The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-20
GEN. IEERBORN AFTER
..pMATH, OF MOTHER


Confederate veterans throughout the
South celebrated yesterday the 106th
anniversary of the birth of their mill
rary leader, Gen. Robert e. Lee. Few
among even the most devoted admir-
ers of Lee now know that he was born
after his mother had been prom ounced
dead by physicians and laid in her
coffin yet such was the case. For
many years the mother of the great
General was subject to attacks of ca
taIoDsy At these time she fell into a
deep sleep, and for hours at a time
was utterly oblivious to the world,
while physicians could scarcely dis
tinea1ish between the trance and death.
Before the birth of Robert E. Lee,
Mrs Lee w~s stricken with one of
these peculiar attacks. The physician
called in was not familiar with Mrs.
Lees condition, and pronounced her
dead, after every effort to revive her
had failed. The body of the suppos
eddy deceased woman was placed in a
coffin and all arrangements for the
funeral were completed. The rela-
ri<es then abandoned hope, and ac-
cepted the decision of the physician.
The funeral services were in progress
when muffled cries and sobs and the
sound of beating issued from the cof-
fin Eager hands tore the lid from
the coffin, and Mrs. Lee was found
alive although nearly suffOcated- A
twelve month 1ater-for Mrs. Lee soon
recovered from her terrible experience
she gave birth to a man-child des-
tined to rank in history one of the
greatest generals of modern times.
From this and hundreds of other
similar cases that might be cited, it
is to be seen that the eer4of prema-
ture burial is not altogether Unbound
ed 1t is related that Petrarch, the
poet. was once declared dead and was
on the point of being inferred when
he awakened from the trance that
had held him. Able Provost author
Of .'Nianon Lescaut'' and other novels
revived under the emba liners knife
but died from the wounds SO inflicted
The mother of Ebenezer Erskine
founder of the Free Church of Scot
land. was actually buried alive, and
was restored to life by a ghouI who
unearthed the coffin. The grave-rob-
Der attempted to take a ring from the
finger of the supposed corpse, and
finding It very tight, cut off the finger
The pain awakened the sleeping wo-
man, who was little the worse for hel
experience. and lived to bring into the
world one of Scotlands creates
preachers.
Admirers of Edgar Allan Poe ceIe
brate the 1O4th anniversary of the
birth of the beloved poet and story
teller. and hundreds of pilgrims Visi
The numerous buildings and spots il
Baltimore and New York connected
with the brief but glorious career o
Maryland's greatest son. When POI
vas buried in Baltimore over three
FcOre years ago, not a bell tOlled fO
him, and only a few devoted friend
followed the Monumental City's mos
gifted citizen to his eternal rest. !
ma gnlflcent monument marks hi
grave, covered with flowers on thi
lr~r a obi !
Baltimore where Poe lived and wrot,
end joyed and sorrowed are nov
Ehrines on which awed pilgrims gaz
with tear-dimme6 eyes. The Poe cot
esge in FFordham, now a part of New
ork city, will also attract many visit
ors. What was a rural district il
Poes time is now a part of the grea
city, and towering apartment hous
is in process of construction besid
khe huEable cot of the poet The sun