Cañon City record., 1904-02-11

somewhat after a heavy pitchfork.
While standing near one Of the hands
by accident l was struck on the head
with one of the picks. II penetrated
my skull and at the time made me feel
faint and dizzy. My injury was not
considered serious.
After returning to the house l was
sent into the cellar. and, much to my
surprise. / could see in the dark as
well as in the light After coming
from the cellar my strength failed me.
and was soon bedfast. Two doctors
were called. One of them insisted that
my condition was due to the blow on
the head. the other that had pleurisy.
At any rate. two weeks elapsed. and
my eyes closed in supposed death
1T was death as far as my relatives
were concerned. Yet | WAS painfully
conscious of every movement going on
around me. My eyes were half closed.
and as was laid out I heard my older
brother. John. walk into the house.
saw him approach the cot with tears
in his eyes and sympathizing friends
consoled him by asking him TO dry his
tears. He is gone they said. and 9TH
er similar expressions were used
around the bier Well known faces
would peer down at me as lay with
my eyes half closed Tears rained
On my face as the burial shroud was
wrapped around my body As soon as
the undertaken arrived 1 knew l was to
be buried alive. Try as would. moth
ing could break the spell which bound
me: Every action and every word
spoken is as distinct to my mind now
a. then.
''well the time - he funeral ar
rived, and In" vas preached
over my ii"u- body. Thc
undertakcr Jrr iud the lid uf
my little pr ,un was fastened
down. Life >srm Vi al hut gone whr,
this took place! but. as said. no efro-
Of mine could break the spell The cof
nn was showed into the wagon. and tn
trundling of the vehicle sounded in my
ears. was painfully conscious OF The
fact that | was soon TO be lowered into
the grave. But did not feel fear at
my impending fate. The coffin was
taken out OF the wagon and lowered
into the grave In those days boxes
wer. not used as receptacles for cof-
fms. The clods OF earth fell heavy on
the lid of the casket. There | was be-
ing entombed alive. unable to speak or
stay the hands OF my friends. My ef-
fort to move proved futile. and the
close air OF the coffin seemed stifiing to
me. suddenly the shoveling ceased.
and the silence OF the tomb was COM
plete. | did not seem to have the fear
then that a person would naturally ex-
pect under such circumstances. All
remember is that the grave is lonely
place, and the silence OF the tomb was
ton came over me. and a sense of suf-
location became apparent, My whole
system was paralyzed. Were II other
wise my struggles would have been
desperate.
"How long l remained in this condi-
ton do not know. The first sense OF
returning life came over me when
heard the scraping OF spade on my
coffin lid. felt myself raised and
borne away. was taken out of my
coffin not 10 my home. but to dissect-
ing room. I beheld the doctors who
had waited upon me at my home. drcsS
cd In long white aprons. In their hands
they had knives. Through my half
closed eyes l saw them engaged In n
dispute They We're trying TO decide
how TO cut me up One argued one
way, while the other doctor took an
other view OF the matter All this |
witnessed through my half opened
eyes. My sense OF hearing was ~
markably acute. Both approached the
table and opened my mouth. when by
superhuman effort my eyelids were
slightly raised. The next thing heard
was; Look out. you fooll He Is aliver
He Is dead rejoined the other doctor.
See. He opens his eyer continued
the 6raf dps~fNr Ths nfk~r