Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-05-22
A pETRIFIED HUMAN BODY:


A correspondent of the Quebec Mer-
curry writes 10 the editor of that paper
as follows:
SIR: 1t is singular that the discov-
cry of the petrihed corpse in the church
yard Of this village, although made,
believe, in September last, did not un-
til lately attract public attention. Ii
does not appear that even now 1t has
reused the curiosity Of the scientific
although it is perhaps the greatest won
der of its kind.
Passing thro' Berthier on the 21st of
March, | paid visit to the gentleman
in whose house i: is deposited, and re-
ceiyed from him every civility and ex-
PLANTATION that time would allow. The
petrifaction, for such / must term it, is
kept in a large chest made for the pur-
pose, in lower room Of the house, I'M
der lock and key. On removing fair
linen cloth, one Of the most extraordi
nary sights presents itself that probably
ever came under notice. By a rare
process Of nature, body committed to
earth in the ordinary way, some twenty
years since, instead Of crumbling into
original dust, has become the petrihed
image of the human form, which once
had being, life and motion. The body,
which in life was composed of both So
lid and empty parts, is now entirely so,
lid, hard, and seems to be as complete
ly stone as if quarried by mortal hands.
1t has the appearance of one of those
ancient statues, abraded by time and
exposure, which are seen in the inches
on the outside of cathedrals in Europe.
In color it is dark gray or nearly black.
The nose and mouth are destroyed, and
one of the feet, l think, was gone
The trunk was perfect. Where the
foot was broken it has every appear
ance of mutilated stone.
The small running stream, doubtless
containing earthly particles, over which
the coffin is supposed to have been de-
posted originally in the soil, present.
ed, as | was informed, a bubbling
spring, the exit Of which was not larger
than the palm of the hand. On either
side two bodies had been inferred about
the time of the burial of the one in
question.
All these have entirely disappeared;
fact which shows that the influence of
the petrifying spring or lapidifc fluid
die not extend beyond a narrow vein,
OF the breadth or space occupied by the
body which has suffered 50 extraordi-
nary change. perceive that New
York editor is rather incredulous of
this being peirification, and suggests
that it may be adipocere. To its be-
ing the latter, the description given a
bove, if correct, will establish a mega
tive. The body was exhumed in Sep
TENDER last, and is still as solid as when
discovered; at all events the coffin
could not be adipocere, and was in fact
described to be also stone. The open
ing of the navigation will soon make
Berthler easy of access; and it is to be
hoped for the sake of science, that
some one skilled to decide on the COM
position Of this supposed petrifaction,
will proceed TO a close examination
and test, giving his report to the world.
Perhaps the stream will be found in
pregnated with salt or iron.
One object, however, in my writing
you this letter, is to inquire if you have
ever heard, or have any means of ascer-
tanning from that venerable gentle
man, sthe oldest inhabitant,' that when
the foundations of the old Notifications
of Quebec were dug up, petri6ed sa-
wage was found among the last beds
which the workmen proceeded to exca-
yate. His CULVER and arrows were still
preserved; but where the story is to
be found in detail, I have no means of
discovering. JIG. r.
Quebec, April II, 1845.
The weather-moon north-cold and
dry grain short potatoes fne--and
we can't help it.