The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-03-03
A STRANGE STORY.

Die Ior the lolloWlnS strange story
It is well known that the unfortunate
Kriei, who suffered death-or was sup
posed to have done so-lnst Friday went
TO his doom grim, implacable and unatu-
rally firm. 1t was. well known that his
desire to live was paramount to every other
earthly desire. His bearing on the scaf-
fold was so unnaturally calm that those
who stood near him thought the man did
not realize :hat 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 a subject
of remark that the closed hands and po-
sition ofthe legs and feet remained entire
ly unchanged, showing tremendous ex-
ercise of Will and control of nerve. The
neck was not broken, neither was the
rope drawn so closely about the mans 3
neck that lis 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 scaffcld that pulsa-
tion in the carotid arteries of the neck
was discernible after the Jail surgeon and
his assistants had declared life extinctl
after hanging some minutes, Kriel's
body was placed in the coffin. The limbs
remained flexible, the hands opened with
the least persuasion and were crossed on
his bosom. The eyes, that stared half
open when the black cap was withdrawn,
remained closed after the slight touch
upon them, and The face assumed an ap-
pearance of immobility and rest. sr
The red flushing in the cheeks came
back to a certain extent, and the dark
coloring on the neck, under the knotted
rope, partially disappeared, The shoIt
time that elapsed between his being placed
in the coffin and being driven away was
to have any charge of the. body, and i:
was driven away in lonely hearse TO the
vault at the cemetery.
Now comes the closing scenes in this
strange story. 1s .frr---a--
Near midnight light wagon was driven
rapidly out Walnut street, in which were
seated three muffl9d, 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 sew
eral dark blankets. The wagon halted
near the cemetery fence. The horse was
held by the driver,' and two men went to
the vault, carrying between them large
sack well filled. In a short time they re-
turned bearing with them motionless
figure shrouded in blanket. The figure
was placed on the mattress, and in silence
the wagon was driven back to the city.
the body was conveyed to the surgery of
"a most skillful and learned surgeon, where
some ten or twelve excited and expectant
students stood anxiously awaiting the ar
rival The body was placed in a recum>
bent position on the table, the clothing
loosened, the chest extended, and an in
cision made in one of the veins of the
arm. At first but small drop of dark
coiored blood came forth, but repeated
incisions and manipulations of the body
caused it at last to trickle forth more
freely. -5sS -s
The galvapic battery was applied, and.
horrible, 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 stu
dents stood appalled, ard could hardly
realize the extent of demonstration before
them. One OF them spoke to Kriel, ask
ing him ''are you sensible 2" The eyes
answered expressively, and his lips opened
Intellectually, for no speech came forth.
Stimulants were poured down the throat
of the revived criminal, and in less than
an hour after he had been placed in the
surgery Kriel sat up and asked them,
"What have you done? Am alive p
The CONSERVATION, and yet the profess
sional delight of the spectators were loudly
expressed. The experiment of a reckless
class of students and an able experiment
alist has resulted In the resusc itation of a
man who had been hung short time pre-
vious. Steps were Immediately taken to
save the life of the wretched man. JUS
tice had been satisfied by the public exc
cution, though life returned Why should
they deliver up what bad so providen.ially
and wonderfully been restored! None oil
Kriers personal friends were notified
Strangers disguised 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, 1t is to be hoped, better future.
A WOMAN from the rural districts
| houoht some mourning goods at a shon ,