The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-20
Hasty Burials.

ddSGy buT1alS.
On the left-hand side of the carriage
way, asSyou enter Pere Ia Chaise, in
Paris, stands an immense square build
ing called lie Mortuaire Publiuue
Here tho dead are left for time prio,
toatheir dnal deposit, and morning and
evening each body is carefully exam.
ined, and Indications of returning vital
ity watched. The lids of the coffins
are left open, and every. means are
ready at hand to sound the alarm in
case os returning life, and to resueci-
tate those who show any siyns of re.
turning consciousness. The French
people have morbid fear of being
buried alive, and the state of catalepsy,
with itayarious phases, has for a num-
ber Of sSears been the subjeot,of mature
thought among the physicians of
France. The danger of hasty sepulture
has received 80 many illustrations in
the United States as to make it cues
tion open tn 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 heProbabilities are that in Eng
land, where the period between death
and burial is generally six days, and in
America, ,5where the dead are thrust out
of sight as quick as possible, the per-
centage sss considerably greater. Un-
necessary haste charaoterizes most of
our doing upon this side of the ocean !;
but in npsparticular are we more inju-
dicious; more guilty of want of feeling
and sclentific shortsightedness than in
the rapidty with which we dispose of
our dead
In the experience of medical stu
dent, published in the January number
of the INLAND Monthly, by Enrique
Farmer, We find several well-authenti-
Gated CAGES, 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
ndeliblytimpressed upon our memo.
rles. We have first the seof strong
man who's Dropped away suddenly, was
upon his coffin. Four days afterward
the bodyEWas found twisted round. an
ankle disfocated, hair turned white and
torn out and, features distorted in
terrible Saanuer. There is next the
case of aYoung lady, beautiful in per-.
son and accomplishment, laid away
hurried Upon removing her remains
to anothsr cemetery the open coffin dis
rants arms, faifs of haif es streWm aboas. about.
feet drawhsup as is if in wild effort for
release, .khe fnely-chisele features
scared by fnger-nails. Less than n
score OF years ago young man, six
days after burial, was found turned OH
mis- face, with one arm bitten to the
bone and other evidences of frightful
death-wrsstle. In the various grave
yards of the land, where cemeteries
have been dug over and exhumed, there
have bech often found bodies or skele-
tons turned ovef on their sides or faces,
with knees drawn up, joints distended,
hands clenched. arms thrust against their
narrow prison-house, fingers twisted in
the hairy 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 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
twisted and displaced, and the gar
ments grasped as if in a wise in the
clenched finger bones even the long,
raven tresses, which were as glossy and
perfect as ever, were bit fast in the
deshless teeth, as with the final de-
spairing agony of death. Numerous
cases of similar kind have happened
here and in England. Only last year
woman died in Pennsylvania and was
buried. When her husband, who had
been absent at the time of her death, re-
turned, he insisted upon elimination,
and to the unutterable dismay of ell the
body was found lJ ing upor it's face, the
shroud covered with blood, the flesh
torn from the left shoulder, with every
mark chat fearful struggle had taken.
place. But the most singular case
recorded by the medical student is one
which came under his own knowledge
and manipulation. Among his &C.
quaintances he numbered young and
beautiful girl, Miss , for whom he
cherished e sincere and romantic attach
ment. TIE his infinite astonishment 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 died OF heart
disease, and that the old family physi-
clan had pronounced life extinct. Her
appearance, connected with thie sudden
IaklnB-OH, convinced MIN tnaI sne was
only in trance. He waited upon the
physician, implored him to delay this
interment- vain. There was fine
funeral, an eloquent sermon, tears and
flowers all in proper form-nnd the
fair heing was laid in the dust and shut
ont forever from life and light. AS the
clock tolled the hour of midnight the
young student, with the assistance OF
a friend, stood at the grave. Spreading
blanket upon the earth, they cut the