The Wilmingtonian., 1824-05-06


sand of them that will hang colley dog;
so that the manner of this wretch's death,
is rather singular circumstance.
Early next morning Mr.. Anderson's SER
wants went reluctantly away, and taking
an old blanket for winding sheet, they rol-
led up the body Of the deceased, first in
his own plaid, letting the hay rope still re.
main about his neck, and placing the old
blanket over all. they bore th- loathed re-
mains away, to the distance ofthree miles
or so on spokes, to the top of Cowan's
Croft, at the very point where the duke OF
Buccleugh's land, the laird Of Drumelzier's
aud Lord Naper's, meet, and there they
buried him, and all that he had on him
and about him, silver knife and fork toge-
ther. Thus far went tradition, and no one
ever disputed one jot of the disgusting or
al tale.
A nephew of that Mr.. Anderson, who
was with the hapless youth that day he
died. says, as far as he can gather from the
relations of friends that he remembers, and
of that same uncle in particular, i is one
hundred and fire years, next month (hat
is September, 1889 since that event hap
pened and think that this gentleman's
information is correct. But sundry other
people much older than he wham Ihave con-
suited pretend that it is six or seven years
more. They say they have heard that Mr..
James And erson, was then boy of ten
years of age +; that he lived to an old age,
upwards of fourscors, and it is two-and-
r. bo ,oI b,rbo
it may be, it was about that period some
way; of that there is no boubt.
II so happened that two young men
were out on an adjoining height, this
summer. casting peats, and it came in
heir heads to open that grave in the will
derness, and see if there were any of the
bones of the suicide of former ages and
centuries remaining. They did SO, but O.
pened only about one half of the grave, be-
ginning at the same head, and about the
middle at the time. 1t was not long till
they came upon the old blanket, think
they said, not much more than foot from
the surface.-They tore that open, and
there was the rope lying stretch ed down "a
long his breast so fresh, that they saw, at
first sight, it was made Of risp, sort of
long sword grass that grows about marshes
and the sides of lakes. One of the young
men seized the rope. and pulled by it, but
the old enchantment of the devil remain
ed. 1t would not break, and so he pulled
and pulled at it till the body came up, in
to sitting posture, with a broad blue bon
net on its head, and plaid around it, as
fresh as the day it was laid. | never heard
of preservation so wonderful, if it be
true as related to me, for still | have not
had the curiosity to 20 and view the body
myself. The features were all so plain that
an acquaintance might easily have known
him One of the lads griped theface of the
corpse with his finger and thumb and the
cheeks quite soft and fleshy, but the dim
pies remained and did not spring out a
gain. He had fine yellow hair about 9
inces long, but not hair of it could they
pull out, till they cut part OF it off with
knife. They also cut off some portions of
his clothes, which were all quite fresh, and
distributed them among their acqaintan-
ces, sending a portion to me among the
rest, to keep as natural curiosities. Sc
veral gentlemen have in a manner forced
me to give them fragments of these en-
chanted garments. His broad blue bon.
net was sent to Edinburg several weeks
ago, to the great regret ofsome gentleme er
connected with the land; who wished I,
have it for keepsake. For my part
fond as | am of blue bonnets, and broad
ones in particular, declare | burst no
have worn that one. There was nothing
Of the silver knife and fork discovered
that ! heard of nor was it very likely i
should but it would appear he had beer
very near run of cash, which | dare say
had been the cause ofhis utter despair, 70
on searching his pockets nothing wa
found but three old Scots half pennies
These young men meeting with anothe
shepherd afterwards, his curiosity was S
; much excited. that they went and digge
up the curious remains second time
: which was pity. as it is likely BY thes
exposures to the air, and from the impo
sibility of hurying it up again so ciosel
: as it was before, the flesh will now fall
dust.
I These are all the particulars that | r
q member relating to this curious discoy
a ry; and I am sure that very vauable r
ceipt may be drawn from it for the pr
d servation of dead bodies.
Il JAMES HOGG.
We .altrieve Lokc, Aug. /, 1895.