The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-05-05
TWO DAYS In A COFFIN.
That was Seven Years Ago. and She
Hasn't Been in One Since.

There lives in Washington a woman
who once went through the frightful
ordeal of being prepared for burial
and lying in 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 | was stricken
down with typhoid fever, and, as is the
custom in the cities of Germany. L was
sent to the hospital for contagious dis
eases. There / languished between
life and death for three weeks. and at
the end of that time what all of my
relatives and friends and the authori-
ties of the hospital thought to be the
end came. My heart stopped beating,
my muscles relaxed, and. to all APP
pearances, | was dead. The hospital
attendants prepared me for burial,
and. while | was perfectly conscious
of everything that transpired about
me, was totally helpless and unable
to tell my attendants of my true con-
dition.
After being dressed for burial and
placed in my coffin my mother and
friends came to bid me last farewell.
My eyes were only partially closed and
| could see the anguish 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. was engaged to young man,
and our marriage was to have taken
place shortly: when | was taken sick
the great grief that he manifested
when he came to look upon my face
was heartrending, and especially SO to
me, realizing as | did my true condi-
ton. yet | was unable to show that l
was alive and comprehended it all.
I'm Germany it is customary for the
nearest loved one to send, instead of
flowers. an embroidered satin pillow,
to be placed under the head of the de-
ceased. This my lover brought, and,
while | could feel his caress and see
his tears, as he tenderly placed it un-
der my head, yet | was utterly power
less to give any sign or make any
utterance.
after my friends and relatives had
taken their last sad leave | was re-
moved to the dead ward of the hospi-
tai. In this hospital, to guard against
any accidents or premature burlals,
after the corpse has been removed to
the dead ward, a cord is attached to
its wrist. and the other end of the cord
is attached to bell in one of the at
tendant's rooms, 50 that, should life
return. the attendant is Immediately
warned of it. This was done iii my
case, and. after remaining in my cof-
fin for forty-eight hours, | suddenly
regained the use of my muscles and
limbs, and sat upright in my coffin.
This i'r"""ment on my pu.t, OF course,
rang the bell in the attendants room,
and general CONSERVATION prevailed.
| was taken from my coffin, and in
few weeks was restored to health"
"What became of the lover?" was
asked
"Just one year from that time he
was stricken with typhoid fever and
died, and the same satin pillow that
he had so tenderly placed under my
head IA year before was by his request
buried with HIM"
Mrs. Barette, soon after the death
of her intended husband, came to this
country and married Mr., Barette.
JFaShiNqt0R Post