St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-09
The DEAD ALIVE.
Further Marvellous Cases Of Actual In
humati0n.
RAISED FROM THE DEAL
East Indian Fakirs Who Have Lain
Six Weeks in the
Tomb.

Some time ago the GLOBE published,
in connection with the inhumation feat
of DR.. Tanner, several remarkable cases
which came well established from East
India. There are now reported other
cases equally remarkable. Sir G. E..
Trevelyan, of the English treasury, re-
ports the instance of fakir be-
ing dug up and restored in the presence
of himself and the royal Rajah Rama,
after having been buried ten days, and
the grave guarded by soldiery; and in a
short time, was fully restored, and was
eating and drinking, as well and hearty
as ever.
Another instance occurred under the
eye OF Lieut.. A. Barteau, of II. NJ. S.,
where the interment was made under
the most critical surveillance of civil,
military and medical authorities, and
after full month had elapsed, eX-
humation took place. The body had
been sewed up in linen sbroud with
the knees doubled up and turned in
ward toward the throat, the hands point
ing towards the chest. 1t was then
placed in a sitting posture in grave
lined with masonry. Two heavy slabs
of stone about six feet in length
ard nine inches thick, and
broad enough to completely cover
the mouth of the grave, were then
placed over him so that he could not by
any possibility escape, earth being piled
over above. making the surface of the
ground smooth and compact. The door,
which was the only entrance, was then
built up solidly with brick and mortar,
and heavy guard was maintained
around it, incessantly. during the ell
tire month, SO that no tracks or decep-
ton were possible. With other officers,
and in the presence of a great multi
tude, we saw the masonry broken down
and the body removed in q perfectly
senseless state, the eyes being closed,
stomach much shrunken and the teeth
set so fast together that it was with
difficulty that bystanders could open
them with iron instruments. Under
treatment he soon recovered conscious
ness and was restored to the use OF his
limbs. He cOnversed with us in low
feeble voice, and so far from appearing
at all distressed in mind on account of
his long interment. he assured us that
we might bury him again-and for
whole year-it we pleased.
He said that as part OF his prepara-
ton for long interment, he abStainS
from all solid food for many days pre-
yiously, taking almost exclusively milk.
He had also acquired the power of shut
ting his mouth, and, at the same time
stopping the interior opening of the
nostrils with his tongue. which latter
feat is at times practiced as means of
suicide by the negro slaves in the West
Indies, when suffering under the lash."
Mai. BroWner. of II. M. S.. reports
rrhi ioI, fro, I, ,cY,i, ,o6 or
the surveillance of constant double
guards of Hindoos and Musselmen, who
are hostile in interests, thus rendering
trick or cOllusiOn impossible.
DR.. Braid says: II think that the
evidence afforded by these narratives
proves. beyond doubt, that the Fakeers
possessed the power they represented
themselves to have acquired, and per-
formed the feats mentioned bona fide;
that they were self-hypnotists; that
they were in state Of temporary hi
bernation. or trance, during which,
although the lamp of life was burning
slowly, still it was burning, otherwise
death would have been the inevitable
result"
Remarkable and important therefore,
as the phenomenan which. contend for
as producable by hypnotism are. it must
at once be obvious TO every caHdlQ ana
intelligent member of the profession
that they violote no established law and
recognized principle in physiological
and psychological science.
1t is on record that Samuel Chiffon, of
Tinsbury, near Bath, England, in 1894
fell asleep, and after sleeping whole
month, awoke and went to his work as
usual. He was laborer, twenty-five
years of age. not fat, but muscular. In
1896 he again fell asleep and continued
so for seventeen weeks. during the last
six of which he ate nothing. In 169? he
slept for six months, but the record
does not state anything about his eat
ing during that occasion.