Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-31

perhaps he was one of the shipwreck-
ed. I spoke to him kindly but he did
not reply, and still advanced. I
stopped; he stopped also. We star
ed at each other. l spoke again.
His lips moved, but not a sound left
them. l drew forward char 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 wig.
Some one was playing joke on me.
/ put up my hand. No; it would
not come off.
went back and lay down on my
bed, very weak, utterly disheartened.
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 long trench in the sand,
in which was placed the bodies not
identified. 1t appeared that the steam
er had been wrecked on county line,
and two coroners were there quarrel
ing over the bodies and claiming their
fees.
My friend helped me out of the
wagon, and seated me on a rock close
by-a most forlorn unkempt figure 1
must have presented. Two men
stood near where / sat, and one of
them spoke of having received anoth-
er telegram from Cleveland inquir-
ing If the man K-had been found.
A cold chill ran down my hack. Pro-
ducing the telegram he read the de-
scription =
'Twenty-eight years of age, five
feet nine inches in height, weight
about one hundred and sixty pounds,
fair skin, blue 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 H., Cleveland
I was *, and they were hunting
for my body to prepare it for burial.
My friend came back just then, and
1 begged to be taken to the hotel inn
mediately. l must start for home. l
said. as soon as possible. Arriving
at the house / saw a carriage and
horses at the door. Four gentlemen
came out and agreed to take me with
them t
1 learned from their conversation
that my companions had been sent
out from Cleveland to identify the
dead and find the living. Each re-
lated incidents connected with the
search. They spoke of being out in
boats, sometimes all night, dragging
for bodies, of seeing the thieves at
their villainous work, of the disgrace
full 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 *
Il half believe said he, shat he
was not on the boat at all. We have
seen everybody, dead or alive, who
has been found, and no one answer
ing his description is discovered
Where is his description asked
another.
i have it. No, not here. l re-
member, l gave it TO the coroners.
He was, as / recollect the description
a man about twenty eight, fair skin,
blue eyes and black hair. 1t is hard
to go 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 1, drop me a,
H. house.
/ A shout went up from the carriage
A few days later, after having enjoy
ed the delightful experience of being
kissed, cried over, and welcomed
back from the dead, / lighted cigar,
seated myself comfortably, and had
the novel experience of reading my
own obituary, and good orthodox
obituary it was, too"