Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-04-10


SO stiff and sore, so full of pain, SO weak
could not move / fell asleep again,
and when aWoke still the same voices
were talking about poor drowned bodies,
thieves, corOners and boats: and then
came a dim recollection that I had
known something about that shipWreck.
It all came back to me, clear and dis.
tinct. Soon afterward man came with
broth and nourisAing food, which I ate
with relish while he answered nv
questions. This was Saturday. and I
had left Buffalo on the Sunday proceed
ing. Lloyd's Tavern was fifteen miles
from the city of Cleveland. I must get
ND. How could lie here /? must get
into the air. must go home. Home J?
Why, at home doubtless they mourned
me as dead. had been dead for DAYS
to them. begged the man to bring me
some clothes. He brought some gar
ments much too large for me, with an
old black slouched hat, and helped me
to dress for was too weak to stand alone.
He then placed me comfortably In an
easy chair and told me to rest awhile.
At length, feeling rested and stronger. I
arose and moved slowly across the room
toward the open door.
'I saw a gray-headed old man COM
| ing toward me, poorly dressed with an
old hat in his hand and stubby beard
on his face. I thought that perhaps he
was one of the shipwrecked. I spoke
to him kindly, but he did not reply and
still advanced. 1 stopped; he stopped
also. We stared at each other I spoke
again. His lips moved but not sound
left them. I drew forward a chair and
sat down. He sat down also, staring
half-fearfully at me. Great Godl was
that myself? That white hair-could it
be mine? No, it was wig. Some one
was playing joke upon me, I put up
my hand No, it would not come off.
81 went back and lay down upon my
bed, very weak, utterly disheartened.
Later l was driven slowly down to the
beach and saw all that was left of the
steamer few blackened spars and the
charred hull. Many persons were ex-
aiming, either from curiosity or for
Identification, the bodies as they were
| brought in. There was long trench in
| the sand in which were placed those not
identified. It appeared that the steam
er had been wrecked on county line,
and two coroners. were there quar-
reling over the bodies and claiming their
| fees.
"My friend helped me out Of the wag-
on and seated me on a rock close by
"a most forlorn and unkempt figure I
must have presented. Two men stood
near where I sat and one of them spoke
of having received another telegram
from Cleveland, inquiring if the body of
| the man X had been found. A cold
chill ran down my back. Producing the
telegram he read the following descrip-
ton:
Twenty-eight years of age, five feet
nine inches high, weight about $50
pounds, fair skin, blue eyes, black hair,
small hands and feet, mole on left shout
der Has the body been found? Have it
properally prepared for burial, and sent
to fl, Cleveland.
81 was * and they were hunting for
my body to prepare it for burial My
friend came back just then, and begged
| to be taken to the hotel at once. 1 must
start for home, said as soon as possible.
Arriving at the house, saw a carriage
and horses standing before the door.
Four gentlemen came out and agreed to
take me with them.
ST learned from their conversation that
my companions had been sent out from
! Cleveland to identify the dead and find
! the living. Each related incidents con-
nected with the search. They spoke of
| being out in boats, sometimes all night,
dragging for bodies, of seeing the thieves
at the villainous work, of the disgraceful
quarreling Of the Coroners, and Of the
discomforts of camping out. At length
one of the gentlemen said he regretted
going back with no news Of the young
man nam K ( whose friends were SO anxious
"I half believe" said he, ''that he was
not on the boat at all. We have seen
everybody, dead or alive, who has been
| found, and no one answering his de-
scription is discovered
"7Where is his description" asked an
other.
"'I have it. No, not here. I remem-
! Der, [ gave it to the coroners. He was,
as I recollect the description, man of
about %, fair skin, blue eyes and black
hair. It is hard to go back with no in
formation. By the way, stranger, did
you see anyone answering that descrip-
! ton ?"
Would you be willing to take the
body without preparation for burial"
asked.
Why, of course, anyway we could
get it."
well, then,' said I, drop me at HIS
house,
"a shout went up from the carriage.
| A few days later, after having enjoyed
! the delightful experience Ofbeing kissed;
cried over and welcomed back from the
| dead, lighted cigar, seated myself
comfortably, and had the novel exper1-
ence of reading my own obituary, and
a right good orthodox obituary it was,
too"