The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-11-06
ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.
Authentic md thrilling Narratives by an
Old Physician.

The lectures which have recently
been delivered on Living burials," by
a physician Of eminence, prove that
such things happen in countries where
rapid intermenr succeeds death much
more frequently than the generality of
people would deem possible.
We who lolo 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-
luto necessity. I propose to relate
three marvellous escapes from living
burials which happened to d;Derert
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 Us 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 peculiar fate
seems TO pursue our family, or ct least
did pursue it in the last generation.
My father was IN only son, and, from
having been born several years after
bis parents marriage, was an object OF
especial devotion. His mother was un-
ablc to nurse him herself, and q coun-
trywoman was procured from q village
some distance from the chateau where
lis parents resided, who was not only
well calculated to replace the mother
as nurse, but was Of so affectionate
disposition that she seemed to throw
her whole soul into her care for tho
well-being of the child, and lavished as
much affection on hin, a5 did the real
mother. When the age came for wean-
ing him, it was found impossible to &C.
comp]ish it while the nurso remained
with him; and so, after many terrible
scenes and the most heart.breaking
sorrow on her part. she had to 60. Tho
boy throve very we'll until he was about3
years old, when he was attacked by
some childish malady, and to all appear
ancc died.
1T IS unnecessary to dwell on the dis.
tracted grief Of the parents. The moth
er conld scarcely be induced to leave
the body, and, even though all life was
extinct, grndged every moment MS it
flew toward the time when even what
was left Of her darling would have to bc
removed forever. (The time that was
allowed by the Government for bodies
to remain unburied was three days)
The futher gave strict orders that the
chllds 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 the already broken.
hearted wife, However. the order was
iil-kept. and on tho morning of tho
funeral, after the guests had arrived and
were grouped round the coffin taking
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 Oh
without waiting for extra clothing. with
out word or look to any one, and had
run the whole night in order to he in
time to see her boy. As she entered
the room, she pushed past the servants
and guests, aud. on reaching the coffin.
seized the child, and, before any one
was aware of her intention, or had prea-
ence Of mind to prevent her, she had
vanished with him in her arms. L wa
found she had carried him of to She
grenier, or garnet. She paid no atten-
ton to threats or entresties, and all at
tempts at forcing the door were equally
fruitless. The guests waited patiently,
hoping that she would before long re-.
turn to her senses, and bring back the
child's body for burial.
At the end OF au hour or more thew
heard the heavy furniture rolled awav
and tbs door opened. The nurse an
, Peared, but with no dead child in her
arms-the little things arms were
clasped lovingly round her neck a. she
pressed him to her bosom. The mourn.
full assemblage was turned into one al
joyful congratulation. The woman
would never speak of the means Abe
used torcstore the boy to consciousness:
indeed; although she became from tbat
: hour resident in the family. and :.
trusted and valued friend, she forebore
ever referring to the incident in which
che played 80 important q part. She
lived 70 see the rescued child married
and with family Of bis own around
Is =.