Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1887 — ALIVE IN HIS COFFIN. [ARTICLE]

ALIVE IN HIS COFFIN.

A Supposed Corpse, Shipped on a Hallroad, Found to Have Regained Consciousness. [Vincennes (Ind.) special.] During the session of the Lutheran Evangelical Synod at Booneville Philip Gyer, a wealthy citizen of Mount Auburn, 0., who was present as a delegate, arose to make a few remarks. He had scarcely risen from his seat when he was noticed to stagger, and the next second fell on the floor dead. A physician was called and pronounced his case apoplexy. The remains were hurriedly prepared for burial, and ordered shipped at once to the home of the deceased; Ten hours after the supposed death the remains arrived here by special train from Evansville. John Kqster, the baggagemaster, assisted by Clark Harvey, transferred the corpse from an Evansville and Terre Haute to an Ohio and Mississippi train. Harvey declares that he heard the dead man kick against the lid of the box three or four times. Mr. Kuster said: “I have handled more coffins than any man about this depot, and I flatter myself that I’m not superstitious. The sensation I experienced in lifting the coffin from one car to another Was the same as lifting a crate having a live calf in it. The coffin seemed to be alive. There was no dead weight about it. We only had a few minutes in which to transfer the remains, and it was suggested by some of that the box be opened and an-examination made of the corpse. To this a strenuous objection was entered*by an unknown gentleman Who accompanied the remains.” Depotmaster Mechlin telegraphed from here to Washington requesting that the coffin on arrival tjrere be opened and an examinatipn made of the body. There, as here, the man who had charge of the corpse again interposed. Word Was sent from Washington to the Chief of Policetat Cincinnati, and word was telegraphed that on' the coffin being opbned the man yas lying on his face, his shroud was tormand there were qther'indications going to .show that Gfyfer had come to life after having been placed in the coffin.

Sohneke states that the electricity which is discharged dtaring a thunderstorm is produced by the friction of water and ice, that is, that the ice is electrified by friction of water. Just before a thunder-storm water-clouds (cumuli) and ice-clouds (cirro, cirrots rati) appear simultaneously in the sky. The friction of these particles of ice and water is a sufficient cause of the electricity which is generated.