St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-27
IkTA OF The DEAD
Dismal Researches Of a jour-
nalist Down Among the
Collins.
Results Of a Gruesome Repop-
torial Visit to Chicago's
New City Morgue.
How a Cadaver Sat Up and De-
manded to Know Where
He Was.
Is the Burial of a Living Per-
son a Modern Posi-
bility?

Chicago Inter Ocean.
The new morgue of the county hos
piial, which has been erected at the
joint expense of the city and the county,
is completed, and is now ready for the
gruesome business for which it was
built. ExteriOrly it is pleasant
looking building. 1t is constructed
of pressed brick. and in archi-
tectural design has many COM
mandatory features. Interiorly the ar
engagements are suggestive and 3ignifl-
cant, and cannot be Inspected by an Or
binary observer without strange,
creepy feeling taking possession OF him.
Suicide, murder, death from casualty.
mysteries grim, dark and inSolubie,
come before the mind, and one turns
away with a shudder as if quitting an
eerie place.
And vets since in greatcity mOrgue
IS q necessity, it is best when such an
Institution must exist that 1t should III
every way be suitable to the gloomy
purposes for which it is intended. 1t
may be matter Of questionable con-
graduation, but it is fact all the same
that Chicago now possesses a model
mOrgue.
The exposition chamber is spacious
and we'll lighted, and fitted with the
most modern appliances for the preser-
walton of the dead. The old system of
water spray playing on nude and often
times diSfgured bodies that has made
the descriptions of the Partisan morgue
so weird and uncanny has been
discarded. In the Chicago mOrgue the
dead body will be encased in an alright
Oaken casket, with glass plate over the
face of the corpse. Carbolic acid vapOr
introduced into the coffin will preserve
the dead body. it is asserted, for three
or four months, thus increasing the
possibility of identification Of the friend
less and unknown.
When reporter of the Inter Ocean
visited the place yesterday he was
shown the details of the new death
chamber by Morguekeeper p. .MOllOy.
MI. Molloy has held his present position
for eight years. He is stout, comfort
ably built man with gOod-humored
face and pleasant voice, and has moth
ing in his appearance or manner to sug-
geSt association with his unpleasant i'll
cumbency.
Mr.. MOlloy was found in the tempo.
Tary morgue, where three corpses were
laid out. The dead bodies were covered
with white sheets, and ice was maSsed
Oh their chests and at their sides.
The morgue keeper, as might be eX-
pected. has many interesting remi-
nlScenceS 10 relate. all Illustrative of the
darkest phases of life in great city.
Among others he told how the body
of a man was brought to the mOrgue by
the police about five years ago. Tie
mpn was found lying at Peck court. and
had all the appearance of being dead.
When placing the body OH the slab the
head was bumped somewhat rudely. An
attendant present noticed that the mans
eyes tWitcEed little. A doctor was sum
mOned Immediately frCm the hospital
but before his arrival the man was sit
ting up and wondering at his dismal
surroundings. He was at once taken
into the hospital, and after a few days
was completely restored to health.
The mOrgue keepers story recalled
to the reporters mind the question,
us it possible for any one to be buried
alive.
Numerous instances of the entOmb-
ment Of the living are on record, but the
cases so narrated are SO far removed
either in the matter Of time or place. OF
of both, as to- be scarcely worthy of un-
questioned credence.
All the same, many persons entertain
morbid dread of this terrible fate
Such persons are not confined to the
ignorant and illiterate. On the con
trary, they are generally to be found
among the wealthy and intelligent
Many persons make specific provisions
In their wills to have tests applied to
establish the fact Of their deaths be
You'd all doubt.
Is it possible in Chicago that a person
could be buried alive?
The reporter waited on several prom
tnent undertakers. The investigation
went to show that such contingency
Is well-nigh impossible.
Only one case was learned of tha
might give room for doubt.
Names are Tor ObviOus reasons sup
pressed. A well-knOwn undertaken wa:
summoned 10 attend to a dead membel
of a prominent family Oh the Nortl
Side. The man was pronounced deaC
by his physicians the night before. The
undertaken arrived at 10 o'clock on thu
morning after The supposed death
While the undertaken was making prep
aratiOns 10 lay out the assumed corpse
the body gave signs of life. The sicl