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Story
August 17, 1896
Freeland Tribune
Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Dutch painter Pontman dies from nervous shock after an earthquake in his studio causes skeletons and skulls to shake, making him think they are dancing, prompting him to jump out a window in fright.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Death From Fright.
A remarkable case of death from fright was that of the Dutch painter Pontman. He was at work in his studio, where there were a number of death's heads and skeletons, when he happened to fall asleep. During his sleep there was a slight shock of earthquake, and when he woke up suddenly he saw the skeletons and skulls dancing around in the greatest confusion. He at once became panic-stricken, and rushed across the room and threw himself out of the window onto the pavement below. He died a few days after, not from injuries received in the fall, but from the nervous shock given by the dancing skeletons, though the cause of their festivity was explained him.—Black and White.
A remarkable case of death from fright was that of the Dutch painter Pontman. He was at work in his studio, where there were a number of death's heads and skeletons, when he happened to fall asleep. During his sleep there was a slight shock of earthquake, and when he woke up suddenly he saw the skeletons and skulls dancing around in the greatest confusion. He at once became panic-stricken, and rushed across the room and threw himself out of the window onto the pavement below. He died a few days after, not from injuries received in the fall, but from the nervous shock given by the dancing skeletons, though the cause of their festivity was explained him.—Black and White.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Medical Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Death From Fright
Earthquake Shock
Dancing Skeletons
Nervous Shock
Painter Pontman
What entities or persons were involved?
Pontman
Where did it happen?
His Studio
Story Details
Key Persons
Pontman
Location
His Studio
Story Details
Dutch painter Pontman falls asleep in his studio surrounded by skeletons and skulls. An earthquake shakes them, and upon waking, he panics thinking they are dancing, jumps out the window, and dies days later from nervous shock, not injuries.