Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-02
BODIES OF THE DEAD.
Authentic Instances of Physical Activity Long After Death.

l: Long After Death.
 That the bodies of the dead, even long
 tlme after the moment of death, do perform
 actions which have all the appearance of vo- htlon. authentic occurrences sufficiently
 show, without the concurrent testimony of physicians as to instances familiar to every
 student of medical literature. Physicians, | It Is true, says the San Francesca Erumfner, assure uS that in these movements the ele- l ment of volltlon does not enter; and they nave given to thls muscular movement the | name Of "ref1ex action;" and this, appar-
 ently, we are expected to accept as per
 fectly lucid explanation of phenomenon 1 which. without the name, would be obscure
 Enlightened by the term "reflex action" {" it
 must be discontented and exacting curios- 1 tty that would not rest and be thankful My
 present purpose is neither inquisltive nor | 'ontroverslal; l wish only to present in a simple, straightforward way few more l ms ances from my notebook. Science,
 suppose, is able to take care of itself.
 l John Hoskin, living on Mission street, in this city, had q bea tiful wife, to whom he was devotedly attached. In the spring of 1871 Mrs. Hoskin went East to visit her re-
 lat.ves in Springfield, H., where week after her arrival she suddenly died of some
 
 said so. Mir. Hoskin was at once 'apprised of 1 his loss by telegraph, and requested ,ha, the body be sent to San Francisco. On arrival there the metallic case containing the re- mans was opened. The body was lying on
 the right side, the right hand under the check the other on the breast The posture was the perfectly natural one of a sleeping enid, and in letter to tho deceased lady's
 1atber, MT. Martin l.. Whitney, of Spring
 field, Mr. Hoskin expressed grateful sense or the thoughtfulness that had so composed the remains as to soften the suggestion of death. To his surprise he learned from the father that nothing of the kind had been done; the body had been put in the casket
 Ill the customary way lying on the back
 with the arms extended along the sides. In the meantime the casket had been depos- lted ln tho receiving vault at Laure. Hill cemetery, pending the ccompletlon of a
 tomb. Greatly disquieted by this revelation
 Mr. Hoskin did not at once reflect that the easy and natural posture and placid expres- slon precluded the idea of suspended ami nation, subsequent revival and eventual death by suffocation. He insisted that his
 wife had been murdered by medical in- competency and needless haste. Under the influence of this feeling he wrote to MT.
 Whitney again, expressing in passionate terms his horror and renewed grief Some days afterward, some one having suggested that the casket had been opened en route, probably in the hope of plunder and point ing out the impossbility of change hay Ing occurred in the strengthened space of
 Ae contining metal, it was resolved to re- open the casket to ascertain if this latter consideration were decisive Removal of tho lid disclosed q new horror; the bodv now lay upon It's left side. The position was cramped, and to a living person would have been uncomfortable. The face wore fSl expression of pain. Some costly rings on the fingers were still undisturbed Over como by his emotions, to which was now added sharp, if mistaken, remorse. Mir. Hoskin lost his reason, dying years after wards in the asylum at Stockton.
 A physician having been summoned to assist in clearing up the mystery, viewed the body of the deceased lady, pronounced life obviously extinct, and ordered the casket closed for the third and last time "Oovlously extinct," indeed; the corpse had ln fact, been embalmed at Sprngtie;d
 At Hawley's Bar, a mining camp near Virginia City, M. T., a gambler named Henry Graham, but commonly known as
 Iray Hank," met miner named Drey- russ one day, with whom he had a dispute the previous night about pack of cards. and asked him into bar-room to have a drink. The unfortunate miner taking this ns an overture of peace, gladly accepted. 1hey StoOd at the counter, and, while Drey- fuss was in the act of drinking Graham shot him dead. This was in 1885 Within an hour after tho murder Graham was in the hands of the vigilantes, and that even ing at sunset, after a fair, if informal, trial. he was hanged to the limb of a tree winch grew upon little eminence within sight of the whole camp. The original intention nad been to "string him up," as is GUS tomary in such affairs, and with a view to that operation, the long rope had been thrown over the limb, while dozen pairs of hands were ready to hoist away. For some reason, this plan was abandoned, the rope was gwen single turn about the limb at Q sultaD.e distance from the moose, the free end made fast to bush, and the victim compelled to stand on the back of horse, winch, at the cut of q whip, sprang from under him, leaving him swinging When steadied his feet were about eighteen inches from the earth.
 The body remained suspended for exact- ly half an hour, the greater part of the crowd remaining about it. Then the judge" ordered It taken down. The rope was united from the bush and two men stood by to lower away The moment the feet came squarely upon the ground the men engaged in lowering, thinking doubt less ttas those standing about the body had l hold Of 1t to support it, let go the rope The body at once ran quickly forward toward l the maln part of the crowd, the rope pay ing out as 1t went. Tbe head rolled from side to side, the eyes and tongue protrud- ing, the face ghastly purple, the lips cov- cred with bloody froth. With cries of l horror the crowd ran hithcr and thither, stumbling, falling over one another, CUTS l ing. In and out among them-over the | fallen, coming into collision with others, h:s direction governed by blind caprice, the l horrible dead man "pranced," his feet | lifted so night at each step, that his l knees struck his breast, his tongue swing l ing like that of ' panting dog, the foam fiy- ing in flakes from his swollen lips The | deepening twilight added its terror to this l uncanny scene, and brave mon fled from | the spot, TO. daring to look behind.
 Straight into this confusion from the out | skirts of the crowd walked with rapid steps | the tall figure of man whom all who saw | instantly recognized as master spirit. | This was Dr. Arnold Spier, who with two | other physicians had pronounced the man dead, and had been retiring to the camp. | He moved AS f1roctlv toxya rd the dea6 mon |