Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-07
ACHAMBER OF DEATH
ANEW JERSEY DRUGGISTS pRecAu-
TON TO INSURE HIS DEATH.
MI, sisters obcy Their Brothers Last Re-
ouess 20 Have His Own Ponssrd Thrust
Into His Body as Precsution Bo-
fore the Cofiin IL Finally Closed.
Now York Star.

NOW tOlk rArs
One OF the most weird and tragic
,cenes ever witnessed in chamber Of
death was the one which was enacted on
Sunday last in the room where Druggist
George W. Fay died. II took the form
OF the execution OF dying request,
which called for koen-pointed poniarl
being thrust into bis heart, so that all
doubts az to his burial alive should be re-
moved. This precaution was also taken
with the full acquiescence OF the de-
ceaseds three sisters, who up to the last
moment could hardly realize that their
brother was dead, so life-like did he mp
near A. he lay in bis casket. They we're,
therefore, fully determined 10 allay their
spprehensiop and resorted TO the heroic
method OF an application of steel
blade.
Mr.. Fay died thirteen days ago. He
was a wcll-known druggist in the town of
Hammonton, y. j., and was proprietor
Of one OF the largest pharmacies in that
Mace. He was taken sick November
10Th and died five days later. He was "a
Sidower, his wife having died several
wears before. leaving him child, girl
Who is at present in convent.
Two nights before his death Mr.. Fay
rnddenly sat upright in bed. He glared
wildly about him and clutched at the
hed.clothing. Large beads OF perspira-
ton stood ont on his brow and his
breathing came thick and fast. His
elder sister, who had dozed off in
chair near the bedside of her sick
brother. was startled at the loud
and rapid gasps for life. She
was terrified at bis appearance for
an instant, but recovered from
her fright when he beckoned to
her 10 approach. She asked him what
yas the matter. IL was several minutes
before be could speak, and then in dis
jointed way the patient told her that he
bad Just had a terrible dream. he said
that tho dream pictured him az having
fallen into trance He remained IN this
condition, he said. for days, and his
friends and sisters thought he WAS dead.
WHAT TIE SAW IN HIS DREAM.
He described how in bis dream he
VAS laid in his coffin and he heard the
preparations made for isfuneral. ooh,
Matilda, said tho dying man to his SIS
ter. "it was most dreadful dream. [
was conscious Of all that was going on
about me. 1 could hear your sobs as
Won bent over my dead body when
taking q last farewell. | realized every
thing that was going on around me, and
that was what made it more terrible.
! distinctly heard every word that
was said, and yet / was powerless to
help myself or move a muscle to be-
tray the fact that life still remained inmy
POOR, wasted form. l heard the minis
iers words when the services for the
dead were read on the day Of my fune
raj. seemed TO experience a choking
sensation when the undertaken screwed
down the lid upon the coffin. At that
moment | made an almost superhuman
effort 30 cry ont, but could not utter
sound / felt the coffin raised and
horne away. | fairly shuddered rs i was
lowered into the grave prepared for me,
and again | tried 10 make known the
fact that was alive, but | could not do
Co. l was like an image Of marble. L
could not even give vent TO wink or
O. nod.
When the grave-diggers began TO
throw down the sods of earth upon the
coffin | again tried to cry out felt
myself growing weaker, while my men
tl faculties began to foil me. AT that
moment q sudden desperatoimprlse pos
fessed me, and with an effort that l had
not been able before TO summon to my
eli, burst open the top of the coffin
snd sat bolt upright in my funeral
shrouda / heard the shouts from above
and then ] tainted away"
MUST BE SURE OF HIS DEATH.
After reciting his awful dream the dy-
hg man sank back in his bed. He Gsk-
ed his sisters to satisfy themselves that
go was dead before they buried him.
lie was fearful lest the dream WAS pre-
monitor Of his approaching fate. The
following night he had similar dream,
which he recounted to his sisters, and it
proved 10 be even more thrilling expe-
uence than his former one. Then it
vas that be called them 10 his bedside
and begged them 20 thrust dagger into
his heart before they buried him.
"My death is TO be hard one, / be-
lieye. said he. "Those horrible dreams
are full Of meaning, and l have always
bad horror that 1 would go into
trance and be buried alive. 1t is not
at al improbable that these terrible
dreams we're superinduced by these
thoughts, but / cannot throw of the feel
ing that will be buried alive II some
pIecautioD is not taken to guard against
THRUST A DAGGER IN MY HEART"
"Now, dear sister, / feel j am about
20 die. | feel that / will go into a
trance from which | shall never awaken,
%, as my dying and last request, pro-
mise me that you will faithfully carry
out what am about to request OF you.
il is this DO not bury me If you have
the slightest doubt as 10 my death.
Keep my body until signs Of dissolution
are apparent Keep me for weeks If
necessary. If then you have reason TO
believe that am still among the living,
end my terrible sufIerings by thrusting
ibis dagger through my heart and leave
II there"
The dying man held upa keen-pointed
dagger which he passed to his sisters
and then sank back to his bed. In
few minutes no apparently died, but
not before his sisters had promised him
that they would carry out his last wish.
The body was kept until yesterday in
order that Druggist Fsy's dying request
might be observed to the letter. Ever
Ence his death the body has rested in q
fch casket in the front room. The Sis
ters watched it day and night In his
coffin Fay looked like q man in perfect
health. His cheeks were full OF color,
and bis whole appearance was that OF a
person calmly sleeping. His sisters felt
confident that be was in trance and
refused 10 permit his body TO be buried.
At the end OF a week the life.like appear
snce Of the body had not changed, and
even the physicians who examined it had
doubts as to the presence Of death.
Great interest was manifested in the
L., A. ~oa.1auta 90 II opnmonfnn