The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-18
AN INCIDENT OF THE OHIO RIVER CALAMITY.
Singular Observation-Disclosures Of
l Corpse by Science.
From the Pittsburg Gazette, Dec. AL

From the Pittsburg Gazette Dec. AL
Among the victims TO the recent heart rending and
terrible river calamity on the beautiful Ohio were
Mrs. Commodore Thompson, young married lady
Of New Orleans, on her way back to the Crescent
City, and companion named Mrs. Griffin who had
resided IN the same place. The day following tae
awful night Of the accident the bodies OF both these
OF by griefslrcken friends for interment. They
were placed in the Episcopal church at Madison,
Indiana, not far from the scene or the wreck, and
the ladies' OF the parish very kindly rendered The re-
mains every proper attention and prepared them Tor
the grave.
Their funerals took place in Christ church, Rev.
James Runcel, ID. D., officiating. The graves were
prepared and the interesting funeral services had
progressed nigh to an end when message was re-
ceived from Commodore Thompson directing that
the bodies OF his wife and Mrs. Griffin be forwarded
70 % o lr o MISE
also lost in the disaster appeared in the church
and laid claim to the supposed body OF Mrs Thomp-
as that OF his unfortunate relative. The friends
Of Mrs. Thompson insisted that the charred corpse
belonged TO her. and In order to prove that
that their deceased friend owned and wore plain
gold ring on her:hnger, with the name "Gracen en-
Sa n was S s e nod1
Wolf was surprised at this announcement, as 1t was
on just such ring of that identical shape and bear
depended on making good his claims to the corpse
as that OF Miss Fahnest0ck. He had positive know
ledge Of her owning and wearing such a ring in life
and was doubly assured Of the fact by tele-
grams from Pittsburg asserting that while
here, just few days before her terrible death.
was dilemma The friends Of Mrs. Thompson were
equally positive with those OF Miss Fahnestock that
the ring found on the corpse had been worn by her,
and beyond doubt fixed Identification After calm
discussion the friends determined to forward the
body to Philadelphia and there endeavor to solve the
mystery. The two lost ladies were OF about the same
size aud build, and as the clothing had all been
burned away and the features horribly mutiated tne
confusion arising from the remarkable coincidence
OF both having rings their fingers Of exactly the
same kind and bearing the same legend was quite
natural and Of course sorey distressed the respec-
tive friends.
The corpse arrived in Philadelphia and the ques-
ton Of identification still remained unsettled. As Q
last resort several gentlemen OF the medical pro-
fession called TO bring science to solve the per-
picking problem. A post mortem examination re.
veaed The fact that the disfgured body not that
Of married lady, and the friends Of Mrs. Thompson
willingly acquesced In the decision, and the corpse
was surrendered for burial to the relatives of Miss
Fahnestock. The coincidence Of the rings was very
remarkable, and had both the lost ladies occupied
the same relations In life the Identification perhaps,
never could have been made, unless, indeed the
body OF Mrs. Thompson be yet dragged from the
river In such preservation as to render the features
recognizable.