Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-04
DIED In THE GRAVE.
The Awful Fear of Young
Girls Friends.
RESULT OF A TOO HAsTY BURIAL.

Horrible Possibility that Dnnkirk, y.
", Young Woman Was Buried Alive
Inferred While There Was an Appear
ance of Life-Ihc Grave Opened ard
the Coffin Found Full of wnter-A Cor
oner's Investigation in Progress - \
Mothers Protests Jnheeded.
BUFFALO, Feb. 3-For the past four DAYS
there has been the widest Kind OF excite
ment IN Dunkirk over the story that Miss
Florence Burke, pretty young woman Of
that town, had been buried alive. Mis-
Burke was hcircss To a considerable for
tune coming from relatives in England.
She lived with adopted parents on he
Roberts road aud attended the high school.
Her death was quite sudden and the burial
took place without coroncr's or physi-
clans certificate of death being granted.
Considerable speculation is INDUCED in as
10 who is responsible for the affair. and
Immediate action will he taken to fix the
blame
FciI Dead on Her Fathers Knee.
The Young woman had been i'll for some
time with n pulmonary complaint. On
Friday morning, while sitting on her
fathers knee, she was taken with IA coue IL
ing fit and fell over apparently dead. Her
father made arrangements with Under
taker kolb TO prepare the body for burial.
The girls mother protested, saving her
daughter was not dead, but, owing To the
fact that the priest who was to conduct
the funeral services wished to leave the
city on Saturday afternoon, hasty prepara-
lions were made and the interment took
place that morning.
Horrible Suspicion Obtains.
Before the coffin left the house members
OF the family say looking glass was
placed over the young womau's mouth for
moment and when taken away there was
moisture upon it. Her lips were red and
color came into her face repeatedly and
faded away again. They also state that
shortly before the burial the body WAS
covered with perspiration. The body did
not become rigid as is usually the case.
Every appearance indicated that life was
not extinct.
Casket Opened at the Grave.
AT the cemetery another scene was en-
acted, when the mother requested that the
coffin lid be raised for the purpose of inyes-
tigation. Mr.. kolb granted her request,
and a needle and mirror were produced to
be used the coffin was again closed and the
undertaken refused TO reopen it. After the
burial the strange story was told about
town, and people began to talk.
\ Demand on the Coroner.
At first scarcely any one would believe
that the story was true, but later, after
hearing the mothers side OF it, they be
came indignant and next day demanded
Ut Coroner Blood that he make IA careful
investigation. He stated that he, too,
shared the belief that the young woman
had been buried alive, and lie at once set
about to investigate.
The Body Di,interred.
Tuesday the grare was opened The
| coroner had previously announced that he
would eXhume the body, and when he
went to the cemetery he was followed by
not less than 30 people, among whom
Were some OF the wealthiest and most pop
| ular people in the town. The earth was
removed from the grave in their presence,
and when the casket was reached it was
found 10 be completely submerged in
water. Ii was finally lifted to the surface,
and the lid of the coffin was raised.
Was the Poor Girl Drowned?
Water had completely filled the casket.
Then the people set up a cry that the
! young woman had been buried while in a
trance and had afterwards been drowned
while in her grave Every one present
was permitted to view the remains, and
nearly all declared that the girl never died
! i natural death, but was drowned after
| burial. The body was also viewed by the
| roroners jury and then it was again in
! tered
The Coroner Declines to Talk
Coroner Blood went from the cemetery
to the home of the girls parents, where lie
| took sworn statements from all in the
house Yesterday he refused to give his
| opinion regarding the case, but it is I'M
Gerstood that he believes the girl was
| buried alive.