Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-10-25
TOLEDO TAMA COUNTY, IOWA. FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 1867
A Melancholy Romance.

A strange incident took place in New Or
leans few days since. A man far advanced
in years. had been employed to carry box to
q certain quarter in the city but, previous to
reaching his destination he fell dead in the
street. The authorities ordered the body to
be removed to the hearse depot, the box being
meanwhile left in an adjoining house. The
inmates proceeded to examine the box, when,
to their astonishment, it was found to contain
the skeleton of child, and the skull and some
other bones belonging to the body Of an adult
The discovery was communicated to the prop
er authorities, and at length the following
particulars transpired:
Don Damon Duran a native Of SPAIN mar
ried in Catalonia many years ago, wealthy
lady, called Donna Isabel Romero, for whom
he professed the most tender attachment.
The latter dying after the emigration of the
couple to New Orleans, Duran by some means
obtained the skull and ssmc of the other
bones Of his deceased wife, which be ever after
kept with the greatest care, wrapped up in
piece of black silk. Some years after the
death Of his first wife, Duran married second
"a person much younger than himself By
this wife he had a daughter, on whom he
fondly dotted; but the latter dying about 1888,
when only in her seventh year, Duran was
plunged in the greatest grief, and determined
not to part with his daughters body, had it
secretly embalmed and put into a box with
the remains of his former wife but, in order
not to appear as opposing the laws and estab-
lished customs, he went to the expense of a
mock interment.
This loss exercised so strong An impression
on his mind that he seemed Indifferent TO oil
about him, and his affairs began rapidly 10
decline. His keenly sensitive mind was,
however, destined to another, and, from the
attendant circumstances, still more painful
bereavement, in the clopement of his wife.
which event almost unseated his judgement.
Ruin now made such rapid strides in the for,
tunes Of tlis hapless man, that in the cours e
of a short time. the once wealthy proprietor
was reduced to the condition of q common
beggar. But he had still one treasure left :;
the humble suppliant wandering from door to
door, dependent upon public charity for sup
port, had yet in his possession an ignored
anc priceless gem which shared with him bis
fortune-thc box containing the bones Of his
wife and child. He thus lived for a series of
years, ani whenever it became necessary to
shift his place of residence, the box contain.
ing tie precious relics was ever his first care
for which he craved, shelter under the title
Of important papers. His last residence was
at the house Of /, widow who had known him
in better times. Here he had lived until sick.
ness overlook him, when the scanty means of
his hospital landlady not allowing her to ad
minister to his wants, he removed TO the pub
lie hospital, where he died about a year and
half since. This lady, who appears in some
degree to have imbibed his rreia lices, out OF
respect of his memory, would no, for time
allow the relics so highly priced to be remov-
ed; but the earnest solicitations Of her acquain-
tances. who were already, as we'll as herself,
apprised of the contents of the box, induced
her at last to consent. Proper steps having
been consequently taken to insure their ad-
mission TO the public cemetry, an old man
was employed for the purpose of conveying
them to the hearse depot, who. as We have
seen, sunk under his burden 10 rise no
more.