The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-02
TWO DAYS IN A COFFIN.
That Was Seven Years Ago, and She
HASN'T Bsen in One Since.


From the Washington Post
There lives in Washington a woman who
once went through the frightful ordeal of
being prepared for burial and lying in a
coffin forty>eight hours without any signs
Of life. At the end Of this time she awoke
and frightened the wits out of the watchers.
Seven years ago Mrs. Barette, wife of the
present chef at Wormley's hotel, was a
blithesome German maiden Of II summers,
living with her parents in the town Of
Baden, Germany. She tells the following
strange story Of her experience with an
undertaken, and how near she came to being
buried alive:
"Seven years ago I was stricken down
vita typhoid fever. and. as is the custom In
the cities of Germany, l was sent to the
hospital for contagious diseases. There
languishei between life ana death for
three weeks, and at the end of that time
what all Of my relatives and friends and
the authorities Of the hospital thought to
be the end came. My heart stopped beat
ing, my muscles relaxed, and, TO all sp-
pearances, was dead. The hospital attend
ants prepared me for burial, and, while /
was perfectly conscious Of everything that
transpired aoout me, was totally helpless
and unable to tell my attendants Of nv true
condition.
"After being dressed for burial aud placed
in my coffin my mother and friends cams to
bid me last farewell Nv eyes were only
partially closed, and | could see the an
gulsh depicted on my mothers face and feel
her hot tears drop upon my brow as she
gave what she supposed to be her farewell
kiss l was engaged TO young man. and
our marriage was to have taken place
shortly; when l was taken sick the great
ri hat hn tnh
look upon my face was heart-rendlnp, and
especially so to me, realizing as did my
true condition. yet | was unable to show
that was alive and comprehended it all.
I'm Germany it is customary for tue near
est loved one to send instead of flowers an
embroidered satin pillow to be placed under
the head Of the deceased. This my lover
brought, and, while could feel his cares
and see his tears, as he tenderly placed it
under my head. yet was utterly powerless
to give any sign or make any utterance
"After my friends and relatives had
taken their last sad leave was removed 10
the dead ward Of the hospital. In this hes
pltal, TO guard against any accidents or
premature burials. after the corpse ha,
been removed to the dead ward, a cord is
attached to its wrist, and the other end of
the cord is attached to a bell in one OF the
attendants rooms, so that, should life re-
'uih, WIG otCeHua1t ID iUlineulately warned
OF 1t. This was done in my case, and, after
remaining in my coffin for forty-eight hours
suddenly regained the use Of my muscles
and limbs, and sat upright in my coffin.
This movement on my part, of course, rang
the bell in the attendants room, and general
CONSERVATION prevailed. l was taken from
my coffin and in few weeks was restored
to health"
what became Of the loverp was asked.
Just one year from that time he was
stricken with typhoid fever and died, and
the same satin pillow that be had so ten
derby placed under my head year before
was, by MS request, buried with4himn
Mrs. Barette. soon after the death of her
intended husband, came to this country an
married Mr. Barette.