Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-26
SHE WAS DEAD IN LIFE.
why Mira Sorrich Never Talks of Fu-
neral In the Presence of a Corpse.

One Of the best known physicians Of Indian
apolis, DIR. Culbertson, dropped dead on the
streets November L. The fact that within
three hours his body had been embalmed and
prepared for burial has created some comment,
beginning in a criticism by another doctor OF
such hasty action on account of the danger OF
installing trance for death. Singulariy, just
at this time Mrs. Sorrich, who lives in Jeher-
SON county Ohio, a few miles from Steuoen-
vile, is in Indianapolis on a VISIT and her ex-
perience lends point to the doctors remarks
Fifteen wears ago. while still ffteen-year-
old school girl. she married Henry Hail. There
was trouble over the marriage begun by her
parents and the worry of this. together with
hard study at school. broke down her health,
causing nervous prOstratlon. Her 1ather at
last reIented and took his daughter and her
husband home, but a few days later she fell at
the door of the house in what was at frst sup
posed TO be a fainting fit She failed 10 revive,
and a doctor pronounced her dead 10 prove
IL he cut into a vein ON her arm and showed
that no blood flowed She was thereupon pre-
pared for burial. All the time she was con-
scious of what was going on, but had not power
to move q muscle or make a sign. She could
hear the women tiptoeing about the room and
felt tears drop on her face. Her associates at
Sunday school were chosen as pall-bearers. and
all was ready for the funeral, which was only
delayed to await the arrival of her twin brother,
who was away at school. When he came she
knew it; she felt him kiss her and heard him
say:
''Sadie is not dead. She shall not be bur-
led"
He insisted on having his own way, and was
finally humored, although his idea was regard
ed only as the within of a grief-stricken lad.
When three days had passed by and there were
no signs of decomposition, 1t was decided that
the matter ought to be investigated. DIR. Sid
dali. Of Cambridge, Ohio; DIR. Gilligan, of Pitts
burg; DIR. VIM. Elder, of Wheeling, and DIR. j.
NJ Kelly and DIR. E. b. Cost, of Warrenton,
Ohio, came to the house and remained two
DAYS. applying all sorts of tests. They pro-
nounced her certainly dead, and after nine
DAYS il was decided to go on with the funeral.
Her brother still refused to consent to it, and
Selling her in his arms, kissed her passionately,
and declared that they should never bury her.
In doing so he knocked off the bandage that
held her jaws closed, and as the lower jaw fell
down he exclaimed that he saw her tongue
move.
II knew she was not dead" he cried. ''Sadie,
what do you want?"
..water?' she gasped family, and when it was
brought she drank pint.
Mrs Sorrich says that during the trance she
remained dimly conscious of everything that
passed about her. Except when they we're
talking of burying her, she was in a restful,
tranquil state, and perfectly eontented- When
they talked funeral it was as though she were
in some dreadful nightmare, her inability to
speak or move causing the most intense men
tai agony.
"Since then" she SAYS. Il have never talked
Of funeral in the presence of a corpse"
few months later she sick for a long
time, and at its end lay in trance for eleven
days. Since then she has never had recur-
renee of anything like death in life.