should ever
be clearly proven, his will be one of the saddest and most mysterious
events ever recorded. There is beyond doubt an unsolved mystery hanging
over this remarkable case.

CHAPTER IX. FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IN HELL

One of the most interesting cases of resuscitation that ever came to
my knowledge was that of George Lennox, a notorious horse-thief of
Jefferson County. He was serving his second term. Sedgwick County
sent him to the prison, the first time for a similar offense--stealing
horses.

During the winter of 1887 and 1888, he worked in the coal mines. The
place where he was laboring seemed dangerous to him. He reported the
fact to the officer in charge, who made an examination, and deciding
that the room was safe, ordered Lennox back to his work. The convict,
obeying, had not continued his work more than an hour, when the roof
fell in and completely buried him. He remained in this condition fully
two hours. Missed at dinner-time, a search was instituted for the
absent convict, and he was found under this heap of rubbish. Life seemed
extinct. He was taken to the top, and on examination by the prison
physician was pronounced dead. His remains were carried to the hospital,
where he was washed and dressed preparatory for interment. His coffin
was made and brought into the hospital. The chaplain had arrived to
perform the last sad rites prior to burial. A couple of prisoners were
ordered by the hospital steward to lift the corpse from the boards and
carry it across the room and place it in the coffin. They obeyed, one at
the head and the other at the feet, and were about half way across
the room when the one who was at the head accidentally stumbled over a
cuspidor, lost his balance, and dropped the corpse. The head of the dead
man struck the floor, and to the utter surprise and astonishment of
all present, a deep groan was heard. Soon the eyes opened, and other
appearances of life were manifested. The physician was immediately sent
for, and by the time he arrived, some thirty minutes, the dead man
had called for a cup of water, and was in the act of drinking when the
physician arrived. The coffin was at once removed, and later on was used
to bury another convict in. His burial robes were also taken from him,
and the prison garb substituted. On an examination he was found to have
one of his legs broken in two places, and was otherwise bruised. He
remained in the hospital some six months, and again went to wo