Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-05-11


Eve POunds--A Eubjsct Worthy of ohldr,
Lyr,.
Pittsburgh Post.l
Among the sweltering humanity
which sat within doors putting and
tanning, in July, 1875, was the late
Benjamin Singerly, we'll known
throughout the State as one of the
largest and most fleshy citizens
within the broad realm of the Com
monwealth. The mercury was
dancing up and down among the
nineties, the sun was shining
tiercely, and pedestrian after pedes-
trian either sank down unconscious
on the sidewalks or was compelled
to seek the friendly shelter of shade
to prevent the serious results of
stroke. During one OF those
hot day, on Sunday afternoon, July
8, 1876, Mr.. Singeriy was sitting in
the parlor Of his handsome resi-
dence on Second avenue, suffering
intensely from The sitting heat.
He had but recently arrived from a
visit to Philadelphia and Harris
burg, at which latter place he had
unfortunately spralned one of his
ankles. He complained to men,
ber of his household of the intense
heat, remarklng at the same time
that be was missing the relief OF
perspiration. A few hours later in
the evening Mr.. Sipgerly's spirit
took its fight. The physicians pro-
nounced his death the result of
sun.stroke.
THE FUNERAL. AND GRAVE.
On Wednesday morning, July
18th, the funeral services took
place. Many of our most promi-
nent citizens turned out that morn
Ing to do honor to the memory OF
one of our most honored and enter
prlsing townsmen. Mr.. Singerly
had made Pittsburgh his home
since 1918. For term Of nine years
he served as State Printer, and for
time was also proprietor of the
daily State Journal, published at
Harrisburg. These duties kept him
away from Pittsburgh part Of the
time, but he still claimed this city
as his home. He carried on the
business of job printing here for a
time, and was the first man to in
troduce the steam printing press
into thfs city. He served several
years as member OF Pittsburgh
Councils, and had also been for
ward in many LEGAL enterprises.
| He left an estate worth 100000
to be divided among his broth
ers, sisters and other relatives,
as lie died a bachelor. The remains
were Inferred in the Allegheny
cemetery. The list of pall-bearers
comprised some of our best known
citizens, and near them were six
professional pail employed
to prevent accident. The body
weighed three hundred and ninety
three pounds when placed in the
casket, and the pail bearers found
1t difficult task to remove the re-
mains to the hearse. In order to
accommodate the mammoth cas-.
ket, the slide and other side fix
lures were removed from the larg-
est hearse Mr.. Devore, tho UNDER
taker, could find. The casket was
handsome walnut, and at the
cemetery II was encased in a rough.
box. OK which, In turn, was-.placed in
stone box hid away beneath the
ground.
PETRIFACTIoN OF THE BODY.
This much concerning the life,
death and burial of Benjamin Sim
gerIy Is due the reader, now that
the name of the deceased is likely
to be circulated from one end to
the other of this broad continent,
In view of the strange story told
about the remains. The singular
story told to the reporter with all
the semblance of truth was to the
effect that the remains were re-
Gently exhumed for reinterment in
Philadelphia, when the workmen
and undertaken discovered that the
body had undergone complete pet
rifaction-had actually turned into
q yellowish substance as hard aud
impervious as stone. The reporter
yesterday sought out Mr.. Edwin
Lare, O nephew of Mr.. SingerIy
and administrator of the Singerly
estate. Mr.. Lare was found at his
place of business, on Smithfield
street.
THE STORY True.
"Mr. Lare, I hear the body of
Mr.. Singerly has undergone com
plete petrifaction. The story seems
improbable, and / called to receive
your denial," said the reporter.
"Well, the story Is true,n replied
Mr.. Lare, after some hesitation.
"Our intention was to keep the
matter quiet, because the friends
shrink from having the notorlety
that must be attached to them, and
also the name of the deceased.
Since you have ciew, l presume
I may as well tell you the facts"
Mr.. Lsre then stated that on the
25th OF March last the relatives of
the deceased had him resurrected
and taken to Philadelphia and re-
inferred in the Laurel Hill Gene
terry, where bis parents and other
relatives are buried. When those
to whom the work of raising the
body was intrusted dug to the top
of the casket they were not little
surprised to find that
NO OFFENSIVE oDoR PREVAILED,
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