Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-25
THE PARIS M0RGUE.
GRUEsoME SIGHTS IN A FAM
GUS FRENCH INSTITUTION.

Bodies Frozen Stiff for Future Iden-
tification-A Lugubrious Photo.
graph Album-A Ghastly Revel.
1t is difficult for the average tourist in
| Paris to decide which of two famous
| sights he will first enjoy-the Louvre or
the Morgue. 1t is perhaps the latter that
has the better patronage from foreigners.
Everything in Paris under the present
government is systematized, and the po-
htical machinery, even to the smallest
wheels, is so well oiled and runs so
smoothly that there is little room for
fancy, particularly when hard facts are
| encountered at every turn. The Morgue
is on the island of the city, that small,
| picturesque bit of land, the nucleus of
old Paris, and which parts in twain the
turgid waters of the river Seine.
| The island is the site of all the princi-
pal public buildings-the criminal courts,
the Prefecture of Police and the other
edifices consecrated to the administra-
tion of justice. The Morgue itself is
rather hard place to find, and when
found, so insignificant that the visitor
feels at once distinct pang of disap
| pointment. 1t is low, one-storied
structure, half hidden in the shadow of
the great basilica of Notre Dame. In
front is small park, bright and CHEEKY,
where quaint speasant women in large,
stiff-frilled caps, sell nosegays on fete
days. Behind it is the Seine, from
whose foul waters so much of its ghastly
crop is plucked.
The building is fashioned after the
model of a Grecian tomb with two nine
teenth century wings. The main hall in
side is square room, around which, un-
der glass cases, something like the
windows of shops, are exposed the
corpses, the f1otsam and jetsam of Paris,
which come in with the tide. The bodies
are dressed in their ordinary attire, and
being frozen present the appearance of
models in wax. The inner room behind
the showcase is used for dissecting and
also for the identification of the dead
A large leaden table ON a pivot is its
principal feature, on which is stretched
the cadaver. The ceiling is lighted by a
roof of ground glass and every facility is
given for the recognition of the dead by
their friends. 1t is here that the muir
derer is often brought face to face with
his victim, and this small room
has been the scene of many
drama. A third room behind this is
arranged like ward in a hospital. On
each side of "a broad pathway huge cop
per cylinders are placed at regular inter
walls, like beds of patients in a hospital.
These cylinders are each provided with a
freezing apparatus into which after few
days exposition the unidentified dea
are placed and Immediately frozen to tn
consistency of stone and stored away,
awaiting the great day of Identification.
Whenever a body is found-either in
the Seine, the streets or at a private
house, when the cause of death is sus.
picious-the case is Immediately reported
to the authorities and the dead cart
brought to the scene. On arrival at the
morgue the body is stripped of its cloth.
ing and placed in species of trough
lined with zinc. A double hose is i'm
mediately brought into action and the
subject is thoroughly cleansed with clear
cold water. 1t is then examined and its
especial features noted, which, together
with the time and place of finding and
other details, are registered. The corpse
is dressed again in its original clothes
placed in one of the receptacles and
frozen.
Besides the regular registry, in which
the names, marks, clothing and Other
means of identification are written,
photograph is taken of each subject
and these lugubrious albums are open tC
the public twice week. Every person
who dies in public place is brought to
the morgue. A corps of physicians arc
there to dissect and perform autopsies,
and every means is taken to identify the
dead or to trace out the cause of sudden
death.
The present system is wonderful i'm
provement on that of other days. Mr..
Mace gives graphic and horrible descrip-
tion of the morgue during the first half OF
the century. The guardians of the dead
were appointed by low class of politi-
clans, the Office, although without salary,
being self-supporting. The dead them
selves were facetiously called "the board
ers." Everything appertaining to the
subjects was sold. There was a box
called "rhe Cnsket of the Maccabees. y
In this were placed the teeth and the hair
of the dead, which were sold to dentists
and hair -dressers The garments were
sold to old-clothes men, and the per
quisites of the guardian of the dead, or
"Morguer," were extremely profitable.
iliio 10 ouly tnc VIC Vi
the Morgueurs, who had amassed quite IL
fortune from his ghoulish work, gave
somewhere in the thirties an entertain
ment in the grand hall of the Morgue
His guests were the most depraved and
most distinguished members of the Grim
inal classes in Paris. The drink which
formed the chief refreshment on the oc-
casion was brandy, known in French as
"eau de vie" and baptized for the occa-
sion as 'eau de morris" from water of
life to water of death. The music was
furnished by instruments something like
flutes made from the bones of the dead
and the drum accompaniment was beaten
on skulls with parts of arms and legs.
For light novel effect was introduced.
Twenty corpses which had entered a
sufficient stage of decay were ranged
along the walls and the eyeless sockets
and mouths were lighted, the gas from
the corrupting bodies burning with a
fierce and brilliant light
The Morgue at present is a bright ex-
ample of well-organized institution,
thanks to the Republic. In the days of
the Empire it was the custom to give to
anyone bringing from the river the body
OF person still living 10 francs; for
corpse, % francs. Gaffer Riderhood. .
Dickens novel of "Our Mutual Frend
was we'll known type on the Seine, and
many murder was committed for the
sake of the 25 francs. Now the proper