The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-02
RISING FROM HER COFFIN.
a YOUNG LADY's NARROW ESCAPE
FROM PREMATURE BURIAL.
Save From u Horrible Fate by n
Doctor While The Funeral Service
Was Escing Performed.

save From n HpOrfsblc Fate by "a
Doctor While The Funeral Service
Was Hcing Performed.
A distinguished physician of this city,
who has now retired from active prac
tice, while travelling in Wisconsin,
F stopped for night in a small village,
writes Washington correspondent. A
friend and former pupil called to see him,
and during the evening mentioned a very
' singular case which he had been lately
treating. The young lady, his patient,
had died very suddenly three days be-
fore, but after she was prepared for the
grave, and laid in her coffin, she pre-
sented such life-likc appearance that he
was unwilling to have her inferred. The
family insisted that she was dead; but a
young gentleman to whom she had been
Engaged demonstrated so decidedly that
the lnterment was postponed, after the
minister and friends had assembled on
he second morning. On the third morn
ing the burial was again deferred; for,
Ehough the body lay perfectly motionless
N the casket without evincing any signs
Pf life, they hesitated to put it in the
ground while it continued to look so
natural. The young physician had used
very means that he knew of to restore
nimation if there was life left, or if
possible, to detect some sign of it.
Nothing which he had tried had discov-
red any sign of remaining vitality, and
hey had at length determined to delay
he burial no longer 1t was to be on
he next morning-the morning of the
ourth day. The young physician re-
In fn u L., he
borrow and look at the body.
1.-The following morning." says DR..
-, Z" l accompanied my friend to the
ouse where the body Of the young lady
by. When we reached the house the
lends of the family had already arrived,
nd the officiating minister had gone
trough part of the service in the room
here the body lay, prayer think it
as, and the family had taken their last
'rewell of a beautiful girl. When
epped into the room the undertaken
hd the casket lid in his hands ready to
rev it down. No sooner did see the
ce in the casket than felt sure that
e was not extinct. There was not the
intest pulse that | could detect; but
hen laid my ear close upon her breast
WAS confident that heard the slightest
Fart-beat. So certain was then that it
as a case of catalepsy that did not
state moment to apply the proper
NEEDLES. Imagine, if you can, the scene
hen the young lady uttered suddenly
ercing scream and rose up in her coffin
was the most awful note of agony that
nope ever to hear. The room was filled
tn friends, beside the family and
mestics. Several ladies tainted out
Eht; some screamed and went into
sterics, the servants ran out into the
rd, and | confess, though | was expect
to see her revive, my own nerves were
shaken by the suddenness of the occur
ice that it was with the greatest diff
lty L could stand. Her face, too, which
Pment before had worn that sweet smile
peaceful sleep, writhcd as she rose up in
most dreadful contortions. / have
yer seen face depict so much terror
agony. 1t seemed as if all the mental
fering which she had endured through
use four terrible days and nights found
1T in that one cry and look. In few
ments her pent-up feelings had found
eff, and she then got ont of the coffin
down from the table with very little
lStance.
By this time the tumult in the room
in a measure subsidized. and she then
us what was the most fearful part of
whole experience that she had been
fectly conscious during the entire time
had heard all that was said and
w all that was going on around her.
had felt herself being shrouded and
in the coffin, had heard her friends
ping over her before the coffin lid
ud close upon her forever, and
should surely be buried alive. Mean
lie, though she tried her utmost, she
unable to move or utter sound.
friends look upon her as given back
hem from the grave, and indeed, in
country around, it is reported that |
ly raised her from the dead, and after
fit they told me that the country
Pile tlocked in crowds to see me-
at the young lady's feelings are it is
ess to try to imagine, and what they
during the four days and nights in
Oh she lay in the coffin awaiting to be
ed alive, too terribleto contemplate"