The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-05
NO. 1853.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Thoughts and Sensations Of Man Who
Was Buried Alive.

the base line upward) was fifteen feet
high. 1t was undermined by the work.
men, and as | bent down to examine a
small bone uncovered in the process Of
undermining, a mass Of earth equal to
several carloads suddenly dropped
from above. There was no one in the
excavation, the men having gone on
top preparatory TO cutting down the
undermined wall. As the earth cracked
loudly | looked up and started to rise.
The falling mass knocked me back
about five feet, so that | fell with my
head and shoulders resting on a heap
of loose earth.
The falling wall was Of course seen
only for an instant. 1t looked black,
and the rush Of wind it caused / well
remember. My head and shoulders
were somewhat higher thaG my legs,
possibly foot The feet were spread
apart. There was little pain-only
pressure, intense pressure. 1t forced
the buttons Of my light field costume
partly inside the flesh. My watch.
chain left q bright red mark along my
left side. | could feel the watch
strongly pressed against two ribs Qhese
were broken). The skin over my fore
head seemed being cut, but it was the
pressure of my hat forcing flesh be-
tween the laced straws. A knife in my
pocket seemed burningly hot
Thoughts coursed like lightning
past life, future and home. l did not
think much of the situation, except to
wonder if l could breathe when / got
out One singular thought occurred
| remembered reading of women who
in war times buried their husbands in
ash piles or sand heaps to prevent their
being drafted into the army. l had
often wondered if it were possible for
one SO placed to breathe through tube,
as described in the stories. l remem-
Der trying to move one hand, even a
inger. One could not have been more
irmly held in mold My arms and
hands were perfectly motionless. The
chest could not be inflated or moved
the slightest distance. On the contrary,
the downward pressure forced all the
air out of my lungs.
| remember how hot the earth
against my face became as the last
breath was forced from me. Just in
front of my mouth and chin was a
slight hollow, formed by the arching
of two good-sized Jumps of clay.
could move my chin and open and
shut my mouth. That was the only
part of my entire body that could be
moved. | remember trying to keep my
mouth shut to keep out the dirt But
after a few seconds my mouth instinct
lively opened, and the arch having
broken down earth filled it. | remem-
Der the horrible sensation of trying to
dlslodge the earth and the fear of
strangling that suddenly seized upon
me. | then felt that was doomed to
perish, but had no fear and did not
particularly care.
1t was sixty seconds, SO the surveyor
says, when the men reached my head.
The laborers think it was over a
minute, but | am inclined to believe
the surveyor. | felt the earth move
slightly above my head. That gave
me hope. / had not thought much Of
rescue, but | gathered my remaining
strength. A shovel passed across the
top of my head, cutting the scalp. l
remember feeling it as If a hot iron
had struck me. Then they uncovered
my head and removed the earth from
my mouth aud eyes. The surveyor
says the pressure WAS SO great upon the
imprisoned portions of my body that
the blood was forced to the head, and
the veins st cd out so strongly he
feared they would burst. Even with
the head uncovered | could not
breathe. They soon had me laid out
side upon some wheat sheAves. / re-
member, just as they carried me out,
seeing a little yellow "wild canary"
perch upon tail thistle near at hand.
| heard it sing sweet song.
As the bird flew away | seemed to
follow 1t, dancing about the fields,
perching on this and that shrub, just as
1t did The sky seemed to have a
diff, rent color from that usually noticed
! was impressed with its grandeur-the
scenery Of the surrounding country was
remarkably beautiful, and as observed
all these things they affected me and
cried They rab my limbs. | could
see the men at work, but could feel
nothing. The partial paralysis of my
limbs continued for some days. To
some extent the accident has affected
my mind. ! cannot now enter an
underground cave or mine or stand
i l. 4