Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-06-11
FINDING MISS BRYAN.
A FORMER WILMINGTON
LADY.
The HUT for Miss Bryan's Body at
JOhnstown and Its Recovery
by Wilmington
Parties.

Miss Bessie Bryan, formerly of this
city, where she had many relatives, and
who was drowned in the great johns
town flood, was only about 18 years of
age. She was the granddaughter Of the
late james G. Akin, and daughter OF
Mshlon Bryan, now of Philadelphia.
After the death Of Mahlon Bryans first
wife, who wac Mr.. Atkins daughter, he
married Mits Lizzie Morrow, sister of
Henry w. Morrow, Of this city. Miss
Bryan was also relative of the Culbert
family, the late James Culbert and
James G. Akin having married sisters
by the name OF Morrison. James G.
Akin had another daughter who mar
rled gentleman named Grier, but she
died In Pittsburg, leaving one child,
daughter, who Mr. Akin brought home
and adopted.
1t was Miss Grier's wedding to Thomas
K. Porter that Miss Bryan and Miss
Paulson had been attending, and from
which they were returning when they
were overtaken by the flood. James G.
Aiken having no children to whom to
leave his property when he died, divided
1t equally and bequeathed one-half, or
about 500, 900, to his granddaughter, Miss
Bessie Bryan, and the other half to Miss
Grier, also his granddaughter and be-
sides his adopted daughter.
The body of Miss Bryan was found by
Undertaken Freibourg, who pulled it out
of the water. He say he saw by her ap-
pearance and dress that she was a lady of
afiluence and refinement and he said he
was bound to take particular care of that
body.
Mr.. Henry c. Robinson, who went
the Wilmington party to Johnstown on
Friday night, tells how the body was
found and identified.
He casually remarked to q gentleman:
~ hear you have found the body OF Miss
Bryan" The reply was; Eyes, on
Then J. Winfield Scott, one of the
Wilmington party, got to talking with
some gentlemen who were Free Masons,
and one Of them, Colonel Rogers, said:
"Yes, and am in possession OF locket
and bracelets which belonged to her."
Mr.. Scott then Immediately brought Col
onel Rogers to Mr.. Robinson, and Just at
that time Edward Akin, cousin of
Bessie Bryan's, came along, and, over
hearing the conversation, asked: "What
is that you say about Bessiei" When he
was told he inoreduously exclaimed:
"It's all bosh. Why, we've been up and
down and all over Johnstown for the
past four days hunting for her and can
not find her." He was then asked if he
would know Bessie's trinkets II he saw
them, to which he replied that he would.
Colonel Rogers then produced the trink
cts and the astonished cousin Immediately
said they were Bessie's. The whole
party then hunted up the undertaken who
had pulled Bessie out of the water and
had handed the trinkets to Colonel
Rogers.
He was found and give a minute de-
scription OF the dress and all connected
with the finding. He took the remains
to the morgue, and knowing that she
must be lady Of considerable proml-
nence he took particular pains in en-
balmlng her body and having her buried.
He had the body ticketed mo g." took a
careful description and attached card to
the coffin. The hea'-board at the grave
had the figure "No. 8" daubed on with
black paint. The body was buried in the
name of "Bracken," as 1t seemed to
meet the description of o lady of that
name that was lost. The Bracken family,
In search for their daughter, had the re-
mains exhumed, but dlsowned them. The
remains were then for some reason taken
to Prospect Hill Cemetery and re-buried.
The friends OF Miss Bessie then went to
Prospect Hill, but could not find mo.
g." They finally found, after almost CIV
ing up In despair, that the body had been
removed to Grand View Cemetery. That
being some distance away a team was
procured, and having obtained authority
to disinter, the party, consisting of Col.
Rogers, Mr.. Green, Edward Akin, j. D.
SIsler, Henry w. Morrow and Under
taker Freibourg went to Grand View.
After considerable hunting around Mr..
Sisler at last found 'iNo 3 - and the
others of the party gathered about him.
The grave was opened, the coffin lifted,
the lid taken off and Mr. sIsler, Mr..
Akin and Mr.. Morrow all Immediately
exclaimed: "That's Bessiel" The re-
mains were in excellent condition, the
features very natural, the lips only being
a little swollen. The remains were
brought into JohnstowD, where they were
re-embalmed, recased and were to be sent
on to Pittsburg and from thence to WI
mington, Mr.. Morrow and Mr.. Akin |
accompanying them.