Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-30


Correspondence PUBLIC LEDeER,l
CHICAGO, January 26.-You must
not think that my prOtracted silence
has been occasioned by forgetfUlness
Of the LEDGER. On the contrary, the
reason has been a longing for some
thing to write outside of police sen
sational," and also, for Parnell's. ar
rival. But now as hope has vanished
in the latter instance until February
q, and as l can muster up enough OF
interesting items now to make up a
letter, l thought l would no longer
delay. Notwithstanding my apparent
GOODNESS toward the LEDGER, it comes
regularly to me, and as smiling
with news as one could wish. Long
may it be the intelligent medium to
enlighten its hosts of friends, and the
public generally.
To commence, l will state hat
Chicago is now, and has been for sew
eral days, enjoying exceptionally fine
weather. To-day is like late spring.
and nearly as balmy as early summer
1t is an extraordinary weather fol-
this latitute. But I fear we will pay
dear for it in March.
l have a remarkable circumstance
to relate which was brought to mind
by the death of a Mr.. VIM. NJ
Collins of this city. A few day:
ago he was violently attacked by
infammatory rheumatism, but his
physician soon got control Of the NAL
ady, and last Thursday night pro
nounced him apparently recovered
And the deceased declared he was
well, with the exception of a pain in
his left thumb. Friday morning thi;
pain had gained the elbow, and by
night the heart, and in an hour there.
after he was a corpse, and was buried
yesterday in Calvary cemetery.
But this is not the remarkable
incident I started out to tell
1t is this Twelve years ago this same
person was stricken by the same com,
plant, and after days and nights o.
unexampled suffering, died, Or at leas.
it so appeared to his physicians aDC
friends, and his body was prepared fol
the grave in the usual form. Finally
a short time before the coffin was t
be closed, the corpse" horriGad thu
mourners by sitting up and inquirinl
what was going on. This Is q simpl
fact, as 70 4 me some months ago anC
repeated yesterday on the way to ia.
cemetery. On recovering, the patieD
was asked by a physician what senss
lions he experienced while dead,
or in the trance, and he said none
aside from sight and hearing
that he was perfectly conscious o
what was going on, but powerless Il
move to prevent the carrying out o
tho dread ceremonies for his buria
until the last hour.
Chicago boasts a retired, or reform
ed resurrectionist, n who, until
few years ago, followed his ghoulis
and horrible calling for a long tim.
and participated in several hundre
r%esurreetions. Fearing detection fo
his second last offense he fed tn
State and remained away two year
Then he returned and committed on
more outrage. The horrible exper
euco Of this event unnerved him an
he quit the firghtful calling immed
ately. This last snatch" was th
body Of his wife. They had bee
separated for some time, aud he kne
not her whereabouts. She died al
was buried and he in search of a
other "stiff" dragged the body fro
its last resting place. As the moo
light fell upon the CHASTITY ia
he recognized it, and gave
piercing scream, fell to Il
ground in a fit and that ended
heinous work. lie now drives /
express wagon, and says he shuddc
whenever he thinks Of the expe
ences of that night.
AS an Offset to this CHASTITY tale,
will relate something hat occurr
here the other day within the cir,
of my acquaintance. A young Ia
attracted the attention Of a you
dentist while in his Office. He v
exceedingly polite, etc. On returni
home she mentioned the fact to h