The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-09-30
Buried The Wrong Nan.

A eurioas case of mssssken identity,
which occasioned some lndicrous atuA-
tions. occurred recently ~ Sen Fran
cisco pest hoase. On the lst inst, B-f-
nard IspAcht. who he'd been employed
81 the Bella Union Theater, died from
couhuent small-box. On the same day
. friendicss Mexican saerumbed TO the
disease Both bodies were removed 20
the ieadhoose snd laid SIDE by side
LApaeh,s brother. ~ho is also employed
~ the Bella Unsnn, was notified Of the
decrease of his relative. and took steps
To have him inferred Messy 4 Yung
wes. siir-cted to arrange thu funeral
which was held IN beoosning manscr.
the cnrs~geaoaaisting ~ ha1e - frisnde
smsosg vhoan wsrs tA. full dramatic
corps Of she theatre Sa,n Tcsiov. the
manager. delivered an impressive Grafton
over the grave, aud referred NJ length
To the many sterling virtues and nm
s~erving integ ri'y which its silent &C.
cupant manifested Ia life. The ladies
shed many sympathetic tears. aud after
the grave had been literally bcdecked
with floral tributes of sorrow. the cor
tege returned 10 the city. Next day
the city and county undertaken. Aallady.
received notice 10 bury Bernard La
paeht. who had died at ,h. small pox
hospital Insomuch as be had witness
cd the funeral Of this identical person.
and seen him safely inferred snly "a
hours before. the notification oocassion-
eel Mr.. Mallady much surprise, min
gled with some supcrstitious consterns-
tion. Satisfied that the hospital su
thoritles bad made mistake. he visited
the pesthouse. He found that though
sn egregious blunder had been perpe
trAted. there Wa no mistake about the
presence Of Bernard IApAch, above
ground. The body WAS lying in the
dsadhouse - it haa beeen placed after
death, bnt the corpse Of the friendless
Mexican WAS gone. The horrible
thought at once struck Mr.. Mallady
that the wrong man had been wept
over. eulogixed and expsnsivsly inferred,
aud with this appalling intelligence he
rushed dswn to the Bella Union with
out waiting 10 disinfect himself The
astonishment Of the surviving IApscht
exceeded even Mr.. Mallady's when he
heard the letters story. He refused to
believe thst his brother wss not under
ground. and announced his Intention of
starting immediately for the penthouse
to satisfy himself on the subject. From
this fooihardy enterprise he w~s finally
dissusded. The special policeman of
the theater. who knew Bernard equally
well. and who was esteemed OF less value
TO the establishment. WAS dispatched 20
the hospital He returned post-hssts
with confirmation Of the undertaken $
sensational story Lspscht still refused
to bslieve thaf bis beoAher hoA - -
ceived Christian burial, and aftaf load
ing Lis, .clf down with carbolic acid and
other drsInfeciAnts. he started for the
pes,houss. He returned convinced of
the truth Of Msllady's report. The
city and county undertaken was in
s'ructed 10 prepare neat coffin. and
oAe next day the funeral took place in
~ u>ost private manner. The brother
- 1bN intimate acquaintances fol
lowed 1knAaeagins 10 the grave. After
the .cGl1a ho1 besn lowered the sorrow
ili4 rcls1iS> s1Oed some moments over
10 crave Wjpiag his eyes. Then be re
phcsd kjs hooA6erchief in his pocket
aud tnrniae Away To Mallady. said;
" Cover him ng cried 30 much over
tha, other soa Il . sea cook. | can't
shed tear. Cossr him up and let us
all 90 and take . drink. -
And thus the dead barkeeper was not
alone rohbsd Of the panegyric of his
dramatic friends but even of the SYM
,~thetic tears of his relative /, has
not trHnspired who was responsible for
the blunier. That il WAS Hn awkward
and inexcusable one can scarcely he
denied San Francisco.