The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-21
THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.

Death OF Southern EditOr-His Re.
mains Lie in "a Hickman street store
for a Night-Takcn to the Receiving
Vault mt GrcenwOod-The Inevitable
Fact, without a Mystery.
Inquiry has dashed to pieces a sensational story
connected with q corpse, coffin and Beekman
street store. The groundwork for tale OF mys-
FERROUS occurrences, in which foul play, woman
and blood would Of course, appear conspicuously
was Swallowed in yesterday mornings papers; but
all that was vouchsafed in the way OF plain talk
was that
COFFIN
was seen on the previous evening on the sidewalk
in Beekman street, and that said suggestive piece
OF framework taken into store whence,
afterward disagreeabe smells issued. This
true In every particular, but the sensation Is
spoiled when the facts OF the case become known,
for there is no tale OF blood In the story, any
thing mysterious further than the death OF a
Southern editor. The circumstances explanatory
OF the appearance Of the coffin are as follows -
Some few weeks since Mr.. Ferdinand Flake, OF
Texas editor Of the Galveston Bulletin, came 10
this city, intending to sail from this port for Eu-
rope for the benefit OF his health, which, for some
time had been failing. While here, however, his
health became worse, and by the advice OF his
physicians he postponed the visit to Europe and
started trip through some Of the Eastern
FAILING FASTER AND FASTER,
and on the 18th inst. died al New London, Conn.
Information Of his death was at once sent 10 his
friends in this city, who set about arranging for the
conveyance of the body to his late home In Calves
ton. The health authorities here we're duly mott
fed of the arrival OF the body and the proper per
mits secured and passage agreed for with the Gal
weston Steamboat Company. The boat for Calves
ton did not, however, leave until yesterday morn
ing, and as the body arrived the day previous, 1t
was necessary TO place 1t somewhere during Fri
day night, the steamboat company having
a rule preventing them from taking u
sailing As some friendship business re-
lationship had existed between deceased and
Farmer, Little & Co., type founders, occupying
second nUor, at G3 Beekman street. the friends OF
deceased had arranged that the body should lie az
Farmer Little X Co.'S store during Friday night (;
but when IL taken to the building 1t was found
more convenient to leave IL on the first moor,
pied by Brantigan 4 watson Thus the coffin wax
fully exposed to the gaze or lew imaginative per-
sons, who cOnjured up
A TALE OF MURDER OR OF SOME OTHER HUGH
CRIME,
and accordingly notified the police. The occupants
police OF the state Of AFFAIRS and OF course,
no further startling disclosures were ex-
pected. In the meantime communication
was had with the relatives OF deceased
at Galveston, who telegraphed on mere
not to have the remains sent to Galveston by
steamer, but to have them placed In the receiving
vault ut Greenwood until the cool weather SET IN,
when they would be shipped to their maj resting
place. The body was embalmed while AZ New Lon-
don ana placed In q metallic c0fn, winch was en-
| closed In q wooden box. Between the woouen Dox
and the coffin carboc acid was hlled III, ana ~ was
| from this the smell which led 10 the sus-
picon that dead body was SOME Wme,e w ve,ns
| were taken in q hearse TO Greenwood Cemetery
| followed by few friends OF the deceaseu, aAu
| placed In the receiving vault