Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-02
A Melancholy Romance -Grief, Ruin aud
BeggaTy.

4 strange incident took place in New
Orleans a few days since A man, far
advanced in years, had been employed
to carry a box to a certain quarter in
the city; but, previous t0 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 ex-
anime the box, when, to their aston
ishment, it was found to contain the
skeleton of a child, aud the skull and
some other bones belonging to the body
of an adult. The discovery was COM
municated to tho proper authorities,
and at length the following particulars
TRANSFERRED:
Don Ramon DuTan,a native of Spain,
married In Catalonia, many years ago,
wealthy lady, called Donna Isabel
Romero, for whom he pTOfe ssed the
most tender attachment.
The latter dying after the emigration
of the couple to New Orleans. Duran,
by some means obtained the skull and
some of the other bones of his deceased
wife, which he ever after kept with the
greatest care, wrapped mp In a piece
of black silk. Some years after the
death of his first wife, Duran married
a second-a person much younger than
himself. By this wife he had daugh-
ter, 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 OPP
posing the laws and established ems
toms, he went to the expense of a mock
inteTment.
| This loss exercised so strong an i'm
preston on his mind that he seemed
Indifferent to all about him, and his
affairs began rapidly to decline. His
keenly sensitive mind was, however,
destined to feel another, and, from the
attendant circumstances, still more
painful bereavement, In the elopement
| of his wife, which event almost unseat-
ed his Judgment. Ruin made now such
rapid strides in the fortunes of this
hapless man, that in the course of a
short time, the once wealthy proprietor
was reduced to the common condition
of a common beggar. But he had still
one treasure left; the humble suppliant
wandering from door to door, depend
ent upon public charity for support.
had yet in his possession an ignored
and priceless gem, which shared with
him his fortunes the box containing
the bones and child. He thus lived for
a series of years, and whenever it be-
came necessary to shit his place of
residence, the box containing the
precious relics was ever his first care,
| and for which he craved a shelter I'M
der the title of important papers. His
last residence was at the hOuse of a
widow who had known him In better
times. Here he lived until sickness
overlook him, when the seanty means
of his h0spitable landlady not allowing
her to administer to his wants, he re-
moved to the public hospital, where he
died about year and a half since
This lady, who appears In some degree
to have imbibed his preiudiees, out of
respect to his memory, would not, for
long time, allow the relics so highly
priced to be removed; but the earnest
solicitations of her acquaintance, who
were already, as well as herself, ap-
prised of the contents of the box, in
duced her at last to consent. Proper
steps having been consequently taken
to insure their admission TO the public
cemetery, an old man was employed for
the purpose of conveying them to the
hearse depot, who, as we, have seen,
sunk under his burden to rise no more.