Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-04-23
A Wife Rescues . Husband Premature
ly Buried.

1t cannot be doubted that persons
are sometimes buried who arc in a
condition of trance and not of death.
Instances of restoration after the body
was placed in the coffin are numerous.
and il many grave could be loo ked
into, probably the evidence would be
found of like resurrectious when it
was of no avail to the buried individ-
ual. Some time since coffin was ex.
hibited in New York, which was so
constructed as TO give an alarm in the
event of the corpse showing signs of
life. But one of the most remarkable
and interesting incidents Of the resur-
rection of a person under these cir
cumstances occurred through the
agency OF somnambulist. 1t hap
pened in the State of Iowa, and caus-
ed a great deal of excitement.
A farmer died very suddenly. On
the day of the funeral all his friends
and neignbors assembled, and there
was great sorrow, for he was worthy
and influential man. The religious
services had been held and prepara-
tions were being made TO close the
coilin. His wife, after having taken q
final view of the remains, was conduct
ed TO an adjoining room. Here she
was quite overwhelmed with her grief,
breaking forth in loud cxclamations
and walls. Suddenly she broke the
throng about her, and going to the
coffin threw herself upon it.
.'Stop" she cried; John is not
dead. know that he is not dead.
Would you bury him alive?'
The company were aghast. The
woman groancd aloud and the men
turned pale. AT length the minister
who was prcseht, regained his com
posure. He placed his hand on the
wife. and said, in most tender tones
MY Christian sister, your husband
lives in the immortal spirit, but not
in the flesh"
Ale is not dead he is not dead
To all of YOU his face looks like death,
but see life in it. Look at it,
Thus spoke the wife in wild accents
Of appeal, as she gaze1 intently upon
the face of the corpse. The people
crowded about, and looked into the
conntcnancc, and many touched the
cold brow. But they all shook their
heads, and whispered the same opin-
ion. that the man was dead. There
was 4 physician present, and during
this time he had said nothing, SEEM
lngly wishing that tue people should
form their own conclusions before he
added his testimony. lie now spoke,
and said:
NV friends, | regret 10 say that
good John Williams is as dead as ever
man was. | pledge my reputation
as a physician tina, he will never
/ breathe again"
Hearing these words, the heart-brok-
en- widow gave one long piercing wall.
and would have fallen TO the floor had
not kindly hands caught her. The
/ coffin was now closed, and the corpse
was borne 10 its last resting place.
This was in the family burying ground,
in field not FAR from the house. Af.
ter q few shovels full Of earth had been
thrown into the grave, the widow
again interfered, and begged that it
should not be filled until the next dav.
TO CRAFTY her. this was consented
10, and shortly the company dispersed,
all more or less impressed with the
events of the funeral. The poor
weeping widow went back 10 her desc.
late home. Early in the evening her
family left her in bed, she having fall
en- asleep in sheer exhaustion. from heI
| deep grief.
1t appears from the account, which
has been our guide in these state
mcnts, that Mrs. Williams was 4
somnambulist. On this night she gave
a most wonderful instance of this par.
ticular habit. She arose IN her sleep
and went again 10 her husbands grave.
In the graveyard she found shovel
that had been left there for use the
next day in filling the grave. Will
this in her hand she climbed into the
grave and began the removal Of the
earth from the head portion Of the cof'
| fin, A faint sound could be heard
coming from the interior of the coflil
but the sleeper did not heed it. Sh,
moved the dirt with great care fron
one part TO the other, and then bend
ing down placed her ear on The coffin
At this instant she aw oke, and gave 8
shrek that was heard AS far AS the
house. To her horror she found her.
self in her husbands grave in the
night, but her terror on this score was
at once dissipated by another discov
cry thst she had made This was thu
sounds coming from the coffin. She
realized all in an instant, and became
certain that her husband was still
alive.
''Help, help" was her cry from the
depths of the grave.
But she did not lose a moment. A
blow of the shovel split the coffin, and
she heard voice, saying:
II am John Williams. Ihave beer
buried alive. Gre me out as quic K as
possible before suffocate.
Thank Heaven-thank heaven p
cried Mrs. Williams. John, it is your
wife sent by Gods miracle TO save
you" .
The top Of the coffin was soon
wrenched off with her shovel, and Mr.
Williams partially raised himself. By
this time the affrighted inmates of the
house had reached the graveyard. At
first NO one was bold enough to enter,
but then came the shouts again and