Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22
THE LOST ART FOUND.
Real Mummies Made to Order by
Queer Old West Virginia Man.
he KEEPS A yERITABLE MORGUE.
Steps Taken to Preserve the Antiquities
at Moundsville.
THE COKE STRIKE STILL CONTINUES
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsrArcH.,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsrArcH.i
PHILLIPPI, w. VA, March 2L-In log
cabin, about two and one-half miles from
this place, lives an old German farmer, who
will some day give to the world that which
will prove the wonder of the nineteenth
century. 1t seems that it has been left to
the gray-bearded old man. Praham H.
Hamrick, to discover the art of preserving
animal and vegetable substances. Until a
short time ago his experiments in preserving
or embalming had been confined to lower an
imals and vegetables. and SO successful
had been his efforts that he deter
mined to test the process on human
bodies. He secured permission from the au-
thorities of the State Hospital for the Insane to
experiment upon two bodies. These were
given into his custody. and in one hour after he
had them in his room he informed the authori-
bodies were examined critically, and it was
found that they had not been mutilated IN any
way, not drop of blood had been drawn, nor
an Incision or puncture made In the bodies. =
Since that time the two bodies have been
continually exposed to the air and all kinds of
climatic changes, but they are still perfect and
llfe-like They are now in his room lying on
table, looking as natural as when living. The
blood In the veins can be plainly seen standing
out in buish-black lines where vessels are
superficial. There is not the slightest trace of
odor or decay about the bodies.
In this same room are .em balmed cats, dogs.
fowls rabbits, fawns. and other things-all as
natural as life. Sticking about in corners and
on rough shelves these Ornaments give the
room the appearance of a museum. Mr. Ham
rick is plain and frank, with only a moderate
education, but he has been too shrewd to give
the slightest idea of his process However. he
does not hesitate to say that his process con-
sists of applying a fund, the ingredients of
which can be found in almost any general
country store, and that the whole thing is so
simple child could use it. A beef packer of
Chicago came to see him with view of using
the fluid in the preservation of beef for the
market. He asked Mr.. Hamrick If he could
preserve, say 500 beeves. and keep them 80
days. Er. Hamrck said: Il cannot say, sir.
have kept few pounds of beef on expert
ments for nine months"
The home of this queer old man is ever open
to those who wish to visit him. There are
those who dread him and his humble cabin,
because they fear the dead and on account of
his association with the embalmed or num-
mited animals ana bodies. 1t is almost in-
possible to get negroes to go near his cabin.
Recently the Royal Scientifique Association of
France made him an honorary member, gave
him certificate of life membership and solid
gold medal as a token OF its esteem.
The process is no doubt worth an almost in
estimable amount of money, yet this queer
old man does not want to change his abits and
ways of living. He says he had rather live
quietly along in his little home on his hllly
farm, surrounded by his pets" than accept
the wealth at his command and hobnob with
great men.