River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-06
Death Before A Camera.

II suppose" said Cincinnati pho.
tographer to Times Star man, when
I was learning my trade in country
town of this state, had an experience
wont forget until death. The boss
had gone out for days hunt. BUSH
ness was slack and he knew the other
boy and myself could run the shop. |
had made few tintypcs and consider
ed myself a natural operator. To run
the gallery for day was bliss, and
was anxious for sitter; before 8
o'clock | got everything cleaned up.
bath and plates in order, and sat IN the
front window awaiting customers. An
old man came in at ii a. m. lie was
right from the country; had mud on
his boots, and all the other testimony.
He was 'goin' west to his darters and
wanted a picture to take with HIM, you
know / knew all about it and soon
had him in the chair, the iron clamps
behind his ears and the camera gun
aimed at his gray head. He was quite
nervous about something and asked me
to wait. 4 want my picture drawed of
to look like this, he said, as he pulled
a tintype of a young man from his peck
ct. The same pose like, you know,
he said, as he told me that it was his
son who had been killed at Stone River.
He was a dear good boy, he was, said
the old man, with a weak voice and q
sigh-'and I'll soon be with him..
~ got him in position while he still
held in his hand the dead boys picture.
I went through the usual ceremony.
telling him, All ready now, right still,
and as l took the cloth from the table
turned my back to prevent any ems
barrassment. In thirty seconds said,
That will do He never moved. '1ou
may rest now ! said, but he sat still,
and held the precious tintype as il
wrapt in thought. Thinking that he
was deaf, / touched him on the should
err. Still he did not move, and no.
ticed fixed stare in his eyes. He was
dead. He had died in the chair and
had the negative of dying man. Oi
course / got help and sent word to his
friends. The doctors said he died OF
heart disease. ] developed his picture
and started as / saw the face of dead
man look at me from the collodion coat
ing. It vas q nervous day for me |
can tell you, and have always beer
careful with old people.
"Talking about love affairs in photo
graphs, / had funny experience some
time ago. A woman, handsome and
determined, had picture made hold
ing pistol to her head as if about to
commit suicide This she sent to hen
lover, who was probably getting tired
of her. Underneath the picture she
wrote. IF you don't will. He under
stood. 1t had its effect, for in two
weeks / made a group picture OF them
both, and she was attired as a bride.
"Women have their vagaries, even
for picturesr"
"Well, should say so. To them the
picture of lover is very dear. A young
woman who became infatuated with
drummer had me print picture OF hum
on the flesh or her arm. We can pho
tograph on flesh very nicely now, and
made good print. | fixed II
thoroughly, and she went away happy
A month later she came back with
bushes and wanted it taken off. Her
lover had turned ont to be a married
man, and of course she hated him for
his cruel deception. However, she
wears it yet, as | told her to let it wear
off"