Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-21
Nearly Buried Alive.

Nearly buried alive.
The lectures which have recently been
delivered on "living burials" by ply
stefan Of some eminence, go to prove
that such things happen in countries
where rapid interment succeeds death,
much more frequently than the gener-
Atty of people would deem possible.
We who hold our dead so sacred, and
who err if anything on the side of keep.
ing them too long unburied, must nat
urally feel kind of horror creep over
us, when, from circumstances, we are
brought to witness with what haste and
want of reverence the last sad ceremo-
MES are gone through in some coun-
tries where climate renders speedy in
terment after decease an absolute me-
cessity. I propose to relate three mar.
velous escapes from living burial which
happened to different members of the
same family at different periods. The
scene was in Italy; the facts were related
by the daughter of two of the parties
concerned.
"You will scarcely wonder, she said,
''at my horror of being buried alive,
when I tell you that a peculiar fate
seems to pursue our family, or at least
did pursue it in the last generation.
My father was an only son. and from
having been born several years after his
parents marriage, was an object of es-
pecial devotion. His mother was un-
able to nurse him herself. and coun-
try woman was procured from a village
1T some distance from the chateau where
his psrents resided, who was not only
we'll calculated to replace the mother as
. nurse, but was of so affectionate dis
position that she seemed to throw her
whole soul into her care for the we'll
being of the child, and lavished as
much affection on him as did the real
mother. When the age came for wean-
ing him, it was found impossible to &C.
complish it whilst the nurse remained
with him; and 80 after many terrible
scenes, and the most heart. breaking sor-
row on her part, she had to go. The
boy throve very we'll until he was about
three years old. when he was attacked
by some childish maladv, and to all ap-
pearances died.
cit is unnecessary to dwell on the
distracted grief of the parents. The
mother could scarcely be induced to
leave the body. and even though oil life
was extinct, grudged every moment as
it flew towards the time when even what
was left of her darling would have 10
be removed forever. (The time that
was allowed by the government for bod
les to remain unburied was three days.
The father had given strict orders that
the child's nurse should not be informed
of the death of her foster.son until
after the funeral, as he felt convinced
she would at once come to see him, and
he dreaded the effect the sight of her
grief might have on his already broken
hearted wife. However, the order was
ill-kept, and on the morning of the
funeral, after all the guests had arrived
and were grouped round the coffin TAX
ing their last farewell! of the lovely boy,
in rushed the nurse, her hair down, her
dress all torn and travel.stained, her
boots nearly worn off her feet. On
hearing the news, she had started of
without waiting for extra clothing, with
out word or look to any one, and had run
the whole night in order to be in time
to see her 10y. As she entered the
room she pushed past servants and
guests, and on reaching the coffin seized
the child, and before any one was aware
of her intention or had presence OF
mind to prevent her, she had vanished
with him in her arms. 1t was found
she had carried him of to the greniey
or garnet, and had locked and barri.
eaded the door. She paid no attention
10 threats and entreaties, and all at.
tempts at forcing the door we're eq ually
fruitless. The guests waited patiently
hoping that she would before long re-
turn 70 her senses and bring back the
ehild's body for burial.
AT the end Of IN hour or more they
heard the heavy furniture rolled away
and the door opened. The nurse ap
peared, but With no dead child in heI
arms-the little things arms vers
elaspei lovingly round her neck Is she
pressed him to her bosom. The mourn
ful assemblage was turned into one oil
joyful congr.tulation. The woman
would never speak Of the means she
nsed 10 restore the boy TO life; indeed
although she became from that hour &
resident in the family and trusted and
vnlued friend. abe steadily forebore eve'
returning to the incident in which she
played 20 important . part. She lived
20 see the rescued child married and
With family Of his own around him.
The heroine Of the second arecdot4
vss .. first cousin TO the above 'rescued
All, ~cuuw Is1v NJ Thirteen nj