The New York herald., 1876-12-06
IN A COFFIN BUT NOT DEAD.
A STRANGE STORY OF LOUISVILLE GIRL WHO
LrNGERs NEAR DEATH.

LINGERs NEAR DEATH.
From the Louisville CourisrJournal, Dec. Al
The singular death, or perhaps singular deathlike
Sleep into which the relatives OF Laura Rathhsd say
she has fallen, has caused great commotion in tho
East End. Laura Rathnod was is q girl seven
teen years OF age. and resided the north sdc oi
Green, a few doors above clay street, with her
mother, widow She is described q rather good
looking youns girl, OF pleasing exterior For a year
past she has been subject to cramp attacks, and
Friday. week ago. seized with kind OF cpoptic
1T She suffered severely Tor several days. and DR..
Mason and several other physicians were called to
her aid.
Wednesday morning, about nine O'Clock, sho was
seized with convusions, and 10 all tntents and ap
pearances suddenly passed out or this world into
another and better land. She was cless and cold,
and there not single sign that tho breath had
passed out OF the body She given no dead
aud the physician ordered coffin In which TO lay
her remains, whilc she was dressed in shroud. Sor-
row reigDed In tho house. The mothor strcken
with grief, and preparations were made for the iu-
neral. Now comes the mystery. The body lay in the
asserted by those who watched beside the corpsethe
mother Of the girl and an old German ladythat they
saw the lips move and the color OF the face change
from the paor which indicates death TO which be
spoke the existence Of life in the body.
When the minister Of the German Lutheran church,
Preston and Green Streets which church tho family
belong, heard OF this startling statement he came to
the house and seemed 10 be impressed with the bcof
that tho girl dead but was only in "a trance
He ordered the body to be taken from the
coffin and laid upon lounge, and TO let
thcrc lie until Il was definitely established
that death had entered tho household. A lire was
made In the room, aud the body lain there since.
Dr. Krim was called upon Thursday afternoon TO come
TO the house. he went reluctantly, and examna-
convinced him that the g,r was dead. He says
her eyes sunkcn her lace had pailor
OF a corpse, her lips were OF ashy hue, while her
body was stif still. the mother and relations were
not convinced. Another doctor doubted slightly that
the girl had died
There is a story. the family say, that the grand
mother the girl had 10 her youthful fallen
= similar comatosc state, remained in that condition
fer two days. recovered, and aftcrward lived 70 the
good old age Of seventy Tbs story strengthened tho
family IN their hopes (bclief may be too strong u
term) tLat the daughter had passed away in all
her glorious grlhood, but reality still lived
and would be restored to Consciousness in due
time. Since Thursday several changes have occurred
In the corpseiikc body, they say, which stl
and increase ther hopes. Up 10 Friday evening tho
bosom Of the gir was st and cold IN DEATH but at
that timo IL became sot and warm iie while tho
other portion OF her body ali cold. Then, too the
lips opened on Friday closed again in the evening" and
yesterday morning were ngain found open.
The minister OF the German Luiheran church. who
has been at tho house every day. says that Friday
tho right cheek had blackish nue. while yesterday
warm glow and biushing color of lilo appeared and
her lace began 10 assume more natural aspect But
the most peculiar thing OF all Is the fact that
the body has been lying on lounge by a hre ever
since Thursday noon, there Is smell IN the room
OF dead body. as would naturally be tho case
with corpse lying IN a room any length OF true. The
physicians advise that she buried lust now but
day or two must convince the family OF The grl's
actual death actual livng The appearance OF tho
body last evening was that o death; the eyes, tho
cheeks the mouth and the ened body all told the
tale. The ears and the neck were rather son. how
ever, and looked natural The mother who has been
watching by the body ever since It's transformation In
the present state. the relatives tho ministers who
have been there, seem Ia think that sho looks even
natural than when IN full Possession of her acul
ties. The physicians who havc been the seem
TO thiuk that death can be seen. but some circum
stances make them hesitate In being positive The case
Is certainly peculiar ono aud must attract attention