New-York tribune., 1886-01-29
THOUGHT HIM STILL ALIVE.
SINGULAR LOOK OF A DEAD MANS FACE.
A FUNERAL N BEooKLYS NOT COMPLETED-THE
A AuIT.

A FUNERAL N BEOOKLYS NOT COMPLETED-THE
COFFIN LEFT OPEN IL VAULT.
"He is alive ~ exclaimed John Carroll as
ho galea at the face of Dennis Blake who lay in cof
fin on Tuesday afternoon last in st. Vincent dc PauPs
Church, in North sxth-s, Brooklyn. This was the cul
minaton OF an impression which had been gradually
forming IN the minds Of the friends and relatives oil MT
Blake that lie was not dead He taken sick about
three weeks with heavy cold which developed INTO
pneumonia. He remarkably strong and vigorous
being nearly six feet In height and weighing about 80
pounds and 1t thought by every one that he wona
soon be well. lie kept little hotel ut No. l01 North
second.st, and Was highly popular man among the
free aud easy citizens OF the Fourteenth Ward. so his
place was Overrun With visitors making inquiries
concerning his health His condition appeared to be
pretty good Saturday last, but in the evening his
symptoms grew rapidly. and he died. 1t sup
posed about o'clock sunday wornins. lie was con-
scous. aud talked nationally with his relatives until
about five minutes before his death Then while in tie
middle OF a sentence quiyer passed his body. his
jaw fell his face banchcI, beads OF perspratOn
caAe upon his forehead and his eyes closed lie Is
dead, Thought hsrelalives in the demons
tratons OF griet heard in the below and told
those who were gathered there that the end had come
Henry Hamilton, an undertaken, sent for. It
not thought necessary to put the body on ice the
temperature OF the room brought the
freezing point after the windows had been opened After
daylight when friends began to come IN to look ut the
body however, 1t was the general comment that 1t
should be put upon ice So the undertaken again
with aE ice-bOx OF the largest size and the body
placed in it. Candles lighted and placed at the
head and feet of the CORPSE and the bcwaCd
their loss aud talked Of the virtues that Denny" pos
sessed and how kind he had been TO the poor. Every
who looked at the face through tie glass plate the
lid Of the box remarked 1t the natural corpse
he had seem
Tuesday, when body was dressed by the under
t,kT bifp ,ar,1p
the coin the friends crowded into little room and
it was the general opinion that Denny" in suit Of
black clothes, looked as II he only taking
a short sleep and that his eyes might open ut any
moment The natural appearance OF tho face the
talk OF all until the coffin closed and taken to tho
church. whore mass celebrated. The church
crowded. The collin was placed In the middle aisle.
directly in front OF the altar and after the
the friends Invited TO take last look at
Denny WHO said that Blake alive. remarkable
change had the face since the body had been
brought the church. The rosy flush which Denny"
had Un his checks when he came from Ireland
twenty years ago had returned and smile had spread
his features. The relatives ana friends became
greatly excited and the news spread Ike wildiro
the ucghborhood. Peter Blake, the cousin OF "Denuy"
held = consultation with tho undertaken as to what
Bury hn," said the undertaken, "for he is surely
dead"
Then body. followed by eight carriages was taken
to Calvary Cemetery The coffin was again opened there,
ana the taco appeared more ne Ike than ever The
due to the joting In the hoarse. Tho body was
placed In the grave rs originally Intended, but II
deemed bttter 10 Ic3Nc u IN vault over night Ihat
Blake might have oyery chance to escape, the lid OF tho
coffin WAS left open.
ON the following day Peter Blake took DR.. Edward
Duggan. who had attended the sick man. to the ccmc-
tcry TO examine the body Tho vault opened AID
benny found In his collin with tho smile and flush
and looking II lac must awaken II shaken
The body cold aud stif. There sign of
breathing and the heart still Taking lance Dr.
DuseAn made lor-o cash In the left cheek and tho
bottom NJ each foot. Not drop Of blood flowed aud
the doc pronounced the man dead. His opinion
confirmed Dy small black spots which had appeared be-
hind the ears and the crca-es IN the neck indicating the
beginning OF decomposition the sure aud uufailng cyi-
dcncc OF death. Bat that there might be mistake.
when the vauIt doors were closed the coffin Id
Wa left OIL and "A hole In the roof OF the vault
10 supply Bake with air II 10 had need OF It, Despite
ihe assertion OF Dr. Duggan that " Denny - dead.
many OF his friends who doubt 10. Undertakcr
/ Hamilton said that he such flush appear
upon OF "A dead person. but ho attributed IL
tic heat church. lie added that II Denny"
3 not dead cfOfo, the 800 pounds OF ice that put
around him Ia the box would freeze live man, alone
"A dead one, In "a Few hours. II denny IS not found
sitting up IN tho vau he will be buried az 10 o'clock
| this morning.