West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-04-23
A SECRET OF THE DEAD.
HUMAN AND ANIMAL BODIES TO
BEPRESERvBp FROM DECAY.
A Process Of Embaimiry fsr I'm Ad.
vance of the Lost Aftof the Egypt.
tians--Ah Aihsring Sight In q
West Virginia Log Cabin
Farmer namrleky
Discovery.


In a log cabin, about two and one.
half miles from Phillippi, w. Va,
lives an old German farmer, who
will some day give TO the world
that which will prove the wonder of
the nineteenth eehtify. 1t seciiis
that it has been left to the gray
bcatded cid man. Graham II. Ham,
rick, to discover sorhethihs which
has puzzled the brains OF learned
men and scientists for ages past.
The discoyefy is tho art OF prescrv-
ing animal and vegetable Substances
so either may be kept without a
sign Of decay or decomposition. but
in his efforts to solvc this great
problem he has become to be re.
garded 10y many PEOPLE in that sec.
ton of the country as some kiid Of
being to be avoided, and there are
many who will not 90 near the log
house in which tho old man has
Give dead people" and animals. I"
Just hcW Mf. Hamrick conceived
the idea that he could preserve ami.
NAL and vegetable matter in its hat
ural state he DOS not say, but after
experimenting for years. d short
time ago he became convinced that
lie had not laborcd IN vain, and he
now declares, and his works prove,
that lie has the art perfected. Tn.
I'll short time ago his experiments
in preserving and efttbalming had
been confined To lower animals and
vegetables. and so successful had
been his efforts that he determined
to test the process on human bodies.
He occurred permission from the au-
thorities Of the State Hospital for
the Insane to experiment on two
bodies. These were given into his
custody, and in one hour after he
had them in his room Ire Informed
the authorities That they were ready
for ihspection. The bodies were ex-
amined critically. and it was found
that they had not bettt fnutilated in
any way. not droY ~ blood had
been drawn, nor sh incision or
pnHctdfe made 10 them.
Since that tine the two bodies
have been continually exposed 10
The mir aud all kinds Of climatic
changes. bdt Trey are st.ll perfect
and lifelikc. Taay are now in his
room lying on q table, looking as
natural as when living. The blood
an the 7eins can be plainly seen
standing ont in blush black lines
where vessels are superficial. There
is not the slightest trace Of odor or
decay about the bodies.
In this same room arc embalmed
cats, dogs, fowls, rabbits. fawns,
and other things--aIl as natural az
life. Sticking about in corners and
on rough sliclSes these ''ofnaments"
give the room the appearance Of
museum. Those who have ventured
in the house Of the farmer have been
amazed at the sight. Mr.. Hamrick
y plain and frank, with only q mod.
crate education, bu: lfo iias been too
shrewd to give the slightest idea Of
his Process.
However, he does aot hesitate to
gay that his process consists OF ap-
plying a fluid. the ingredients Of
which can be found in almost any
country store, and that the whole
thing is 80 simple child coSld use
il. This assertion is doubted By
gentlemen who have given the mat
ter years Of s1refnl study.
The wisest heads in this country
and Europe have been puzzled in
trying 10 solve or comprehend his
mystery.
No matter how eminent or how
learned man may be, not one has
yet visited Mr. Hamrick and seen
the demonstration Of its workings
but has been pleased and Instructed
by his visit. a heef packer Of Chi
cago came 70 see him with a view Of
using the auid in the preservation
Of beef for the market. he asked
Mr. Hamriok II he conld preserve,
say, 600 beeyes and keep them 30
days. M fismrick said IL can
not cay, sir. have kept g few
pounds Of beef on experiments for
nine months" re positively 70.
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