The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-31
Buriea Alive.


A most extraordinary case which has
nstonished all the medical profession IN
Russia and Poland, has just come from
Warsaw. A short time age. there died
in the outskirts OF the old capital 9
young peasant woman who was buried
with that haste which characterizes the
funerals Of the Russian peasants. A few
days afterward doctors were called to
determine the cause OF her death, but
none could say positively as to the
nature OF 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 RI.
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 the 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 disinter the
remains. Having reached it a lope was
lowered, and, after fixing it firmly
around tho half-rotten coffin, the CHASTITY
freight was boisted once more to the
level OF the earth. They opened the
bier and, to their horror and s,upelac-
ton, discovered not only the woman
but a second sharer Of this her last rest
ing place, in the shape OF child that
wa, living at her feet. 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 the
mother, ii was d scoVered that she had
been buried alive when in comatose
state, and, on returning to conscious
ness. had given birth to the child. 1t
was easily seen that the poor woman had
suffered terribly.
Burying people alive in Europe has
occurred TOO often OF late years, and
can only be accounted for by the mat
tention OF doctors, which, In this case,
should be treated as a criminal oliense.
The fear OF the living Of being immured
a. We has gained such q power over the
mind that Russians, when on their
death-bed, have left legacies 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 may
not have parted. The mortuary OF Fri
burg can be quoted as an instance oil
these peculiar institutions, which are
confined principally to Eastern Europe
where cataleptic fits are known to b'
more prevalent than in any other par
Of the g,o5e.
In tie center OF the cemetery at Fri
burg stands house which, to an unob
servant person, would have every .ap
pearance of small chapel Thi
thought would be suggested through tn,
sight OF q tower, VIII oh contains a bell
but, on entering this lilliputian build
ing, the searcher for knowledge nigh
be astonished TO see ahuman form. dea'
TO all appearance. The stiff, rigid bod,
rests upon % marble slab. dressed i
deaths garments, and the rings whic
depend from WIRE rope that run
through the ceiling, are attached to II
fingers. A further inspection, aided b
the theory of the apparatus which tn
gen al attendant is willing to give to a
visitors, would explain this somewha
mysterious position of the dead body
The fingers Of the supposed corpse ar
placed in magnetic steel rings that ii
tightly. Should the boly show an
signs OF Termination, heslightest quive
OF the nerves OF the fingers would a!let
the steel rings, which in their turn con
municate with another stronger mas
nctic current that forces itself on til
bell, making it toll, which brings IAN q
tendant physician to the rescue. b
this means several bodies placed in tn
motuary since 1865 have returned I
life. A peasant woman, named Pezof
eki, recently walked from her tomb O
the third day after burial. 81. Peter
Lur0 Cor. PHiindelDhd Press.