Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-07-27
MisCellaMe1Ms.
Horrible Experience in a Trance.

ut was cold January afternoon that
| was taken sick, but hoping | would
recover. no medical aid was summoned.
The following night | grew very de-
spondent, and | seemed to feel that
something unusual was about to happen.
1.-THE next morning, shortly after sun
rise, felt curious sensation in my
feet, which became heavy. as if they
were sleeping. This sensation came
farther and farther upward, and | be-
gan to think that il it were to reach my
heart my life's journey would soon bo
ended.
Having called my family and friends
about Inc / told them Of the fears | en-
rtertained. As they lay BY my bedside
praying--oh never shall forget
those prayers-I babe them all fare
we'll, and I fell back paral yzed, unable
to move even finger or to open my
eyes, and to every one but myself | was
was dead.
Il was n silver headed sage of my
acquaintance who the greater part Of
his life had lived in southern Pennsyl-
vania, that was relating to me his ex-
perience of being about to be buried
while apparently dead, says writer in
the St. Paul Dispatch.
"The agony and tortures suffered for
the next three days would fill volumes,
yet the horror Of my situation could not
be expressed" he continued. II heard
the weeping and wailing of my dear wife
and children, who were nearly frantic
with grief. | felt the kisses of my darl-
ing little daughter as she clung to my
m-implored me to speak and asked
if loved her. | heard my prattling
child pray that life would return to papa
for mammals sake. The strength Of
every fiber in my system summoned,
but my mouth would not open, my tongue
would not move. was imprisoned in
my own body-tied down even more
than if | had been placed in chains.
Their came tho fears Of being buried
alive. | heard how the arrangements
for my funeral were to be made, who
should be the pallbcarers and what min
lister should deliver my funeral sermon.
The style Of my coffin / heard discussed
at length between my wife and a neigh
Dor. This was the most terrible confer
ence to which / ever listened" said the
old man, as he wiped the tears from his
eyes and continued:
81 fell asleep and remained uncon-
scious until the next day. When l
awoke | was being placed in my coffin,
that awe inspiring, ghastly box in which
it was intended | should forever rest,
and yet was unable to make signs to
intimate that life still fingered in my
bosom. Many friends came to look at
me, and as they passed by the coffin |
listened to such exclamations as Isn't
he naturalT oh, doesn't he look life
like ? and the like, that are so plentiful
| on such an occasion. On the third day
was still in trance. About nine in
the forenoon, so am told, all was ready
for the funeral. Into my house filed
six of my friends, who transported my
coffin into the hearse at the door. After
short time was again taken out from
the fatal carriage; this was at the church,
where the benedictions were to be pro-
nounced. The church had been crowded
with people when the services began.
The pine boards Of my coffin quivered as
the deep tones of the organ and the
voices Of the choir echoed through the
corridors of the sanctified edifice. The
dreadful music ceased and all was hush
cd save the heartrendiDg sobs Of my
wife. A low voice from the pulpit which
increased in volume as it proceeded in
review the good phases of my life and
to advise the congregation to be pre-
pared for death, intimated that the pas
tor had assumed tho sacred duty of his
Office. For fully an hour, which to me
seemed an age, he continued to paint in
vivid colors the instability Of fortune
and the shortness of life on earth. He
closed with prayer, after which, as those
who were present were passing to take a
last look at me, mournful march, every
note of which pierced my heart like a
poisoned arrow, shook the windows Of
the ancient church. All but the mem
bers of my family had passed me by.
They were asked to take final view o
the mortal remains Of their beloved hus-
band and father. Grant, Heaven, tha