The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-01
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

A STARTLING Transactien-A Loathssmo Piasue
Locked In a COMMA Woman Dies With
Smallpox ON BlackweIl's Island-The Body
Brought to This City for Burial-A Large
Funeral Unconscious Of Terrible Danger.
The particulars regarding one OF the moss auda-
cious transactions, prejudicial to the health ana
weli-being OF the city, has JUS. been unearthed oy
HERALD reporter, the mere contemplation OF which
sends shudder TO the heart.
The city of New York has, perchance, escaped
plague within the past week. and although uncon-
scous OF IT, The putrid monster OF smallpox has been
introduced into our midst, under the most curious
ana deplorable circumstances, the nature OF which
should be Immediately and thoroughly investigated
by the Board Of Health. Some time since the wife
OF Edward Stone, O commercial traveller, during
his absence from the city, was stricken down with
the most virulent type Of smallpox and was at once
taken to the Smallpox Hospital on Blackwells
Island for treatment. The lady was very beautiful
and very charitable. 1t was through charity that
she caught the fatal disease. Under the sKirnl
OF the physicians Of the hospital the lady soon be.
came convalescent. On Sunday, the 10th inst, she
was SO far recovered 10 be able to write to her
husband !; but while doing 80 she incautously sat
near an open window, thereby taking slight cOld
which Immediately produced relapse and she died
the following Tuesday.
According TO the regulations both Of the Board OF
Health and those governing the disposition Of pa
tents at the smallpox Hospital, person dying with
this disease must be buried on Backwell's> Island.
Mrs. stone was accordingly buried in the graveyard
attached TO this institution, and that, too. wlNas
little delay as s generally manifested In the nal di
position or cases OF this nature Soon after her In
terment her husband returned and learned Of her
death and burial. Being very much attached to her
his grief intense but the thought of her beng
buried In unconsecrated ground and In what was
but little better than pauper's robing was the
Nn n
ger mad placed on his brow But Mr.. Stone had seen
much of the world much Of the people who dwell In
rty OF offcehOlders, and consequently he knew the
value Of money in any little transaction one might
chance to have with them SO he Immediately
sought one Of the surgeons and entered into neg0.
tatlOns with him for the recovery OF his wies body
VI course suon Migrant nreacn OF tne Jaw ana 81
cost Mr.. Stone $500 to reopen that unconsecrated
grave. The body was resurrected and taken TO the
beach and again buried in the sand until "a favorable
opportunity presented itself for taking II over 10 the
city. But IN spite of every effort the corpse re-
manned In its transient resting place nearly two days
before anything ike fair prospect OF getting away
with presented itself to The monsters who mad 1t
in charge.
ON THE WATER ALL NIGHT WITH CORPSE.
One week ago yesterday, however at about ten
O'Clock in the evening" the box was again unearthed
men grasped the munled oars, and third seated in
the stern with the rudder Tor the double purpose o;
the load Of The living and the dead the physically
and the morally c6rfuft who launched out upon the
darKened waters OF the East river
Rowing carefully to the close vicinity Of the shore
they drfled eisurely along. looking intenty Tor
some favorable place to land. But the night being hot
there were many people stirring, ana even the police
found it pleasant to patrol the river where
he could enjoy the cool breezes rather the more
heated portions OF his beat. From point TO point
they pulled and yet no favorable landing place could
be found 1t was long past mdn 2ht, and day.
light would soon uncover their pesliferous rascaty
they concluded V abandon the attempt anu strike
Tor another locality.
THE CORPSE LANDED IN BROOKLYN
With this resolution they rounded the southern
end Of the island and rowed directly Tor the 3rook-
Ign shore, where, after some little delay, they sue
ceeded IN Erecting q landing. The husband was at
once notified aud the body was transported 60 the
attired for a Christian burial, after which 1t was
placed in another coffin and taken to the residence
OF her husband In Twenty-seventh street, New YORK.
II money could do this much It certainly coud pro-
cure burial permit and as one was not long want
ing, the next thing to do was to procure sculpture
and make necessary arrangements Tor the funeral.
UNCONSCIOUS MOURNERs.
Last Saturday the friends anu relatives Of the de-
ceased lady aud her mourning husband gathered az
his residence Ia large numbers. In their midst sat
unconscious Of their danger. The coffin was not
opened but 1t was not an alright one, and had
It been who Will undertake say that none OF the
of that terrible and loahsonc disease did not
escape2 The body was already In putrid state; so
far advanced IN decomposition that 1t was not pre-
sentaDle, and yet men, women and children
gathered around 1t and listened to the funeral dis.
course
This being over, the conln was placed inside a
pine box, such rs ~ generally used tor such pur-
poses, and lifted into the hearse. The mourners
took seats In their carriages, and the funeral cortege
started In the direction of Greenwood Cemetery
where after the usual ceremonies 1t was buried.
Any Intelligent person can comprehend the danger
attending such "a transaction as the above, and III
spite OF our Board oil Health, and oLcial integrity
geiefaily Qne can but shudder az the dreadful
l6odeht In RELATION 70 THIS lagrant disregard for law
and humanity and at ''wha' might 9sye BEEN"