Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-09-18
BURYING ALIVE.
A Remarkable Event Related by Sir Henry
Marsh.

A Remarkable Event Related by Sir Henry
Marsh.
Chambers Journal
The distinguished physician, Sir Hen
~ Marsh, used to describe an event
which occurred at the beginning of his
medical career, many years before he
had reached the eminence to which he
afterWard attained. He was called in by
the family dOctOr-a country practitioner
to attend upon Col. Il, struck
down suddenly by apoplexy. The fit
was a severe one. All efforts to save the
sick man proved unaVaihng; he never
rallied, and at the end of few days to
all appearance breathed his last. On the
morning Of the funeral the two medical
attendants deemed it right, as last at
tentiOn, to 90 and take leave of the re-
mains Of their patient before the coffin
was screwed down. The family doctor,
iOVial, hOrid parsonage, on whom pro-
fessiOnal cares sat lightly, had been a
friend, and Ofttimes boon companion, Of
the deceased. A bottle Of port and
glasses stood on a table near the colin.
"Ah, my poor friend !" he said, pouring
out a bumper and tossing it off; ''this was
his favorite drink. Rare wine, too. He
knew not what was good, and never
spared it. Many a generous glass we
have had together. I'll drink another
to his memory" he cried; and another
and another followed, until the wine,
rapidly gulped down, and at so unWOnt-
ed an hour, began to tell upon the man,
and make his eyes glisten and his speech
grew thick. "Why should you not
pledge me now for the last timeP ex-
claimed the excited doctor, while he ap-
preached the corpse, and, to Sir Henry's
ineXpressible disgust at such revolving
levity, pressed the glass to the pale lips.
The contents went down the Colonies
thrOatl Sir Henry stood amazed; his
eyes, which he was turning away from
the unbecOming spectacle, were riVeted
on the corpse. The jovial doctor sobered
in a moment, staggered back. Can
dead man drink" he cried. "GiYe him
more-mOIe?" exclaimed Sir Henry, re-
covering his presence of mind and seiz-
ing the bottle. A tinge so slight that
only medical eye could have detected
it began family to suffuse the white face.
The doctor tore away the shrOud
and placed his hand upon the
heart. There was no movement; but
they lifted the body out of the coffin and
proceeded to adopt the measures proper
for resuscitatIOn. Meanwhile the hearse
stood at the door; the funeral guests were
assembling carriages arriving;
while within all was cOmmOtiOn and suE-
pense-servants huTrying to and fro
fetching hot bricks, stimulants, restOra-
tives, in obedience to the doctors com
mands; the latter plying every means
skill could devise to keep the Pickering
spark Of life from dying out; and the
startled family, half paralyzed by the
sudden revUlsiOn, standing around, gath
cred IN anxious, silent groups. Breath
lessly they watched for tidings. For a
long time the result seemed doubtful
doubtful whether the hearse before the
door, the gaping coffin, the gravecIothes
! lying scattered about and tTampled IN
der foot, all the grim paraphernalia of
death hastily discarded in the first mo-
ment of hOpe-might not yet be needed
to fulfill their mournful Office. But no.
| Breath, pulsation, consciousness were
slowly returning. Col. H, was given
back to his family and home, filing
again the place that it was thought would
know him no more. And not until five
and-tWenty years had passed away after
( that memorable morning were his friends
summoned-this time to pay him the
/ last tribute.