Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-09
C0Mned Alive--NarrOw Escape
from q Living Burial.

"A mOSG remarkable occurrence has just
taken place in st. Louis. There lives in
that city a carpenter, with his family, who
are natives Of France, and have been in
this country about eight years. One of
their children is little girl named Mary,
and the subject of this singular story. The
child was born in Paris, and was II years
old the 26th day of June last. She speaks
French, German and English fluently, and
in conversation exhibits an uncommon in
tensity of mental action and vividness OF
mental vision. She is fair completed and
very beautiful, with lustrous eyes. sunny
hair, and look of spiritual maturity in
her countenance. She has sometimes said
that she could see the forms of persons who
have died, and, as her sincerity could not
be doubted, this occasioned some alarm in
the minds of her parents. The st. Louis
democrat" of Saturday, says:
The health Of the child has not been
good for several months, and on Saturday
morning, three weeks ago, she startled her
mother by saying that she could see her
dead sister Louise, who came near her in
an angel form and spoke to her, telling her
that she would make her well so that she
would never be sick any more. Her moth
er tried to persuade her to dismiss the sub
ject from her mind, but she could not stop
talking, and continued, describing her sis
ter, saying that sheswas standing near,
dressed in pure white, her face bright and
shining, her hair 1lumined with silver
light. and golden dewdrops dripping from
her wings. She could also see her dead
brother, who came close to her sisters
side. While talking, her strength gave
way, and she sank away as in death.
The worst forebodings of the parents
had been realized and they prepared the
body for burial. No physician had been
called, as they supposed that death had al
ready failed upon their child. 1t was about
10 O'Clock in the morning when the appa-
until Sunday afternoon about 4 O'Clock,
nearly thirty six hours, during which time
no sign of returning life had been noticed.
The final look at the remains was taken,
the coffin was sealed up and placed in the
hearse, and the little cortege started for
the grave, the parents following the hearse
in a carriage.
After proceeding some distance, and
coming down ON Third street, the quick
ear of the saddened mother caught the
echo of a familiar cry, and she gave ex-
preston to her suspicion that it came from
the coffin of her child. Her suspicious
were overruled, but in few moments a
second cry was heard, and, in compliance
with the wishes of the mother, the hearse
was stopped. and the coffin drawn OUT
The struggles Of what was supposed to be
the lifeless body could now be plainly
heard. The coffin was quickly opened and
the child found to be alive. to the amaze
ment and unspeakable delight of the pa
rents. In her struggles she had nearly
torn from herself her death robes.
She was quickly taken from the coffin
and carried into the house of a French lady
at hand, where they bathed her in vine
gar. She recovered her strength rapidly,
and in short time was taken to the home
which she had left only few hours before
an apparent corpse. Since that time she
has been as we'll as for the last few months.
Her parents make every effort to keep her
mind from reverting to the terrible episode
in her young life, fearing that there is a
fearful fascination in it to her.
She says that while others thought her
dead she could feel their touch and hear
distinctly all that was said, but could not
move single muscle OF make the slightest
sign. She knew when they dressed her for
the coffin, when she was laid in it, and
heard the terrible lid fastened down, but
could not make motion, and was utterly
powerless until the hearse had gone some
distance, when the physical forces were
probably set in motion again by the mo-
tion of the vehicle.
She describes with singular enthusiasm
and power for one so young the beatific
sights that she saw while entranced, many
different beings appearing to her III WON
derful beauty.