The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-28
BURIED IN A CASK OF RUM.
Strange Story of the Death and Interment
of a Chicago Millionaire.

of Chicago Millionaire.
Chicago Special.
The body of Walter L. Newberry, who be-
queated $500 600 to found public library in
this city, has been for seventeen years in Grace
lawn Cemetery, while all Chicago, save two or
three people, believe it to be at the bottom of the
Atlantic ocean And yet the story of its burial
there and or the means by which it escaped the
oblivion of the deep, is by far the strangest and
most romantic chapter of this mans remarkable
history.
In 1867 Mrs. Newberry, leaving her husband
in Chicago, took her two daughters abroad and
eventually began their residence in Paris, which
lasted until the death of all three. In Novem Der
of the following year Mr.. Newberry himself con-
ceived the idea of joining his family, and started
abroad. Mr.. Newberry went to New York and
took passage n steamer for Havre. The boon
companionship and almost abandon which ocean
life awakens IN most kindly souls was hot at all
to his taste. He was always austere and raci-
turn or short and he chose to remain so at sea,
repelling every offer of friendship even ac-
quaintance. AS natural result the ships regis
ter disclosed all that was known of this silent
passenger. His appearance and such remarks as
fell perforce from his lips were sufficient to
stamp him as man of intelligence, but to all
the passengers he was Waiter l.. Newberry,
Chicago and no more
In such surroundings as these-an alien in the
midst of his own people-Newberry sickened
and died. The common fate of those who die at
sea is known-a canvas shroud, o brief, per
functory service and splash in the water. Such
is the route by which Jack Tar consigns not only
himself but all his passengers to 'Davy Joness
locker 1t is one of the sailors many supersti-
tons that there is bad luck in a corpse on board
the ship and, obedient to this superstition the
body of Walter Newberry would have gone the
usual route but for the interference Of gentle
man from New York. This person urged upon
the ships captain that he knew the Newberry
family to be one of wealth and distinction, and
that they would begrudge no expenditure to
bring the corpse back to land for burial But
the captain was obdurate. Perhaps he was not
willing to confer u favor upon the family of one
whom he found so intractable and cold. He saw
no excuse for departing from the rule; besides,
there were means of preserving the corpse to
the journeys end and herein the New York man
found suggestion. He had ascertained that a
part of the cargo was Medford rum and he at
once offered to buy cask of that liquor for a
preservative. This suggestion finally prevailed.
the liquor was bought and the body of the mill
ionaire placed in its alcoholic bath.
The ship meanwhile went on its way to Havre,
where this strange item of freight was unloaded.
The New Yorker looked carefully after its un-
loading and at once rebiled it to the dead man
former address in Chicago. He had, of course,
| no knowledge that Mrs. Newberry was at that
moment in Paris, within a few miles of where he
Stood so he wrote letter to be sent by the
next post, telling what he had done and why i,
had been necessary to resort to so unnatural a
plan. The next outward bound steamer from
the port of Havre carried both letter and cask
At New York the cask was, of course left be-
hind in the race, but in due course of time i.
arrived in freight train at the Michigan Cen.
trail yards. The letter. meanwhile, had reached
Chicago. and had fallen into the hands of e. l.
Tinkham, an old friend of the Newberrys, who,
according to a statement made by himself before
his death, felt at liberty to open it and apprise
himself of its contents. Mr. Tinkham was, of
course, prepared for the arrival of the cask of
rum containing the, by this time, picked
| remains of his Old friend and when it at length
arrived at the depot he was there in readiness
to receive it. With single eye to the obiga
tons of friendship and respect due to his prom
inent and much-loved friend. Mr. Tinkham had
prepared for the reception of his friends mortal
remains no less vehicle than dray. He brought
no clergyman, but had instead several mutual
friends, who, like himself, recognized what was
due the proprieties. On to the dray went the
cask and away to Greenlawn Cemetery the
strange procession took it's route No clergy
man was there and there was no funeral service
of the orthodox sort. Mr.. Newberry had owned
a lot, and in this lot hole was dug. The bar
rel was rolled off the dray into the hole and the
earth closed over the body of the millionaire
Mrs Newberry, the widow. died in arts but
two weeks ago The news of her death makes
the story public property at last