A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 254, 26 October 1893, Page 5

A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE

Thoughts and Sensations of a Man

Who was Buried Alive.

A mound was being excavated near Frank* forfc, Ross County, Ohio, in August. At the centre the wall (from the .base line upward) was fifteen fees high. 16 was undermined by the workmen, and as I benb down to examine a email bone uncovered in the process of undermining a mass of earth equal to several cartloads suddenly dropped from abcve. There was no one in the excavation, the men having gone on top preparatory to cutting down the undermined wail. As the earth cracked loudly I looked up and started to rise. The falling mass knocked me back about five feet, so that I fell with my head and shoulders resting on a heap of loose earth. The falling wall was of course seen only for an instant. Ib looked black, and the rush of wind ib caused I well remember. My head and shoulders were somewhat) higher than my legs, possibly a foot. The feet; were spread apart. There was little pain—only pressure intense pressure. Ib forced the buttons of my light field costume partly inside the tlesh. My watchchain left a bright red mark along my lefb side. I could feel the watch strongly pressed against two riba (these were broken.) The skin over my forehead seemed being cut, but it was the pressure of my hat forcing flesh between the laced straws. A knife in my pocket seemed burningly hot. Thoughts coursed like lightning—pasfe life, future and home. I did nob think much of the situation, except bo wonder i£I could breathe when 1 gob out. One' singular thought occurred. I remembered reading of women who in war times buried their husbands in ash piles or sand heaps to prevent feheir being drafted into the army. I had often wondered if ib woro possible iov one so placed ro breathe through a tube, as described in the stories. I remember trying to move one hand, even a finger. One could not have been more firmly held in a mold. My arms and hand 3 were perfectly motionless. The chest could nob be inflated or moved the nlightesb distance. On the contrary, the downward pressure forced all the air out of my lungs. I remember how hofc the e&rbn against my face became as the last breath was" forced from me. Just in front of my mouth, end chin was a slight hollow, formed by the arching of two good-sized lumps of clay. I could move my chin and open and shut my I mouth. That was the only part of my entire body that could be moved. I remember trying to keep my mouth shut to keep out the dirt. But after a few seconds my mouth instinctively opened, and the arch having broken down earth filled it. I ' remember the horrible eonsation of trying to dislodge the earth and the fear of strangling that suddenly seized upon me. I then felt thad I was doomed to perish, bub had no fear and did not particularly care. .y—•>"' It was sixty seconds, so the surveyor says, when the men reached my head. The labourers think it was over a minute, but I am inclined to believe the surveyor. I felt the earth move slightly above my head. That gave mo hope. I had nob thought much of rescue, but 1 gathered my remaining strength. A shovel passed across the top of my head, cutting the •■■'■. scalp. I remember feeling it aa if a hob . iron had struck me. Then they uncovered ray head and removed the earth from my mouth and eyes. The surveyor-says the pressure was so great upon the imprisoned portion of my body thac the blood was forced to the head, and the veins stood out so strongly he feared they would burst. Even with the head uncovored I could nob

breathe. They soon had-, me laid outside upon eomo wheab sheaves. I remember, just a9 they carried ma out, seeing a Jittla yellow 'wild canary' perch upon a tall ; thistle near at hand, I heard it atng a ... awcoC eong. •■' : As the bird flew away I seemed to follow c it, danciag aboub the fields, perching oa this and that shrub, just as it did. Thy sky . seemed to have a different colour from thati usually noticed ; I was impressed with its.--grandeur—the scenery of the surrounding: ' country was remarkably beautiful, and as ' I observed all. these things they atiected mo and I cried. They rubbed my limbs. I could see tho man at work, but could feel nothing. The partial paralysis of my limbs V continued for some clays. To some extehfc the accident has affected my mind. I cannob now enter an underground cave or mine or stand under an overhanging bank , without an effort. It requires all my will power to go in them. I alpo often dream ot caving banks, and experience precisely the Eame feelings as I did in . reality. I. ~ neglected to state that- the earth above my head vras about three feet thick ; that over... my legs was much deeper.—'Science.'