Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-30
A Strange Story.
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

! Notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts on the part of his friends to keep
the matter a secret it is known to be q
fact that Reuben Proctor is still in the
land of the living, although his exact
whereabouts are unknown unless to
very few. When a rumor to this effect
first reached my ears-I set course of
cautious inquiry and investigation, and
by means and through persons I will
not now divulge, learned full particulars
of the affair. Reuben Proctor's life was
saved by the hasty and awkward man
ner in which the mob did their work.
The rope used was thick, heavy one,
and the knot was so clumsily tied that
his neck was not broken, and, indeed,
the rope was not drawn tight enough to
| prevent breathing but the intense agony
of his situation threw him into a faint
so deep as to closely resemble death. In
the hurry and excitement of the affair
no critical examination of his condition
was made, but when his struggles ceas-
ed he was pronounced dead. The in
quest held upon his body was a hasty
one. It will be remembered that the
mob made no attempt at disguise or con-
cealment, and yet a jury summoned on
the spot and of men who either Witness
ed or participated in the hanging return
ed verdict that he was hung by persons
to the jury unknown, As The object of
the inquest was to discover nothing and
lmplicate no one it was loosely conduct
ed and hurried through with, and at its
close the body of Reuben Proctor was
taken in charge by his friends. He was
taken home, and as he was believed to
be dead was laid out upon the bed and
member of the family kept watch by his
side. This person fell asleep for few
hours and upon waking observed that
the features of the supposed corpse had
undergone no change, and were not
rigid and fixed as in death. He felt the
arms and legs and found them limp and
not without slight degree of warmth.
Putting his ear in the region of the heart
he thought he could hear it family beat
ing. He then took a mirror and hold
ing it to the lips a slight moisture be-
came visible on the glass. He rubbed
this away and held it there again and
with like result. Again and again he
repeated this experiment and always
with the same result until he became
satisfied that the moisture was the result
of respiration. He then reused the rest
of the family from sleep by shouting the
alive, but not until they had examined
for themselves could they be convinced
of the fact. This unlocked for position
of affairs threw the whole household in
to tumult of excitement and for time
they knew not what to do. They dared
not send for medical aid, fearing that
the mob might learn of it and return to
make sure work second time. At
length with such methods as suggest
ed themselves they set about the work
of resuscitation. They rubbed the body
vigorously. They threw cold water up
on the face. For some time they SEEM
ed to..accomplish nothing, but at last a
feeble groan escaped his lips; the eyes
opened, closed again, as if dreading to
see. They spoke to him, told him he
was with friends and need have no fear.
He again opened his eyes, and looked
around In a very curious, wandering
way, and after few attempts spoke, but
with great difficulty. He did not seem
to be cOncious of the events of the day,
and inquired what had happened. They
told him, and as his memory was AVA
kened to the terrible ordeal he had un-
dergone, cOnvulsive tremor shook his
whole frame. Imagination seemed to
transform his surroundings into the
scene Of his fearful suffering, and again
and again he closed his eyes to shut out
the dreadful vision. During the period
of returning consciousness he must have
suffered hundred times the terrors of
the day. His breathing became difficult,
and it seemed at times as if each breath
would be the last. His face grew livid
as If again the moose was tightening
around his neck. So vivid and realistic
was the horrid fancy that the constant
assurance OF his friends were long pow
erless to dispel it. True it is that ali the
ingenuity of the inquisition could not
devise such powers of torture as exist in
mans own mind. To influences with
out he can oppose the resources of his
mind, courage, fortitude and resolution,
but when the mind is itself the instru-
ment of torture, when the means of de-
fence are made the weapons of assault,
he suffers helpless, hopeless victim. I
will not dwell on this uninvitiug topic,
and what remains may be briefly told.
A mock funeral was agreed upon. As
was natural the house was Stunned by
the neighbors and this contributed tc
the scheme there in progress. A coffin
was procured, filled with dirt and was
duly consigned to the grave. A few days
after Reuben Proctor, so disguised tha
his own mother would not recoghiz,
him, left his home never to RETURN
Wither he went know not, nor did ]
care to learn. Guilty or not guilty O
the terrible crime of which he is charg
ed, ne Is accompanied by memories tina
Will destroy his peace forever, and from
them neither accident nor ingenuity
can rescue him. Those who hate hin
most cannot wish him worse than to b.
left to himself, a prey to his own imag
|. lnation. And thus let US leave him.
--->->-<--
II don't like tn fa1k rnuoh with naO