Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-01-17
A S0LIDlFlED BRIDE.

DR.. Jorsek, Of Marksville, Louisiana, in
letter TO the New York Sun, says
"Mr Frederick Haller is by profession law
yer. He early acquired however, quite fond
for the natural sciences, especially geology.
He has perhaps the largest and most complete
geological cabinet in Louisiana. Something
over two months ago he married, taking az his
bride charming young girl Of sixteen. As
physician to her fathers family, and an intimate
friend, was an honored guest at the marriage
ceremony. | am sure never saw a more beau
Iiful and happy bride.
Next afternoon she and some tn: ee or four of
her intimate friends went into Mr.. Ilaller's
Rock Study, TO look over the cabinet Of curl
osites. Among the curiosities which MI Hal
Ter had gathered were several round boulders,
brought from Arkansas. These boulders on be-
ing broken present in the central space crysta-
| line formation, and are usualy not much larger
| than the double fists, One Of these, however,
was unusually large, measuring twenty -one
inches in circumference. Frequently the inter
nal surface, contains water or rather a concel-
! trated solution or SILICA in water. This fact
was known TO one ofthe young ladies who men
toned it. At once it was proposed TO break the
large one, and several intellectual attempts were
made by them with geological hammer They
| called to their aid a culored man, a servant OF
the place, who was requested to break open tn,
rock. A pitcher being placed underneath the
Julder az the man held it, one sturdy blow o
his stawart arm cracked it, and The fluid within
ran out and was collected ia the pitcher, scarce
Iy losing diop. there being about half pin
OF it.
The bride without ever giving it thought
conceived notion of drinking the water from
the boulder. She poured most Of il into glas
tumbler. nearly filling it. and, lifting it to he
lips, she drank first TO the health of her hus
band. then TO the health other unmarried friend
in the room, wishing them shortly to be happ'
brides like herself, and drained the glass. Blu
in few minutes the youthful bride complaine,
| of excessive pain in the stomach, and began +
realize the rasliness of her action.
II messenger was sent in haste for her hus
band and myself Mr. Haller's office being nea
my own, we received the message almost simu
taneousIy, and we rapidly drove together 10 m
| buggy TO his house When we arriyed she wa
dead, period Of fifteen minutes having elarse
from the time of ing the fatal draught TO tn
time of extinction of lite. They were Just layin
her out on my arrival. To my surprise foun
she had grown in that short period SO rigid
to render it difficult TO straighen her limbs
In the course Of three quarters OF an hour he
entire body became as hard and iDfexible
a bone.
y On more minute examination anu inquiry
Il found that the dissolved silica she had take
It into her stomach had been absorbed and tran
!, mi,ted by The chylopoetic apparatus and bloc
;, vessels throughout the system, and that b,
). whole body was petrifacticn. The case beir
:. 10 singular and so sudden, the husband and Il
brides family consented to apartal port morie
IS examination, other medical men coming 10 II
z assistance.
n We found il impossible to cut through Al
D, portion with our scalpels. DIR Furguson brol
u his scaIpel in the first attempt. We were on
- able To break through the chest with a hatch,
"a finding extreme difficulty in eDerering ihe til
,r racic cavity, the contents Icing solidlie
The heart was found a. irni and as solid
stone, resembling a piece of coruelan ~ 10 10
d color aud consistency.