The Republican journal., 1871-04-20
PeriIs of Premature BuriaIs.
= By Observation-Disclosures NJ D. in the Eclectic


5 BY AlexandcrlWilder NJ d., in the Eclectic
We remember vividly the horror pro-
duced, while yet in our boyhood, when an
elder sister read from the Utica Observer !
a story entitled ''Buried Alive" The |
person had fallen into cataleptic condi-
ton, becoming cold and rigid while yet
conscious, and was duly coflined and |
buried He was eXhumed by ''resurrec |
tionists," carried to Il medical college. |
and placed on the table of demonstration |
OF anatomy; a few shocks of the galvanic |
battery partially aroused him. and on the |
wounding of his breast by the knife he
gave signs of life, and by proper treat
ment was fully resuscitated, Ten or
twelve years atterward a relative, where |
we were visiting told US of having been |
present when the body of her son-in-law
was made ready for the coffin, and per
ceiying, as she imagined, a warm spot on
the left breast, Il daughter who was sitting
by rs this was told cried out with horror
''Do not talk anymore of it. the idea is too ,
dreadful to think Of" But we did think
over and over again of the horror of IN
terrin@ living person. 1t was hardly
probable. in the case III question, that such
Il thing did occur, tor the body remained
unburied long enough to allow return
to consciousness. But in this country the
peril Of intcrment, before death has actu-
ally taken place, is often very great. For
years past it has been very common for
persons in supposed health to fall down
suddenly, with every appearance OF hay
INC died. We do not regard sudden death
with horror, rs it is often painless, and
eXempts the person from the anxiety and
other unpleasant experiences which so
often accompany a lingering dissolution.
But there is Il fearful liability of being
prostrated by catalepsy-
TIE COUNTERFEIT OF DEATH
under such circumstances that the persons
having the body in charge will not hest
tate about q prompt burial. We could
wish that the old Oriental practice Of ere
nation was in fashion among us. There
would ut least be the comfortable refec-
ton of no srlfocation in Il coffin; besides
the application OF fire would generally
arouse the catalepic person to a manites
tation of life. Some two years ago, Il
story was copied into the Rochester Dem
ocrat, purporting to be the experience of
Il man in Il low state of health who was
compelled 10 seek shelter in Il deserted
house in Illinois, where he fell asleep.
He was found there in 4 cataleptic trance,
and supposed to have died. In this con
dition he was removed and prepared for
burial, conscious all the time of what WAS
going on. but unable to utter sound or
make sign of life His condition was
fortunately discovered before it was too
late.
The story may be fiction, but it did
not read like one. We have several times
| repeated the story. although it is too ser-
Gus for Jest, except when regarded en-
tircly on the ludicrous side, of woman
who, while borne to the place of inter
ment, was aroused to consciousness by
the ostling Of her coffin against the walls
of 4 house, us the bearers clumsily turned
the corner. She was speedily released
| from her cercmcnts and conveyed home,
| where she lived several years longer.
| She fell into adccine and died the funeral
again took place, and the procession set
out tor the grave. As it drew near to the
| house at the corner, the husband wiped
his eyes hastily, and cried out to the
| bearers,
| TIE CAREFUL As YOU TURN THE CORNER y
1t is, however, no topic for lest when
we consider the matter from the proper
point Persons are buried alive, and
have terrible period Of agony in the
CONN before ue"'h comes 70 '4elr feIiet'
we eNecra'G ING o!l honl'lh l'tW "l,ich
'l''!l'' iI''' t..c tl'' ~ ..tN l,iS
! .il smPlt lileontilleH1 NeN''H N'rS'"1. Inc
1 lhl'cE'iiS: altef tI!t Prattl'' "l :, ih"i''
pure" "1so"'' rAii,eH'il9 !, VI i-S.nei'
'1u''n vi -N'IN,S ol lttNE'. V'uSet' louI-
wv, tI nv li .n,l''' ~: ~ ' 'I''"
,iii h''I'S ii'''''oo "'''"' wv, n'.v ''' i'o vi
p"i 'lo'' "'iN "' '''''V01' ~ ~ ~ "'''
Iethlr'S ''iclG7sieSs' ~ Us paH'S Us tHcy'
= Wr''er ~ the Sl''r.r'lln ,el'lury M
,"ll!i7 v tll''' n wv tupln l'lol ~ y,
''l9 ''"oul "''o ~ vN',S 'lloG nUio'iv'' :,
'elNo'i9 soil"9oG y uI",' 'e'"'i'S
comes a9"lh ~ l'ic. ~ 'ltt l1to i one
h'''iuieu IlN"'iS NUS ~ 'ul .c'' '''N ''n-
,l"aIIy "eioil9llS 10 tie N,H VI Ne"
precautions are taken that are required in
France and England.
a Wel!-authentlcaled case Is on record
oi 4 strong man dropping away suddenly,
whose grave or TOMB was opened tour
days alter, and the body found twisted
around III the coffin, ana Il mp dlslocated,
the hair turned white and torn out, and
the features distorted IN u horrible man
ncr Fearful was the struggle OF that
man in his ghastlv conflict for life with
every odds against him. Ayoung woman,
also, beautiful in person and intellect,
was buried in the usual hurry, some ten
wears ago. The body was aitcrward
taken up for removal to u distant ccme-
terry. She, too, had been engaged and
worstcd in her coffin in I terrible struggle
for life. Her face was gashcd, her hands
and arms trightully Torn, her feet drawn
NJ in wild cndcavor TO eNtricatc her
sell from The horrible prison, her face
turrowed and llccratcd hy the finger
nails. So desperate had been that strug-
gle A Young man, in another city, was
thus buried, and his grave opened six
days aiterward The body had turned
upon the face, the arm was bitten to the
boAc. and there were other
EVIDENCES Oh HE I'ENiil-N l'E'ILlN"'
We remember that the story was told,
several years ago, that Lorenzo b. Shep-
ard. !; prominent lawyer of the City of
| New York, who died in the apparently