Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-05-06
Recovery of a Supposed Dead Man.

THE terrors of the grave, the fear o.
death, and the terrible calamity of being
buried alive, have all been forcibly pic
tured more than once but any picture
however clearly drawn, must fail to leave
the impression produced of either that is
obtained by experience; and in no case
can any one be so alive to these terrors
and fears as the one who, being consid-
cred dead, is treated as SUCH For some
time past German, known by the name
of Frederick, worked in dining saloon
on First street as waiter. His constitu-
ton was weak, and the confinement nee
essarily attending his employment affected
him very much. He consulted some ply
.sicians, who pronounced him consump-
tive, and advised him to give up his en-
ployment, and put himself under the care
OF a physician, or go to the hospital. He
decided on adopting the latter course,
and some short time ago went to one of
our hospitals His condition rather grew
worse daily, and lately he was confined to
bed, and little hopes entertained of his re-
coYery. About a week ago he grew still
worse. He was visited in the morning by
the physician, who considered his recoy-
cry hopeless During the day he grew
still weaker, and when the doctor paid
his evening visit he found him pulseless,
and pronounced life extinct The body
was Immediately removed and placed in
the dead house attached to the hospital. 1t
was deposited in case where two other
bodies had already been placed, and be-
tween them. The cover was put on, and
the keeper of the dead house retired for
the night. About midnight loud scream
ing and yelling, of the most unearthly
character, was heard in the dead house.
The watchers heard it, the patients heard
it, and the party who had charge of this
portion of the building heard it ALSO A
silent sense of fear, of terror the most ter
rifying, stole over them all, and they con-
Guided that scene was being enacted
similar to that witnessed by Tam O'Shan-
ter at Kirk Alloway, where he saw war
locks and witches in dance" The keep.
er of the dead-house was sought after,
but being aware of what he was required
to do, he sought concealment, preferring
to let the ghosts fight it out among them
selves, rather than attempt to become
peacemaker. The yells and shouts in the
dead-house still continued, while the door
received an occasional bang, accompanied
by the demand: "Open the door let me
out" AT last the keeper was prevailed
upon to proceed to the dead-house and
open the door, when the ghostly form of
the German, whose life had been a few
hours previously pronounced extinct, and
who had been dressed in the robes of the
dead, stood before them. The keep
er tainted outright, while the ter
riied German rushed headlong
through the long halls and
corridors of the building, spreading dis
may and terror as he went Some more
courageous than the rest caught and ar
rested him in his frantic career, but the
next instant the poor German fell on the
floor in swoon. The physician was at
once sent for and restoratives used, by
which he was restored to consciousness,
and although he is still weak and under
treatment in the hospital, his recovery is
considered certain, and only matter of
time. He now walks about pretty stoutly
and is permitted to go outside the hospi-
tai limits. He visited his late employer
few days ago and related to him the fact
that, having got into a trance, it was
thought he was dead, and he was re-
moved to the dead-house. How he felt
when he returned to consciousness we
give as he told it himself: "Vei, ven I
got sick and vas in bed that day the doc.
tor came to me and said vas very sick
He vent away, and after he vent
| fell asleep. / knew nothing more
till l woke in de night, and there
was no light. put out my hand