The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-04
Vancouver Independent
OFFICIAL PAPER OF CRY AND COUNTY.
Vancouver. Clarke County, Washington
Territory.


According to the Cincinnati Enquirer,
Josephine Ryman, a fair-haired, blue
eyed young woman, is just recovering
from a remarkable illness at the home of
her sister, Mrs. Brown. at Evansville,
Ind. Her parents died some years ago,
and Josephine went to work in st.
James, q little village near by. One
Saturday night last winter she went to
the singing school. She had not been
in her seat long when she felt very
strange sensation about her head, accom-
panied by pains in the back. She arose
to her feet, as if to start out of the
church, when she fell in dead faint, and
was carried home. Her friends at first
thought that the attack was but mere
fainting spell, and the usual restoratives
were applied, but the girl continued to
lie as if dead. Sunday came and went,
but still there was no change. The body
became colder and colder, the eyes were
open and staring, the lips were apart,
there was no perceptible pulse. and every
indication pointed to death. Physicians
pronounced life extinct. The priest was
sent for to administer the last rites, and
the weeping sisters and friends of the
family prepared to bid Josephine the
last farewell. The coffin was ordered,
busy fingers began to prepare the white
clothes in which to bury the corpse, and
in fact, every preparation was made for
the final scene.
Thus passed Monday. On the evening
of that day there was slight change in
the appearance of the body, which gave
the startled watchers faint hope that
the girl lay in a trance, and that this was
but deaths counterfeit. The body lay
on its back, with arms folded, just as the
attendants placed it. There was not the
least perceptible breathing; the eyes still
had that stony, unmeaning gaze; the face
was as pallid as white marble; but the
iciness of real death was wanting. The
feet and limbs were not warm, but they
did not have that chilly touch that is
sure accompaniment of actual dissolu-
ton. There was sufficient doubt in the
minds of those in attendance to warrant
caution, and so another day and night
passed.
On Wednesday, or the fourth day after
the girl was first stricken down, the
priest was again sent for. After crit
ically examining the case and consulting
with the physician, he said: 1T is
trance. She may come to herself, but it
will be but momentary. When she re-
lapses all will be over. She can't live"
Accordingly the funeral was set for the
next day. Imagine the feelings of hor
ror which possessed this girl when it is
known that she was cognizant of every
word that was spoken in that room, and
could see the forms of her friends and
watchers about her couch. Her terrible
situation is best told by herself. She
said:
''Oh, sir, it was horrible. As 1 lay
there on my back, stretched out on the
boards, with my arms crossed and feet
tied together, with the lighted candles
about my head, and could see my sisters
and neighbors come and peer into my
face it was awful. I heard every word
spoken. My body, limbs and arms were
as cold as ice. thought of the agony
of being buried alive, of being nailed in
a coffin and lowered in the ground. 1
tried to make some noise or move just a
little to let them know that was alive,
but it was impossible. l saw my sisters
come in one by one and look into my
face. Poor Josie, she's gone. Their
tears dropped on my hair, and their
kisses were warm to my lips. As they
turned to leave me, it seemed as if /
must make an effort to attract their at
tention, If only by moving my eyelids.
But couldn't do it. / felt like scream
ing. / tried to, but couldn't move a
muscle. The priest came in, and felt my
arms and wrists. He shook his head.
Then he placed his ear to my heart. It
was no use. He could not hear i. beat
After saying short prayer for the re-
pose of my soul, he turned and left me,
and my agony and horror were redouble
Will no one find out that / live?' said /
to myself. Must / be buried to wake
only when it is too late? Must come
back to life when they put me in the
vault, and all of the people have gone
away, only to die of fright and horror
and suffocation?' The thought was
madness! Why dosen't the doctor do
something to bring me to myself? am
not deadr II was Of no use. There
lay thinking and listening to every word
that was said / could hear o woman
giving directions As to the making Of q
shroud. heard the time set for the fun
eral and all. tried to look conscious
and let them know that understood it
all, but II was impossible. 1t is . won
der did not die of fright and agony.
often think that would sooner die, .
thousand times sooner, than 60 through
that experience again. Finally, when all
- 1T n II