The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-29
ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.

ut was cold January afternoo
that l was taken sick, but hoping
would recover, no medical aid wa
summoned. The following night
grew very respondent, and 1 SCENE
to feel that something unusual wa
about to happen.
"The next morning, shortly afte
sunrise, l felt a curious sensation i
my feet, which became heavy, as
they were sleeping This sensation
came further upward, and l began t,
think that if it were to reach my hear
my LIES journey would soon be end
ed.
Having called my family ant
friends about me I told them of tn
fears entertained. AS they lay b.
my bedside praying-ohl Inever shall
forget those prayers-I babe them al
farewell, and fell back paralyzed
unable to move even a finger or tt
open my eyes, and to every one but
myself was dead"
1t was a silver-headed sage of my
acquaintance who during the greater
part of his life had lived in southern
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 fill vol
umes, yet the horror of my situation
could not beexpressed, he continued.
81 heard the weeping and wailing OF
my dear wife and children, who were
nearly frantic with grief. l felt the
kisses of my darling little daughter
as she chung to my bosom-implored
me to speak and asked if I loved her.
| heard my prattling child pray that
life would return to papa for mammals
sake.
"The strength of every fibre in my
system l summoned, but my mouth
would not open, my tongue would
not move. Twas imprisoned in my
own body-tied down even more
than if l had been placed in chains.
'Then came the fears of being
buried alive. I heard how the ar
rangements for my funeral were to
be made, who should be my pail
bearers and what minister should de-
liver my funeral sermon.
"The style of my coffin I heard
discussed at length between my wife
and a neighbor.
"This was the most terrible con-
ference to which ever listened" said
the old man as he wiped the tears
from his eyes and continued:
II fell asleep and remained uncon-
seious until the next day. When I
awoke was being placed in my cof-
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 1
listened to such ordinations as:
Isn't he natural?' ooh, doesn't he
look life-like?' and the like, that are
80 plentiful on such occasions.
"On the third day was yet in
trance. About 9 o'clock in the fore
noon, SO l am told, all was ready for
the funeral. Into my house filed six
of my friends, who transported my
coffin into the hearse by the door.
After a short time l was again taken
out from the fatal carriage. This
was at the church, where the benedic-
lions were pronounced.
"The church had been crowded
with people when the service began.
The pine board of my coffin quivered
as the deep tones of the organ and
the voices of the choir echoed through
the corridor of the sacred edifces.
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 of my life
and to advise the congregation to
be prepared for death, intimated
that the pastor had assumed the |
sacred duty of his Office. For fully |
an hour, which to me seemed an aga
he continued to paint in vivid colors |
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 a last look at me, a mournful
every note of which pierced
my heart like a pisoned arrow, shook
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 re-
mains of their beloved husband and
father. Grant heaven that / never
may survive another moment like
that!
Gas my beloved ones, who vainly
tried to suppress their grief laden
,obs, stood BY my head, I felt tear
1rop upon my cheek. Had it been
liquid fire it would not have caused
ne such frightful pains.
"a vain yet desperate attempt to
open my eyes made and more hope
essly than ever my spirit sank into
/ deeper anguish of mortal grief.
)nce more l lay in the slowly moving
learse which was to convey me to the
two miles distant, where an
'pen grave was yawning to swallow
ne up.
"The fierce wind beat the snow
'gainst the panes of glass in my
onely couch. 1t is a wonder that /
vas not frozen to death. Mingled with
he raging wind, the bells in yonder
hurch tower tolled my funeral knell,
ending shocks of indescribable grief
nto my wretched soul. Only the
ortures of Prometheus, on whose
'itals raven continuously fed, can
'e compared with my suffering. d
"Once at the cemetery was soon {
loisted into my grave, that dismal
len of earth, and one, two, three
novels full of earth were thrown up
Il