The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-25
PREMATURE BURIALs.
A Sole mist Who Believes that Hundreds Are
Rurlrn Al:yn

brisk city of Bridgeport, is a commo.
dious and attractive residence, the
house of one of the best known and
most enterprising of Bridgeport's citi-
zens. Prof. Il. c. Peck, or Tad" as
he is Familiarity called, was formerly u
member of the firm of Curtiss Il Peck,
druggists. A few years ago he sold
his interest in the drug business to a
man named Harris, and engaged in
the manufacture of several kinds of
patent medicines, a business in which
he is now employed, his laboratory be-
ing located in Stratford.
Prof. Peck has paid particular atten-
ton to scientific subjects. and for
many years has been the head and
front of the Bridgeport Scientific So
ciety. He frequently visits the Shelf
field Scientific School, and is a SPECIAL
friend OF Prof. Dubois and President
Porter. For many years he has been
engaged in collecting statistics that
are both horrible and interesting.
To a New Haven man who called OF
him yesterday, Prof. Peck gave an out
line of some of his Investigations.
"Some years ago, when quite a young
man. sad he, II read II newspaper
account that filled me with horror. a
beautiful Young wife had been buried.
A short time alter the burial the family
decided 10 remove the remains and
they were exhumed. When the coffin
was opened the corpse vas found N 4
horrible condition. and it was evident
that the w@man had been buried alive.
The reading of that story created n
wonderful impression IN my mind and
| concluded that would take some de-
c.ded step that would prevent my
sharing II like fate. l could not bear
The thought of being buried alive and
| made my wife promise that when l
dissolution had ia rlv begun.
"a short time later Rev. Mr.. En-
merson came to Stratford from the
West and was settled. One day in
conversation with mo he related a
story that made my blood run cold.
For many days he had lain very i'll
with Il disorder that the most skillful
physicians pronounced to be incurable.
AT last he apparently died. The body
was given 10 au undertaken to be prop
erly prepared for the grave, and in
due course of time the remains were
placed in q coffin. and all was in read
mess for the funeral. All this time
the Clergyman was not dead, although
every outward appearance indicated
that the body was already beginning
to decompose. Although Mr.. Emmer,
o had no control over his body, his
mind was perfectly clear. and he could
tell by the sound Of the voice who was
bending over his coffin, and could feel
the tears OF his wife as they dropped
or his face. Mr.. Emmerson described
his sensations during all this time rs
worse than horrible, and there can be
no doubt but what every word that he
utters upon this subject is perfectly
true. just rs the coffin lid was being
placed in position Mr.. Emmerson
made 4 desperate effort and was able
to move n of his hands. This ac-
ton attracted the attention of the un-
%dertaker, who speedily called a physi-
clan, and ut the last moment MIR. En-
mersun was snatcheu from q living
tomb.
"lherc are no less than five persons
residing in this city who have been
placed in collins, but owing TO some
fortunate accident they have been
saved. There is Mrs. Pardee, who
formerly resided in Waterbury, but
who now resides in Stratford. The
statement that she has made to me
she has worn to before a notary pub
lie. There is abundant evidence that
she SPEAKS the truth. Before Mrs.
Pardee was married she resided with
her parents in Waterbury and worked
at the drcssmakcr's trade. She was
ambitious, worked beyond her strength
and was stricken down with a violent
form of disease hat at the end of q
few days, spent itself and to all ap,
%pearances left its victim a corpse.
The body grew cold and rigid, and al.
though every ordinary test was APP.
piled nothing indicated that there was
one spark of life left in the poor body.
give up his daughter as dead. and in
sisted that a skilled physician from
New York be seat Tor. Ono was sum,
moned. and after making a most are
full examination pronounced the young
lady dead. Accordingly arrange.
ments were made for the funeral.
Mrs. Pardee says that although she
could moi open her eyes nor move
hand or foot. she could hear al
the conversation and was able
to tell all that was being done arounc
her. Just before the body WAS place.
in the coffin the test of burning tho
ends of the fingers was tried, and, al
though the fingers were burned sc
that the sears remain to this day, sh'
could not make q sound and in fac
could not feel a single sensation il
the fingers. When being taken III
for the purpose of being placed in tn
coffin, one of Mrs. Pardee's arms slip
ped from the position in which it lat
been placed and fell down by her side
That movement made q slight pulsa
ton in the wrist which was noticed b,
one of the attendants, and the resul
was that after a few hours work witt
q galvanic battery the dead was aliv
aga,n, and Mrs. Pardec to day is
living witness of what hundreds ar
undoubtedly called upon to sutle
every year.
II do not doubt that at least nine
tcnths of the people who die ar
buried alive and the longer | live an'
the more l have been able to find on
about this subject. the more conliden
! have become that something ough
to be done to prevent such horribl
occurrences. | have. therefore, bee
collecting all tho information a OF
this subject, and | intend to call
meeting of the citizens of Bridgepor
sometime within the next four weel:
for the purpose OF forming IN associn
ton which, will be known as tn
Bridgeport Humane-lnierment Assc
citation. The ASSOCIATION will be form
ed for the object of protecting it
members from being buried until lif
is positively known to be extinct
There will be no secrecy about any {
the doings Of the association, but eac
member will be required to take
snlenln oath HAT he will not nnrm