Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-12-26
HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
cpApr.Es busy STRONGLY OBJECT
no BEING suTrED ALIVE.
Got or Cooling Board, " allied into .
Room Occupied by coiored People,
and wild Panic Ensusd.

a story il going the rounds that
Charles Bnsey. Of this city. an aged
and courtly colored man Of the old
school, who il held in high esteem BY
the white people and is one Of the
best known members of his race in this
section. was tie central figure in a
highly sensational drama enactea at
his home q couple Of nights ago,
which has caused great CONSERVATION
among tie colored people OF Mar
tinsburR.
owing to Busev's advanced age and
long lifo of toll. he hes been in
feeble health for several months, and
the other day. when tho news that he
had dropped dead circulated in this
city, little surprise but much regret
was expressed by those who knew the
old fellow. Bngey was said TIC have
died at his home, and an undertaken
summoned to prepare the remains
for burial. The body was said to be
laid on cooling board, coveredfwith
a white sheet, and his relatives and
friends immediately began arrange
ments for giving him an elaborate
funeral.
A crowd of about half dozen
colored men aud women were reported
to be watchers beside the bier,
having gathered at the house shortly
after night had drawn her dnsky
mantle over the CITY. The watchers
took up their station in n room inn
mediately adjacent to the one in
Which the body OF Busev was lying
AboutN3 o'clock III the morning. as
the members of the party were nodd-
ing and yawning, they were suddenly
palsied with terror and amazement to
SEQ the figure of tho supposed corpse
rise FROM its recumbent posture and
start toward them. clad in its funeral
robes, and with the white sheet trailing
from it's shoulders.
The story goes on % say that
Busey walked without the slightest
hesitation fairly INTO the midst of
the crowd of watchers, who sat in
their chairs. dumb, trembling, and
incapable Of moving or uttering n
sound Raising his hands in a gesture
of emphatic protest the aged darkey
whose funeral was even then being
arranged by his relatives, said in
vigorous tones
II want you njggers to 'stinctly
understand that / amt dead Wit. and
Use gwine to live fob long while,
tool"
Galvanized into action by the voice
of the supposed dead man, the crowd
Of .satnhers sprang to their feet, and
with wells of terror, fed from the
house. Tables, chairs aud everything
i'll their way were knocked over in the
confusion, and in an instant the room
was cleared of everv soul save the fig
IRE risen from the portals of the grave.
Those who tell the details say that
Wilson Bailey, well-known color
ed man and son.in-law of Busey,
was a member of tho party of watch
ers. They saw Bailey was seated near a
window as his father-in law walked ia
the room, ana when the cid man
smoke the Younger one sprang to mis-
feet 10 escape from the room. He
saw that egress bv the door was cut
eff bv the dread figure. and without
an ilstant's hesitation Bailey turned
9nd leapel through the window, talk
ing with him the glass, sash and the
outside shutters.
r. was supposed that Rusey was in a
cateleptic fit during the time he was
supposed to be dead, remaining in
that condition TO- about IS hours be-
fore he recovered consciousness III
time to nut an abrupt end to the ar
raneements for his fuueral In the
meantime word had been sent to
several OF HIS children who reside in
other cities. and wien tney arrived
here to attend the tuneral they found
their father walking abons as usual.
Who frs tel The story no ono seems
to know, but the family of the mAu
who was reported dead DENY THAT the
story is true Bailey also saws that
he did not lump through window.
Many think the tale was intended as
a joke.