The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-25
Jalcs, hfttBcs, 8actOotts, If.
GEGszAgU8E EURzALs.
TIE DANGER AND HORROR or BENG BUR-
IED ALIVE,

In the last uumber Of the Eclsctc ELag-
asge, DR. Alexander Wilder writes us
follows abOu. Tie peri. Of premature bur-
;al:
We remember wildly the horror pro-
duced, while yet in our boyhood, when
an elder sister read from the Utica CJs.r-
ve1' "a story entitled buried Alive" The
person had fallen into . cataleplic coudi-
l.on, becoming cold and rigid while YET
conscious, and was duly cofIined and bur-
led. lie was exaumad by ''TesurectiOn>
ISIS" carried to medical college, ard
placed On tie table OF the demonstration of
anatomy a few shocks Of the galyanic
battery partially aroused him, and on the
wouuding Of his breast by the knife he
gave signs Of life, and by proper treatment
was fully resuscitated. Ten or twelve
yeats afterwards a relative, where we
were visiting, told US of having been pres
eut when the body of her sUu-in- law was
made ready for the coffin, and perceiying,
as she imagined, Il warm spot on the left
breast, daughter who was sitting by as
his was told cried Uut with horror, ''Do
not taiR any more Of II; the idea is too
dreadful to think Of - Bot we did think
over aud over again Of the horror of in
lerriug a living person. 1t was hardly
probable in the case in question, that such
"a thing did occur, tor the body remained
uubuned long enough TO allow return 10
consciousness. But in this country the
peril OF inieTment before death has actu-
ally taken place, is often very great. For
years past It has been very common for
. persons III supposed health TO fall down
sudaeuly,wia every appearance u having
. died, We 10 not reaaTd sudden death
/ with horror rs II is often painless, and
eAemp,s the person IiUm the anxiety aud
ether unpleasant o&peIi iences which 50
ol.en accompany q lingering dissolution.
Eut there Is fearful liability Of being
( prosrated by catalepsy-lhe counterfeit
OF death-under such circumstances that
/ the persons having the body in charge
| viii DOT hesitate about a prompt burial.
We could wish that the old Oriental prac-
tice Of cremation was II fashion among us,
There would be al least the comfortable
reflection Of no suifoca,ion in a coffin
besides, the application Of the fire would
2
manifestation Of life. Some two years
ago story was copied into the Rochester
Democrot, purporting to be the experience
OF man IN q low state OF health, who
was compelled TO seek shelter in . desert
cd house in Illinois, where he fell asleep.
lie was found there in cataleptic trance,
and supposed to have died. In this cons
ditiOn he was removed and prepared for
burial, conscious all the time of W hat was
going on, but unable to utter q sound or
make sign Of life. His condition was
/ fortunately discovered before it was too
/ late. The story nay be fiction, bat it
/ did not read like one. We have several
/ times repeated the story, although ii IS
/ too serious for Jest, except when regard
/ ed entirely on the ludicrous side, Of Il
woman who, while borne 10 the place Of
iuterment, was aroused to consciousness
By the iosillng Of her coffin against the
walls of a house, as the bearers clumsily
turned the corner. She WAS speedily re-
leased from her easements aud conveyed
home, where she lived several years long,
ger. She fell into a decline and died ;
the funeral again took place and the pros
cession set out fer the grave. As il drew
near the house at the corner, the husband
wiped bis eyes hastily, and cried out to
the bearers, ''Be careful as you turn the
corner"
1t Is, however, no topic for a jest when
we consider the matter from the proper
point. Persons are buried alive, and have
a terrible period of agony before death
comes to their relief. NWesexecrate the old
Roman law which authorized the magis-
trates 10 bury alive theirincontinent vestal
virgins. The Tracians, afier the practice Of
India, buried widows. Anestris of Ester
Queen Of Xerxes of Persia, caused foGr-