Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-27
alexandria 6axttte
FRIDAY, APRIL y, 1877.

!
! SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF A LIVING
MANA most horrible aud sickeuing accident
occurred in kernan's saloon, iu tho court yard
back Of the City Hall, at a quarter past ten
this morning, being no less than the spontane.
Gus combustion Of human body. The victim
OF his appetites was man named Harley or
| Hartley, who had not been more than month
in the city, but during that time has been fire.
quently arrested for drunkenness. lie was
short, quite lat man, shabblly dressed, with
bloated horid counenance. lie had no init
mate companion, but wandered about alone,
seemingly demen!ed, occupying his whole tlmo
ln drinking the vic poison OF the city front and
| Barbary Coast dens. Hc has twice been treat
ed by DR.. Stivcrs for deiirium tremens, and
was this morning discharged after longer siege
| than usual. With seemingly insane desire for
drink. he continued from half past seven clock
| drinking steadily at the various bars IN the Vi
ciDity, and the large size uf each potatoD prom
| ised to speedily send him back to the hospital.
| About the time mentioned he staggered toto
the room nearly insensiblc, aud feebly asked for
= drink. This was refused him, and he staggered
toward the gas e! to light the stump of cigar be
carried, while tho barkccper, Tnos Connors, turn
ward he heard low moan ami noticed Q fash
of fire, ,and turning around he saw Harley falling
to the floor, his head cnvclopcd iu black thick
smoke, while flames issued from his mouth and
ears. n horribly filthy smell OF burned and
purified flesh filled the air, and It's DauseatDg
odor made not only the saloon. but the court
yard unbearabe for while. Not o momeot
was lost in attending to the sufferer. He was
beyond relief, however His face was perfectly
black, partly charred and partly covered With
moist SCOT. His eyes were open aud had d
horrible appearance, unlike anything save
roasted egg, while greenish liquid oozed FROM
the corners. His mouth was completely roasted
on the inside, but with the exception of his
head and hands, no part OF his body bore marks
of his horrible death. The coroner was imme.
diately notified. and the body was removed to
the Morgue, followed by a curious crowd, who,
10 spite Of the horrible accessories we're apxl.
Gus to view the peculiar sight. A letter found
ia his pocket, addressed to NJ. Harley or Hart.
ley, furnishes the only clue to his Identity
San Francisco Erening Post.
A WGrrY EXCUsE.-Next to Washington,
General Greene was the best officer Of the Rev.
olulioD. His vigilance was uneeasi0g, and he
was ever on the alert to attack the enomy at
advantage, or TO guard against surprise by su
pcror numbers 10 his campaign IN North
Carolina against the larger and better equipped
army OF CORVALLIS, nc spent many hours OF the
night in visiting every part OF the camp and In
spectng the seuinels and officers on guard.
Oac night as he was passog the tent OF Col.
Greene, a namesake but no relative. who was
one of lns most trusted officers, his quick ear
detected snoring, which indicated that the wig.
liant soldier had dropped asleep. Rushing into
the tent, he shook the sleeper roughly, saying,
Colonel how can you be sleeping with the
enemy so near and this the very hour for sur
prises?" The quick witted colonel had ready
apology, saying, as he rubbed his eyes, Par
don me, general, but | knew that you were
awake The general pardoucd the neglect.
and laughed heartily at the witty excuse.
\ curious story comes to US from Paris OF an
eccentric gentleman who acquired some colcbrl-
ty for the manner in which he managed to set
rid of his creditors. On the dun presenting
himself he was ushered Into a room hung round
with a variety OF mrrors-concaYc. convex
Sc. 10 one the unhappy creditor behe!d HIM
self with head as fiat as founder; 10 auoth-
cr his face was long drawn, thu, and sharp as
the blade Of a ksilc; III 4 third he had nearly
as many lcaua as CcTOCruS, auu III iouith
be was upside down. In one he vas grlnnlnE
like = cIowo; in another bubberlng Ike whip
ped schooboy, aud in still another with Visage
long drawn and melancholy as an uudcrtaker's
on strike. On one side Of the room he was all
head and DO body; on the other all body aud
no head, and on third he looked like Iom
Thumb stuck into the boots Of Jack the Giant
Killer Few duDs. however pressing, could
endure the torture for more thau quarter oil
an hour.
BEAUTIFYING Finger NAILs.-The Goger
nails of fashionable French women arc probes
sonalIy attended, aud this is description OF
the method Of operation: First, a sharp In
strument cut the paiis, soped them on the SIDE
with point in the centre; then tiny pair OF
pipcers were used to pull off all the pieces OF
| dry skin around the nails, commonly called by
us hanguais; then steel file was used to raise
| the skin up and push it back so as to show the
| half moon on The nail, which Is considered
part Of its beauty; then a liquid Was poured
| over it to batbe il; theu dried, and red poo-
made, spread thin rubbed oft with finc yel
| low powder, which caused them 10 shoe: 1t
| took about halt an hour aud cost the muolhceut
| sum of sixty cents. There are women nall doc
tors in Paris who obtain as high as 81 Visit.