The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-19
PECULIAR CONDOLENCES.
Singular Stories Which Are of Grim Inter.
est to the Superstitious.


Singular Stories Which Are of Grim Inter.
est to the Superstitious.
n. Y. Epoch
Both history and biography are full Of
instances of strange condolences, and a
brief mention of some of the most remark
able of them may be of interest.
The condolences in names which are
frequently met with are not only curious,
but often quite amusing. 1t is odd that
one OF the most noted of American physi-
clans should have rejoiced in the uncom-
mon name of "Physic."
A notable sign on one Of Boston's bust
est streets bears the remarkable legend
Cole q Wood, dealers IN Wood and
Coal, the members of this firm evidently
having an unusually fine perception of
the 'poetical fitness of things"
New York lawyer named Doolittle
once unwittingly entered into partner
ship with a brother barrister named
Steele, but singular lack of clients soon
became painfully noticeable, and it was
found advisable to dissolve, the name of
the firm proving altogether too suggestive
to prospective patrons.
\ few years ago the writer noticed IN
the immediate vicinity of the residence of
the late Wendell Phillips, in Boston, the
somewhat odd coincidence of brokers'
sign bearing the firm name OF wendell &
Phillips
\ few years ago, in Boston, a lawsuit
was on the docket, in which the parties
bore the respective names of Daniel Web
ster and Catherine lie Roy. As these
names are by no means common, the CO.
incidence is somewhat striking, for Gath
crime lie Roy was the name OF the lady
whom the great Daniel Webster married.
Most impressive condolences have oc-
Cured in the words of actors in their last
appearance on the stage. An English
actor named Cummins some twenty years
ago appeared in play in which it fell to
him to deliver these lines:
B. witness for me, We celestial hosts;
such mercy and such pardon as my soul
Accords to thee and begs OF heaven to show thee,
May such befall me at my latest hour.
The last words had scarcely dropped
from his lips when he fell dead on the
stage.
The following instances may be regarded
by the superstitious as a sufficient warn
ing against all jests on such grim subject
as death. 1t is related by Mr.. Bolton, an
English actor and author, that the famous
tenor Sim Reeves, was once playing the
Squire in the pantomime of Old Mother
Goose, and at the very moment when he
Ny wifes dead. there let her lie
She's at rest, and so am 1,
A man tapped him hurriedly on the shout
der and whispered, "You must come home
directly; Mrs. Reeves is dead" Greatly
shocked, Mr.. Reeves hurried home and
found it but too true.
The other instance to which l refer re-
lates to the death of ]. W. Coudry, a
mind-reader, who, a short time ago, while
lecturing at New Haven, Conn, took oc-
casion to boast OF his entire freedom from
fear, at the same time speaking of death
in a somewhat flippant and testing man
ner. Very singularly, before the con-
clusion of his performance, he was stricken
with apoplexy, his death occurring only
two days later.
Many remarkable condolences of dates
have occurred both in the history of ma
tons and of individuals. George Wash
ington died the last hour of the day, the
last day of the week, of the last month Of
the year, of the last year of the last cen
fury.
1t has remained, however, for a Nir-
ginia family to Guido all previous com
cidences of this nature. The father and
mother were married on the 14th day of
October; they have had nine children, all
of whom were born on the 18th of Octo-
Der; five of the children are dead, and all
five of them ceased to breathe on the 18th
of October. The name of the head of this
family is Joshua Franklin, and their resi-
dence Glade Mountain, W. Va. Mr..
Franklin SAYS that he was a Confederate
soldier, that he was captured twice by the
United states troops and that he lost two
brothers in the war, and that all four of
these misfortunes occurred on the memo
rable 18th OF October. In the neighbor
hood, the family is regared with super
stition, and not human being can be
prevailed upon to stay in the house or on
the premises on either day or night of the
fatal date 1t is scarcely necessary to add
anything further in regard to this story,
save that its origin has been traced to
Chicago newspaper, a mere coincidence.
doubtless, but one from which we will
leave the reader to draw his own infer
ences.