Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-05
REMARKABLE RESCUE

1t cannot be doubted that persons are
sometimes buried who are in a condi-
ton of trance and not of death. Instan .
ces of restoration after the body was
placed in the coffin are numerous, and
if many a grave could be looked into,
probably the evidence would be found
of like resurrections when it was Of no
avail to the buried individual. Some
time ago a coffin was exhibited in New
York, which was so constructed as to
give an alarm in the event of the corpse
showing signs of life. But one of the
most remarkable and interesting Incl
dents of the resurrection of a person
under these circumstances occurred
through the agency of a s~omnambulist.
1t happened a number of years since, in
the state of Iowa. and at the time
caused a great deal of excitement.
A farmer died very suddenly. On the
day of the funeral all his friends and
neighbors we're assembled, and there
was great sorrow, for he was a worthy
and influential man. The religious serv-
ices had been held, and preparations
we're being made to close the coffin. His
wife, after taking a final view of his re.
mains, was conducted to an adjoining
room. Here she was quite overwhelmed
with her grief, breaking forth in loud
ordinations and walls. Suddenly she
broke through the throng about her,
and, going to the coffin, threw herself
upon it.
"Stop!" she cried; John is not dead.
l know that he is not dead! Would you
bury him alive?"
The company were aghast. The wom-
en- groaned aloud and the men turned
pale. At length the minister, who was
present, regained his composure. He
placed his hands OF the wife, and said,
in most tender tones:
my Christian sister, your husband
lives in the immortal spirit, but not in
the flesh"
He is not dead! He is not dead! To
all of you his face looks like death, but
[ see life in it! Look at it,"
Thus spoke the wife in wild accents
of appeal, as she gazed intently upon
the face of the corpse. The people
crowded about. and looked into the coun-
%tenance, and many touched the cold
brow. But they all shook their heads,
and whispered the same opinion, that
the man was dead. There was, a physi-
clan present, and during this time he
had said nothing, seemingly wishing
that the people should form their own
conclusions before he added his testi-
mony. He now spoke, and said:
my friends, I regret to say that good
John Williams is as dead as ever a man
was. pledge my reputation as a physi-
clan that he will breathe again."
The coffin was now closed, and the
corpse was borne to its last resting
place. This was in the family burying
ground, in a field not far from the house.
After a few shovels of earth had been
thrown into the grave, the widow again
interfered, and begged that it should
not be filled until the next day. To
crafty her, this was consented to, and
shortly after the company dispersed, all
more or less impressed with the events
Of the funeral.
1t appear from the account. which
has been our guide in these statements,
that Mrs. Williams was a somnambulist.
On this night she gave a most wonder
full instance of this particular habit.
She arose in her sleep and wen again
to her husbands grave. In the grave
YARD she found a shovel that had been
left there for use the next day in filling
the grave. With this in her hand she
descended into the grave and began the
removal of the earth from the head por-
ton of the coffin.
At this instant she awoke, and gave a
shrek that was heard as far as the
house. To her horror, she found herself
in her husbands grave in the night, but
her terror on this score was at once dis
sipated by another discovery that she
had made. This was the sounds coming
from the coffin. She realized all in an
instant. and became certain that her
husband was still alive.
Help. help!" was her cry from the
depths of the grave.
But she did not lose a moment. A
blow of the shovel split the coffin, and
her she heard a voice saying:
81 am John Williams. | have been
buried alive! Get me out as quick as
possible before l ~suffocate!"
Thank Heaven-thank Heaven!"
cried Mrs. Williams. John, it is your
wife sent by Gods miracle to serve you"
The top of the coffin was soon
wrenched off with her shovel, and Mr..
Williams partially raised himself. By
this time. the affrighted inmates of the
house had reached the graveyard. At
first nc one was bold enough to enter,
but then came the shouts again and
again:
"Help-help!"
At last a hired man approached the
grave. Holding up his lantern, he
looked into it.
tits resurrection day." he exclaimed,
trembling in every limb.
"It's John Williams come to life again.
and I'm Mrs. Williams. who walked out