McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-04-10

begged the man to bring me some
clothes. He brought some old gar
ments much too large for me, with an
old black slouched hat, and helped me
to dress, for I was too weak to stand
alone. He then placed me comforta-
bly, in an easy chair, and told me to
rest awhile. At length, feeling rested
and stronger, arose and moved slow
ly across the room, toward the open
door.
81 saw a gray headed old man COM
ing toward me, poorly dressed, with an
old hat in hand, and a stubby beard on
his face. I thought that perhaps he
was one of the shipwrecked. spoke
to him kindly but he did not reply, and
still advanced. stopped; he stopped
also. We stared at each other. Ispoke
again. His lips moved but not sound
left them. drew forward a chair and
sat down. He sat down also, staring
half fearfully at me. Great God! was
that myself? That white hair-could
it be mine? No it was a wig. Some
one was playing joke upon me. put
up my hand. No; it would not come
off.
81 went back and lay down upon my
bed, very weak, utterly dishealtened.
Later I was driven slowly down to the
beach, and 1 saw all that was left of
the steamer few blackened spars
and the charred hull. Many people
were examining, either from curiosity
or for Identification, the bodies as they
were brought in. There was a long
trench in the sand, in which was placed
the bodies not identified. 1t appeared
that the steamer had been wrecked on
county line, and two coroners were
there quarreling over the bodies and
claiming their fees.
"My friend helped me out of the
wagon, and seated me on rock close
by-a most forlorn and unkempt figure
I must have presented. Two men
stood near where sat and one of them
spoke of having received another tele-
gram from Cleveland inquiring if the
body of the man K had been found.
A cold chill ran down my back. Pro-
ducing the telegram he read the de-
scription:
Twenty-eight years of age, 8 feet 9
inch i'm in height wegh about fr ONE hum
eyes, black hair, small hands and feet,
mole on left shoulder. Has the body been
found? Have it properly prepared for
burial, and sent to b =, Cleveland.
81 was "K.,' and they were hunting
for my body to prepare it for burial?
My friend came back just then, and
I begged to be taken to the hotel i'm
mediately. / must start for home, 1
said, as soon as possible. Arriving at
the house, saw carriage and horses
standing at the door. Four gentlemen
came out and agreed to take me with
them.
81 learned from their conversation
that my companions had been sent out
from Cleveland to identify the dead
and find the living. Each related in
cidents connected with the search.
They spoke of being out in boats,
sometimes all night, dragging for bod
les, of seeing the thieves at their vii
famous work, of the disgraceful quar-
reling of the coroners, and of the dis
comforts of camping out. At length
one of the gentlemen said he regretted
going back with no news of the young
man K, whose friends were so anxious
about him.
"sI 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
description is discovered
"sWhere is his description?' asked
another.
"'I have it. No, not here. l re-
member, I gave it to the coroners. He
was, as 1 recollect the description, a
man about %, fair skin, blue eyes and
black hair. 1t is hard to 60 back with
no information. By the way, stranger,
did you see any one answering that
description?'
"Would you be willing to take the
body without preparation for burial?'
asked.
".Why, of course. Any way we
could get it,
"Well, then,' said I, 'drop me al
HIS house,
sA shout went up from the carriage
A fed days later, after having enjoyed
the delightful experience of being
kissed, cried over, and welcomed back
from the dead, I lighted a cigar, seated
myself comfortably, and had the novel
experience of reading my own obitu
airy, and a good orthodox obituary il