Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-03


The New York Sun prints the follow
ing story: On the evening OF June 49,
1868, George Wellington, an Indiana
farmer, had gathering OF friends nc
his house. He was n man ~ years OF
age and OF robust health, and on this
evening it was noticed that he was IN
particularly good spirits. After the
guests had departed he remarked 10
his wife that he felt more like Singing
and dancing than going to bed. Ihey
retired about ll:3O o'clock and she
was asleep before midnight. The
farmer was always out OF bed at D
O'Clock, but on the morning following
the party the wife awoke and found
him still sleeping. When she attempt
ed to arouse him she discovered that
he was dead. A doctor was sent Tor
and he arrived in the course OF an
hour to pronounce 1t case OF heart
disease. He SAID the man had been
dead three hours when the wife awoke.
The undertaken came and prepared
the body for burial. Il was remarked
that the corpse retained a lfe-llke APP
pearance and that none oil the limbs
grew rigid, but the other two
physicians called in vigorously com
batted the idea that he was in trance
and might be restored TO life. Never
theless the wife and sons had secret
hope that death had not really come
to him and the funeral was put two
days ahead.
During the interval the corpse was
constantly watched for signs OF re-
turning animation, but nothing oc-
Cured to delay the funeral arrange
ments. The burial was to take place
III a country graveyard, and most OF
the vehicles gathered at the house be-
longed to farmers. The usual GER
monies took place over the dead, and
thecoffin was brought out and placed IN
the hearse. While the procession was
forming team attached TO an empty
wagon came down the road, running
away. The wagon collided with the
hearse and the latter vehicle
was upset and the coffin flung
out. Four or five men ran
to pick it up, but before hand touch
ed 1t a voice was heard. saying: Fog
God sake let me out o. this. The
people at first moved back in alright,
but a the voice continued to address
them the coffin was righted and open
ed ard Wellington was found strug-
Cling to get out With little assist
ance he pulled himself out OF the box
and walked into the louise and sat
down in chair. In half an hour ne
had his clothes on and was moving
around among the amazed people 70
whom he related this experience.
81 did not fall asleep until some time
after midnight. When | awoke the
clock was striking ). made q move
ment TO get out Of bed, but, TO my
amazement, ! could stir neither hand
nor foot had the full use OF my ears,
but could not open my eyes. ar
Cued at first that | was not yet wide
awake, but when my wife shook me
and called me by name, and could
not respond by even moving an eye
lid | became satisfied that | was IN q
trance. My mind was never clearer
and my hearing was painfully acute.
| made effort after effort 70 throw of
the great weight which seemed to he
holding me down, but | could never
bend a toe or crook finger; however,
it was only after the doctor had pro.
nounced me dead that felt
any alarm. Up to that time
t had seemed as il | could soon
manage to get rid OF the weight. Had
pistol been fired in the room am
sure the spell would have been broken.
After the doctors ultimatum felt
that | was to be buried alive. 1t was
all of a Sudden this uuaTv fla she'd
across my brain and ! was troubled
more than can tell you. As | had
never died before, how was % know
the sensation, Could the dead hear
and shink? Was the mind OF corpse
in active operation 1t was Il problem
you coold not solve"