Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-08-09
ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.

that was Udkell SichJ Duo tipping /
would recover, no medical I'D was
summoned. The following night /
grew very respondent, and i seemed
to feel that something unusual was
about to happen.
"The next morning, shortly after
sunrise, / felt a curious sensation in
my feet, which became heavy, as il
they were sleeping This sensation
came further upward, and / began 10
think that if it were to reathm heart
my life's journey would soon be end
ed.
Having called my family and
friends about me told them of the
fears entertained. As they lay by
my bedside praying-ohl Inevershall
forget those prayers-I bade then ak
farewell, and fell back paralyzed
unable to move even a finger or to
open my eyes, and to every one but
myself / was dead"
1t was a silver-headed sage of INV
acquaintance who during the greSser
part of his life had lived in soutlIsrn
Pennsylvania, that was relating To
me his experience of being about To
be buried while apparently dead.
"The agony and torture suffered
for the next three days would FIJI vol.
umes, yet the horror of my situation
could not beexpressed, 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 darling little daughter
as she chung to my bosom-iniplorcd
me to speak and asked if | loved her
l heard my prattling child pray that
lifewould returnto papafcr raaInfysfs
sake.
"The strength Oh every fibre in INV
system summoned, but my mouth
would not open, my tongue would
not move. Twas imprisoned in nv
own body-tied down even mora
than if / had been placed inchains.
HThen came the fears of being
buried alive. / heard how the ar.
rangements for my funeral were to
be made, who should be my BALI
bearers and what minister should de-
liver my funeral sermon.
"The style of my coffin / heard
discussed at length between my wife
and a neighbor.
'This was the most terrible con.
ference to which l ever listened, /. said
the old man IS he wiped tn, tears
from his eyes and continued
II fell asleep and remained uncon-
scious until the next day. When I
awoke j was being placed in my COT
fin, that awe-inspiring, CHASTITY box
in which it was intended | should
forever rest, and yet | was unable to
intimate that life still fingered in my
bosom.
"Many friends came TO look at me,
and as they passed by the coffin |
llsbtiitu W buCH tAIldllldtlOiiS US.
Isn't he natural?' oh, doesn't he
look life-like?' and the like, that are
so plentiful on such occasions.
"On the third day / was vet in
trance. About 8 O'Clock in the fore
noon, so am told, all was ready for
the funeral. Into my house ffledsix
of my friends, who transported my
coffin into the hearse by the door.
After short time / was again taken
out from the fatal carriage This
was at the church, where the benedie-
tions were pronounced.
"The church had been crowded
with people when the service begin.
The pine board of my coffin quiyeiel
as the deep tones of the organ and
the voices of the choir echoed through
the corridor Of the sacred ediffes.
The dreadful music ceased and all
was hushed save the heartrending
sobs of my wife.
"a low voice from the pulpit, which
increased in volume as it proceeded
to review the good phases ofmy life
and to advise the congregation to
be prepared for death, intiniates
that the pastor had assumed the
sacred duty of his office. For fully
an hour, which to me seemed an age,
he continued to paint in vivid eolors
the instability of fortunes and the
shortness of life on earth He closed
with prayer, after which, as those
who were present were passing to
take last look at me, a mournifl
march, every note of which pierced
my heart like a pisoned arrow, shock
the windows of the ancient church
All the members of my family had
passed me by They were asked to
take final view of the mortal r.
mains of their beloved husband and
father Grant heaven that / never
may survive another moment like
that
AS my beloved ones, who sainly
tried to- suppress their grief igFn
sobs, stood by my head, felt tear
drop upon my cheek. Had it been
liquid fire it would not have caused
me such frightful pains.
"A vain yet desperate attempt 70
open my eyes | made and more hope j
lessly than ever my spirit sank into
a deeper anguish of mortal grief
Once more lay in heslowly moving
hearse which was to convey me TO the
cemetery two miles distant, where an 3
open grave was yawning to swallow
me up,
''The fierce wind beat the snoF
against the panes of glass IN mx
lonely couch. 1t is a wonder that !
was not frozen to death. Mingiedwlth
the raging wind, the bells in yondsf
church tower tolled my funeral knell
sending shocks of indescribable grn
into my wretched soul. Only the
fortunes of Prometheus, on Whose
vitals n raven continuously fed. can
be compared with my suffering.
"Once at the cemetery j was soon
hoisted into my grave, that disnlsI
den of earth, and one, two, thres
shoyels full of earth were thrown up
on my coffin.
At this late moment resumed -!
physical strength and voice. ! tor
them to open the coffin, and Wa
saved.
"A hundred times would Irather d's
upon the rack or above SLOW ne
than once more experieneesucll q @
rible living DEATH"