The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-08-20
A Singular Discovery of Dead Bodies.

Ihclc Is HolhlnI new under tlk sun. The
American coffin which attracted 50 mnch at
tentIon at the great exhibition in lS5l. and
which by producing vacuum by means of
the aIr-punP, was thought to be an entirely
new method OF preserving corpScS from de
cay, has been just proved to have been known
IN the middle ayes. While demolishinr.
short time ago, the old church of the ancient
"elch College, at Helm>tcdt. near Bruins
Wick, coffin made OF lead. the lid of which
was OF glass, OF immense thickness. contained
the body OF young girl apparently about
twelve years OF aye, which still preserved ev-
cry appearance of youth and freshness, al
though the collin bore date 1861.
a private letter from bySfander tells Us
that the face and fl gurc of the child were
perfect as lite, not single sign Of decay be-
lng visible throughout the whole person.
The check preserved It's delicate ro>e-tint-
the HAIR, which was of a bca utitul gold color,
was parted on the brow, and fell in lons
ringlets ovcrthc boSom crisp and fresh as
though the child had LAID down to sleep a
moment before. The dress of white satin.
embroidered in COLA flowers, the shoes of
white relvet,the lace apron, all seemed bright
as ii newly purchased; and more astoni,h-
ING still, the bunch OF lilies held in the hand
OF the corpse still looked as fresh and moist
as though the dew still hung upon them.-
The workmen engaged in the demolition q,
the build. n., we're stuck with eve. and IN
mc'!iatclv went in quest of the chief ma rs
trate of the place. who soon arrived on the
spot accompanied by several of the inhahit
ants, Unfortunately the worthy tunctionarv
havIn" recently been made the victim of 4
practical Joke in the town. AMI being half
suspicious that the same thing was intended
wonld not believe in the reality OF, ard sciz-
in" a spade from the hand OF one of the work
men who stood near, dclt heavy blow upon
the collin, smashed one or two of the diamond
shaped ranc> OF glass of which it was COM
posed In a moment, and while we vet raz-
ed, thin cloud Of dust or vapor, like wreath
of smoke, rose up from the coffin and dim
med the sight veilinG the corpse from our
view, When it had disappeared, We sazcd
d"wnward> in awe: nothing remained of
what had struck us with so much interest a.. d
wonder all had vanished. and left nou-Lt
behind but head OF diScolorcd dust, a few
rags OF trl>cl. and one or two dried bones -
The rage and despair of Herr W, the
great antlquary and <arar of the place, knew
no bounds. He did his best to collect
the fragments that remained, and that
same evening the coffin was convcvcd to
Brunswick, where it will no doubt form ON,
OF the greatest ornaments of the museum
There appears no doubt that the high prcscr-
satlon OF the corpse had been produced b,
the abstraction of all air from the coffin. a,,u
1t is supposed that the child belonged to SOM,
great professor of the University, who ha,
performed the experiment in secret, As it /.
curious that amid all tins pains and care con
ccrning the body of the child, no mean.
should have been taken to preserve her nam.
from Oblivion. No name is engraved upon
the cotn-nOt even her understanding bu
the date of the year in which she died or wa
buried N46I I.-London Illus