Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-06-09
HER STRANGE WILL.
Her Face Watched for Fifteen Days After
Death for Signs of Life.

Her Face Watched for Fifteen Days After
Death for Signs of Life.
There is an attendant at the Odd.
Fellows cemetery whose duty it is to
enter vault at brief intervals and
look into the face OF the dead He has
been doing this for several days past
and his vigil will continue until fifteen
days shall have come and gone He
is performing the work in obedience
to wish expressed IN the will OF the
late Mrs. Augustine Perichon French
woman who died in this city. Mrs.
Perichon entertained fear thai it
would be her lot to be buried alive
according to the San Francisco Exam
liner. How she came to dread this is
told in the story of her life.
She was horn in Orleans. France in
ls26. In ls4S when she was but 22
years OF age, she came to this country
hnd soon thereafter was married in
New York City. From early child
hood she loved to read tales OF ro-
nance and fiction, but nothing had a
greater fascination for her than a
story OF some poor unfortunate whose
fate it was to be buried in a trance.
1t is said that she accumulated the
printed announcements of all the
most horrible instances OF this kind
that have been recorded during the
last half century In 1854 she crossed
the continent to San Francisco
Two years after her arrival here
she obtained a divorce from her hus.
band but soon married again. Her
second husband died in l-5S Besides
few personal effects she has left
money and jewelry to the value of
nearly 5000. but She has no relative
either IN America or France TO inherit
from her although during the last
few years OF her life she spent much
time and money in trying to trace
some one descended from either her
father or her mothers line,
she directed in her will that after
the doctors pronounced her dead her
body should De placed in coffin and
then in the vault OF the Odd-fellow's
cemetery. The lid OF the coffin should
be so arranged that her face could be
seen, and someone should be paid lib.
/ orally to visit the vault and look upon
1t at brief intervals. This was to be
kept up for fifteen days. during which
time preparations were to be made to
place the body in its last resting place
in the same cemetery.
Some years ago Mrs. Perichon pur.
chased plot in that cemetery. and
her will directs that vault be built
in it suitable Tor the reception OF three
bodies her own and those OF two
friends. The exact dimensions OF this
4 grave are given and an iron frame
work is to be placed at the bottom,
upon which. side by side, the three
co:.ins are TO rest Besides this. direc-
tons are given in regard to the head
stones and the epitaphs they shall
bear as well as minute details OF
matters OF less Importance.
! OF the two friends who are to share
the grave with the remains of Mrs.
Perichon, one is still living. No one
4 seems to know why these two of the
/ many who formed the circle OF friends
/ of the deceased should be singled out
land if Mrs Perichon were living her
friends say. she would declare it to be
/ no ones business but her own The
i two are J. Bonde, a Frenchman, who
died about five years ago and whose
body now lies in the Odd Fellows
cemetery and William Weissman. q
! German. The latter is 30 years of age
I and is now an inmate OF the soldiers
Home at Santa Monica He has been
notified of the provisions in the will
/ o! his old friend.
The executors OF the will are Eu-
/ gene kobinet and Pierre Dumont.
When the expenses Of the burial have
been settled, and 800 paid to each OF
I four old friends now in France. the
will provides that the quartet men
toned shall receive the residue. But
the money is not to be paid to them
unless the executors are convinced
that they are deserving.
Every wish and whim of the de.
I ceased is being carried out to the let
4 ter The remains OF Bonde will have
to be disinterred and placed in new
/ coin, the headstones will be very
| costly and besides the expenses now
being incurred. the funeral of the old
/ veteran pensioner at Santa Monica
/ will be provided for.