The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-24
A Romance of Real Life.

The fertile imagination of the most sensa-
tional novelist or playwright seldom produces
ANYTHING at all probable which has not its par
allel in strict truth. We are now to tell a sto-
ry of three cities, Lewes (Delaware,) Philadel-
phia and New York, which would be incredi-
Bile were it not that our facts are obtained from
wholly trustworthy sources On the 11th of
last (March,) Captain S. II. Mills, of New York
city, was drowned, or, as it has since turned
out, merely supposed to be drowned, at Lewes,
Del. He fell overheard from his schooner.
Upon the body being recovered, and after eve-
ry attempt to restore life had failed, it was
placed in coffin, and then again in the usual
outer box, and shipped by Adams Express to
the friends of the unfortunate man OF New York
city.
it remained in Philadelphia from 6, p. m. to
/, a. m. Upon its arrival in New York the
certificate of the Lewes, Del, doctor was dis
covered to be somewhat informal, and the ad-
vice 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 Immediately called
in, and it was ere long thought possible to re-
move the Captain with safety to the Bellevue
Hospital, where he now liz. He is not only do
ing well, but there is every possibility of his
speedy and permanent recovery. How he e1-
isted confined within these airless cases passes
comprehension. He was boxed up for thirty
five hours, length of time very few persons
would care to attempt existence merely with
out food or drink.
He will live to tell his strange experience.
The would-be novelist will find here mine.
Was he unconscious the while, or was the ter
rible fate which seemed inevitable present to
his understanding? are questions it would be
interesting to have answered. We trust that
in mercy it was not permitted him to know
aught until his awakening, for if he was con-
sciolis during his journey, the mental torture
may have so worked upon him that he will live
his term with darkened mind.
His case is certainly a most extraordinary
one, and should have the examination of med
Adams Express office in this city will give any
additional information to those who 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 occurrence clearly, Captain Mills
can do so, for he was so nearly drowned that
he must have known all but the final gasp of
death.
How narrow he escaped being buried alive
may be imagined from the fact that up to the
time of opening the box there was no idea that
he lived. Even then he might have been sent
to his grave had not the peculiar flush upon his
face attracted attention. One may we'll shud-
der, remembering how different it sometimes is
to tell the living from the dead, and that the
Imagination can picture nothing more horrible
than breathing man consigned to the 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 as this in all its details. AS bearing
upon the affair, the intense cold about March IL
should be remembered.-Philadclphia Press.