Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-25


Walking along one Of the principal streets
of cur nelgh6oriug city, Edgeteld, Fri
day morning, one might have seen negro
man named Virginia lounging around the
eonfectioneries and grocery stores, eDJSylng
what is termed a square meal OF oysters;
behring's and sardines. Becoming tired OF
the more substantial yet delicate kinds OF
food, he betook himself to candies, oranges,
cakes and lemons, devouring them with a
relish that would have astonished the alb
normal epicureanism of even Sancho
Panza himself, could he have been
present and witnessed the rolling eyes and
shining ivory and heard the labial smacks.
This, as above stated, was ia the morning.
Later In the day this Sambo was seen re-
Ginning against post not far from the sus-
pension bridge, having taken rest before
completing his journey across the river and
into this city. As the ruby kiss Of evening
was seen lingering onthe twilight's brow his
ebony highness might have been seen
emerging from the Office of a certain root
doctor, who had prescribed a potion of
medicine for his now afflicted stomach. As
near as we can learn this dose consisted
of sulphur pulyerized, green tea roasted,
lemon Juice, small quantity of soda and
various other ingredients, such as boiled
persimmon Juice, mashed onion oil, ETC.,
too tedious to enumerate. Feeling cOnsid
erably strengthened by this dose he started
to a cOlOred church, which was well filled
by his fellow About the time
services were drawing to close some one
gave piercing scream that cut short fur
ther proceedings and alarmed the whole
house. This is not to be wondered at when
we state that the epicurean negro had drop
ped dead in his seat. Measures were at
once taken to rouse him, but all were in
vain. Life was apparently extinct, and hope
of resuscitation was, after half hour of rub
bling and bathing in hsrtshorn, abandoned
Seeing how useless was further effort t he
lifeless body was wrapped in the church
carpet and borne by some of his colored
friends to a house in Edgefield. By one
o'clock that night the limbs had assumed
the rigor of death. His measure was taken
and by daylight his shroud would be in
course of pre- paration and the coffin ordered.
About four o'clock those sitting around the
dead mans couch thought they heard
big sigh and a suppressed groan. One OF
the party felt his head and his pulse. A
little warmth was in both. In about an
hour while all present were eagerly peering
into the dead mans face, his eyes opened.
The effect can better be imagined than
described. A general stampede ensued,
some screaming, others praying, but all
trying to run. One darkey, in his eager
ness to get himself away, fell down the rail-
road embankment, spraining his left arm
and receiving an ugly cash on his forehead
The whole colored neighbOrhood was
aroused and owing tn the fear that seized
the colored people, who attributed the
seeming termination of their epicurean
friend to supernatural agencies, it was some
time before any would venture to see what
was the true state of affairs. A white gen
tleman, who happened to hear the noise
and had gotten up to ascertain its
cause, induced one or two of
the negroes to go with him to the house.
Upon entering they found the dead man
alive, giving signs of much pain. doctor
was sent for, and before leaving, the darky
had so far recovered as to be able to sit up
in chair. We heard last night that he
was almost entirely recovered, and had
several years ago met with the same affiic-
ton. He was undoubtedly in trance, and
while we are not prone to believe the stories
often published about persons being buried
alive, yet we think this case merits the con-
sideration of the medical profession, who
can doubtless solve its nature and more
satisfactorily explain what we will not at
tempt, its cause. The facts above stated
were related to US last night by colored
man who was present at the church, and
having assisted in Virginia's removal, re-
manned there during the greater part Of the
night.