The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-10
Spontaneous Human CombustIOn-A
Horrible Death.

spontaneous human COInDuSllOu-A
Horrible Death.
The New Orleans Crescent gives the
following account of a case OF sponta-
neous human combustion in that city
He was a good looking blond young
fellow, very intelligent and sober in his
habits, with one exception, however;
his failing was wine, obwhich he drank
excessively, although he was never
known to use any other liquor, tobacco
in any shape or form, and never show"
ed signs OF intoXiCation. Luylay was
known TO have absorbed in a single day
fourteen bottles of Claret at his meas,
no account being kept of what he may
have drank at other times. About two
years ago his passion for wine began to
tell upon him mentally and physically,
until he disappeared from the sphere OF
his former associates. FROM time 10
time he was heard of as hanger-on at
a one horse grocery store, at the corner
of BapateIle and Humanity streets, kept
bv greasy and pOrtly member of the
African race named GToS Louis, or Big
Louis, who assisted CASTOR the best he
could, in recompense for the mental
services which he performed about the
shop. Duylay was reported in wretch
ed condition, his appearance showing
evident signs OF bloatedness, and yet no
account could be given of the cause. IN
asmuch as his purse did not permit him
to purchase liquor, of which there was
none for sale at the grocery, and eros
Lewis himself never drinking wine at
his table, could much less afford to
supply his protege with the Object
of his fondness. Besides Luylay was
except to go to his room on White
street, opposite Union square. On
Wednesday of last week, however,
Luylay, who had beeq in the shop, was
detected by Nine. Lodis actually drink
ing from five gallon can which con-
of the stock of the store. Ex-
postulation resulting, CASTOR left
the store, when he was reported
quite i'll, having, among other things,
lost the sense of hearing TO cOnsidera-
BILE extent. He suffered greatly from
interior pain of an acute character. In
company with our friend, we reached
the residence of Luylay yesterday. The
building was ono OF those red painted
kitchens standing back few yards in
picket inclosed lot, and was apparent
ly of recent construction. His room
which was charitably placed at his
disposal by an old woman named
kitchen, was on the second floor, and
presented such an appearance ofpoverty
that 1t was heartrendering to look upon.
The patient was lying on an old single
yellow pine bed, clean withal, and
when we entered, recognizing our
friend, looked upon him most piteous-
ly, without, however, saying word.
Since eight o'clock, when our friend
left him. the pain had changed it's
character, and the patient, we were
told by DIR. Lamirod and Mr.. Tenier,
druggist. residing in the neighborhood,
had not changed his position, he having
lost all control of his limbs. The
NJ
sensation in spots about the body, as
though, in his own words, circular
combs, inside his flesh, at the lower ex-
tremities especially, were being driven
with the points outWardly, and the
stinging increased in intensity until it
became so excrullatlng that we left tho
scene promising to return, i'll order not
TO hear tho piercing shrieks of poor
LuylaY. Walking down stairs with
DR.. Lamirod, we asked him if he could
account for the strange disease. The
doctor answered simply: sly pe1riS
mon Latin, have never met with any
thing similar during twenty-seven
years of constant practice" The only
treatment which had been resorted to
was the application of wet congresses
upon the whole surface of the body.
Soothing solutions were also admins
tered, all Of which seemed not to have
the least effect. This was about half
past IL o'clock. About l o'clock we
returned to Union Square to witness
one of the most horrible sights that has
ever come within our experience. Luy-
lay was now stretched upon the bare
floor, in perfect state of nakedness, his
eyes almost out of their orbits, his
whole frame distorted, and the body in
n curious state of ebullition-we might
state, the flesh much swollen and per-
fectly translucent, and the blood cours-
ing in tho veins, seeming to be rushing
through them at a fearful rate, as was
easily exhibited by its abnormal ap-
pearance, seemingly filled with foreign
globUlar bodies. The epidermis in
spots varying from the size of pins
head TO that OF small apple, would
become inflated and suddenly the
blisters would collapse, very like the
bubbles on the surface of n boiling pot
of starch or other thiCkened liquid. AS
the blisters subsidized they left on their
surface hot liquid of yellowish red
coler which trickled down the sides of
his body, and stained the floor, the
idea of wiping it off having been ADAM
doned, owing to the copiousness of the
flow. To remain in room with such
sight in view was more than we
could do and we retired once more, to
return, however, about 3o'clock, upon
being informed that life was extinct
in poor Luylay. During our absence
the body had apparently exuded all
that it contained of blood and liquid
matter, became perfectly dried up and
shrunken, and as black as charcoal.
About O'Clock in the afternoon the
deputy coroner arrived on the spot,
but upon looking at the body and
being told the case, disbelieved the
statement, even after touching the
body. which left its charred marks
upon his hands.-N. o. Crescent.