The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-15
A BRIDE FROM TIE DEAD

lou COuiu get d uliBulJ pIclly otOlS Aioul
these folks" said a prominent undertaken,
as he pointed at name registered among
the arrivals at the Hotel Bellevue yester-
day. Those two young people have JUST
returned from their wedding trip to Europe,
and the experience l had with them may
possibly have had something TO do with their
getting married.
cit was like this: About two years ago I
WAS called in by 4 well-known Walnut-street
family to conduct the arrangements for q
funeral. The deceased was a young lady.
AS l looked at the corpse | was struck by
its liielike appearance and the utter absence
Of the usual indications of death, such as
livd eyelids, purplish lips and dull eyes. In
spite Of the fact that she had been dead for
the last four days, and Notwithstanding the
assurance of the physician who had at
tended her, l could not help asking her rel
atIves TO wait another day.
when l returned to the house on the
following morning the body presented eX-
actly the same appearance as On the pre-
ceding day. 1t was folly to think that she
had been alive and in a trance for five days
at time. and so ! decided to so ahead with
my preparations. There was nobody in the
room except young man who had been the
young girls sweetheart, and nothing could
induce him TO leave the body. The poor
fellows eyes were red and swollen, and his
whole appearance denoted so intense grief
that / ielt sincerely sorry for him. He was
very much excited, and walked nerYouSly
about the room all the time.
when | began Mailing down the lower
part of the coffin lid he came over to where
| worked, and watched every one of my
movements like hawk. Then l fastened
the name-plGte. II was silver one brightly
nd DC N S1gtthnafns CtraVni n IN
the room, they caught the CLINT and sparkled
like an electric light.
at may have taken me little longer than
usual to fix the plate because | felt some
what uncomfortable under that young
mans eyes. When | was done | happened
to look up, and l was surprised to see my
COmuaui0n stand bolt upright, his eyes
tightly closed like those of a man in a
trance, and his left hand resting on the fore
head Of the dead girl. l spoke to him. but
lie did seem 10 hear me, and l tell you what,
l began TO feel mighty sea ed.
suddenly be began to talk as aman talks
in his sleep. l could not make out at first
what he was saying He seemed to be an
sweTing questions. All | could understand
was;
because you have been dead these last
I've days
Ten came a pause, during which he
looked as If he were listening.
:" He has been mailing down your coffin
lid came next
Another pause, during which the young
man 5 features underwent the most fearful
change. lie looked like one who IS in NOR
tai fear. His eyes opened and closed spas
medically, and he gaSped as If he wanted to
cry out and could not, because something
was choking him.
Il ran for a pitcher of ice-water that
stood on the chimney, and spattered few
drops OF the cold liquid into his face. His
appearance changed Immediately to his for
mer expression, and he looked around him
wonderingly, rs If be had Just walked up
from long sleep.
suddenly he wrenched the hammer l
was holding ont OF my hand and with 1t he
broke the cOftln-lid into thousand Splint-
ers. This done he lifted the corpse out of
the rough box, laid it upon a lounge and be-
gan 10 draw the rigid jaws apart. Then he
poured few drops of water down the
throat of his sweetheart.
nave had more experience with dead
people than with lunatics, and l did not
particularly care to interfere with a fellow
That l thought bad been driven crazy by
gIlel piiled him sincerely and allowed
HIM to make this last attempt to reSuScitate
heT Meantime he was rubbing her wrists
and spnnkltng the cold water over her face.
Then be leaned down and began to listen
Tor heartbeat. Shall / ever forget the ex-
preston OF supreme gratitude that gradu-
ally came into his face.
His ear was still resting on the young
lady'S breast as he mntioned to me with his
left hand to take the coffin away. Some
thing In his manner made me obey immedi-
ately and l carried the box out into the hall
Upon my return l found the young lady
with open eyes. Her hands were feebly
moving and her eye-balls rolled from side
10 side. There was no mistake about her
being really ana truly alive. OF course we
called 10 physician at once and had her
properly attended 10. If she had seen the
rim 1t might have scared her to death.
Well, the doctors were wondering how
IN creation II was possible for her to sur
we alter the death certificate had been
duly signed and after they had settled it
among themselves that she was really and
truly Cead. But still the fact remained
that she was among the living and had only
been in cataleptic Sleep
How do l explain the young mans
actions? don't attempt to explain them,
but you may go over to his hotel and maybe
ne ana his wife can enlighten YOU. OF
course, you can easily guess who his wife
IS"
The writer sent his card to the room OF
the hero Of the foregoing episode, and was
duly received by tall, intellectual Looking
young man at whose side appeared his
wife, a handsome blonde. at first the pair
was somewhat lOath to speak on the sub
lect upon which information was sought,
but, after promise was given not to men,
exclamation was given by the gentleman:
Il am dimly conscious Of having been in
sort of trance at the time l held my hand
on my wife's forehead. While in that state
was fully cOgnizaut Of her thoughts. You
know she was only in a state Of catalepsy
and fully aware of everything going on
about her, although, owing to the temporary
paralyZatlon of the motor nerve center she
could not even as much as wink her eyelids.
could feel Of 1t may he so called her ask
me: Why am not in my bed, but in this
tight boxY and then again: What has
that man been doing? Next l was aware
of her realizing her fearful position, and !
experienced the same terrorS she felt when
she thought of being buried alive and slowly
sutfocatihg in living grave.
THE undertaken awakened me then, and
still had dim recollection of having men,
tally cODversed with my dear Elizabeth. OF
course you know the sequel.
Yes, j have consulted an authority on
the case. 1t was in Stockholm. Sweden, l
called on Professor BiornstrOm. the emil
nent psychologist, whose work on 'Hypno-
tiSnr is we'll known. He listened very at
tentiVely to my recital OF the case, and cam
to the conclusion that had hypnotized N.Y.
self by gazing steadfastly at the sparkling
silver plate on the coffin. While in the SOM
nambulistic state so produced / could read
the thoughts OF the young lady with whom
Twas III contact by having laid my hand on
her forehead. Twas somewhat incredulous.
but he convinced me by hyTnotizing me in q
similar manner by making me gaze at a
brass ball. OF course, in the nervous state
was In at the time of my wife's suppos ed
death it was easy for me to be accidental! "
bypnotizcd."
The reporter took his leave, with a part
ing promise not to diyulge names.-Phila.
delphia Record.
DISTURBED HONEYMOON.