Coffined Before His Time.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2871, 12 April 1888, Page 3

Coffined Before His Time.

The Pester Lloyd reports from I3elgradewhat narrowly escaped being a fatal case of shameful superstition. The police found, lying in the street, the body of a man apparently frozen to death. Efforts to revive him failed, and liis identity having been ascertained, he was banded over to his family ior interment, The cemetery was a conconsiderable way distant, and as it was being reached the driver of the hearse told the priest, who attended for the religious service, that lie heard somo noise in the coffin. Others drawing near also heard the noise, and all ran ktey lest a vampire should issue from (wW attack them, The driver, terrified at finding himself alone, turned about, and drove the hearse to the nearest police-station, By this time a knocking was distinctly audible, The coffin was forced open, and the man was found alive and in a very exhausted state. He complained pathetically of the attempt to bury him, despite his remonstances. He was taken to the hospital, and soon nearly recovered, He had been spending the evening with some boon companions, and wandering in a state of intoxication, fell, and became insensible from the cold. Probably the jolting of the hearse revived him, It is a superstition in Servia, and among many Slav people that when a man dies suddenly his spirit returns as a vampire, and preys on his near relatives and friends.