Safety coffins were a big thing in the 1800’s. The fear of premature burial was not entirely without merit. The wiki link mentions that during the cholera epidemic, they didn’t put a very fine point on the difference between “dead”, and “not dead, but we think you will be pretty soon.” Poe has entered the chat.
There was even a London Association for the Prevention of Premature Burial, who agitated for requiring a physician examination before someone was declared dead.
Lots of these contraptions were made, often with bell mechanisms and fresh air tubes for the prematurely interred.
The rise of cremation and embalming more or less ended the risk of premature burial.
I’ve read every Michael Crichton book and I’m very surprised that The Great Train Robbery was your favourite. It’s one of the only books I’ve only read once. (Hrm, I think I should put Prey on my list of books to read. Haven’t read that one twice)
I don’t remember much from the book, the scene that stick out the most was the contortionist. I’ll have to give it another read and keep an eye on the history.