The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-05-04
A Night with the Dead-Experience of
aGerman who was Supposed to have
Departed this Life, and was placed in
the Dead House-An Exciting Scene.

the Dead House-An Exciting Scene.
The terrors of the grave, the fear of
death, and the terrible calamity of being
buried alive, have all been forcibly pitcured
more than once; but any picture, however
drawn, must fail to leave the impression
produced of either that is obtained by ex-
perience; and in no case can any one be so
alive to these terrors and fears as the one
who, being considered 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
constitution was weak, and the confinement
necessarily attending his employment af
fected him very much. He consulted some
| physicians, who pronounced him consump-
tive, and advised him to give up his employ
ment, and put himself under the care Of a
| physician or 60 to the hospital. He deci-
ded on adopting the latter course, and some
short time ago went to one OF our hos
pitals His condition rather grew worse
daily, and lately he was confined to
bed, and little hopes entertained of
his recovery. About week ago he grew
| still worse. He was visited in the morning
by the physician, who considered his recov-
cry hopeless. During the day he still grew
weaker, and when the doctor paid his eve
ming visit he found him pulseless, and pro-
nounced life ex inct. The body was imme
diately removed and placed in the dead
house attached to the hospital. 1t was de-
| posted in case where two other bodies
had already been placed, and between them.
The cover was put on, and the keeper of
the dead-house retired for the night. About
midnight loud screaming 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 terrifying, stole over them
| all, and they concluded that u scene was
| being acted similar to that witnessed by
Tam O'Shanter ct Kerkalloway where he
saw "warlooks and witches in dance .
The keeper of the dead-house was sought
after, but being aware of what he was re-
ouired to do he sought concealment, pre-
ferring to let the ghosts fight it Out
among themselves rather than attempt to
become peace-maker. The yells and shouts
in the dead d-house still continued, while the
door received an occasional bang, &C
l
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 8
few hours previously pronounced extinct
and who had been dressed in the robes o.
the dead, stood before him. The German
rushed headlong through the long halls ant
corridors of the building, spreading terrol
and dismsy as he went. Some more coura
geous than the rest caught and arrested him
in his frantic career, but the next instant
the poor German fell on the floor in q swoon
The physician was at once sent for, and res
toratives used by which be was restored tt
consciousness and, although he is still veal
and under treatment in the hospital, his re
covery is considered certain and only mat
ter of time. He now walks about pretty
stoutly, and is permitted to go outside the
hospital limits. He visited his late employs
few DAYS ago, and related TO him the fac
that, having got into trance, it was though
he was dead, and he was removed to thu
dead-house. How he felt when h,
returned to consciousness, we Civ
as he told it himself: "Vel, ven got sicl
and vas in bed dat day, the Doctor came t.
me and said was very sick. He vent away
and after he vent fell asleep. ! know notn
ing more till woke in de night, and ther
vas no light. I put out my hand, and
could get no bed clothes, for vas cold.
den put my hand to vone side to try for th
bed-clothes, and, och, my Gott, vat you tin
got-vy, a ded man Dere he vos. coil
enough, sure roared mid all the pow1
| had, and vas going away by the other sid
win sure, 1 put my hand on another. The
/ roared, aud called, and cried out oil
could, and ven was getting up, my hea
struck a board that was covering me. Oh
said I, vot does this meanY We're am
Am ded9 And roared and bawled, an
threw off the cover and jumped about as
1 vas mad. And knocked at the dot
vid my hands and feet, but no body woul
open it for me, and 1 thought I vas ded m
self. l vas not sure. l had the ded man
dress on me. At last the door opened, an
ven looked at the man vat opened it
fell down mid fear, and I ran till l VI
,, caught. Then tainted, and ven / come
, myself 1 thought it vas dream. But it
as true as I am bere."-Sdn Francisco AH
april 10th.