Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-05
a oross oArr.
ExPerience OF nm Indiana Farmer
while IA q Trance.

New York Sun.
On the evening of June 18th, 1868,
George Wellington, AN Indiana farmer, had
gathering of friends at his house. He
was man AZ years of age and OF robust
health, and ON this evening IL was noticed
that he was in particularly good spirits.
After the guests had departedh he remarked
to his wife that he felt more like singing
and dancing than going to bed. They re-
tired about 11.30 o'clock, and she was
asleep before midnight. The farmer was
always out OF bed at O'Clock, but ON the
morning following the party the wife
awoke and found him still sleeping. When
she attempted 10 arouse him she dis
covered that he was decd. A doctor was
sent for, and he arrived In the course of
an hour to pronounce II n 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. II was remarked thnt the
corpse retained life-like appearance, and
that none Of the limbs grew rigid, but the
other two physicians called in vigorously
oombatted the idea that he was in q trance
and might be restored to life. Neverthe-
less the wife and sons had secret hope
that death had not really come 10 him, and
the. funeral was put two days ahead.
During the interval the corpse was con-
stantly watched for signs Of returning
animation, but nothing occurred to delay
the funeral arrangements. The burial
was 10 take place in country graveyard,
and most of the vehicles gathering at the
house belonged to farmers. The usual
ceremonies took place over the dead, and
the coffin was brought out and placed in
the hearse. While the procession was
forming team attached 10 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 Ave
men ran 10 pick it up, but before hand
touched IL voice was heard saying "Foi
Gods sake, let nae out Of this.n The
people at first moved back in alright, hui
as the voice continued TO address them
the coffin was righted and opened, and
Wellington was found struggling TO ge
out. With q little assistance he pulled
himself out of the box and walked int
the house and sat down in a chair. II
half an hour he had his clothes on and
was moving around among the amazet
people, to whom he related this expert
encA:
~ did not fall asleep until some tim
after midnight. When awoke the clocl
was striking5. l madea movement TO &c
out of bed, but, to my great amazement
could stir neither hand nor foot. hai
the full use Of my ears, but could no
open my eyes. argued at first that
was not yet wide awake, but when m
wife shook me and called me by name
and I could not respond by even movin
an eyeld became satisfied that was i
trance. My mind was never cleare
and my hearing was painfully acute.
made effort after effort TO throw of th
great weight which seemed to be holdin
me down, but l could never bend 10
, or crook a finger; however, ii was onl
after the doctor had pronounced me iea
! that felt any alarm. Up to that time
had seemed as IL could soon manage |
get rid of the weight. Had pistol bee
fred in the room 1 am sure the spe
would have been broken. After IL
DOCTORS ultimatum felt that was 10 /
!. buried alive. II was all of sudden thl
i this query flashed across my brain, an
was troubled more than can tell yo'
o As had never died before, how was l
know the sensation? Gould the dea
hear and think? Was the mind of
corpse in active operation ? 1t was
Il problem you could not solve"