Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1890-02-27
THAT ENGLISH MUMMY.
A RESPECTABLE RIVAL OF The
EGYPTIAN ARTICLE.

history mas nOJ Deeu WiiCoCh' ~ ~
ply extraordinary that even his place
of residence is known to so few among
the many thousands who pass and repass
it every day. 1t is true that for about
one hundred and fifty years he was Sc
cluded from the world, in fact, dead to
it; but for forty years he has been upon
exhibition. For forty years he has been
a subject of great interest to compare
lively small circle, and during that Pc
Rod he has never shown signs of temper
even under circumstances that might be
warranted to rufHe the composure OF
''bearded lady" at circus. In various
parts of the United Kingdom the mere
fact of having been born century ago
is considered sufficient to account for
any quantity of notoriety. Yet in this
article the intention is to tell something
about person who was born, probably,
two centuries ago, and who, it can be
easily proved, has not in forty years
moved muscle.
Some days ago discussion took place
in the public prints on the subject OF
mummies. In a discussion of the kind
it could hardly be expected that the
Egyptian brand would be overlooked,
but if reference had been male only to
the Egyptian article little would remain
to be said, for Rameses II, as mummy,
has really received quite as much promi-
nence as he deserves.
There is mummy that can hold its
own against all corners on exhibition in
a very modest way in the church of st.
James, Garlickhithe, or Garlickhyve, or
Garlickhythe, for the name is spelt in
three ways. It was so named, according
to an old chronicle: "For that of old time,
on the River Thames, near to the church,
garlick was usually sold" The thorough
fare that bounds the church building on
the west is still known as Garlick Hill.
Not long ago an old house that stood near
the church was demolished. In digging
a cellar for modern structure on the old
site several piles were found. These
piles were of the peculiar greenish hue
that wood which has been long time in
salt or brackish water always obtains.
The ground in the vicinity of the church
is of chalk formation.
So many parishioners were buried in
the little church yard that it was decided,
about forty years ago, to cover the dim
inutive cemetery with heavy coating
of concrete. Before this was done q
large number of bodies were disturbed.
Those engaged in the work were sur
prised to find that while the collins had
been reduced almost to dust, the bodies
inclosed in lead lining were in state OF
almost perfect preservation.
With one exception the bodies were
reinterred. The exception had suffered
somewhat from exposure to the atmos
phere and perhaps from careless han
ding, but it is today wonderfully vel
preserved. The identity of this English
mummy could not be discovered, for the
coffin in which it had been incased hac
crumbled away, and had not been fur
nished, apparently. with plate. The
soil, it is supposed, had dried up the ami
NAL tissue by absorbing every particle O.
water, and thus prevented putrefactlon
At any rate, the mummy that can b.
seen at St. James (Garlickhithe) churcl
shows no signs of decay today, though
it has been out of the ground forty years
and had been in mayhap $50 years o
J more. Just within the entrance to tn
church, on the south or Thames stree
side, is a plain wooden case. 1t is about
: feet in height, 9 feet in breadth and 1
! inches in depth.
"You want to see the mummy, SUP
poser said the sexton, Robert SHARP
when I presented myself at the churc
' yesterday. Without more ado he opene
the wooden case. Inside the woode
door was glass front that no key woul
= open.
a Inside the glass, gazing pensivel
:. through eyeless sockets at hagston
that was a little darker than its fellows
t was the English mummy.
h The skin would have been white bl
for a pale yellow tinge. The skin We
everywhere smooth and intact. tt
figure was that of young man WI
. must have stood six feet in height an
Q been of fine proportions. The shoulde
y were broad, the arms long and powerf
n looking. Every finger and toe was pc
M feet. Both hands and feet must ha'
been small. That the figure was that
n young man seems certain from its ge
N eral appearance, but more particular
RS from the small size and excellently pr
II served condition of the teeth. There h;
Id been hair upon the head when the boz
n was exhumed, but atmospheric influenc
'I had destroyed every vestige of it. U
~ less the visitor looks closely at the he
:" an impression will be carried away til
Mt there is still hair upon it. This impr'
lie sion will be due to a network of cobwe
Ill which is yearly growing thicker. VIII
lis the body was taken from the ground
teeth were perfectly white. They {
gradually turning black.
''The glass front was put in the cas-
m Sexton Sharp said, ito prevent visit
,st from jabbing the mummy with finge
it canes or umbrellas"
lat "Why did they jab the mummy"
IN Sexton Sharp said he supposed 18Th
M wanted to hear his insides rattle"
III then explained that while handling
~ mummy he and others had discover
al that the intestines had become shrivel
and would make a noise like kett
drum when the mummy was shaken.
in Not a great many people visit
oI,urch to coo thn mummy the sex