The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17
The funersl arrangemeats and keeps

the funeral arrangements and keeps
the grave open a day longer by com.
ing back to life. The Wsynesburg
Rep-5kcoz, says il sent a reporter to
gather up the facts and gives the fol
lowing result
On the l4th of December last, Miss
Melissa Jane Shriver, of Whitley
township, q young lady aged about
90 wears, died Of dipbtberia, which
facts we noticed at tbs time. But
there were other incidents, OF which
we were then cognizsnt, but which
were so much out of the general or
der Of things, and partook so largely
Of the superssitious that We forebore
to give them publicity until we had
opportunity to fully authenticate
them.
The strange facts continuing to be
reiterated and much talked OF in the
community, we last week dispatched
a reporter TO the sceoe Of the incl
dents, who interviewed eyewitness
es aud developed the following start
ling aud marvellous facts:
The night previous to her death
she made a profession of religion
About 10 o'clock a. NJ, on the day
of Der actual death, she seemed TO
die. A number of persons were
present aud all pronounced her dead
She remained in this state Of sus-
pended animation for the space OF 10
minutes, when, TO the surprise OF all,
she revived aud began to talk with
great animation and wonderful elo-
ouence of the beautiful heavenly
land from which she had just return
ed. She described it with all the
glow Of fluent speech, and yet, natur-
ally, she was neither o scholar nor a
ready talker. She spoke Of seeing
departed persons who were thought
beautiful here, bat there they were
more beautiful. and were in the en-
Ijoyment Of perfect happiness She
wished to go to the door, aud got
up. aud walked TO the FIRE place
unassisted, when the friends grauhed
her wish by helping her to the door.
Upon beholding the bright sunshine,
she said: That is nothing to com
pare with toe brilliancy and beauty
OF heaven.
Upon being again placed on her
bed. said that she bad returned to
this cold world to yarn those of her
friends whom she was leaving be-
hind. She exhorted them to the ex-
ercise of faith. In order to convince
them Of the efficacy and power Of
faith. she told her sister TO bring her
some water. A little LIE was
handed in a tin. She said that was
not enough, when a cupful was hand
ed her. she poured the water in her
hand, which she held over the bed.
Several persons witnessed the exper-
iment. and saw the water poured
out OF the cup into her hand; but
here all uace Of it was lost, and the
closest examination failed TO detect
any effect of it upon either her hand
or the bed clothes, and she triumph
snty pointed to this as evidence that
her faith was awaiting.
She then requested a teaeup to be
brought, which she took and threw
with considerable force across the
room against the wall three times
without breaking, but the fourth time
it broke into fragments, and when
her attention was called 10 the fact,
she said Yes, your unbelief caused
it to break. Ny faith prevented it
I'D 10 this trial.
Prayer was then offered by some
one ot the friends 10 attendance, 10
which she responded with great fer.
Vor at intervals. During all this
time Of her termination, from a quar-
ter past 10 A NJ to half past ! p. N
she talked almost necessarily, and
did not complain Of any suffering
whatever, and then she passed calm
ly and peacefully away. to return no
more on earth.
The Republican concludes: These
facts, substantially as above, can be
substantiated if necessary by the af-
fdavits of as intelligent and respect
able citizens as there are in Whitley
township; end though We are not
given to superstition, We a hut
give assent to the facts as stated, ac-
count for them philosophically who
ever can.