Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-20
Horrible Experience in a Trance.

=
TT was cold January afternoon that
was taken sick, but hoping would recover,
no medical aid was summoned. The follow.
ing night 1 grew very respondent, and
seemed to feel that something unusual was
about to happen.
1.-THE next morning, shortly after sunrise,
I felt q curious sensation in my feet, which
became heavy, as if they were sleeping
This sensation came farther and farther up.
ward, and began to think that if it were to
reach my heart my lfe's journey would soon
be ended.
Having called my family and friends
about mo told them of the fears enter
tained AS they lay by my bedside praying
oh never shall forget those prsyers-I
bade them all farewell, and fell back para
lyZed, unable 10 move even finger or to
open my eyes, and to every one but myself
| was dead.
st was a silver.headed sage of my &C.
quaintance 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 appa.
rently dead, says writer in the st. Paul
Dispatch.
1.-THE agony and tortures 1 suffered for
the next three days would fill volumes, yet
the horror of my situation could not be ex-
pressed" he continued. II heard the weep.
ing and wailing of my dear wife and
children, who we're nearly frantic with grief.
felt the kisses OF my darling little daughter
as she clung to my bosom-imployed me to
speak and asked ifI loved her. Iheard my
pratting child pray that life would return
to papa for mammals sake. The strength
of every fiber in my system l summoned,
but my mouth would not open, my tongue
would not move. l was imprisoned in my
own body-tied down even more than if
had been placed in chains. Then came the
fears of being buried alive. heard how the
arrangements for my funeral were 10 be
made, who should be my pal-bearers and
what minister should deliver my funeral
sermon. The style of my coffin | heard dis
cusssd at length between my wife and &
neighbor." This was the most terrible
conference to which ever listened" said
the old man, as he wiped the tears from his
eyes and contiE ued:
II fell asleep and remained unconscious
until next day. When 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. any signs to intimate that life still
fingered in my bosom. Mary friends came
to look at me, and as they passed by the
coffin I listened to such exclamations as
Isn't he patural?' Oh. doesn't he look
life-like?' and the like, that are go
plentiful on such occasions. On the
third day 1 was yet in trance. About
nine in the forenoon, so | am told, all
was ready for the funeral Lotto my house
filed six of my friends, who transported my
coffin into the hearse at the door. After
short time I was again taken out from the
fatal carriage; this was at the church where
the benedctions were to be pronounced.
The church had been crowded with people
when the services began. The pine boards
of nv coffin uuivered as the deep tones of
the organ and the voices of the choir echoed
through the corridors of the aanctitied edi-
fee. The dreadful music ceased and all was
hushed save the heart.rending eobs OF my
wife. A low voice from the pulpit, which
increased in volume as it proceeded TO re-
view the good phases of my life and to adj
vise the congregation to be prepared fer
death, ntmated that the pastor had assumed
the sacred duty of his office. For fully an
hour, which to me seemed an age, he con-
tinued to paint in vivid c9Iors the Instability
of fortune and the shortness of life Oh earth.
He closed with prayer, after which, as those
who were present were passing to take last
look at me, O mournful march, every note OF
which pierced my heart like poisoned ar
row, shook the windows of the ancient
church. All but the members OF my family
had passed me by. They were asked to take
final view of the mortal remains of their
beloved husband and father. Grant, Heaven,
T mr. Q.1t
like that! AS my beloved ones, who vainly
tried to suppress their grief-laden 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 vet desperate attempt to open my eyes
I made and more hopeessly than ever my
spirit sank into deeper anguish OF mortal
grief Once more lay in the slowly NOV.
ing hearse which WAS to convey me to the
cemetery two miles distant, where an open
grave was yawning 20 swallow ne up. The
fierce wind beat the snow against the panes
of glass in my lonely couch. 1t was cold in
the extreme, and it is q wonder that l was
not frozen to death. Mingled with the ra-
ping wind, the bells in yonder church tower
tolled my funeral knell, sending shocks of
indescribable grief into my wretched soul.
ONLY the tortures of Prometheus on whose
yitals a raven continually fed, can be COM
pared with my suffering. Once at the
cemetery was soon hoisted into my grave
this dismal den of death-and one, two,
three shoyels full of earth were throwu up
on nv coffin. AT this late moment 1 re.
sumed my physical strength and voice. L
told them to open the coffin, and l was
saved. A hundred times would rather die
upon the rack or above slow fire than
once mere experience such terrible living
DEATH"