Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-04
HUMAN PEFKIFACTIoN.

A peculiar and interesting case of human
petrifaction has recently been discovered in
the case of the remains of child removed
from the City Cemetery, in this city. The
child, which was three years of age, died at
Wadsworth, New, October 5, 1871, and was
brought to this city for interment and buried
in an iron casket. which was Theoretically
sealed. In May last the casket was taken up
and taken to Los Angeles for reihterment at
that place. The remains were exhumed by
Superintendent W. C. Farnsworth and W.
H. Chamberlain, who noticed and remarked
in handling the casket, after it was taken
from the ground, that it was part full of wa
ter or liquid of some kind, as they could hear
il distinctly when the casket was moved.
The two raised it from the grave and carried
it afterwards without difficulty, and did
not think of its being unusually heavy
for an iron casket. It was sent to Los An
geIes by railroad. When being handled
there it was found to be SO heavy that suspi-
cion was aroused, and it was believed that
the remains had been removed and rock
placed in the casket. The casket was opened
to ascertain the cause of the WEIGHT, when it
was found that the liquid, which had previ-
ously been noticed or heard in the casket,
and which mora than half filled it, had
assumed the appearance of ice, and was as
hnrd and cold as marble. The features of
the child were as natural as when death first
occurred the head reclining to one side.
One hand was resting at the side, with elbow
slightly raised, which change Of position had
the appearance of struggle after burial, but
which was no doubt caused by the operation
of gases. Upon examination it was found
that the remains were entirely petriGed, and
had the same condition to the touch as the
solid substance around the body above re-
ferred to. This solid formation, which re-
suited from a former LIQUID state, came about
halfway upon the face, and both this and
the petriisd remains were as positive in
firmness as marble itself.
Another well-known case Of petrifaction
was that Of the remains of Mary Gibson, who
was murdered in this city by Mortimer in
1872. She was buried in tie City Cemetery.
Some fifteen months afterward her remains
were taken up to be removed to San Fran
cisco, when it was found that they were COM
pletely petrifed, and were as heavy as stone.
Her features and appearance were still
natural, except the spots upon her face
where she was bruised in her struggle with
Mortimer, which places were turned black
and looked like ebony, but were solid in pet
rifaction like the remainder of her BODY.
INFAMOUS CoNDUcT.-A girl who has been
an inmate of the Orphan Asylum, and re-
Gently went from there TO a place in the city
to work as help in a family, was few days
since enticed away by worthless fellow,
who tool. her to q room on L street, where
she remained a day or so, and was then
| spirited away by worthless vagabond of the
fancy" order, who gives the name Of
| Charles Cook-the same individual who not
long since enabled girl to escape from the
city Jail out of window, by means OF rope.
He took the present girl to Woodland, where
they remained together nearly week, when
she was compelled to return by reason Of ILL
ness, resulting from the criminal course into
which she had been drawn. She was fur
nished with a place to stay last night at the
police headquarters, and Cook has been ar
rested.
FREE READINGs.-Mrs. D. +. Smith, of
San Francisco, will give readings tomorrow
evening at the Westminster Presbyterian
! Church. under the auspices of the Sacra-
mento Educational Institute. All are cordi-
ally invited to attend.
Police ARREsTs.-Joe Smith was yester-
day arrested for committing an assault with
deadly weapon, by officers Arlington
and Valentine. Eva Parker, a common
drunkard, was taken in by officer Dunlevy.
IMMIGRANTs.-One hundred and twelve i'm.
migrants, including eighty males, will arrive
from the East by overland this afternoon.