The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-07-12
A QUEER CHARACTER
PRONOUNCED REMINDERS OF DEATH
The New Orleans Physician Who Keeps
Constantly by His Bedside His
Coffin and Grave
Clothes.
IN. o. Times-Democrat,l

/ hus OtSi uSNOblhS MS llit W AVIS VI pchCh-
cence, and yet to the general public his
charitable deeds, peculiarities of charac-
ter and mode of life are as things un.
known.
On Rampant, between Union and French.
men streets, stands q comfortable double
cottage, fronting Immediately on the side.
walk. 1t is built in the old Creole style,
with high, sloping rooms, having window.
shutters, and the old-fashioned doors with
glass panels above the lock. The regula-
ton box-steps lead up to the entrance,
through which the passer can almost al
ways see psrlor full of ladies, with deli.
cate, emaciated children on their laps, all
waiting their turns to be received. The
proprietor of this modest residence is MIR.
Peter NJ. Peterson, a native of Denmark,
and a citizen Of New Orleans for the past
tifty.Six years.
He is now seventy years of age, and sonD
twenty-five years ago retired from ACTIVE
business, after having obtained a compS
tency. Under Governors Walker, HebeF
and Wickliffe he served faithfully as has
BORN aster of the Third district, and wa,
re-appointed by Governor Thomas Over
ton Moore, but resigned his position ani
retired.
With all his years he still preserves 4
cheerful, happy manner, vivacity ant
fund Of dry humor that is most entertain
ing, and though most Of his old intimate
friends have passed away, still enjoys q
quiet chat when he has the leisure to take
1t.
Entering the parlor yesterday, the
Times De mOcrdt's representative was
greeted with warm welcome by Mr.. Pc
terson and invited within. Although
busily engaged, he took enough time t.
converse about himself and his life, all o;
which was of most interesting charac
ter.
His wife died some fifteen years ago
aud her loss was an irreparable one to
him, Without relative on earth her de-
mise was the last link binding him to
earth, and alone and Borrowing he contin.
ued to inhabit the old homestead, with
nothing to occupy his mind. strange
drowsiness came over him, and he slept
most of the time, awakening unfreshened
and still in drowsy condition He re.
solved to take up the healing of the sick as
he had fallen. He had for years devoted
himself to the study of medicine, and had
perfected system Of his own which i'll the
past had secured some remarkable cures.
Possessed of secrets known only to himself,
his successes increased his practice so fast
that he found it impossible to attend TO all
| who called.
Never receiving cent for his kindly at.
tentions, he was beseiged from daylight to
late into the night with people pleading
for his aid, until of late he has had to re-
fuse to see any but those affected with tia
most serious disorders.
His parlor is now curiosity shop a
rank upon rank of bottles and walls, each
containing cancers, tumors, cd ID OWslea
0enus cures he has effected. 1t is worn
of self-devotion, and, from consumption
to the most frightful acute diseases, he ha,
with untiring energy given the last fifteen
years of his life without the hope of any
reward beyond the self-satisfaction of do
ing good.
A devoted husband, on the death of his
wife he erected a tomb, which has attract
ed as much attention as probably any in
Visitors out TO the ridge cemeteries will
probably recall, on the right-hand side of
the Metairie road, g little beyond where
the Canal street cars turn toward the
Halfway House, what appears TO be a
pyramidal pile of large stones. 1t is not
unlike some Icelandic cairn. This was de-
signed and built under the direct super
vision of Mr.. Peterson. The rocks were
brought from Brazil, and there were used
in its construction Ii tons Of them.
The interior is finished as neatly as a
casket, there being a copper casing cover
ing the entire inside of the vault. This is
painted in white zinc paint, and the di.
mensions have been SO scrupulously ad.
hered to that there is not half-nch to
spare for the coffin of Mr.. Peterson, when
he shall he laid away.
In anticipation of this event Mr.. Peter
son keeps in his bedroom neat coffin
which fits him accurately, and in his ar
muir a suit OF black broadcloth grave
clothes, which he renews every year. As
he is the last of his race, he has made these
preparations so that no one need have any
trouble as to his interment. With all these
funeral preparations around him, contrary
to what would be expected, he is always IN
a good humor and takes life with an
equanimity seldom seen. He has no hest
fancy in speaking on the subject of his
dissolution, and the final end has no t,r-
rors for him
The upright coffin standing against the
wall is anything but pleasant object to
look upon on retiring, yev such are the VI.
fects of long habit that he discusses ITS
measurements and qualities without a
change of expression.
He lives alone and now seldom goes out,
and his days are devoted entirely TO his
patients, who come from all parts OF the
city, and even the State.
During the CONVEX sation he exhibited
mahogany brown mass, not unlike putty,
although of a different color, which he ssid
was his plaster for removing cancers. 1t
had been analysed by physicians, he said,
but none had been able 70 discover its
components.
The hotties, the patien, in an adjoining
room having remedi > applied for a cancer