You'll Be Shocked To Learn Why These Metal Hooks Were Placed Next To Graves In South Carolina

It was rigged with a piece of rope that would be tied around the deceased person's wrist. The other end was attached to a bell that was on a bell hook either at the head or foot of the grave.

This way, if the person woke up, they only had to ring the bell and someone would know they were still alive.

Taphophobia, the fear of being buried alive, is a real thing. And in the Victorian era it wasn't uncommon and it was perfectly legitimate. There are various instances in history where people were buried alive.

Reportedly, on Edisto Island, the young Julia Legare became ill in 1852 and died. She was placed in the family mausoleum the same day. Years later, the family lost another member. When they opened the tomb to place the newly deceased family member in there, they discovered Julia's bones in a pile by the door - still wrapped in the clothing in which she was buried. Julia had been buried alive.

It was no wonder that families who could afford the luxury would go to great lengths to assure there was a safety measure in place for their loved ones. All sorts of unknown illnesses were easily spread, so when someone died they were often buried right away to prevent anyone else from becoming sick. Having a safety bell or a safety coffin offered reassurance that loved ones would not be buried alive.

It's very rare today to find a safety bell or a hook that held the bell in a public cemetery in South Carolina. Perhaps they were removed from the gravesite after a certain period of time, or they were taken by vandals.

We found this video of a safety bell someone created to demonstrate how a safety coffin would have worked in the 19th century.