Connecticut western news., 1882-03-22
ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.
Josephine Ryman's Horrible Exper1- .
 ence while Lying in Trance.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer. l

Jsephlne Ryman, 1alr-na1reu, piue- eyed young woman, is just recovering from remarkable illness at the home of her sister, Mrs. Brown, ill this place. Her parents died some years ngo, and Josephine went to work in St. James, little village near Evansville, Ind. One Saturday night last winter she went to singing school. She had not been ln her seat long when she felt very strange sensation about the head, &C., companied by pains in the back. She arose to her feet, as if to start out of 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 re- storatives 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 per ceptible pulse, and every indication pointed to death. Physicians pronounced life extinct. The priest was sent for to administer the last rites, and the weep ing sisters and friends of the family prepared to bid Josephine the last fare we'll. The coffin was ordered, busy fingers began to prepare 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 faint hope that the glrl lay in trance, and that this was but deaths counterfeit. The body lay on it's back, with arms folded, just as the attendants had placed 1t. 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 accom- paniment of actual dissolution. There was sufficient doubts in the minds of l tn ose 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 criti- cally examining the case and consulting with the physician, he said: ''It Is 8 trance. She may come to herself, 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 know 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 to me recently:
 "Oh, sir, it was horrible. As 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. heard every word spoken. My body, limbs and arms
 were as cold as ice. I thought of the agony of being buried alive, of being nailed in coffin and lowered into the ground. I tried to make some
 noise, or move just little, to let then
 know that was alive, but it was impos
 sible. saw my sisters come in one by
 one and look into my face. 'Pool
 Josie, she's gone' Their tears dropped
 on my hair, and their kisses were warn
 to my lips. As they turned to leave
 me, it seemed as if I must make al
 effort to attract their attention, if only
 by my moving my eyelids. But could
 not do it. I felt like screaming. I triet to, but couldn't move muscle. Th'
 priest came in, and felt my arms ant
 wrists. He shook his head. Then h.
 placed his ear to my heart. It was n' use. He could not hear it beat. Afte saying short prayer for the repose o my soul, he, too, turned and left me and my agony and horror were re
 doubled. Will no one find out that am alive? I said to myself. Must
 be buried only to wake when it is to late? Must come back to life whe they put me in the vault, and all of tn
 people have gone away, only to die ( t fright and horror and suffocation 2 Tn
 thought was maddenmg Why doesn , the doctor do something to bring me myself? I am not dead It was n ! use. There I lay thinking and listenin 8 to every word that was said. I coul l hear a woman giving directions as to th ! shroud. I heard the time set for th . funeral and all. I could see every on . who came to look at me. tried to loo o serious and let them know that unde.
 stood it all, but it was impossible. It
 wonder did not die of fright an
 agony. I often think that I woul sooner die, thousand times soone
 than go through that experience agail + "FinalIy, when all was ready, whe r the shroud was finished, and all had le V; the room but two or three, some or
 said: Amt you going to cut her ha ). off ? My hair was done up in Tor F.. braids, and fell down my back. Yes d said my sister, we'll cut it off now !, Then they got the scissors and came U Q. to me. While one of them took hold :; my head and turned it to one side, Il . one with the scissors began the cutting . could feel the cold steel on my necl ,. I realized that this was about the la thing they'd do before putting me in u