Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-04
UNDERTAKEN WALSH
Denies the charges or Fraud Alleged
Against Him in the Matter OF Pre-
pairing nnG shipping the Re
mains OF mr. Thomas
Ewing,
-Df CoIfax, IDdfasa. who WIS Burned to
Death on the steamer Capitol City
-resIimOny Of his Foreman
Letters from Other
Parties.


Letters from other
Parties.
We need hardly remind our readers that
but a short time mas elapsed since the de-
tructicn Ct the elevator and the steamer
Capitol CITY, by Ere, at this point. As to the
,rlgiu of the fire. no one knows; and as to
the losses incurred in property, our reauers
are well enough acquainted without again
entering into details. Several lives were also
Iost. and among the number was Mr. Thomas
Ewing, OF Colfax. Indiana. This gentleman
,ad almost reached the shore In safety, but
orgettiDg some articles he desired to carry
With him, he went back to the vessel and was
burned TO death. After the fire bad died out,
3 be debris was searched and the charred re-
mains found were identified as those of the
unfortunate gentleman. Coroner Britt was
notified of the fact an inquest held, and the
oones-under contract entered into by Mrs
Ewing, Mr. Charles Berton and Coroner
3ritt-were given to John Walsh, undertaken,
It No. 34l Second street. for preparation
lor shipment to the deeeaSed's home. In
,tead of the ordinary coffin used In such
asses. only box was furnished, which was
sealed the same as metallic case, and delIv-
cred on board steamboat Tor shipment to Its
destination Nothing more was thought OF
the matter, until the following paragraphs
we're clipped from papers OF our exchange
list. Desiring to give all parties interested
bearing, a reporter interviewed Mr.. Walsh
ior a statement of the facts. Here are the
Xtracts referred to:
Thomas Ewing, of Colfax, Indiana, was burned
10 death July LIST, on the steamboat Capitol CltS
y Ieh with her caro- OF oil, cotton and hay, was
Mrs. III Ewing escaped. and employed Memphis under
takers 10 nelose her husbands remains In metal
lie case She paid them for the case and other bu-
yial TRAININGS but, opening the OUTSIDE CASE
when the body arrived at COlfax, 1t was found tnat
7 he remains had been merely sewed up in an old
cOfTee-sack and packed in sawdust in pine box.
1.-The Memphis, Tennessee, undertaken who re-
ceved pay fer metallic casket Tor the cnarred re,
mains of Thomas Ewing, of ColfaX, Indiana, ana
sent the body home In sack, Is named John
walsh"
Good evening, gentlemen, says the re-
porter, addressing two persons who were SIT
ing in the office, and who proved to DE Mr.
Walsh and his book-keeper. Both respond
d to the salutation, and asked the reporter
+ they could do anything for him.
Reporter-No, nothing IN a business way;
but, Mr.. Walsh, | have two paragraphs,
clipped from papers. affecting your integrity
IS a business man, and have come to learn
from you any facts you s.e fit to give regard
ing the same. =,
Mr.. Walsh then read the extracts, and said
he saw one of them few days ago. They
are unreasonable untruths, and a lie cut OF
whole CLOTH" continued the gentleman. sit
down, and | will tell you ali.
The reporter took q seat, and Mr.. Walsh
made the following
STATEMENT.
You know all about the burning of the
steamboat. You know that a man was
burned to death. | went to the boat and
found the remains; got them together and
brought them to my establishment; had
box made; it was not regular cothn, much
less a metallic case, as represented; 1t was not
Il zinc box, but a plain wooden one; 1t was
packed with sawdust; then got a nice, clean
oat-sack and covered the bones, so that the
sawdust would not come IN contact with the
bones; bought a bottle of good disintectant,
which cost me seveuty-tive cents, and
qprinkled it we'll over the sack, so that the
cody would not smell; then cemented the
box AIR tight; then went to the BOAT, and mad
to wait from three to six o clock before could
deliver it; saw it put on board; before COM
menced the work of preparation, went to the
board of health and got certificate OF
health; think did good job for the money,
which was thirty dollars; In fact, better job
than most undertakers would do; had a con-
tract to do the work, and complied with it In
foil; the above articles are unjust. But to
prove that | did what was right IN the mat
ter. let US go and see my foreman, MIR. An
derson, who will tell you just what L have
SbaIeu. NE 10 al uObOhoOlO Ahceh' NhNa WIN
not state an untruth.
At the latter suggestion Mr.. Walsh and the
reporter started for the residence OF Mr.. An
derson, who resides in South Memphis, but
the book-keeper informed Mr.. Walsh that the
foreman was at his shop, or, rather, he lett for
it; that he would find him there sure. Mr..
Walsh then requested the reporter to wait
until he sent for his buggy, which was near
at hand, and he would drive to the shop-if
not there, both could go to the residence.
The buggy arrived, and Mr.. Walsh and the
reporter drove for North Memphis, where the
shop was located On the way Mr.. Walsh
again referred to the extracts as being I'M
called for He could not see why an attempt
was made to injure has character. He was an
honest map, trying to make an honest living:
God knows he did not follow the business of
undertaking for the love of it, but to earn
honestly his bread and meat. He had lived
in Memphis for twenty-five years, and had
honestly paid every debt; even SO that he
did not owe a cent except for the past month
for horse-feed Everybody knew how he had
honestly acted during the yellow fever; he
had three men die in his shop; also had lost
his father and mother during the scourge.
He also went over the ground of the above
statement regarding the work for Mrs.
Ewing, and would put the question to the re-
porter if he had not acted honestly. After
a drive Of at least twenty minutes, both ar
rived at little cottage near the banks OF the
river, with a frontage of lattice work,
where were seated two ladies and Mr.. An
derson. The gentleman was called aside.
The object of the visit was explained, and
the extracts also read, when
MR.. ANDERSON
SAID: "The remains were not put IN Il me-
tallic case, but an alright box, such as he
had seen used by undertakers in shipping re-
rLo nE NlTr1 n
to the knees, and consisted only of bones, ex-
cept below the knees, where was some flesh;
there was no smell arising from the body; L
made the box; it was four feet SIX inches
long, and made larger than the bones, which
could have been placed In box three feet
SIX inches; the box was made only OF wood.
no zinc; filed the box with sawdust; the
bones were placed in the box and covered
with clean sack, to prevent the sawdust
from getting to them; disintectant was used );
the box was then cemented the same as a
metallic case would be, so as TO prevent any
bad odor arising when on the way to or ar
rival at destination; have seen many boxes
made like the one furnished IN which under
takers made greater profits than Mr.. Walsh. ="
Returning, the reporter was dumped out at
the corner of Union and Main, when Mr..
Walsh returned thanks for the interest taken
in the matter. Good evening" ended the
interviews, and the reporter wendell hls way
back to the corner of Beale and Shelby,to see
Mr.. Charles Berton, one of the contractors,
MR.. BERToN's STATEMENT.
The work did not suit me; Walsh did not
do as he contracted, as will be seen by the
letters in the hands of Mr.. Clarence Hall, to
whom l refer you to go, and get them.
w s.lsh was to have let Coroner Britt and |
see the remains before they were closed up,
but he did not do so. The people should
know what kind of man Walsh is; he will
not do for this community. Mr.. Berton
seemed greatly distressed at what he termed
the per6dy of Walsh, and urged the impor-
lance of publishinR'the letters received from
the home of Mr.. Ewing. The reporter went
to the office of Mr.. Clarence Hail, but not
finding him in, Coroner Britt was called on,
who said:
CORONER BRITT's STATEMENT.
held an inquest on the remains supposed
to be those of Mr.. Ewing; they were moth
ing hut charred remains; the body was
burned to the thighs, both arms off, and
nothing left of the head but the lower jaw !;
the contract of preparation for burial was
given to Mr.. Walsh; | saw the box delivered