The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-29
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
Wonderful Escape from the Death PcualtY-
EBRBRed Murderer Galvanized and Re.



EBanged Murderer Galvanized and Re-
su scitnted.
The Louisville Commercial of Wednesday has
this startling narrative:- -
We purpose laying before our readers the
most startling event that has transpired for
many years in our midst. II is SO well authenti-
Gated and yet Incredible SO terrible, with such
an air of truth surrounding 1t, that we cannot
refrain from giving to the pnblic what has been
rumored vaguely for some days ia portions of
our 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 to live was paramount to
every other earthly desire. His bearing on the
scaffold was so uAnaturally calm that those who
stood near him thought the man did not realize
that death was SO near, but still clung to life
with q 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 position of the legs
| and feet remained entirely unchanged, showing
tremendous exercise of will and 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.
General 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 vicinity of the
scafod that pulsation in the carotid arteries of
the neck was discernable after the jail surgeon
| and his assistants had declared life extinct
After hanging some minutes, Kriel's body was
placed in the coffin. The limbs remained hexi-
BILE, the hands opened with the least persuasion
and were crossed on his bosom. The eyes that
| stared half-open when the black cap was with
drawn remained closed 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 coloring on the
neck, under the knotted rope, partially disap-
peared. The short time that 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 q lonely hearse
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 mut1led, silent figures, one of them a sur
| geon of great experimental knowledge, firm
believer in the theory of resuscitaton of animal
| life through the galyanic process. t.
| In the wagon was mattress and several dark
| blankets The wagon halted near the cemetery
| fences and the horse was held by the driver. and
| two men went to the vault carrying between
| them large sack well filed. In short time
they returned bearing with them motionless
| figure shroudcd in a blanket. The figure was
| placed on the mattress, and in silence the wagon
was drived back to the city. The body was con-
yeyed to the surgery OF most skilful and
| learned surgeon, where some ten or twelve ex-
| cited and eXpectant students stood anXiously
awaiting the arrival. The body was placed in a
| recumbent position on the table, the clothing
| loosened, the chest extended, and an incision
made in one of the veins of the arm. At first
| but small drop of dark -colored blood came
| FORTH but repeated incisions and manipulatons
of the body caused it at last to rickle forth
| freely.
The galvanic battery was applied, and, hor-
rible and wonderful to relate, in less than fifteen
| minutes the warm blood began to course through
| the chilled body, and at last the eyes were
| opened. The students stood appalled, and could
hardly realize the extent of the demonstration
asking him. "Are you sensible?" The eyes au-
swered expressively, and his lips opened ineffec-
| tually, for no speech came forth. Stimulants
| were poured down the throat of the revived
| criminal, and in less than one hour after he had
! been placed in the surgery Kriel sat up and
asked them, What have you done? Am
| alive?"
The CONSERVATION, and yet the professional
| delight OF the spectators were loudly expressed.
| The experiment of a reckless class of students
and an able experimentalist had resulted
in the resuscitatlon of man who had been
| hung al short time previous. Steps were imme-
| diately 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 proyidentally and
| wonderfully been restored? None of Kriel's
| personal friends were notified. Strangers dis
| guised him, furnished him with means, and by
| daylight man weak and tottering but firm and
| immovable in his demeanor, crossed the river,
| and was last seen by watchful, silent friend,
| who kept near him on the train leaving Sey-
mour, Indiana, on his way to an unknown, but,
| it is to be hoped, better future.
| --------------------