The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-01-21
NUMBER 2.
A CoapsE KEEPS WARM ErGur Days


A Corpse KEErs WARM ErGur Days.
-Onc week ago yesterday Miss Minnie
Byrd, the f"urtccn ,yearold daughter of L. A.
Byrd well-known printer of this city, was
pronounced dead by the attending physi.
clan. Dr. Simpson. and placed in n casket
ready for burial. The tuueral was arrauu-
cd to take place the Sunday afternoon i"l-
lowing, and ut the appointed hour the hcarsa
and carriages were at the door ready to take
those IN attendance upon the funeral to Oak
land Cemetery. A few moments bcforetho
funeral services were to commence, Mr..
frank Ridge noticed that small flower had
fallen from one of the hands of the corpse
INTO the space between the body and tho
side OF the coffin, the lid of which hak ney.
er been placed ou.aS- Mr.. Ridge lifted tho
| Hover. and, as he attempted to place it in
the position from which it had fallen, no.
ticcd that the hands of the deceased were
still warm, and also that the lps and cars
were still highly colored aud also warm.-
He called the attention OF lady 10 the fact
and asked her to put her hand under the
corpse and See if the back was warm. The
lady did us requested and found that thcro
was still considerable warmth in that Dor
tlon of the body lying next to the bottom
OF the coffin. These observations were
soon made known to those in attendance.
aud the hearsc and carriages were dismiss
cd. The room was cleared and several
gentlemen held a Conference for the purpose
OF asccrtaining what WAS best to done
lhcy made an examination Of the condition
OF the body, and after some discussion de-
cldcd that life was extinct. The mother Of
inc ch'id about this time ilterposed aud in.
sisted that tho rnn.n;"" - - - a.. .~.'e"
so long rs there wns any reason Tor belicv-
ing that her child was still alive
Nothing more was done until the follow
ing day, when Mr.. Green Holland, the
keeper of Oakland Cemetery, called at the
house for the purpose of asccrtaining why
it was that the funeral did not take place
lie thought that something was wrong, as
he had prepared Il grave at the request of
friend OF the family who notified him of
the death When Mr.. Holland reached the
house he learned all of the facts in the case,
and stated to MIR. Byrd that if he would
send the body rs it was to the cemetery he
would take care of it until further develop
mcnts were reached. This was douc, and
the body sent to Oakland, where the caskct
was deposited in the dead housc. Since
that dav ihn,-e.!ar,u,i OF the body.
No signs OF decay are noticed, and Ger
tain portions of the body are yet warm and
litelike. During the past four days quite
number Of persons have visited the Gem
etery for the purpose of ascertainiug if
what they had heard was true
number Of the physici ms of the city
have investigated the matter and can como
to no satisfactory conclusion. The case is
one OF the most remarkable on record, and
what will be done with the body remains to
be seen: at present We can't say.-AHunta
(Gu.D Pho"oyoph.
THE DoCToIS SAY SHE Is DEAD.
Yesterday Drs. Coler, Collier and Fowler
visited the cemetery for the purpose of
making thorough examination of Miss
Minnie Byrd, the young lady whose re-
mains have been lying in the dead house
for the past week a battery was applied
aud every known test rcsortcd to, but no
evidence of life could bc discovered, and
after a complete and satisfactory cxaminl.
tion the physicians declared Miss Byrd
dead
This is indeed n remarkable case and cv-
cry physician who has seen the body is lost
for solution. AS has been stated, after
her death tho bo ty still retained its warmth.
The color still adhered to the lips. and ev>
cry appearance of life was visible, yet she
Was pronounced dead. During the entire
week the warmth Of the body was readily
asccrt lined, and even now the temperature
il only little below that Of living be-
ing. . ..,.
In making the examination yesterday, DIR.
Golfer, who was attempting to detect pulsa.
ton, discovered slight corpselikc odor-
1t is asserted that the remains will be bur-
led to day. Constitution, SM