The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-08
BURIED ALIVE.
A Glimpse Beyond the Borders.

A terrible instance of the risk of burying the
supposed dead, unless there are absolute proofs
that life is extinct, was given in the case of
lanes Gilliland, of New Brunswick, N. J.
Even after his body had been been placed in
the coffin it did not present the appearances
ordinarily characteristic of death. 1t had not
the usual chilly feeling to the touch, the face
was slightly flushed, and the supposed corpse
resembled person in sleep rather than mass
of lfeless clay. But the doctors pronounced
him dead, and the remains were inferred.
One week later, when the brother of the de-
ceased insisted upon an elimination, his body
was found lying on one side, with the face and
hands shockingly lacerated. The unfortunate
man had recovered consciousness in the grave
and made terrible struggle to escape from
his prison house. The expression of the
countenance bore awful witness of the fright
and horror he experienced Hackensack, N.
J., Republican.
This fearful incident of being buried alive is
the most appalling horror that can assail the
living. 1t is worse, far worse, than above de-
scribed, as the reader will realize when told
that the victim was probably lying in trance
during the long interval described, and per-
fectly conscious of everything going on around
him. Every instant in dread Of the terrible
death that awaited him.
We know friend, now living, who once
lay apparently dead for several days, unable
to make any sign. A devoted sister was fran
tic with grief at the thought of his burial half
conscious of the real truth. When the under
takers came her shrieks and protestations that
he was not dead and should not be buried,
prevailed and the funeral was postponed. The
mother, too, became alarmed and yielded to
the dreadful apprehension that possessed the
| sister. Finally, however, when the screaming
sister had exhausted her strength, and it SEEM
ed impossible to longer postpone the event,
and the undertaken was about to close down
the coffin lid, the eyes of the supposed corpse
opened.
He had heard and known all that happened.
In those long hours of term he had been con-
scious and considered the awful fate from
which he saw no escape. His fears had as
cended to such a height of frenzy that they al
most awakened hope and, at last, when the
imprisoned moment came, and the danger
made him frantic, his nature gathered all its
strength and energy and, just in time, with one
mad effort broke the icy cerements and saved
him. His eyes opened on the scene, and all
was gadness.
He related afterward that during some of
the period of his trance he seemed uncon-
scious of the scene, then again he thought he
was standing in the room, and that he went up
| to his sister and told her not to let them bury
him, for he was not dead And again he
| thought he wandered off in a beautiful coun-
try, where he met his father whom he had
never seen, and several other friends long
dead. The place where he was he described
as more beautiful and glorious than mortal eye
had ever beheld. And he saw, at what APP
peared great distance, place still more en-
chanting and wanted to 60 there, but his father
| told him he could not then. He still speaks of
these experiences as if memories, and they
serve to enliven him in moments of desponden-
cy with visions of life of splendor and hap
Piness yet to be lived. He thinks it may be so.