The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
SEEMED ALIVE THOUGH DEAD.
Instances in Which Corpses Have
Had Sembiunce of Life.


Live persons have feigned death with
marvellous exactncss, but when the dead
feign life, or seem to feign life, the spec
taclc is as SrueSOme as can well DE mag
ined.
Not long ago a Russian cemetery was
the scene Of as weird "A wedding as ever
has been witnessed. A young girl VINO
had been bctrOthed died on the eve OF her
marriage and her friends decided that, in
spite Of the intervening hand of death,
her marriage must take place. Inc We'd
ding ceremony WAS performed at the size
Of the grave, and after the marriage the
body was returned to the coffin and low
cred to its long resting place.
1t is less than a year ago that valu-
able cup was won in bicycle race IN
Australia by a man who was dead when
he passed the winning post. The race
took place at an electric light carnival,
so called. in the presence Of l1VJj people
In the last lap James SOmerNlIIS, a rider,
forged to the front and secured such a
lead that his victory was assured. When
within tWenty-siX yards of the finish he
was seen to relax his hold on the ha ndle
bar and loose his footing on the pedals.
He did not fall from the machine, how
ever, and amid frantic cheers dashed by
the goal. winning the race by haIf
wheel As he passed the finishing post
he pitched forward and Cell to the ground
When he was picked up he was FOUND TO
he dead, and what was more the doctors
declared that dedth had come 20 him
when he was seen to iose his hold OF the
handle bars. II was dead body that had
ridden the last twenty-five yards OF the
race.
on a recent voyage the sealing schooner
Arietis was cruising. about 20 miles of the
coast Of British Columu,q, %hen she sight
ed "A dismantled ship. The Arietis bore
down upon the derelict ana as she got
near enough man wis seen on board
graspiug the wheel and apparently steer
ing the craft. No other sign of man was
seen ON the ship. The man at the wheel
was hailed. but RETURNED no answer-Jlst
stood there grasping the spOkes of the
wheel and looking straight ahead \ boat
was lowered and the mysterious ship
boarded. When they came close TO the
.uan at the wheel they, saw with horror
hat he was dead and evidently hdd pren
dead for many days The ship. which was
named the General Siglin. had sailed from
san Francisco for Alaska. she had clear
Iy been dismautled by gale and then
abandoned by her crew. The captain had
refused TO leave the ship, and. hnding his
strength failing, he had ldshed hlmse!f 10
he wheel ana literally died AZ ms post
steering his craft for hundreds OF miles
witt. hands that held the wheel IN as hTm
a grip as when alive
Since the plague has been prevalent In
india searching parties 20 through ihe vi
lag es Inspecting the houses. with the idea
# 'ceiug that all cases of death by TIE
3fav-s &c reported TO the authorities On
at .T.-E q suspected house one DAY the IN
spnctors saw "A group of natives playing
cards. Something in the appearance OF
Jne of the players attracted the attention
II one Of the inspectors, VINO placed his
hand upon the mans shoulder o MS
4ma2emeHt the man sWayed ana teH 10
the floor. Upon examination II was round
that ne had been dead some time, but In
order to avoid having the house marked as
plague stricken the other inmates had con
Cealed the fact of his death.