The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-06-27
NEARLY BURIED ALIVE.

In this Journal for October, 1878, un-
der the heading "Nearly Buried Alive, =
are narrated two or three instances Of
narrow escapes from interment before the
proper time, and which occurred on the
Continent. Such occurrences, says a
correspondent, to whom we are indebted
for tho following experiences, are by no
means unknown in this country, even
though burial seldom follows closely
upon death, for in my limited circle in a
comparatively obscure country town !
have met with several such, and I doubt
not that other cases could be adduced
which should at least teach that special
case should be taken to prove that the
supposed corpse is really dead.
The following account was given me
by the son Of lady who was within q
few hours of being consigned to the grave
upon the supposition that she was dead.
This lady, the wife of captain in the
royal navy, and in the middle Of life, had
for considerable time been scource OF
great anxiety to her husband and family
from falling health, and the household
had removed from the neighborhood of
London into a notedly salubrious part Of
Devonshire, hoping that milder climate
would have beneficial effect upon the
invalid. Their hopes were however, dis
appointed, as no improvement in the
health Of the patient took place; and
both husband and family felt that in
very short time their house would be in
vaded by death, and they would have to
mourn the loss Of the beloved one. The
decline of the patient was gradual in the
extreme: one stage of weakness after
another was reached, till at last the ap-
pS-ent transition came, and Mrs, to
all anpearance, died. 1t was midWinter
when this happened, the weather very
cold and As the house occupied BY the
family was remote from some of the
friends and relatives who were invited to
attend the funeral, which was to take
Mace about o week after the supposed
death, these were requested, or found il
necessary, to reach Captain resi-
dcnce the evening before the day ap-
pointed for the intcrment of the lady
Having reached the house of mourning
they adjourned to the chamber of death
and gazed upon the lifeless form Of hel
whom they had 50 long revered and
loved.
Dinner was served, and q sad dolefuI
meal it Was. AS usual they went to the
drawing.room after dinner, the bereaved
father and husband accompanying them,
and there they occupied themselves in
recalling the various traits and excel
1encies of the departed. Whilst engaged
in this manner, the room door was VIC
Iently opened, aud the footman, apparent
lyas horror-stricken as man could be,
entered, exclaiming: you please, sir,
NIissus' ghost is walkingr'
CAPTAIN - Immediately left the
room again, taking the footman, very
much against his will, with him. Shut
ting the door, and enjoining the occu-
pants not to follow him, as he would be
back quickly, he at once crossed the hall
and ascended the stairs, with the intent
ion Of going to the room where his de-
ceased wife. as he supposed, was lying in
her coffin but on turning into the corrid
or or passage at the top of the stairs, his
courage was severely tested, for in his
way there stood figure clad in5the
habiliments Of the grave yet, although
much startled, he was equal to the oeca-
sion, and addressing the. figure, said !;
"God bless me, Mary This wife's name l
"wAat are you doing here y
Ills wife-for it was his wife. and no
rhost-answcred very family: ''Oh, take
me to the fire, am nearly frozen.h
He Immediately got blanket, wrapped
+ around her, and to the CONSERVATION
oftbe servants, took her into the kitchen,
where their was large fire burning !; and
soon with warmth, assisted by very
sparing administration Of warm liquid
vital heat was restored.
when Captain returned 70 the
drawing room, il must be supposed DC
fonnd tie company Il q great state Ct
excitement, which was not at OIL dlnln-
isbed BY his statement Of what had
occurred; and nothing but On interview
Win the supposed deceased lady would
eas,ince them that they lad moi very
fsw hours before seen her actually .
eorpse. And She, strange to 50, despite
tbe shock Of finding herself where sne
WI aud III arrayed for the grave, tfoI
saa ,yas conscious oe having elanbeFed