Middletown transcript., 1882-03-31
ALMOST ENToMBED ALIVE.
THE HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF AN
INDIANA GIRL WHILE IN A TRANCE
sTATE-A NARROW ESCAPE FROM
A TERRIBLE DEATH,

eyed young woman, is just recovering
from remarkable illness at the house
of her sister, Mrs. Brown, in Evans
vile, Ind. Her parents died some
years ago, and Josephine went to work
in st. James, little village near by.
One Saturday night last winter she
went to singing school. She had not
been in her seat long when she felt a
strange sensation about the head, ac-
companied by pains in the back. She
arose to her feet, as if to start out of
church, when she fell in a dead faint,
and was carried home. Her friends at
first thought that the attack was but a
mere fainting spell, and the usual res
toratives were applied, but the girl con-
tinued 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 preceptible
pulse, and every Indication pointed to
death. Physicians pronounced life ex-
tinct. The priest was sent for to adj
minister the last rites, and the weeping
sisters and friends of the family pre-
pared to bid Josephine the last farewell.
The coffin was ordered, busy fingers be-
gan 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 even
ing of that day there was slight
change in the appearance of the body,
which gave the startled watchers a
faint hope that the girl lay in trance,
and that this was but DEATHS counter
felt. The body lay on it's back, with
arms folded, just as the attendants had
placed it. There was not the least per-
ceptible 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-
tion. 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 critically examining the case and
consulting with the physician, he said
4" 1t is trance. She may come to her
self, but it will be but momentary.
When she relapses all will be over. She
can't live" Accordingly the funeral
was set for the next day. Imagine the
feelings of horror which possessed this
girl when it is known that she was cog
infant 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:
I" 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 sis
ters and neighbors come and peer into
my face, it was awful. l heard every
word spoken. My body, limbs and
arms were as cold as ice. I thought of
the agony of being buried alive, of be-
ing nailed in coffin and lowered in the
ground. l tried to make some noise,
or move just 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 I must make an effort to
attract their attention, if only by
moving my eyelids. But couldn't do
it. l felt like screaming. tried to,
but l couldn't move a muscle. The
priest came i'll and felt my arms and
wrists. He shook his head. Then he
placed his ear to my heart. 1t was no
use. He could not hear it beat. After
saying a short prayer for the repoSe of
my soul, he, too, turned and left me,
and my agony and horror were re-
doubled. Will no one find out that /
live p 1 said to myself. Must 1 be
buried only to wake when it is too late?
Must come back to life when they put
Inc in the vault, and all of the people
have gone away, only to die of fright,
and horror and suffication p The
thought was madness Why doesn't
the doctor do something to bring me
to myself =? 1 am not dead ! 1t was no
use. There l lay thinking and listening
to every word that was said. 1 could
hear woman giving directions as to
the making of the shroud. l heard the
time set for the funeral and all.
could see every one who came to look
at me. 1 tried to look conscious and
let them know that understood it all,
but it was impossible. 1t is wonder
I did not die of fright and agony. I
often think that 1 would sooner die,
thousand times sooner, than go through
that experience again.
C Finally, when all was ready, when
the shroud was finished and all had left
the room but two or three, some one
said /: Amt you going to cut her hair
off p My hair was done up in long
braids, and fell down my back. sYes,
said my sister, We'll cut it off now.
Then they got the scissors and came up
to me. While one of them took hold
of my head and turned it to one side,
the one with the scissors began the cut
ting. I could feel the cold steel on my
neck. 1 realized that this was about