“A woman who was believed to have died the day before was being buried at Doussard, when the grave-digger, who was engaged in filling up the grave, distinctly heard knocking coming from the coffin. He called a man who was working near, and he came and listened, and heard the knocking also. It was then about nine o’clock in the morning. The knocking continued, and they listened for about half an hour, when it occurred to one of them that they ought to do something, so they went to inform the local authorities. The curé of the village was the first to arrive on the scene; but as no one had any authority to exhume the body the coffin was not taken up. All that was done was to bore some holes in the lid with a drill in such a way as to admit of air. By mid-day all the necessary formalities had been gone through, and it was decided at last to open the coffin. This was done; but whether the unfortunate woman was still alive at this time is doubtful. Some of those present affirm that she was. They state that they saw a little colour come into her cheeks, and the eyes open and shut. One thing is certain--viz.: that when at half-past six in the evening it was finally decided to consult a doctor, the practitioner summoned declared that death had taken place not more than five or six hours before. It was thought that had the coffin been opened directly the sounds were heard the woman’s life might have been saved, and she would have been spared hours of indescribable torture and suffering.” The Paris edition of the _New York Herald_, May 14, 1895, says:-- “The case of the woman buried alive at Annecy, in the Haute-Savoie, the other day, has almost found a pendant at Limoges. A woman, belonging to the village of Laterie, died, to all appearance at least, a few days ago. After the body had been placed in a coffin, it was transported to the village church. On the way the bearers heard sounds proceeding from it, and at once sent for the mayor, who ordered it to be opened. The woman was found to be suffering from _eclampsia_, which had been mistaken for death by her relatives.” The following case is instructive in that the victim was exhumed without an order from the Home Secretary, or waiting for any formalities, and was restored to life:-- “BURYING ALIVE. [From the _Spectator_, October 19, 1895.] [RESUSCITATION IN IRELAND.]