The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-06
RESURGAM.
The Wonderful Case of suspended Animation
In ST. LOuis-The Marvel still Unexplained.

The Wonderful L. Case of suspSp1ded Animation
st. Louis is in state of great excitement over
the case of Mr.. Heitkamp, concerning which we
have already given some information. The Re
publican of January 8 has the following addi-
tional particulars
The fifth day has elapsed since the body of
Mr.. Heitkamp passed into a comatose condi-
ton, resembling death, and yet there is no
change in the color of his features, the touch of
his flesh, other than small degree OF unnatural
coldness. His eyes are closed as If closed in
sleep, and in fact, if the body was taken out of
the coffin and placed on bed, and then shown
to persons ignorant of the circumstances, they
would most unquestionably declare the man was
in deep sleep. There is no softening of the
flesh, no indications whatever of putrefaction
There is an entire absence of that odor that is
alone peculiar to dead human body. The fingers
and wrist JOINTS are still flexible, while there is
an absence of deathly stiffness from the neck
joints These facts, at the expiration of the fifth
day from the time ii was supposed he died, sur
round the ease with great and increasing inte-
rest and many are heard declaring that the man
cannot be dead. II ii is not death, then what is
it? So far no reasonable satisfactory eXplana-
ton, neither for the absence of the usual at
tendants of death (putrefaction, etc. II he be
dead, nor of outward evidences of animation,
if he, indeed, be living, have been given, and
the quotation
'God moves in mysterious way
His wonders to PERFORM"
Occurs to the mind as often as the case is men
toned. He may be dead, and yet may be alive
and at q late hour last night, a majority of the
people conversant with the case inclined to the
latter opinion, and were quite free in so eX-
pressing themselves.
There are accounts on record of the opening
of graves long years after burial, when the
bodies, once clothed in flesh, were found in such
o position as to indicate clearly that they had
turned over. How did they get in that position?
Many years ago, an English countess apparently
~. III Ia
was known that she wore on her fingers some
valuable jewelry. few nights after the vault
was broken open, an attempt made to slip the
rings from her fingers, but they would not pass
over the joints. The fiends or robbers, in
order to accomplish their purpose cut one
of the fingers off. The blood started,
and in less time than 1t takes to write 1t, the
Countess rose in her coffin, and was finally re-
stored to her family and friends aRd lived for
many years. Was her condition when placed in
the vault the same as that in which Mr.. Heit-
kamp is now lying, or his like hers? There are
other instances where persons were supposed to
have died, and were clothed and coffned for
burial, and yet revived and lived for many
years. They stated after recovery, that they
were fully cognizant of all that was going
on around them, but yet were powerless-pal-
| sled in every natural function, except
thought. just such an instance was described
| by Mr.. Heitkamp to his daughter Josephine, as
| occurring to him In dream. He was robed In
| the habilments of death, cofhned and carried to
| the church. There the power of consciousness
and of action returned. Can 1t be that there is
| to be full verifcation of this strange dream'-
| that some unaccountable and inexplicable
4 agency is at work in this case for the accom-
| plishment of q strange purpose?
| Il is the fixed determination of the immediate
| relatives of Mr.. Heitkamp to retain his body
| from burial until there are unmistakable evil
| dences that putrefaction has commenced Then
| and not till then, will the body be removed iron
| the room in which II now lies
The atmosphere of the room in which the body
| lies is not at all cold There is large stove in
the adjoining room and the communicating dool
| is kept open.