Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-27

Il STRANGE DELUSION.

A correspondent of the Boston Journal in
Danvers sends that paper the following COM
munication in relation to strange affair in
that town.
The greatest excitement since the days of
witchcraft in this usually quiet town has ex-
listed here for week or more. Having been
at considerable pains to learn all the facts in
reference to this case, the public may rely up
on their correctness.
On or about Christmas, Margaret Finley,
the daughter of Robert Finley, residing near
the Danvers Junction, aged II years, went
out skating, took cold, had fever induced by
pneumonia or some lung difficulty, and died
on Sunday, the 9th of this month She was
one of several children, and the family are
intelligent and respectable, and mostly men,
bers of the Episcopal Church. The deceased
was healthy and sprightly girl, in complec-
ton blonde, with regular features and rose
colored cheeks. On Thursday, the fifth day
from her decease, her funeral was attended
by friends and neighbors, and she was placed
in tomb at the Cemetery All through her
sickness it was observed that there was much
color in her face, and when life had departed
this rose-tint fingered, insomuch that at the
funeral it was noticed that she looked ike one
sleeping. and wondrous fair. y .-s'..
This matter having been talked over the
next day, it was suggested that the girl might
be in a trance. 1t was said that somebody
had dreamed she was entombed alive. or a
| communication of some kind from the spirit
world had revealed the supposed fact of
which have spoken. This spread like Wild
fire. Soon parties visited the sexton, Mr.. Pc
ter Watt, obtained the keys of the tomb with
| physician, whow as to restore the deceased to
her friends. The coffin was opened and the
fair form of Ithe young landy critically ex-
amined by the experienced doctor. Not the
least indication of life appeared, and no evil
dence of her being buried alive was discoy
cred. This it would seem ought to have set
tied the matter. 1t did not; and now the
story went forth all that day that DIR. Chase,
| the physician referred to, had actually found
| the girl alive, and numbers were drawn to the
tomb to see if it was so.
Every hour, more and more the story grew,
| and finally parties went to the family of the
| girl and reported that she was alive, and had
| been removed to the house of Mr.. W., the
| sexton, and anxious to return home. The as
| tonished father hurried off on Saturday morn
| ing to the house where he was to receive his
child, and, 10 there was not a word of truth
| in the report! In vain the sexton asserted
over and over again that the girl was dead,
and that there was nothing to warrant any ex-
citement. Crowds came and went, increasing
| in numbers from day, to day and on Tuesday
and Wednesday last hundreds had visited the
tomb, looked upon and handled the lifeless
remains of the girl. t'
On Thursday, one week after having been
entombed, hundreds from all quarters came,
and although decoD,p POSITION had commenced
days before, there were those who could see
signs of life, and otherwise intelligent persons
were ready to make oath that her flesh was
warm to the touch. The Selectmen had at
last to interfere and put stop to the excite
ment by forbidding any more visits to the tomb.
There was nothing but foolish dream or
silly report of spiritual telegram from some
place not laid down on the maps, which has
created all this excitement, and it is q matter
of astonishment that such a delusion could
have existed, been SO extensive, and influenced
so large class of intelligent persons. After
this, let no one be surprised at anything.