New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-11
Six Days In q Dead House.

Three men sat behind the great stove in
the cabin of the Twilight last night on their
way to Troy. "Well," said the man who
sat in the middle, II have good reason to
remember Bavaria as long as / live" Some
curiosity was then expressed, and the man
at Munich. He said he was in that city in
l84S He was then young man, and was
taken ill of come kind of malignant fever.
After the fourth day he became deliriOus
and remembered nothing distinctly until be
woke up and found himself dead. Then he
went on to describe the manner of dealing
with dead bodies. There is a large vault in
the suburbs of the city called the dead
house. There those who die are hustled of
body. They remain there twenty days,
and then they are buried if they do not
retarn to life. To each body is attached
two wires connecting with bells which are
numbered and hung in the watchmen's
room, adjoining the dead house. The least
motion Of the body will ring the bell cor
responding with the number of the corpse.
The wstchmen's room is never vacant.
Besides watchmen, there are constantly
friends of the dead watching the bells
intently, but few of them ever ring.
After having given these detaile, the man
said that he went into trance or an I'M
conscious condition. and being to all ap-
pearances dead, and being stranger, his
body was hurried off to the desdhouse. He
had no consciousness of going there. but
when they Strengthened him ont on the cold
slab he knew what they we're doing, but
was powerless to move or speak. When he
heard the great door creak and clsng on it's
hinges he gave up all hope Of ever living
again. he thought he was in tomb that
had been forever sealed. He rememb ered
nothing more until six days afterwsrd las
he subsequently learned). There he was,
sitting bolt upright, and the tomb was full
of watchmen with lanterns. He did not
for q moment comprehend his situation.
He thought he bad arrived at heaven or the
dark regions, he didn't know which, and
that the men with lanterns were there to
convey him to his final abode.
Then he thought he was dreaming. Then
he looked around him and saw dead bodies
on all sides, and was about to fall backward
when one of the watchmen seized him by
the arm, and, giving him q shaking up, said
in his native language, "Are you dead or
alive" He Jumped up and said, "Pm alive!
Let me ont of here" He was then taken to
the Office, his name recorded, and physi-
clan sent for. He remained in the office q
day and q night, having taken some stimu-
lants and food, and, feeling well enough, he
was allowed to 90 on his way. The news of
excitement, although such things rarely &C.
Cured. There were some English and
few American people there who made quite
a time about it, and full account was sub
sequently printed in the London papers,
whittier he went as eOo1 az able to travel.
When he was placed in the tomb the bell
wires were affixe to his hand, but he knew
nothing about it. The bells tingled, the
Waterman said, on the night Of the first
day OF his entOmbment, but on examining
the body no signs of life could be discov-
cred. But when he finally came to life he
pulled the bells so violently that they fell
down. Then the watchmen rushed in, and
found him as describe d. They did not seem
terrified in the least, but took the situation
in business sort of way. 1t was, however,
a terrible experience to him. and when he
discovered where he was, and what he was
supposed to be, he nearly died outright of
fright. The watchmen told him that within
their recollection only two others had come
to life, but they did not lie as long as he
did.-TrOy Press.