Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-30
A STRANGE STORY
Of a Metallic Coffin Aaoat on the
Mississippi River.
A Handsomely Dressed Corpse
Found Within.
,ylcksburg Her,ld. n.

sNlcksburg Herald, ~.
About seven o'clock yesterday
morning fisherman at Kleinston dis
covered a metallic casket driftiup
down with the current in the vicinitS
of the ferry landing. 1t was old fash.
loned, oval shaped, and very rusty
Little or none of its wonted gloss re
mained, and with the exception of the
iaintest suggestion OF sort of brown
ish paint toward the center of the
coffin, and its odd shape, one would
hardly have believed that it was ever
used for burying purposes. 1t foated
well up in the water, and was towed
to the bank with facility.
At half past seven o'clock Coroner
John Rainwater was telephoned for
from Kleinston, and the coffin was
Immediately taken in Mr.. Arnold's
dead wagon" to that gentleman's
undertaking establishment on Monroe
street. Here with the aid Of a cold
chisel, Mr.. Frank Fisher succeeded in
raising the face plate; and imagine the
surprise aud astonishment of those
present, when this old rusty, odd
shaped iron receptacle was found to
contain the remains Of
A HUMAN BEING,
intact and in a perfect state Of pre. |
servation. The body was dressed in |
n elegant black broadcloth suit, white
figured marseilles vest, black silk |
cravat, rundown shirt collar, plain
white shirt, with pearl bosom but.
ton, On the left lapel
HE WORE A BUTToNIERE.
composed of geraniums and ycrbenas
all Of which retained the freshness
and color natural to them the day
they were plueked from the parent
stem. The collar, vest and shirt
bosom were snowy white and the coat.
pants and cravat exhibited no signs Of
mold or blemish Of any sort, With
the exception Of the fact that
THE HEAD WAS TURNED
a little to the left side, displacement
which occurred probably when the
body was first deposited in the grave.
it was in marvelously good condi-
ton, looked we'll, the features were in
an excellent state of preservation and |
imbued with tinge of health. The
hands, which were folded. on the
breast, were incased in a pair Of
WHITE KID GLOVES.
The eyes indicated the only signs ofI
decay apparent about the body. They
were sunken far in the head, and the
eyelids, which had slightly parted,
disclosed a hideous vacuum. The |
heavy satin fringe, lining and other
ornamentation within the receptacle |
looked as fresh as when shipped from |
the faotnry.
The body was that Of young man,
not more than
SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE,
with smooth face and auburn hair
neatly and nicely combed and brushed
back.
An inquest was held on the body
by Coroner RainWater, but the result
tailed to elicit any facts upon which
its Identification might be obtained.
Mr.. j. Q Arnold, who was sworn as a
witness before the inquest, stated that
the coffin was known among under
takers as plain metallic case, and is
specimen OF the kind made at the
Raymond factory Of New York. Ill
is very old fashioned case, and has
not been in use since before the war.
He has not had one for sale in his
establishment since 1860. Mr.. Ar.
mold therefore gives it as his opinion
that the body must have been
IN TUE aRoUNn
Tor fully twenty years, if not for
longer period, Its complete and per.
feet preservation is something marvel
)us.
IT IS NOT KNOWN
rom whence the body drifted. how il
got into the river, or how it had been
originally inferred But it is under.
stood that the grayeyards at Good
-ich's Landing and Lake Providence
have been csviDg for some time, and it
.s more than probable that the oofin
: from either one of che localities re
ferred TO.
While Mr.. Fisher was in the act of
opening the face plate of the cofin
yesterday, the metal being badly rusted
by time, gave way, creating a small
aperture at the top of the coffin. Soon
q was noticed that
A DIsAGREEABLE oDoR
was arising from the case. Mr.. Arnold
Immediately put it in his wagon and
had it hauled to the city cemetery,
where it is now inferred in Pottefs |
field. It is more than likely some one
from either Goodrioh's Landing or
Lake Providence will claim the re-
mains in the next few dovs