Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-01
A DEAD BODY
Encased in Very Handsome white
EnameIed Caskef TakeD out OF
The River at Delta, La.-Deseriptt0n OF
the Remains of the Young Girl.

VICKsBURG, January 30.-1he RerGid
states that early on Monday morning Capt.
Pearce, OF the government works at Delta,
La, reported TO Justice Danger6eld, of
Madison parish, the discovery OF q metallic
| burial case, which was found drifting about
in the river just opposite where the govern
ment work is in progress. Ii was caught by
one of the laborers and, having been broug ht
TO the Louisiana shore, was made fast to a
piling and watched until delivered safely
into the official keeping of Justice Danger
field. With The aid of ak sble-bodied men
the case was carried up the steep bank 10
the top of the levee, which proved to be
considerable feat, owing to the fact that the
handles had corroded by time and rust until
they could no longer bear the weight ex-
pecled of them in the first instance. A cold
chisel was soon brought into requisitfou,
and the face plate being removed from The
coffin it was found to contain
THE REMAINS OF YOUNG LADY.
The body was dressed in beautiful white
rep-silk dress. A handsome piece OF lace
enveloped the neck, which was caught at the
throat and held in position by an elegantly
designed gold breastpiu. The right hand,
the index. finger OF which wore large,
heavy gold ring, rested on the snow-white
bosom, and the left hand extended down the
body. The garments of the deceased were
in perfect state of preservation, but the
body was beyond recognition. The face was
very much discolored, in fact almost black,
and the hollow eye. sockets and gaping mouth
presented ghastly spectacle TO the lev who
had the morbid curiosity 10 witness it. The
teeth were almost pearly white, well-shsped,
regular, and in a remarkable state of pres
ervation. The deceased could not have been
more than eighteen or twenty years of age,
and perhaps
No traces OF the fell disease which caused
her death were in anywise apparent. Her
position in the coffin was just the same as
the day it frat encased her rem ains and
laces, trimmings, garments and all, lay as
gr acefully abouLtbe body as on the sad oc.
casion when the dead was arranged for fual
interment. The coffin was oval shaped, but
was undoubtedly very handsome and costly
in its day. When taken out Of the river yes
terday, it looked exceedingly ancient, and
was almost completely pitted with rust; but
here and there sufficient OF lis former self
remained 10 chow that it had originally
been what was then known as a RAYMOND
white enameled mstallic burial css., the very
handsomest in use some twenty five years
ago. These collins have not been on the
market since 1850, and hence it is supposed
that the deceased referred 10 here ha. lain in
the grave Tor fully twenty years. There is
no name plate on the cofio, fact which
rendered il impossible for Justice Danger
field TO ascertain the name OF the deceased
AN OLD HOMESTEAD ABANDONED.
The remains are evidently from private
burying ground just below Goodrich Land
ing, where those taken from the river at
Kleinslon the other day were likewise re-
ported 10 come from. Pilot Carroll, of the
Belle Memphis, informed this reporter yes
terday that number OF large, handsome
monuments have recently caved in the river
at the point indicated, and collins have been
seen time and again protruding half out OF
the bank there. As 30 person in the neigh
borheod seems 10 take any interest in tue
matter, or has ever ade an effort to protect
the graves of the dead who have been SUM
bering for many years in the little cemetery
below Goodrich Landing, il is gem
orally believed on the part of river
men, that the proprieiors OF this pri-
vate burying place are either all dead
or, becoming reduced in circumstances
BY the late war, were compelled to abandon
the old homestead, and are now scattered
abroad over the land and far away from the
loved ones whom they laid 10 their final
rest on the shore of the Father OF Waters
No matter who they were they certainly
possessed large wealth, as the monuments at
this graveyard and expensive burials indi-
cate. Ii there is no member of the family
left remaining al Goodrich upon whom the
duty OF protecting the graves of his relatives
would properly and rightfully belong, the
officials of the parish should take it upon
themselves to see that they are either kept
intact at their present location. or that the
bodies are Immediately disinterred and buried
in safer quarters. The body was buried by
Justice Danger6eld above Delta, imme lately
at the government light.