Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-31
a HORRIBLE sCENE.
A Mother and Daughter Almost DevOurst
by Rats.

A Mother and Daughter Almost Devoursd
Alta California.
The coroner was called to the marsh
west Of Bay View, yesterday on one Of
the most shocking cases that has been
reported to the mOrgue for long time.
The scene is dreary and desolate enough
to satisfy the most morbid minded with
out the added horrors OF the case in
question On the rank, tide washed
marsh are situated two cottages, that
are completely surrounded at highWater,
and in one Of these dwelt the object Of
the cOrOner's search-hIiss Mary Hub
bard, a spinster about 40 years Of age.
She lived with her mother, a woman Of
nearly 80 years, known In the neighbOr-
hood as Mother Hubbard. The elder
wOman's mind has been gone for some
time through the LneRnness Of her sur
rOundings and excessive indulgence in
liquor; but there was none apparently
who cared whether they lived or died,
and the miserable pair have been left
entirely to themselves. Their purchases
Of provisions were few and far between,
but the black bottle was kept filed at
all hazards of death from starvation.
Such a fate seems to have Overtaken the
daughter yesterday, though at what
hour is not known. John White, the
occupant Of the other cottage, first dis
covered the death, and reported the fact
to the coroner, who started after the
body about p m. 1t was a rough trip
and the experience at the end Of the
long ride was even worse. When the
coroner and his messenger arrived the
tide was high, and the cottage entirely
surrounded with water.
Wading through to the door and en-
tering the living apartment of the two
occupants, the intruders were startled by
the pattering Of scores Of tiny feet, be
longing to a band of huge water rats
that had left the sea when it reached the
cottage, and proceeded on a foraging ex-
peditiOn. The light of the cOroners Ian
tern frightened them away, else the corO-
ner would soon have had no burden to
bring back. On a miserably foul straw
tick, denuded Of every vestige Of clothing
barring some shreds Of rags that still
chung to her emanciated form, lay the
dead woman, while her demented mother
crOnched at the foot as if keeping watch.
Not a vestige Of food was found in the
bare rooms, and II there had been the
rats cleaned it ont before commencing
their horrible feast on the dead wOman's
body. In several places the flesh was
torn, and the extent and ferceness Of the
swarm Of rodents that were driven away
by the morgue delegation would soon
have exhausted the corpse. The old wO
man was nearly as naked as her daugh-
ter, but the rats did not trouble her to
any extent, and she was too far gone to
have known it if they had. Officer
Eastman took her in charge and convey
ed her to the home Of the inebriate,
while the coroner and his messenger
struggled to get the muilated corpse of
her daughter into the dead wagon. 1t
was a difficult job In the darkness and
water, but they finally succeeded, and
arrived in Dunbar alley on their return
trip about 10 o'clock. The elder woman
had quite an estate left her by her hus
band, and it still brings in an income Of
$50 per month, but somehow she does
not control IT. The property is control
led by John Puchaber, Of Fifteenth
avenue, who viii be called upon to-day
to tell what he knows about the two IN
fortunate women.