The Osceola times., 1882-03-04
A CHASTITY GHOUL.
PHILADELPHIA Times |

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"Skeetons, did you say? Well, now, /
couldn't tell how many fellows bones I've
cleaned in my fifteen years in the dead
house, but if they were all stood up in a
row they'd make pretty respectable look
ing crowd" said Billy Sargent, the man
who for nearly quarter of century had
charge of the greenhouse over at the aims
house. Billy is now sevcnty-onc years of
age, and has forsaken the handling of the
dead for the less exciting occupation of ma
king wooden skewers. He came from Eng
land, was stricken with typhoid fever, and
was carried to the almshOusc. When he
recovered he was asked one day to assist
the doctors in the greenhouse. lie proved
so proficient in handling the dead paupers
that he was soon installed chief of the
Morgue. After being there for while he
was given an assistant IN the person of Will
liam Thomas. These two men had about as
much
RESPECT FOR A DEAD BODY
as a butcher for the carcass of bullock.
All that would be necessary when death
occurred was for an order to be sent to the
dcadhousc to prepare the remains for a
post" rs postmortem examinations were
termed. Then Billy would slice fellow
from head TO foot and have him in fine con
dition when the doctors arrived. Before
going into the house Billy would take pull
at whisky bottle, then light pipe and pro
ceed To business. II was very warm day
not long ago when well known physician
connected with the house desired To make
"post." The doctor took a seat outside
and Billy went TO work. As the sharp knlie
began to
LAY OPEN THE DEAD MAN
the AIR of a familiar Irish melody was heard
to proceed from Billy. He varied the mo-
notony OF the occasion by humming tune
Presently he called doctor, doctor, do
YOU want the heart" and while waiting for
a reply resumed his tune where he had left
of
"No," replied the doctor.
d" In goes the heart, in goes the heart, y
sang Billy.
doctor, do you want the liver" came
next, with long accent on liver.
Yes" was the answer.
sOut comes the liver, out it comes" was
heard in the greenhouse.
So il was with each of the organs. This
ghoul, who delighted in cutting up his fell
low creatures, had strange habit of hum
his voice could be heard over half the yard.
The inmates of the house had holy horror
or yencration Of Billy, because they believed
he was in close communication with the
Evil One.
one day DR.. d. Hayes Agnew took Billy
away from the almshouse and had him made
ianitor of the University of Pennsylvania.
on Ninth street, near Chestnut.
"Ah, that was good place" said Billy,
as he told the reporter about it " but took
sick there" he said. "Iou see the trouble
was this when they got a fresh fellow
they would boil him, and the pipes were not
fired right. They used coal for fuel instead
of steam. | came back TO the house again,
but Bill Thomas and me went into partner
ship. tell you we used to
SALT THE FELLOWS
during the Centennial. How the strangers
dropped of, And I'll bet to this day many
u poor visitor found his way to the dissect-
ing table whose friends do not give him up
for lost yet. one day me and Thomas were
sent for to come up TO the Majors office
Steward Phipp's), and there we met a fine
looking gentleman who said he was looking
for his brother who had come to the Gem
tennial from Hartford, Conn. lie told Us
how he was dressed and how he looked.
And what do you Think We had the fcl-
low in the picking tub that blessed minute.
Thomas blurted out: Hes in the pit
w here l. the pity asked the stranger. NO.
said |. that fellows gone. know him
well. He went out yesterday And gave
the wink to Thomas, and he joined in with
'Oh, yes, he's gone. | seen him 20 meself.
He's all right by this time The brother was
satisfied, and gave me and Thomas a dollar
apiece for telling him. The poorfelow had
gone, sure enough but not in the way his
brother thought he had. OF course me and
Thomas seen him go. We packed him of in
a bar'l, and he was scattered over half =
dozen dissectng tables down at the Jeficr-
son College when his brother began to look
after him."
"Billy, don't these fellows ever haunt
your" asked the reporter.
Then the old man laughed heartily, and
said: "No. none but Bill Thomas. Poor
Bill! lie don't haunt me, but | think OF him
II good bit. Bill was too square to play such
tricks as haunting me after he died. Me and
him went out to the spring election, and he
said to me: 'Bill,
I'll GET SKIN FULL TODAY
meanin' that he would get drunk. | told
him to remember that we had a couple of
fellows to carve that day, but he said he
didn't care. He was gone four weeks, and
one day they brought him back in the wag
on. He was sick, and died in a short time.
Well, the day alter he died we that is, me
and the doctors) posted Bill. lie was a
good friend of mine, but | sawed of the top
of his bead aud took out his brains. Poor
Billp' And the old man dropped tear.
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