Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-06
ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.
authentic and thrilling Narratives by an
Old Physician.

The lectures which have recently
been delivered on Giving burials," by
a physician of eminence, prove that
such things happen in countries where
rapid interment succeeds death much
more frequently than the generality of
people would deem possible.
We who hold our dead sacred, and
who err, if anything, on the side of
keeping them too long unburied, must
naturally feel a kind of horror
creep over US when, from circumstances,
we are brought to witness with what
haste and want of reverence the last
sad ceremonies are gone through in
some countries where climate renders
speedy interment after decease an abso-
lutte necessity. I propose to relate
three marvellous escapes from living
burials which happened to different
members of the same family at different
periods. The scene was in Italy; the
facts were related to me by the daugh-
ter of two of the parties concerned, and
[ shall tell the tale as nearly as possible
as she told it to me:
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
especial devotion. His mother was IN
able to nurse him herself, and a coun-
trywoman was procured from village
some distance from the chateau where
his parents resided, who was not only
well calculated to replace the mother
as a nurse, but was of so affectionate q
disposition that she seemed to throw
her whole soul into her care for the
well-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.
compish it while the nurse remained
with him; and so, after many terrible
scenes and the most heart-breaking
sorrow on her part, she had to go. The
boy throve very well until he was about 3
years old, when he was attacked by
some childish malady, and to all appear
ance died.
at is unnecessary to dwell on the dis
tracted grief of the parents. The moth
er could scarcely be induced to leave
the body, and, even though all life was
extinct, grudged every moment as it
few toward the time when even what
was left of her darling would have to be
removed forever. (The time that was
allowed by the Government for bodies
to remain unburied was three days.
The father gave 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 herrgriet
might have on the already broken
hearted wife. However, the order wal
ill-kept, and on the morning of thu
funeral, after the guests had arrived ant
their last farewell of the lovely boy, il
rushed the nurse, her hair down, he
dress all torn and travel-stained, he
boots nearly worn off her feet. o.
hearing the news, she had started OF
without waiting for extra clothing, with
out word or look to any one, and ha.
run the whole night in order to be i
time to see her boy. As she entere
the room, she pushed past the servant
and guests, and. on reaching the cofi1
seized the child, and, before any on
was aware of her intention, or had pre-
ence of mind to prevent her, she ha
vanished with him in her arms. It ws
found she had carried him off to I'll
grenier, or garnet. She paid no after
ton to threats or entreaties, and all a
tempts at forcing the door were equal
fruitless. The guests waited patientl
hoping that she would before long r
turn to her senses, and bring back IL
child's body for burial.
AT the end Of an hour or more the
heard the heavy furniture rolled avn
and the door opened. The nurse q