The New York herald., 1878-02-06
four .hurchesat Lehighton, Parryvlc, Berlinsvliie
and East Mauch Chunk

and East Mauch Chunk
AsorMsR ADvESrURR OF MISS oRKru.
MISS Greth tells the following remarkable story as
10 tho manner In which she lost the middle nnger on
her right bandit occurred seven years aao:-ln
her at three different times, aud al the third visit
made itself known. II the spirit OF q woman
who' 10 this world. bad been Sister oI Charity,
and Tor some mlsdeed destined TO spend
thirty-tour years In purgatory. She had al.
ready spent seven years there Miss Grsth could
stono her fault and relieve her of tho remaining
twcnty-seven years " sho would agree 10 undergo
some physical pain Tor her. This remarkable woman
agreed TO suffer for the dead. In icw days u
Sho visited Dr.. Mcdonnell oil Reading, who sent her
TO ST. Joseph's Hospital Philadelphia, 20 be operated
upon. The nnger was amputated at the third JOINT.
She thus suffered tho physical pain, but whether TO
the benefit OF the puryatoria friend or not has not
TRANSFERRED .
MISS GRETH's REPUTATION AT HER HoME-A
REcLUsE AND ZEALoT--HER wEARIED REL
ATivEs-HER PASTORS DOUBT ABOUT THIS
AND FORMER CURES.
READING, Pa, Feb. s, 1878.
Tho stories OF the eccentricites OF Amelia Greth
are not new among her relatives or friends iu this
community. Coming IRON highly respectable family
she has boon frequently looked upon as religious
fanalic prone 10 melancholy aud given to such Atfu
ccccntricities nnu absurd Ideas that many OF her
friends look upon her woman upon whom tho
greatest reliance Is 10 DO placed. Her statement
to The HERALD correspondent at Mauch Chunk, re-
lating to her birth and parcntage, Is substantially
correct. Sho never advanced higher than tho lower
grade OF this cys public schools sinse her tcuth
year led the lilo oou religious recusc stunning
tho world, avoiding society, faithfully and daily at
tending the German Catholic services. and frequently
relating 10 friends some OF tho extraordinary
creations OF hcr morbid Imagination. For several
years idle gossip this city has busy rcnearsng
tho strange iancies sad TO have emanatei directly
from Amelia Greth. These reports were gradually
enlarged, aud became So ourageouAly absurd to tho
minds OF her relatives that they threatened legal pro-
coodings against the scandal mongcrs
THE AIDDLE FINGER STORY.
To illustrate tue notorious extent OF these reports
WAS stated hat Miss Grc.h, few years ago, had
middle finger OF her right hand wilhered and alter
several operations IL was am mputacd Her stories OF
aud are generally accepted as Idle. tales and invented
Tor no other purpose than 10 create an excitement
The neighborhvod.s
WHAT HER RELATIVES SAY.
Her brother. leading grocer oi tnis ciy, and TO
whom Miss Greth has looked chiefly Tor support OF
late years is disposed TO riaicue the entire proceed
iEx at Mauch Chunk. Her sister, with whom Amolia
boarded South rurd street in this city, emphuti.
caily says that Amelia was never srirituaiis but
was giveu 10 melancholy moods. wnicn were totally
and completely different from what Is called tho
clairvoyant state Amelia not weak. In ncr
daily travels 10 church she walked at least twenty
ave squares Her SISTER ridicuIed tho idea Of
death having taken place. aud sald that the news
papers were making deporabie business in Assisting
the chief actors In the scenes reported 10 have
place NJ Mauch ChunK The Sunday HERALD was in
tneir household by noon tue sane day, anu ongthy
account OF the strange scenes Ia tho pastoral resi-
dcnco OF Father Henen was read TO y room full OF
relatives present. Tho account had been
by the receipt OF telegram from Ida Amelia Linxol
who had been seut from Reading to Mauch Chunk TO
altcnd at the bedside OF hcr dying aunt Sne tele.
graphed that Amelia Grclh al been entirely cured,
but made no reference 10 her having beon raised from
the dead
Yesterday and to-day the residence OF Mrs. Meyer
the boarding place Of Amelia Grcth was bcsieged with
visitors anxious TO obtain Information. Mrs. Meyer
ana the family have become completely disgusted,
aud re.use to converse upon The subject at ALL She
says that the neiyhbors aro making iun Of the affair
and that she herself Is wcury Of hearing what she
calls the absurd stories anoAt matter by
whom they were originated.
Amelia Grsth first met Father Henen at the resi.
dcnce OF Father George Borncman, Of this city Dc
was young priest, full OF ZEAL earncstnoss and am-
ST. Pauls German Catholic Church, and during the
smallpox epidemic In this CITY rendered tnvalua
quently administered unto her the sacred Offices Of
tho Church.
TIE onosrLY SUMMONS TO MAucu CHUNK.
The Same sad, silent and sepuichrai dcnoanor that
attended her IN everyday lilo was noticeable when
she mothodically packed her vase departed from
homo for the railway station. She merely said that
sho could do NO more than obey the sum
mons. |! was not an unusual thing Tor
toned. A lew days after her departure wrote 10
her a2ed mother also living with Mr.. Meyer, that her
u0uie buOulu not xrfevo ovor nef aD6euco
that she was In NO danger, but IN very good
bands Last week word was received IRON Mauch
Chunk that she was oying. No vt home knew
anything OF the propuecy Amelia had made, but
when they nrst road OF IT In the HERALD II awak
no ripple OF excitement, Tor they accustomed to
hear the widest and most romantic stories from her
tho result OF dreams during her moody hours away
from the church.
No one ever questioned tho respec ability OF the
woman Sho was dovout, pious and eccentric
female, who know little OF the world and appeared
happy In ignorance OF Affairs outside the sound Of
the voice OF her pastor she did little work at DRESS
making but her ilhealth several years ago compelled
her to relinquish 1t.
Father Borncman, Miss Greth's PASTOR shook his
head disgust when he asked his opinion Ia the
matter. He know Miss Grcth, as pastor Is supposed
10 know one oi many mombers In his congregation,
and whsn asked Us 10 the woman's reliability In mo
matter OF tue miracle he smiled dubiousiy shook hrs
head and created the impression that no 'took NO
stock In IT. speaking of miracles he said:-
"lf we acccp. the Bible We must accept is miracles.
They were achieved Tor the g0rincaton OF COD They
had object What was tho OBJECT this so-caiIed
Grcth miracle Where was tho phy ysicIan that pro-
nounced Miss Greth dead? Was there any evidence
that she deadY Being In state, Of
ecstacy may bavo been but dream, und 10
rouse woman from u dream would be moth.
lug extraordinary. Probably her will DO DO
more than some Of the former cures said to hsve
been effected on her, nnd which did not last long.
Father Heinen Is an able, Jealous and good man,
but there Is no telling what may happen. pace
no reliance upon u nor can give It any encourage
mentn
Miss Greth is expected homo In a few days