Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-10
BURYING ALIVE.
A Remarkable Event Related by Sir
Henry Marsh.

Chambers Journal.
The distinguished physician, Sir
Henry Marsh, used to describe an
event which occurred at the beginning
of his medical career, many years be-
fore he had reached the eminence to
which he afterward attained. He was
called in by the family doctor-a
country praetitioner-to attend upon
Col. H, struck down suddenly by
apoplexy. The fit was a severe one.
All efforts to save the sick man proved
unavailing; he never rallied, and at
the end of few days to all appear
ance brcathed his last.
On the morning of the funeral the
two medical attendants deemed it but
right, as last attention, to go and
take leave of the remains of their pa
tent before the coffin was screwed
down. The family doctor, jovial,
fOrid parsonage, on whom profession
al cares sat lightly, had been friend,
and ofttimes boon companion, of the
deceased. A bottle Of port and glasses
stood on a table near the coffin. "Ah,
my poor friend, be said, pouring out
a bumper and tossing it of; this was
his favorite drink. Rare wine, too.
He knew what was good, and never
spared it, Many a generous glass W
have had together. III drink another
to his memory" he cried; and anoth-
er and another followed, until the
wine, rapidly gUlped down, and at so
unwonted an hour, began to tell upon
the man, and make his eyes glisten
and his speech grow chick.
''Why should you not pledge me
now for the last time?" exclaimed the
excited doctor, while he approached
the corpse, and, to- Sir Henry's mex
pressible disgust at such revolving lev
ity, pressed the glass to the pale Ups
The contents went down the colOnel's
throat
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
a dead man drink?" be cried.
Give him more-mOre p exclaimed
Sir Henry, recovering his presence of
mind and Selling the bottle.
A tinge so slight that only medi-
cal 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 re-
SuscitatIOn.
Means while the hearse stood at the
door; the funeral guests were assem-
bling outside carriages arriving; and
within all was commOtion and sus-
pense-servants hurrying to and fro
fetching hot bricks, stimulants, restor-
atives, in obedience to the doctors
commands; the latter plying every
means skill could devise to keep the
Pickering spark of life from dying
out; and the startled family, half par
alyzed by the sudden revulsion, stand
ing around gathered liz anxious, 81
lent groups. Breathlessly they watched
for tidings.
For a long time the result seemed
doubtfuI-doubtful whether the hearse
before the door, the gaping coffin, the
gravecloths lying scattered about and
trampled under foot all the grim par
aphernalia of death hastily discarded
IN the first moment of h0pe-might
not yet be needed to fulfill their
mournful office. But no. Breath,
pulsaSion, 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 mem
orable morning were his friends sum-
moned-this time to pay him the last
tribute.