The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-02-01
Buried Alive.

.
A most extraordinary case which has
astonished all the medical profession in
Russia and Poland, has Just come from
Warsaw. A short time ago there died
IN the outskirts of the old capital q
young peasant woman who was buried
with that haste which characterizes the
funerals Of the Russian peasants. A few
days atterward doctors were called to
determine the cause of her death, but
none could say positively as to the
nature OF a disease that had shown no
symptoms whatever, and which had
brought this young woman to prema-
ture and sudden end. She was buried
in due course. However, it was ru-
mored about the city that her husband
often ill-treated her, and at her death
some people went SO far as to say that
he was the cause of it. These rumors
spread more and more until they
reached the ears of tho authorities, who
Immediately caused the body to be ex-
humed. The judicial commission fol-
lowed the grave-digger to the cemetery,
and the latter proceeded TO disintcr the
remains. Having reached it 4 lope was
lowered and, after fixing it firmly
around the half-rotten coffin, the ghastly
freight was hoistcd once moro to the
bier and, to their horror and stupcGac-
ton, discovered not only the woman
but Il second sharer of this her last rest
ing place, in the shape of Il child that
was lying at her icet The child had
been born in the tomb, where it had
lived for several hours. Thus the tomb
of the mother had been both its cradle
and tomb at tho same time AS to tho
mother, it was d scovered that she had
been buried alive when in q comatose
state, and, on returning to conscious
ness. had given birth to the child 1t
was easily seen that the poor womanhad
suffered terribly.
Burying people alive in Europe has
occurred too often of late wears. and
can only be accounted for by the mat.
tention of doctors, which, in this case,
should be treated as a criminal olfense.
Tho fear OF the living of being immurcd
a We has gained such power over the
mind that Russians, when on their
dcath-bed, have left lcgacies for the
foundation and maintenance of mortu-
aries in their native city. where sup
posed corpses are placed for three days
in the hope that their thread Of Ii NAV
not haye parted. The mortuary of Fri
burg can be quoted as an instance Of
these peculiar Institutions, which are
confined principally to Eastern Europe,
where cataleptic fits are known to be
more prevalent than in any other part
of the g!oEe.
In tie center of the cemetery at Fri
burg stands house VIII ch, to an mob-
servant person, would have every ap-
pcarancc of n small chapel This
! thought would be suggested through tho
| sight OF Il tower VIII ch contains a bell;
but, on entering this lilliput'a an build
inc, the scarchcr for knowledge might
| be astonished TO see human form, dead
to all appearance. The stin, rigid body
re SIS upon marble slab. dressed in
| deaths garments, and the rings which
| depend from wrc rope that runs
through the ceiling, are attached to its
| fingers. further inspection, aided by
the theory of the apparatus which the
genial attendant is willing to give to all
visitors, would explain this somewhat
| mysterious position of the dead BODY
The fingers OF the supposed corpse are
placed in magnetic steel rings that fit
tightly. Should the bohy show any
signs termination, the slight est quiver
OF the nerves OF the fingers would affect
the steel rings, which in their turn COM
municate with another stronger mag
nctic current that forces itself on the
bell. making it toll which brings an at
tcndant physician to the rescue. By
this means several bodies placed in this
| mOrtuary since 1865 have returned to
life. y peasant woman, named Pezoff-
eki, recently walked from her tomb on
| the third day after burial. st FctcrS.
| bHrU Cor. PhilHdciUhiN Press.