The Living Burial: A Near-Tragedy in Seattle
A young man, declared dead from fever, was found alive inside his coffin when family members prepared to move his remains to the cemetery.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A most mournful spectacle has just been brought to light in this city. It involves the family of Mr. Galaviz, who resides in this city. A few days ago his son died, and his remains were placed temporarily in a vault in Seattle. Eight days after his death, a relative went to the vault with the intention of removing the body to the cemetery and was horrified to see the young man lying across his coffin with the glass broken. Young Galaviz was very pale and weak. His hands were lacerated and bleeding, but he was still alive. He was taken at once to the city. His relatives were terribly frightened, but wonderful to say, he is recovering after being cared for. The family are Catholics and very poor, and have kept the matter quiet, though they have admitted the occurrence.
“Eight days after his death, a relative went to the vault with the intention of removing the body to the cemetery and was horrified to see the young man lying across his coffin with the glass broken.”
This harrowing account of premature burial reflects the Victorian-era obsession with the 'living dead' and the limitations of 19th-century medical diagnosis. Today, Seattle's medical infrastructure is light-years ahead, yet the city still grapples with the anxiety of the 'forgotten' in its crisis-prone housing and social services.
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