Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1873-04-23
A. Miraculous Escape.
Supposed Corpse Comes to Life.

- from the Philadelphia pressl
The fertile Imagination ofthe most
sensational novelist or playwright
seldom produces anything at all pro-
bablc which has not its parallel in
strict truth. We arc now to tell
A STORY OF THREE CITIES,
Lewes (Del.), Philadelphia, and New
York, which would be incredible
were 1t not that our facts are obtain
ed from wholly trustworthy sources.
On the 1lth of last month (March),
Capt. S. II. Mills, of New York city,
was drowned, or, as it has since
turned put, merely supposed to be
drowned, at Lewcs, Del. He fell
overheard from his schooner. Upon
the body being recovered, and after
every attempt to restore life had
failed, il was placed in coffin, and
then again in the usual cutter box.
and shipped by Adams Express to
'he friends of the unfortunate man
in New York city.
1t remained in Philadelphia from
3P. NJ. to l A. NJ. Upon its arrival
in New ork the certificate Of the
Lewes, Delaware. doctor was discoy-
cred TO be somewhat Informal, and
The advice of the Board of Health
was asked. 1t was at last concluded
TO open the cases, and when this was
done the man was found to be alive.
The best medical aid was immcdi-
afely called in, aud it was ere long
thought possible to remove the cap
tain with safety to the Bellevue Hos
pital, where he now is. He is not
only doing well, but there is every
probability of his speedy aud pcrma-
hent recovery. How he existed con-
fined within these airiess cases passes
comprehension. lie was boxed up
:or thirty-flve hours, length OF time
very few persons would care to at
tempt existence merely without food
or drink.
lie will live to tell his strange ex-
perience. The would-bc novelist will
ind here Il mine. Was he unconscious
the while, or was the terrible fate
which seemed inevitable present to
his understanding? are questions it
would be interesting to have answer
ed. We trust that in mercy it was
not permitted him to know ausht
until his awakening, for if lie was
conscious during his journey, the
mental torture may have So worked
upon him that he will live his term
hth a darkened mind.
His case is certainly q most extra
ordinary one, and should have The
examination of medical experts.
Doubtless the officers Of the Adams
Express office in this city will give
any additional Information to those
VINO wish to study and are capable of
studying the affair. The beauty and
pleasure of death by drowning has
time and again been written of, and
if any are capable of giving their
personal experience of such an occur
renee clearly, Captain Mills can do
20, for hc was SO nearly drowned
that he must have known all but H. e
final gasp of death.
Iow narrowly he escaped being
buried alive may be imagined from
tue fact that up to the time ofopening
The box there was 10 idea that he
lived. Even then lie might have been
sent to his grave had not the peculiar
flushupon his face attracted attention.
One may we'll shudder, remembering
how difficult 1T sometimes is TO tell
The living from the dead and that the
imagination can picture nothing
more horrible than breathing mar
consigned to tomb. We have heard
of other incidents where the living
have been all but buried, and indeed
buried, but we do not call to mind &
case as wonderful rs this in all details
AS bearing upon the affair. the int, ST
cold about March IL should bc re.
membcred.