The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03
MAUCH CHUNKS "MIRAClE'
A Strange Story in the Nine
tenth Century.
AN ALLEGED RESURRECTION.
How a Woman Was Cured
of Consumption.
MYSTERIOUS GUARDIAN ANGEL.
The Recall to Life and the
Response.
MYSTERIOUS GUARDIAN ANGEL
CAN THIS BE TRUE p
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

The little village Of East Muuch Chunk has been
to-day In state Of intense excitement, growing out Of
supposed miracle, by which 1t is claimed by many
devout people raised 10 life and
strength an hour after death had occurred.
They firmly boieve that tho womans soul
actually left her body and after hour'S
absence returned to its earthly tenement in ulhmeut
OF prophecy from supernatural source, foreelling
tho miracle, just as 1t to.day occurred
scEPTICIsM ABROAD.
There are plenty Of sceptics who disbeeve the
entire story aud denouncc It rs a gross decsp
ton. They also assert that had physician
boon permitted TO examine the called
dead woman who the subject OF the
alleged miracle whlo in the trance state she would
have been found to be alive Nevertheless hundreds Of
people-not of the most intelligent class. to be sure
but worthy men and women and very devout Ca,ho-
llcs-imphcnly believe that God has performed u
wonderful miracle In calling back to earth the soul OF
a woman dead of consumption, and endowed her
with new body, free from disease.
PRoPHEsY.
There Is no tmo now to investigate thoroughly tho
facts; but, as tho quarter Of the town where tho
poorer and more ignorant people live s wild with
element 1t will be we'll to tell the story it is
cited by the cooesheaded OF those claiming to have
been eye-wnncsses In the nrst place It must
DO stated that about two months ago Miss
Amelia Greth, single woman, who had
been living at Reading removed to East Mauch Chunk
She was about thlrtysix years OLD, and very III
with consumption from which she said she had SUI
fered for long time. She seemed to be intelligent
woman. apd was certainly a very religious one She
was devout Catholic, and when she hero went d.
recty the house OF Father Hcnen the Catholic pastor
10 charge Of the German congregation, there being
two churches here-one where English IL spoken and
the other for the Pennsylvania Dutch Of whom there
many who can scarcely understand English. Miss
Greth made her home at the pastoral residence Of
Father Heinen, and soon taken so Ill with
hemorrhage that she was confined TO her bed
GUARDIAN ANGEL
She stated that Tor many years she has been pro-
tected by guardian angel which she has often seen.
The angel told her not long ago that great miracle
was TO DO performed her and the prom.
ise would soon DO fulfilled. She conveyed
the message OF the angel to Father Heinan,
who announced his belief in tho proph-
esy. So accurate Miss Greth in her state
ments that she announced few Days ugo that tho
% of February she was to die, Or at least soul
would leave her body, and, after she had been In
state OF ecstacy or death she was TO be restored 10
life and CONSCIOUSNESS, get up out OF her bed and 60
TO the church. to mass. we'll woman. As soon the
public became acquainted with tho facts general
sire was expressed the woman, and since last
Monday crowds OF persons have visited her room
daily.
VISITING THE suBJEcr.
She was found lying in the second story front room
Of Father Heinan's house on low bed propped up
with pillows, her hands crossed on her breast as II
she wsro dead, and quite pale and thin. Around her
neck was . gold chain to which was suspended a
handsome crucinx Of the same metal. Since
Monday she has boon unable to speak. but
her attendants say she Is conscious Of all
that transpirea Another thing which tho believers
ID this modern miracle regard very remarkable Is
the fact that she partakes of very little food For
nine weeks her whole diet has been milk. water and
dried apples in very small quantities. 1t Is averred
that In all this time she has not partaken Of enough
food TO sustain life.
She was attended by little lady dressed in black,
who informed tho callers of all tho facts very good
German II Is thought thousand people visited her
since Monday
NO PHYSICIANS hut LOTS VISIONS.
1t 10 only proper 10 state hero that Mas Grelh has
not had any physicians or any other professional
medical attendance, and has gradually grown weaker
and weaker. The sick woman Is declared TO have mad
OF late supernatural Visions and the most romark.
abo stories have been circulated among the class
which she belonged to the wonderful things she has
boheld II Is declared that the holy angel which
guards her is always vsibI to Miss Gretb and
times ~ her friends and attendants This spirit, It
appears, was that Of some timo dead friend, who
foretod many things, among others that at
haipust eight O'CLOCK this morning, tho feast
day Of tho Publication Of the Blessed
Virgin. according 10 the obscrvances OF
the Catholic Church. tho soul OF the sick woman
would tako its flight but that a wonderful miracle
would be performed and she would be permitted to
TO life utter hours interval and hat she
would be cured OF her disease. Tho news Of these
declarations spread like wildnre among tho cougrega
ton OF the church aud intensified tho general in
terest and wonder
FATHER HEISAN's STATEMENT.
The Coal Gazette, OF this place. yesterday published
tho following report OF an interview with Father
Hsinan touching the miracle that had been
about to tako place The priest has far dis
avowed the Interview
Rev. Father Heinan is a rather young man OF a
slight build. He Is known as rigid church
man and Is an interchangeable worker He
accorded as an interview and Spoke with with
years since he came to this part OF tho country. He
built church In the backwoods, below Parryve,
another In Lohighton ana then In East Mauch Chunk.
He also has successful parish school, which IL car
RED on by Sisters OF Charity under his immediate
REroRrER-what Is the name Of the lady up stairs
Father hEISnN-Hcr name Is Amelia Greth.
RkPoRrER-What Is her age and residence.
Father HgISAS-She Is about thriy.si years OF
age, and she resides IN Reading.
REPoRrER-How long has sho been here
Father HEISAN-lt 10 nine weeks last Friday since
she came.
REPoRrER-what Is tho nature OF her physical
troubcY
Father HKrSAS-Shc threw of blood two or three
times dry IN quantities. On last Monday she lost
her speech al six O'Clock In the morning She hears
and Is conscious, but does not speak.
REPoRTER-What Will be the nature OF tho phenom-
enon Friday?
Father HnlSAxlt will not happen ON Friday, but on
Saturday Al exactly hailpast eight O'Clock her soul
will depart the body.
kEPoRrKR-Wil II be doath2
Father HEIyAS--It may be q state Of ecstacy or
death
REPoRrER-How long will she remain In that condi.
tiony
Father HEISAS-She will remain ono hour In that
condition. At halipast clock she will DO called
back aud cured instantly.
RgPoRrEx--what power will do all tpis?
Father HEisAy--lt will be accomplished By O super
natural power.