that awfully trying
hour, that second edition of my hell on earth,
one Of the dogs became fastened in this man.
ner, and hung down by his paw, bowling on
the outside! s...tf........-f. .s.:ss a
Happily it was now towards morning, when
I knew the dogs would be tied for the day,
and should not be molested further How
ever kept my place, and did not dare to yen-
ture out until after I had heard the bell ring
for the opening Of the cemetery to the public.
Then came forth, but, in many, many res
poets, how changed! Ny hair was perfectly
white. II was hungry, thirsty and wcaSy. /
was sick and sore, and thinly clad in tattered
grave clothes And as I had been buried the
day before, the world thought Of me-if it
thought of me at alas dead ~" =
After getting into the area again, I be-
thought me of the course | should take, pre-
paratory to revisiting the places that might
not exactly want to know me any more and
the unfeeling to say the very least of it.
the unfeeling conduct Of my relations in allow
ing me to be entombed alive, was the induce
ment to a plan Of revenge, which I then and
there concocted. si.iiH ssSe Eeef a'eiI5f
How / succeeded in carrying out this plan,
effectualy aided. by . skilful attorney, and
making them disgorge at the very moment
they were going to pocket my money; how
4 kept s'shady" at a friends house, for some
months, ,sallying forth now and then, to frigh-
ten people; how 1 gave, certain houses, be-
longing to such as spoke disrespctfully Of me
after my t'death," the reputation Of being
haunted how to the utter amaze Of this town,
/ came, bodily and legally to life again; and
how foreswore bachelordom, and took unto
myself wife, by whom I have six dutIful
and afectionate children, who won't allow me
ever again to be buried alive, I will not, gen.
tie reader, trouble you farther, BY narrating,
*The employment of this species Of night po-
lice was rendered necessary at that time or a.
count Of the frequent depredations made, upo,
graveyards to supply material for the diss ectin,
table. The practice has long since been, iliscon
tinued. -"
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Artemus Wards 6 Paaorama.,,
/ We make. the following choice extract
from Artemius Wards "Panorama," jus
published in London: 1 - .aa.a nj
7 His, Artistic Career. ru
| could draw on wood at very tender age
WI hen u,ere child, I once drew small cart
load Of raw turnips over wooden bridge