The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-20

OoFFINED ALIyE.-A correspondent of the
Bath Times vouches for the truth of the fol-
lowing wonderful incident in the life of Benz
L. Moffett, for two years subsequent to the
event narrated clerk in the Pension Office at
washington, and at the time about eighteen
years OF age. He was private in one of the
Indiana regiments during the war of the re-.
bellion, was severely wounded in his side at
the battle of Fort Dospital and taken to the
hospital at st. Louis. While there, before his
wound was entirely healed, he was taken with
the small pox and was sent to the pest house
On Dloooy island. The hospital was crowded
and the pestilence was fearfnllv majignan+ nnj
mortal. The deaths were SO randi and The
bodies accumulated so fast in the dead house
mat many remained there some days previous
owes his life. He had been sick twenty davss
much Of the time delirious, when the chanee
occurred which the physicians pronounced
DEATH. He was placed in coffin and convey
ed to the dead house, where twenty-five other
bodies were waiting. interment. There he re-
manned two days and nights, his time of burial
having been appointed for the third day. Han
PLY for him during the night or early on the
morning OF the appointed day he came to his
senses, and as his returning reason began to
dawn upon him, he felt as if awakening from
deep sleep. He had been in the habit during
his sickness of holding consultation through a
small hole in the wooden partition of his bunk
with his next neighbor on the other side of
the partition. Upon awaking he according
ly turned on his side to address his friend
and was astonished not to find the aperture
through which he had received his commu-
nlcatlons, and feeling about him soon com
Prehended is hsituation. Yet he did not once
cream that he had died and was about to be
buried IN the earth, but supposed that he had
his paced INTO this box to be transported 70
a ariends, and that this singular mode of
s s%ns 992rtatIon was adopted to keep him from
This "t tha me contagion during the journey
LII .1o,ught was evidence that his mind was
SUI: Ittie muddy. He Law some time non.
ueling upon this idea, and very uneomfortahIa
~ nis close quarters when he heard some ono
t G;rs.ins n NJ. py. This was the sentry sta
tn Leen ii sno ueau mouse, probably whistling
began to pound on his coffin and call for ass;Iy
lance. The noise alarmed the sentina, "1 1nho
fled in bot haste to the guard house and tnr Nv
ed out the guard, stating that one of the dai;r-
ious patients had escaped from his room. and
was knocking about among the collins in the
dead house. Lanterns were procured and a
search among the collins commenced. Thew
soon satisfied themselves that no person was in
the dead house, and were upon the point of
leaving making great deal of sport at the ex-
pense of the poor soldier, who they supposed
had been frightened at his own dream, when
Moffet seeing glimmer, of light, and hearing
voices, again commenced pounding and calling
to them. They again resumed their search,
ana soon found the coffin from which the noise
ISSUED and having opened it restored the poor
BOY again to his bed and the care of his nurse.
tDy sKiiul treatment he finally recovered, and
t eur years ago, was clerk in the Pension Of
nee at Washington.