The Virginia Gazette

Bristol, September 4. Yesterday at 12 o'Clock, Vernham and Harding, were carry'd from Newgate to the Place of Execution on St. Michael's-hill, attended by the Under-Sheriff, and his Officers, and the Constables of the City, (in a Cart, with Halters about their Necks;) the Divine who attended them, having finish'd his last Office, the Cart drew away: But to the Surprize of every one, after hanging the usual Time, and being cut down, Vernham was perceived to have life in him, when put into the Coffin; and some Watermen and others, who promised to save his Body from the Surgeons, carried him away to a House; and a Surgeon being sent for, immediately open'd a Vein, which so recovered his Senses, that he had the Use of Speech, sat up, rubb'd his Knees, shook Hands with divers Persons that he knew, and to all seeming Appearance, a perfect Recovery was expected. The Rumour of this, soon came to the Under-Sheriff's Ears, who, with Mr. Legg, and several Officers armed, went to know the Truth, and finding it certain, were about to remove him to a proper Place, in order to have him again under their Care for a second Execution, and finishing the Law; which we hear would have been done in a private Manner, without any Ceremony: But whether any secret Method was used to dispatch him, or not, he died about Eleven o' Clock, in great Agony of Pain, his Bowels being very much convulsed, as appeared by his rolling from one Side to the other, and often on his Belly. And to our second Surprize, Joshua Harding is also come to Life again, and is actually now in Bridewell, where great Numbers of People resort to see him, particularly Surgeons, curious of Observations. He lies in his Coffin, covered with a Rug, has a Pulsation, breathes freely, and has a regular Look with his Eyes; but he has not been heard to speak, only motions with his Hand where his Pain lies. 'Twas thought he would be executed a second Time; but we are now told, he is to be provided for in some convenient House of Charity, with Restraint, he being to all Appearance defective in his Intellects. Two such Resurrections happening at one Instant in the World, was never heard of in the Memory of Man.