The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-11-27
a DISMAL STORY.
what two Fishermen Discovered La "a
swamp.
From the N. o. states.

On Thursday of last week a party OF
fishermen met with singular adven-
ture, which Is worthy Of recital They
had been seining all day but had met
with no success, and In the afternoon
found themselves at the mouth of Pass
Manchac and surrounded by the most
dismal of any of the many swamps
which skirt the west side of Lake Pom
chartrain. Two of the party, more
courageous than the others, determin-
ed to explore the swamp In search of
game for feed, and arming themselves
with fowling-pieces, started on their
way.
AS they progressed the swamp be-
ernie more dismal than ever, and the
bushes and creepers grew thicker and
more weird-!ooking, while the silence
grew more intense. Now and again
a hideous water-moccasin would glide
away from It's bed on water-soaked
cypress stump, alarmed by the foot
steps of the explorers, but with this
exception there were no signs of life.
She fishermen were able to find II beat
en- track, which looked rs if ii might
once have been used as a pathway.
Had it not been for this circumstance
further progress would have been inn
possible, as on either side there was
nothing but morass. They had prob
ably gone half milein this way when
they came across what might be called
an inland island, surrounded by green
morass. Approaching closer they saw
A COFFIN,
half-covered with water, rotten and
gradually crumbling to pieces.
AS might be imagined, the explor-
ers were greatly excited over their dis
covery and lost no time in lifting the
lid of the coffin, which crumbled at
their touch. BY their united eXertions
they We're able to pull the coffin out of
its bed and, after emptying the stag
nant water, placed it on the dry path.
AS they did so, they found quantity
of bones, evidently the remains of two
skeletons.
By collecting the bones and putting
them together, it was plainly seemthat
they had once formed the anatomy of a
woman and child. The effect of de-
cay was shown in the ebony hue of
the bones, which when handled emit
ed II glowing phosphoric light. Many
VI VIC oHiiiltI boIiCo ia' S'ipliSiy VIC
appeared.
BOTH SKULLS
were in Il remarkably good state Of
preservation. On the smaller of the
two, which appeared to be that of a
child about three years Old a long
fracture, evidently inflicted by some
sharp instrument, extended from over
the right eye socket to the top Of the
head The larger skull exhibited no
unusual sign, except heavy indenta-
ton in the region of the temple,
which if made during life would have
been sufficient to have caused death.
The coffin, from appearances, was
made from cypress planks and was
rudely shaped Some parts of il were
found intact, while the rest had mould
ed away. In the bottom of it were
found some old Spanish coppers, what
appeared to be IL finger ring and some
buttons.
The buttons had rusted almost away,
and were only recognized by being
stuck to piece of the under surface of
the coffin, forming hard crude sub
stance.
How many years the coffin with its
COllcupS llull litIll van w
surmised.
Had it not been for their accidental
discovery, it would probably have re-
manned in its
WATERY GRAVE.
until nature'ss destroying influences
had removed all of its eXistence-for
none ever care to penetrate the \
swamp The boldest hunter would
NOT dare to risk his life in it; for
might plunge him into Il
mOrass, and if assistance was not
forthcoming, he would never be able
to eXtricate himself.
The fishermen, after carefully exam
btinss dbeR ,anef.rr discovery, put the
the latter into It's place. 1fheir feelIngs
We're such that they felt no inclination
to go further in search of game, and
delay they retraced their steps
and tod ther companions of what they |
had seen.
Their account was readily believed,
but no one had the curiosity to enter
the swamp again for the purpose of
verifying it,
These details were given to STATES
Exporter who, from the character of
his informant, has no doubt of their
accuracy.