The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-02-20

has never beeu quite clearly understood
by the generality of mankind. The
article calls attention to the several
instances of pretnatdfs burial on the
continent of Europe instances which
involve stories of trance, the semblance
of death, bolding its sway. over the
human body for hours and days, not
merely for minutes, as in the case of
ordinary fsinting fits. In his opening
remarks, the writer said:
"In days when land is dear, and bur-
ial rights less sacred than the rights of
builders and contractors, coffins have
been opened with the plckaxe, in the
act of converting cemeteries into streets
and gardens. Here grave has been
discovered whose inmate has turned in
its ehrond here corpse clutching its
hair in strained and unnatural posi-
tion; dead men and women lying in
their graves MS the dead never lie in a
Christian land at the moment of burial"
Mr.. Mackay gives an account Of a
young and beautiful woman who it is
supposed died of over-excitemept at the
prospect of being married. When the
first shoyelful of dirt was thrown on
the coffin a strange noise was heard
from the inside. The coffin was unr
screwed, but too late; the girl was found
in an attitude of horror and pain inn
possible 70 describe-her eyes wide open,
her :eeth clenched, her hands clutching
her hair, but life was extinct. An
instance showing the utter depravity of
the Italian undertakers and grave
diggers is given in which they actually
tried to Snatch the body OF a lady from
her friends, one of whom thought she
was dead. AS they were about to
drag it from the bed the "dead body
moaned, and soon afterwards was thor
oushly revived by medical practitioner
of the neighborhood, and lived to tell
the story OF her escape from the tomb.
A learned Cardinal incurred the dis
pleasure of the King, and on being re-
buked fell To the ground, to all appear
ance 1ead. 1t was decided that the un.
fortunate Cardinal should be embalmed
but when the surgeons began their
operations the patient awoke, but toe
late, for the wounds were mortal.
A case is given in which young
lady arose ont OF her coffin and appea. ed
before the family at sapper, "pale and
frightened, bu: fair 10 see as before
DEATH" The doctor, the priest, aud
the undertaken saw the error of their
way, but the priest alone made amends
by officiating at the 5oung lady's we'd
ding year after he had preached her
funeral sermon. Petrarch, when a
middle-aged man, lag twenty hours in a
trance, and narrowly escaped heing
buried alive. We have often heard the
story OF the Consul's wife who was
buried alive and released from her pam
ful position by robbers who broke open
the coffin to steal the lady's jewelry
Among the other stories of resuscitated
victims OF apparent death, is one of an
old gentleman who was revived by one
of his skeptical friends putting burn
ingtaper to his nose. His lite was savel +,
but the sad story OF his escape from the
very jaws of death was ever atterward
told by the SCARED and crimson beacon
on his face.
A number of stories are given of the
revival Of hospital patients after they
have been carried out to the dead house.
This seems a very common occurrence
in Europe. Two of the most terrible
statements are Of children being born
in the tomb, one of whom, according
to Mr.. AIackay, beng discovered by
lucky Incident, lived to be a man, and
occupied for several years the post OF
acknowledgement on the frontiers OF
Cherez.
Several instances are given of persons
who have been cognizant of what was
going on around them,yet powerless to
stop their burial. One case is given of
schoolmaster who, had it not been for
the arrival of a sister, would have been
buried alive. The passionate grief OF
the sister caused the eYelids of the
deceased" to qniver, and the truth
was discovered.
It is possible to prolong the list of
examples, but enough has been already
said to show. the wickedness of nasty
funerals, and the necessity OF establish
ing proper system of tests. Does it