The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-15
LIVE MAN OUT OF GRAVE
HAM N EGGS "PROF." SIEDEN-
ERG PIRsT WAKING Jed.
suspension of Animation-NOt Much
OF a Trick, He Says.

Its easy; you can do it, anybody can
do it. All you have to do is TO practice
control over your mind and you can put
yourself in the same condition that have
been in for the past ten days. It's only a
case of suspended animation or Hindoo
sleep, and 1 could go back to that hole in
the ground and lie in the same coffin for
the next fifteen days and not desire food,
water or cigarettes"
AS Professor Siedenberg thus explained
his ten days sleep under ground at Avon
dale Heights last evening, the several nun
dred people looked Upon him as a freak
and their faces showed they did not care
TO obtain the power over their minds that
he professed to have over his. The pro
fessor" awakened from his long sleep about
ten minutes before schedule time, and he
did so without the aid of the alarm clock
on his cot. He was taken from his grave"
at S:45 o'clock last evening. There was
some difficulty in raising the coffin to the
surface, as the men engaged from Crown
Hill last week to lower the coffin into the
grave forgot to follow instructions and
pulled the straps from around the box, as
they would in a genuine interment. After
much hosting and ~jostling, during which
the professor was finishing the last lap
of his long sleep, the coffin was raised to
the surface and he was carried to the
stage in the middle of the park.
The attendants placed the Hindoo robe
around him and the turban on his head. 1t
had been advertised that the professor
probably would be violent as he emerged
from his sleep, so six stalwart men were
stationed near the cot TO give him double
Nelson's and hammer-locks About $3.50
o'clock one of the attendants folded the
professors arms" mot emaciated) over his
chest, and the vigil became more interest
ing. Soon the professor" was seen to
twitch and this was the cue for the guards
to pin him down.. He wriggled his wrists
perfectly at home, and did not ask, Where
am II" Nor did he ask for his faithful
dog Snyder" Rip Van Wrinkle is reported
to have slept twenty years and during that
time raised a magnificent beard. Seiden-
berg slept only ten days, but he had a
good start toward a heavy, sandy beard
when he came back to the world last night.
The professor" showed little sign of
having gone without food or water for such
a long time. His voice was clear, and it
didn't show signs of a cold from his being
bright as they were before no went on his
protracted nap. He stretched himself a
trihe and then sat down to a meal of ham,
fried potatoes, egg omelette, coffee and
bread and butter. He had little use for a
fork, for he believed in making the knife
serve more than one use. AS he lifted a
knl1e Dlade covered with omeiette TO his
mouth one of the walters asked:
Professor, did you hear me ask you the
other night If you wanted a bottle of beer? ''
The professor glanced up at the waiter,
and a look of sadness came over his face.
mo, / didn't hear anything all the time
1 was in the hole" he answered, and his
expression dared the waiter TO repeat the
question.
The professor finished his meal and
then enlightened the throng on his ability
to so TO sleep for any length of time. His
voice was clear, but pitched a little toe
high. In explaining suspended animation
he said he smoked from fifty to sixty
cigarettes a day. but declared he did not
care for one just then, so well did he have
control over himself. He talked until there
was a commotion in the crowd, one of the
walters yelling "Gangway' so he could
get through to deliver a pair of shoes &c
the professor"