The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-23
THE COFFIN BURST.
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, FOL-
LOWED BY A WEIRD BURIAL.

Hot Weather Causes a Corpse 60
Swell and Burst Coffin-A Midnight
Interment, Attended by an Unfortu-
nate Accident
From the ST. Louis Republic
SEpALIA, No., July IA most singular
burial, which was performed under the
most peculiar and weird circumstances,
took place at Spring Fork. some fifteen
miles distant from this city, at an early
hour a week ago yesterday.
Among the early settlers Of this (Pettls)
county were a young German named John
Y. Peterson aad lis wife. They located In
the southern part of the county, near
Spring Fork. They were industrious and
frugal, and prospered, accommodating many
acres of land and storing away good bank
account.
Last Thursday a week ago Mrs. Peterson,
after nearly reaching the allotted three
score and ten years, died Of dropsy. When
girl Mrs. Peterson was SLIM and supple,
and as graceful a maiden as ever became a
bride. But as years passed on she grew In
flesh, and at the time Of her death was a
remarkably large woman, weighing nearly
three hundred pounds.
Immediately after Mrs PETERSON mad
rangements were made for the funeral. The
largest casket to be procured i'll this city
was the exact measurement required at the
time of DEATH but as IL WAS not delivered
until Friday morning the corpse had swollen
so much that it was crowded into the too
narrow casket with much difficulty. The
lid was then screwed down and the remains
left in that condition for burial AS ice
could not be procured, the course taken
was considered the wlSest under the circum-
stances,
The funeral services were set for Satur-
day afternoon, and, as is customary, a
number of neighbors acted as watchers on
Friday night. Just as the stiffness OF mid
night was approaching the watchers were
startled by loud report in the parlor of
the mansion, where the coffin had been
placed. The woman screamed and ran out
of the house, but the men plucked up
enough courage to go, or rather attempt to
go, INTO the parlor. OF necessity they
halted at the door. The scene presented
was most horrible one. The gases of the
body had accumulated within the casket
until the force, like pent-up steam within q
boiler with no safety valve, burst the glass
over the face and bosom of Mrs. Peterson.
So terrific was the explosion that the body
was shot forward and upward, he head of
the corpse protr ding from the coffio.
The men in the hallway halted in alarm.
IDey were SUTlCkoll Win u panic, yeU uOb
one of them could command strength
enough to fly They did not stand in the
doorway long. A veporish cloud quickly
filled the half-lighted parlor, and it was
laden with the rankest of putrid odors.
Then the men fed to the dining-room and
sent for John Peterson. He had been try
ing to sleep in a garnet chamber, but the
hot weather had kept him awake. He heard
the explosion, and after dressing himself
mt the messenger on the stairway. A con-
sultation was held and it was decided that,
owing to the condition of the remains of the
deceased, the burial should take place at
once.
Half a dozen of the male watchers agreed
to dig grave IN the garden plat near the
house, while the others attended to the
other details of the burial The grave hav-
ing been prepared the coffin was carried to
the burial place and strong ropes were
placed under the casket. Just as the coffin
was being lowered one of the assistants let
60 Of his end of the rope. This threw the
weight at the head of the coffin and the
ropes we're jerked from the hands of the
men stationed there. The coffin fell with
great force head down and burst to pieces.
Another consultation was held and it was
decided to fiji up the grave at once without
waiting Tor another casket. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY the best they could do under the cir
CunStanceS