The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-02-11
FROM DEATH To LIFE.

E6OM DEATH IU LIFE
Resuscitation of X rieI the Wife-Mur.
| derer-Tbe story Of his Wonderful
Escape from the Death Penalty, by
Partial StraDgula!ion-Hs is Gal
! vaniZed Back TO Life, and is SEM
Away into Obscurity.
From the Louisville Commercial, Jan. &c.
We purpose laying before our readers on,
of the most startling events that has trans
pired for many years in our midst. 1t Is 81
| well authenticated, and yet so incredible
so terrible, and with an air of truth sur
rounding it, that we cannot refrain from
giving to the public what has been rumor
ed vaguely for some days in portions of oul
city.
|. 1t is well known that the unfortunate
/ Kriel, who suffered death-or was supposed
to have done so last Friday went to his
doom grim, implacable, and unnaturally
/ firm. 1t was well known that his desire t.
/ live was paramount to every other earthly
desire. His bearing on the scaffold was sc
unnaturally calm, that those who stood
near HIM thought the man did not realize
/ that death was so near, but still clung to
/ life with terrible tenacity.
When the rope that held the trap was
severed, and the body fell, it was subject
of remark that the closed hands and the
position of the legs and feet remained en-
| tirely unchanged, showing a tremendous
exercise OF will ana control Of nerve. The
neck was not broken, neither was the rope
drawn so closely about the mans neck that
its mark could be distinguished, nor was
the skin chafed particle.
Gen Whitaker, who was present at the
execution by the request OF the prisoner,
and who examined the body as it hung,
declared In the hearing of those in the vi
cinity of the sc fold, that pulsation in the
carotid arteries of the neck were discerni-
ble after the jail surgeon and his assist
ants declared life extinct No one can
question the Generals Judgment and dis
cretiOn, and when he placed his fingers on
the arteries and declared there was circula-
ton still discernible, in OPPOSITION to the
opinion of medical practitioners beside
him, many felt that there might be grounds
Tor the apprehension that the criminal
would evade death.
The circumstances favoring this remark
able story are strong and closely connected.
After hanging some minutes, Kriels body
was placed in the coffin. The limbs re-
NAMED flexible, the hands opened with the
least persuasion, and were crossed on the
bosom. The eyes that stared half open
when the black cap was withdrawn, re-
manned open after the slight touch upon
them. and the face assumed an appearance
Of mobility and rest.
The red flushing in the cheeks came
back, to a certain extent, and the dark
celoring on the neck, under the knotted
rope, partially disappeared. The short
time that had elapsed between his being
placed in the coffin and being driven away
was also subject of remark.
No one seemed to have any charge Of the
body, and it was driven away in lonely
heaIse to the vault at the cemetery.
Now comes the closing scenes in this
strange story.
Near midnight light wagon was driven
rapidly out Walnut street, in which were
seated three mufied, silent figures, one OF
them a surgeon of great experimental
knowledge, firm believer in the theory of
resuscitation of animal life through the
galvanic process.
In the wagon was mattress and several
dark blankets. The wagon halted near the
cemetery fence; the horse was held by the
driver, and two men went to the vault, car
rying between them alarge sack well filled.
In short time they returned bearing with
them a motionless figure shrouded III a
blanket. The figure was placed on the
mattress, and in silence the wagon was
driven back to the city. The body was con-
veyed to the surgery Of q most skillful and
learned surgeon, where some 10 or II ex-
cited and expectant students stood anX-
iously awaiting the arrival of the strange
party. The body was placed in recum-
bent position on the table, tine clothing IN
loOsened, the chest extended, and an lncis-
ion made Ill one of the veins of the arm.
At first but a small drop of dark colored
blood came forth. but repeated incisions
and manlpulations of the body caused it at
last to trickle forth more freely.
The galvanic battery was applied, and,
horrible and wonderful to relate, in less
than Is minutes the warm blood commenc-
ed to course through the chilled body, and
at last the eyes were opened. The students
stood appalled,, and could hardlyrealize the
extent of the demonstration before them.
One of them spoke to Kriel, asking him,
care you sensible?" The eyes ans gered
expressively, and the lips opened ineffectu.
ally, for no speech came forth. Stimulants
were poured down the throat, and the re-
vived criminal, and in less than one hour
after he had been placed in the surgery,
Kriel sat up and asked them "What have
done? Am alive %
The consternat ON and yet the profess
siOnal delight of the spectators was loudly
expressed.
The experiment of a reckless class of stu.
dents and an able expeIimentalist had re-
suited in the resuscitation of a man who
had been hung a short time previous.
Steps were Immediately taken to save
the life of the wretched man. Justice had
been satisfied by the public execution,
though life returned. Why should they
deliver up what had SO providentially and
wonderfully been restored?
None of Kriels personal friends were
notified. Strangers disguised him, fur
nished him with means, and by daylight a
man, weak and tottering, but firm and I'M
movable in his demeanor, crossed the
river, and was last seen by watchful,
silent friend, who kept near him on the
train leaving Seymour, Ind, on his way to
an unknown, but it is to be hoped, better
future.
This ends this wonderful story. We give
it as it was given to us, without names.
giving the public the privilege of attaching
what importance they choose to this
strangely plausible story. We express no
opinion ourselves, but confess that the
closely connected links and circumstances
attending the demeanor, death, and APP
pearance of Kriel entitle it to some cred
ence.
Nothing in this strange story that has
come to cur ears duplicates in any way
whatever any person or official connected
with Kriel or his execution.
We do not desire 20 excite the public
mind by an incredible sensation, but we
/ feel bound, as chroniclers of public events,
to give the people, as it has come to us
through several sources, this wonderful
story.
What the Evening Star Is Doing.
! At this time Venus is the evening star, and
evidently she wishes this important fact IN
derstood by all. She is now approaching the
! grand solar centre, and on the 23d of Febru-
airy she will reach her inferior Injunction and
/ turn her darkened side towards US, reappear-
ing on the western side of the sun as a morn
ing star. She is alternately a morning aid
evening star for a period OF 292 days, al
though her annual revolution takes only Do
days, but as the earth moves IN the same dI'
rectiOn it takes this additional time Tor the
earth, the sun and Venus to come into the
same position regarding each other. The
| approaching translts of Venus lend her ad
ditional interest. The last one occurred in
1863, and the next occur IN 1874 and 1882
| These events are anticipated with profound