The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-11-04
From he FIessbarg w.. Register
a DEATh'S nEAD.

y DEATHS HEAD.
We can vouch for the truth, 10 substance,
Of the following anecdoie, as We had It from
the lips of the gentleman concerned, who
vas then, and is now, an eminent physician,
not given 10 the marvellous-nol addicted
to the establishment OF facts.
1t will be recollecled that m the summer
of 1873, the YELLOW Fever appeared 10
Natchez aud Us vicinity, IN the most terrific
naliguIty. The last stage Of this disease
is almost Invariably attended with delrum,
during which, we eau speak from exPeri.
ence, the patient, Sometimes, II least sui.
iers all that We can conceive, OF the tor
menls OF the damned-n0t So much from
the Consciousness OF bodtly paln, but from
burning fever Of the brain, which coulures
up scenes The most horrible.
Ii was q case like this, al the hospital,
to which the medical aid Of DR.. was
called IN requlslllon. Before he arrived.
however, the individual was dead. lie had
died. like many others during the pane
usua ly attending this terrible destro, ef,
without the attendance IL nurse. From
The distorted appearance Of the face, The
mouth and eyes widely dlsteuded like those
oi maniac, II vas evident that the disease
(slx or seven hours durauon) mad been OF
the most malignant type, and had ,ernina.
ted With high stage 81 inflammation a the
brain. The Doctor then young II practice,
and who has since spared no excrlIon 10
collecting professional information, com.
menced at once an examination 1T the BODY.
BeiGfe he had concluded the dissection how.
ever, hls services we're required 81 the house
Of planter near Natchez. Determined to
examine the BRAN on the subject, the Doc
tor severed the head from the trunk, en-.
yeiopcd 1t 10 his handkerchief, and took i,
with hun. II was pow dark, and as he ap
preached the house of has patient, he vas
al a loss 10 determine what to do with the
mead. lis eyes were at length attracted
by hencoop 10 the yard, and there he
made the deposlle. Not many minutes had
elapsed before another messenger arrived
TO beg has immediate aid IN another quar-
ter. The Doctor leaving the House With
haste, and beng naturally a lille abstract.
ed, forgot the head. The next morning.
however, the Doctor, on visiting the patient,
vas discovered by one OF the servants, some.
ahat surrep;liiously peeping into the hen
coop aforesaid. THIS led Of course to an
inquiry for the bundle" which the Doc.
tor stated he bad deposited there the night
before, and that II had been removed. The
negro, smiling, somewhat lnslgnificanlly al
the idea thai the Doctor had made free
With his masters hen coop, replied tha. he
knew nothing Of The bundle, bot added that
Two turkeys bad been stolen the night be.
lore. And 50 II turned out. The same
day the "bundie," and the turkeys were
found side BY sideIn the corner Of fence
about quarter Of mile from the house.
In consequence OF ram few hours before
The robbery OF the coop, the gfound was
soft aud the negro concerned m the theft
was easily tracked TO a nelghbDrng plauta.
ton. Inquiry being Immediately made IN
relation o. the circumstances, the negro not
having yet recovered from his fright, came
forward and confessed himself the thief. |,
appears, that IN taking the turkeys, he adj.
ded the " bundle ~ question 10 the plum.
der, bu, bad not proceeded far before his
curiosity induced him t. ascertain ITS con.
tents. Tying the legs Of the turkeys to.
ge'her, no lad them upon the ground, and
seating himself, he commenced the exam.
nation lie threw open the folds OF the
handkerchief-the head stood erect upon
The stump of the ncck--and the moon Just
then breaking from clouds, revealed to tho