The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-07
SAMPLE BURIAL HORRORS.
Examinations Prove That Many Persons
Are Put i'm Ground Alive

n
One Of the gravediggers who exca-
waited cemetery in Minneapolis the
other day told a reporter Of that city that
In nineteen collins the remains were
found turned on their sides, and IN one
case lying face downward; the latter
was that of a full grown woman, with
long Jet black, beautiful tresses scat
tered over the shoulders and tangled
about the neck, indicating that after
being consigned to her last resting place
the latent spark Of life quickened, and,
conscious of the awful hopele-sness Of
her situation, and with the strength Of
desperation she began the fr'ghiiui
struggle, vainly turning and twisting
within the narrow walls Of her prison.
until exhaustion finally oyercame her
and brought relief
When the ancient cemetery east az
Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, was dug up
and the remains taken away 90 allow of
the extension OF Raymond street. the
writer saw numerous indications Of pre-
mature nterments. The most hlde0us
and blood curdling Of these was that #
a body found in the old Presbyterian
public receiving vault 1t had been
placed there about four years previously,
and the lid or top had been strained so
that some of the screws were torn half
out: the end and lower part Of the top
had been wrenched outward, and the
right foot and part of the leg had been
forced through, and was so found, pro
trudng. Upon further examination, the
entire body was found twisted. the skull
turned under and the fingers Of one hand
were thrust through and wedged in under
the lid-eyidently in the last straining,
hopeless effort for liberty. In scores Of
graves the cofias were found to contain
bodies that were turned and twisted
more or less 10 one side-posltiye proof
of having been buried alive
1t is a well authenticated fact that the
mother of the poet Scott. while lying in
a trance and declared 10y the physicians
to he dead, was laid away in the family
tomb in the great vaults under the parish
church. At night the ghoulish sexton
stealthily entered the tomb, opened the
casket, and proceeded to rob the elegant
and wealthy lady Of the jewels which
were on her person, according 10 the then
prevalent custom. Finding some finger
rings too tightly fixed the uncomfortable
thief took his pocket knife and slasred the
flesh from the fingers. The sudden shock
and flow Of blood caused areaction Of the
vital forces and the renewed madame
opened her eyes. uttered an exclamation
Of amazement and attempted TO rise up.
The guilty and horror stricken rascai's
hair rose straight upon his head, and,
with the yell Of desperate mailman, he
rushed forth, thus raising the alarm
which brought help and rescue 70 her.
She lived many years subsequently, none
the worse for Ter awful adventure, which
occurred five years previous to the birth
Of Sir Walter.
The mother Of Gen. Israel Putnam, Of
revolutionary renown, was placed IN her
coffin and the funeral services com
menced, when she revived, and six yesrs
afterward gave birth 10 the child Israel.
Long years ago three medical students,
who had paid am extra sum of money 20
professional 'resurrecionist' for the
purpose Of procuring an extraordinarily
desirable subject, entered the college dis
secting room one night 10 view their pur-
chase, which had just been received. Lift
ing the cloth cover, they were more than
pleased 10 discover the remarkably fresh,
fine, desirable young corpse Of young
and lovely maiden lady. II was tie
form Of a Juno and the features Of a
Hebe. Round. plump, spiondidiy deyei-
oped, perfectly symmetrical, with q
wealth Of dark chestnut ucsses, and
chestnut colored eyes, pink. creamy
tinted complexion, brilliant, ivory white
teeth, thin, delicate ears, mouth and
nose, eyebrows and eyelashes beautifully
long and shapely.
One of the two fingered about the body
apparently as one held under the spell O
a strange, underlined fascination. Tn.
girl had been i'll and was supposed Q,
have died of some heart disease, ans
had lain in her family vault about twenty
hours The young student, filed witt
Arbitration. gently lifted the magnificent
" nodded arm. Il was rot chlllingl,
cold, although cool. The muscles wer
not hard and fixed severely as in rlgo
morris. He raised the eyeiids and saw
none of the CLASSY and ghastly peculiar