A GHASTLY TALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6051, 9 April 1881, Page 7

A GHASTLY TALE.

A ykry strange circumstance occurring in the vicinity of knicarte, Mason County, 111., has attrated the attention-of a great many, and is, at the least, a most miraculous affair. February 17th a-woman by the name of Mrs. Banks, to all appearances, died. About four weeks previous to this she had given birth to a child, and was apparently well, with the exception of the nursing sore mouth, from the cfiect of which she had grown quite weak, so much so that her husband thought it was necessary to call in a physician, but she objected, insisting upon waiting a few days longer, thinking that she could manage the affliction without the aid of a physician, bhe soon afterward and-very suddenly mnk away, and to all appearance gave up the ghost. The body was kept till the next day about two o'clock p.m., when it was inclosed m a coffin and taken to the grave-yard, ioliowed by a great many mournful friends, in laying her out her arms were tied together aDovo her elbow with a strip of cloth, so that her hands would retain a position across her breast.. At the grave some of her friends wished to view her remains, and the ccffin was opened that they might do so. On removing the lid over the glass they could not see through the glass for the mo : sture on it, and it was then seen that one of her hands was torn loose from the band and was lying by her side, and her arms were as limber as of one alive. The circumstances bore upon the minds of several .present, but still tney could not entertain any notion but that she was dead. Her hands were again placed in position across her breast and retied with the same strip of cloth, and she was buried. After returning to their homes several of the parties who had noticed the singular appearance at the grave commenced to talk the matter over and they soon raised a doubt in their minds that she was not dead; about five o'clock that same evening several went to the. grave and took . the body up. On opening the they found fresh moisture on the glass of the coffin-lid, and her hands were again broken from the strip of cloth that bound them, "and they were both lying by her side, and instead of her- limbs being in the least rigid, they aiid lier fingers were flexible. Notwithstanding all this, .they could not convince themselves' but 'that-' she was dead, and she was again reburied. The matter was generally discussed in the neighbourhood, and by the following Sunday the excitement had grown so strong "that ; it was decided to reexhume her the following day. The next day, Monday, after she had slept beneath the sod for four days and nights, she was again resurrected and taken to her home, where she has been slowly but gradually mending. Her friends entertain the strongest hopes of her recovery, which, if she does, will be a remarkable occurreniie, long to remembered bythe people of Snicarte. The way ill which this. afi'air was mmaged was, to say the least, very singular.—Bloomington(llL) Pantagrapli.