The New York herald., 1874-11-18
THE YONKERs MARVEL.

Little Bertha Miller still Sleeping In
Her CoHin-The Burial Postponed In-
de6nitely-It fs q Case OF Suspended
Animation.
The very singular circumstances connected with
the supposed death OF Bertha Miller, child seven
years old, at Yonkers, Westchester county, as re
lated exclusively in the HERALD OF yesterday
form case which is, perhaps. without parallel
IN the wonder-causing catalogue OF supiunary
phenomena. The Iancied death OF the little girl
last Wednesday night. the laying out OF the body
and It's being then placed on Ice IN
cold room, It's remaining IN that rigid state until
Sunday afternoon, the surprise OF the undertakes
on finding 1t limp and pliable when transferring II
from the ice cof1in to the burial casket the 0bse
qutes interrupted and number OF physiciani
called in, who, after various tests, found ndicar
tions or animation, and accordingly gave the sor
rowing parents reason to hope that their darling
might yet cheat the King OF Terrors OF MS prey
all these present concentration OF facts which
must leave the most approved exTaVaRances of
fiction far In the shade.
Although 1t appears that the doctors were salts
fed from the scientific experiments which they
effected on the child that the circulation OF the
blood was still going on to limited extent, tney
were unable TO utilize their professional skill IN
administering restoratives or In endeavoring to
increase the action OF the heart. In this ex.
traordlnary dilemma tney were forced TO contene
themselves by advising the parents not to attempt
the burial oil the child at present. Last evening
HERALD representative called at tue mouse OF
mourning and was invited into the humble abode
OF the cnilds parents, who occupy the upper nooI
OF small two-story frame building on Riverdale
avenue. Neither the father nor mother Of the am
biguous corpse was at nome, the former, "a
the writer was told by some OF those
present, having gone to the village on
some little errand, while the poor mothen
who IS almost worn out ny constant watching day
and night for nearly y week past In the hope oil
witnessing the dawn OF returning CONSCIOUSNESS
In her child had been prevailed upon to 60 and
seek sleep in the house OF kind friend. In neat
trestles, such as are commonly used by mortuary
men, lay the little GIRL with childlessy placid and
snpuiary expression oI features, the irin9ed
eyeids resting lightly on the signtless 0rbs, tng
Iips slightly parted and the little hands folded
over the infantle bosom, as though their ownet
was wrapped in profound, peaceful slumber.
Artificial nowcrs we're strewn on the coffin lid,
while an appropriate wreath OF the same homely
materials adorned tile brow OF the occupant. The
Dody is still soft, and the hands were found to b@
as yelding and supple as those OF an infant 10 tnS
enovment OF good nealth. Although the child Will
tonight have remained in an apparently inanimaa
state Tor SIX days and nights strange to state n6
Indication OF approaching decomposition OF
change OF any other character can be detected
the corpse II such IL Is, remaining AS fresh M
though death had only just occurred. NUMBER
OF doctors fr0m various sections OF the cou3
try called TO see the child yesterday one OF then
punctuilng the little ones side with lance, pul
iaiing TO draw blood They all, however, agreed
that II would he highly improper to bury the cnlo
at present. conclusion In which the poor paronu
Bertha, when two years old, narrowly escapeo
beng buried alive, she having remained IN Siml.
lar state OF apparent suspended animation 70
nine consecutive weeks