The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-03-12
Hasty Burials.
-AEdine.

On the left-hand side of the carriage
way, as you enter Pere la Chaise, in
Paris, stands an immense square build
ing called LIE MOrtuaire PubIiuue
Here the dead are left for 8 time prior
to their final deposit, and morning and
evening each body is carefully exam
ined, and indications of returning vital
ity watched. The lids of the collins
are left open, and every means are
ready at hand to sound the alarm in
case OF returning life, and to resusci-
tate those who show any sims of re-
turning consciousness. The French
people have a morbid fear of being
buried alive, and the state of catalepsy,
with its various phases, has for num-
Der of years been the subject Of mature
thought among the physicians of
France. The danger of hasty sepulture
has received so many illustrations in
the United States as to make it a ques-
ton open t. grave discussion and re-
form. The percentage of those awaken
ing from their long sleep, according TO
French statistics, IS about one in 400,
and the probabilities are that in Eng
land, where the period between death
and burial is generally six days, and IN
America, where the dead are thrust out
OF sight as quick as possible, the per
centage is considerably greater. I'm
necessary haste characterizes most of
our doing upon this side of the ocean
but In no particular are We more iniu-
diciOus, more guilty of want of feeling
and scientific shOrtsightedness than in
the rapidity with which we dispose of
our dead.
In the experience of medical stu
dent, published in the January number
Of Tnto
Farmer, we find several well-authenti-
Gated cases, sufficient to fill the mind
with horror and to turn the thoughts
backward to many faces whose lifelike
expression upon their day of departure
from the light of heaven has remained
lndelibiy impressed upon our memo
ries. We have first the caseOf a strong
man who dropped away suddenly, was
put In the grave and the sods stamped
upon his coffin. Four days afterward
the body was found twisted round, an
ankle dislOcated, hair turned white and
torn out, and features distorted in a
terrible manner. There is next the
case of young lady, beautiful In per-
son and accomplishment, laid away
hurriedly. Upon removing her remains
to another cemetery the open coffin dis
closed gashed face, lacerated breast
u.
feet drawn up as is if in wild effort for
release, the 6nely-chiseled features
Scared by tinger-nails. L-ss than
score OF years ago a young man, six
days after burial, was found turned OH
uls face, with one arm bitten to the
bone and other evidences of a frightfuI
death-wrestle. In the various crave
wards of the land, where cemeteries
have been dug over and exhumed, there
have been often found bodies or skele-
tons turned over on their sides or faces.
with knees drawn up, joiuts dstended,
han6s cl. nched, arms thrustagain their
narrow prlson-house, fingers twisted in
the hair, and numerous other evidences
of a struggle too horrible and agoniz
ing to dream of. In the old burial
ground in the city of Brooklyn there
was found the corpse of a young bride.
dressed in wedding garments of the
richest white satin, with bridal veil,
ring, and all the evidences of wealth
and position. The skeleton was found
twieted and displaced, and the gar
ments grasped as if in a wise in the
cienche finger. bones even the long.
raven tresses, which were as glossy and
perfect as ever, were bit fast in the
heshless teeth, as with the final de-
spalrlng agony of death. Numerous
cases of similar kind have happened
here and in England. Onlv last year
woman died in PENNSYLVANIA and was
burned. When her husband, who had
been absent at the time of her death. re-
turned, he insisted upon exhumation.
and to the unutterable dismayof all the
body was found ly ing upo- its f ce. the
shroud covered with blood. the flesh
torn from the left shoulder, with eyerv
mark that fearful struggle had taken
place. But the most singular case
recorded by the medical student il one
which came under his own KNOWLEDGE
and manipulation. Among his ac
quaintances he numbered a young and
beautiful girl. Miss -, for whom he
cherished a sincere and romantic attach
ment TIE his iufnita establishment he
read IN the morning paper that she had
Just died and would be buried to-mor-
row. Hurrying to the house he found
that the Young girl had ed of heart
disease, and that the old family phvsi-
clan had pronounced life extinct. Her
appearance, con uected with this sudden
taking of, convinced him that she was
only in q trance. He waited upon the
physician, lmplored him to delay this
lntermsut-iG vain. There was a fine
mineral, an eloquent sermon, tears and
mowers all In proper fOrm-0ud the
lalr being was LAID in the dust and shut
out forever from life and light. As the
CLOCK toIled the hour of midnight the
young student, with the assistance OF
Trend, stood at the grave. Spreading
blanket upon the earth, they cut the
sod and began their work, In a few