AFTER a pauper was buried at Simondium Cemetery last Wednesday, residents in the surrounding area claimed to hear the moans and groans of this poor departed woman, according to press reports.
The police were even contacted, and the community wanted the body exhumed, but apparently the woman had been very much certified dead before legally being laid to rest.
This makes me think of the origin of the saying, “saved by the bell.”
In years gone by, when men were men and pansies flowers (and long before modern lifesaving machinery), people would often go into a comatose state, be it due to illness or alcohol. These souls would then be presumed dead and then buried.
But grave diggers discovered that often, when they pillaged a grave, there were scratch marks on the coffin lid, indicating that people had woken up, and tried to escape from the coffin after burial.
Thus the custom originated that, when burying somebody, a string would be attached to the wrist of the deceased. This would go through a hole in the coffin, up to the surface, where a bell would be attached to the other end.
Should the dearly departed awaken, to find themselves six feet under, their movements would ring the bell and hopefully somebody would run to help.
Nowadays, I think the likelihood of someone being buried alive, is just about non-existent, thanks to modern medicine - thank goodness!
Relieved
