ALIVE IN THE DEAD-HOUSE.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 701, 23 August 1870, Page 3

ALIVE IN THE DEAD-HOUSE.

The San Francisco "Alta California." gives an account of the experience of a German who was supposed to have died, in that city, and whose body was immediately removed and placed in the dead-house attached to the hospital in which he had been under treatment:— "The body was deposited in a case where two other bodies had already been placed, and between them. The cover was put on and the keeper of the dead-house retired for the night. About midnight a loud screaming and yelling of the most unearthly character was heard In the dead-house. The keeper of the dead-house was sought after, but, being aware of what he was required to do, he sought concealment, preferring to let the ghosts fight it out among themselves rather than attempt to become peacemaker. When at last he was prevailed upon to proceed to the dead-house and open the door, the ghostly form of the German, whose life had been a few hours previous pronounced extinct, and who had been dressed in the robes of the dead, stood before him. The keeper fainted outright while the terrified German rushed headlong through the long halls and corridors of the building, spreading dismay and terror as he went. Some more courageous than the rest caught and arrested him in his frantic career, but the next instant the poor German fell on the floor in a fit. The physician was sent for, and restoratives used, by which he was restored to consciousness. How he felt when he returned to consciousness we give as he told it himself: ' Veil, ven I got sick and vas in bed that day the doctor came to me and I vas very sick. He vent away and after he vent I fell asleep. I knew nothing more till I voke in the night, and there was no light. I put out one hand, and I could get no bed clothes, for I vas cold. .1 den put my hand to one side to try for the clothes, and, och, vat do you think I got—vy a ded man? Dere he. vos. cold enough sure. I roared wid all the power I had, and was going away by the other side, ven, sure, I put my hand on another. Then I roared, and called, and cried all I could, and ven I vas getting up my head struck a board that was covering me. "Och," said I," vot does this mean, vere am I ? Am I ded ?', and I roared and bawled, and threw off the cover and jumped about as if I was mad. And I knocked at the door vid my hands and feet, but nobody would open it for me, and I thought I vas ded myself. I vas not shure. I had the ded man's dress on. At last the door opened, and ven I looked at the man vat opened it he fell down mid fear, and I ran till I vas caught. Then I fainted, and ven I came to myself I thought it vas a dream. But it is as true as I am here."