The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-15

A STORY OF CHRISTMAS, 1e72--TnE VII.
LACE TANNER WHO WAS ROASTED ALIVE
DRUNK.-[From the Memphis Appeal.] j
James Welsh was Il tough old Irish tanner.
who worked for Mr.. Terrence, near Moscow
Tenn. He worked diligently at hidc.tannine
for many years, and did not go on spree
more than thrice year. He considered il O
sanitary measure to incbriate every -four
months, more or less. lie kept perfectly
"straight" during Christmas, just to show
that hc was not TO bc influenced by any
common enthusiasm in his "cups.N The
moment, however, that Christmas day was
over he told his employer that he wanted TO
visit the village. He had several friends to
see. Mr.. Terrence was not disappointed
when Welsh failed to return that night. On
the contrary. he would have been a>tonished
II Welsh had returned. Two or three days
wcnld be only reasonable time for him to
remain away. Mr.. Terrence, however, was
grievcd and disappointed both when, on the
27th Of the month, he was sent for 10 20 and
inspect the chalrcd remains Of man which
were found under the not quite extinct en-
bers of fallen tree.
On the 9th some lumbermen went into
the bottom north of Moscow. While at
work their attention was directed TO ccr-
tain SmOuldcring stump not far distant by
the peculiar oior the winds waited from it.
Proceeding to examine the cause they found
that there was mass OF burning flesh under
Debris of the fallen tree right beside the
stump. The body of the tree had almost
entirely burned away, and nothing was left
but few Jumps Of cinder and pieces
of charcoal. The body they could
make out was that of human being.
They found one feot with the shoe un-
iniurcd. 1t was burned from the remainder
% ihcieg. The party suspected that it might
lie the remains Of one of Torrence's men,
and therefore sent for him, Mr.. Terrence,
l,y neaEs Of that foot, and by means of some
'jjtle patches <aetlin mans coat that were be-
tween him and the ground as he lay, and
also 10y reason Of a small silver coin which
Va, found in The ashes. identified the body
and pronounced it that of James Welsh, his
old and faithful tanner. These were the
only means lett by which the unfortunate
and even the horrid fate of Welsh could be
a-ccIiaiucd.
The plain facts of the case as dcduced
from i'll! the circumstances are these: james
Welsh spent all the evening among bis
friends, so called, drinking apple-jack, and
IN the night wandered into the bottom in
trying to make his way home 1t is not diff
cult to roalizc the fact that the night of the
2Sth Of December was intensely cold. Welsh
found the Old snag burning in the woods.
and went to warm by it. His booty con-
dstion and the genial heat Of the fire were
mstrumentalitics sufficiently powerful to
stretch him out, and then he slept.
Iu.the course Of e few hours the tree fell
in burning mass, OIL top Of his PROSTATE
body. What his struggles were and what
he suffered none can tell-the weight Of the
falling timber broke his ribs, perhaps killed
him. The fire, however, ragged on, and
James Welsh was entirely consumed save
that foot with the shoe on it, which remained
to bear witness of his fate. The crania
bones were reduced to ashes, and indeed
what there was left Of him was without
shape, and gone beyond the semhlance of all
humanity. he is represented as an indus.
tfiotls and inotlensive old man, and had ONLY
That one prominent weakness of INDUCING
i'll u little spirits once in while.