The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-07
MADAME PAULTN'S BURIAL.
love KNOWN Az NURSE BT lLE
THE FRENCH COLONE


she Hon.tsd that sss u.d Assaulted s.Oee
Persons Isto the worid-A stone Now
unest Fats Into the Nsw-mad- crave.
Among the people with whom she had lived
and TO whom she had ministered for forty
years. Madame Louise H. roulln Won Nard-
hansen. better known among the French Of
this city as Madame Pouln died on Saturday
after long illness In her death the French
colony loses ono Of its most distinctive charac-
ters for Madame Poulin was known and re-
spected and her wisdom and skill in her pro-
fession were regarded with almost super
stitious faith. by the French families.
Nine. Poulin was midwife. She was horn
nurse. and even ms child in Paris. where she
was born "a years ago used 10 take In and
care for sick and injured animals. and bind up
the bruises or put plaster on tho scratches and
cuts OF her playmates. When she became old
enough she entered the Maternity College OF
Paris and she was graduated with honor.
Armed with q diploma the first OF
tho kind ever brought to this coun-
try. and accompanied by her husband
Henri Pouln whom she married while
in the college. she came TO this country In 1854
and settled In Leonard street where she lived
for flve years. aiterward moving to 139 Spring
street In that neighborhood she had lived
ever since.
1t came to be regarded as 4 recognized fact
that Madame Poulln must he on hand to usher
into this world every new Am erican OF French
descent and not to call hcr. at least "a assist
ant to the regular physician. would have been
regarded ns a serious breach OF ethics.
Every doctor below Washington square on
the west side. knew her and the board Of
Health looked on her with approval lt was
her boast that she had oiiciated In 5000 cases
husband died when she had been in this coun-
try hut Few years; and she married Herr Won
Nordhausen, who had some reputation a. .
LAWYER in this city generation ago. lie died
In most cnses she was pretty well paid for
her services. She hecnme known among tho
residents Of Washington square and lower
Filth avenue as ar excellent nurse. and old
claims to tho good will OF the french Amerl.
cans was the fact that for many years abe
Benevolent Society.
Ten years ago she moved to 81 Wooster
street where she lived M to the time OF her
few thousand dc! lars that she had saved in
She died in com parative poverty. Two sons
and daughter survive her.
The funeral services which were held yes.
terday afternoon at the Church of st. Vincent
do Paul were attended by many OF the French
lived. The body was taken directly to calvary
Cemetery, where Nine roulin's two husbands
Which is in the public lots anu not far rom IN:
main gate ut about o'clock. About forty
people in ne the dead W ION son and
OF these were women. There were NJ services
at the interment. and tho people stood about
the grave silently while the coffin was lowered
by six workmen.
mThen a distressing accident happened. At
tho loot OF tho grave stood 4 stone mon ont
about 81. feet high, surmounted by n stone
crosa IL belongs to another grave. Nobody
noticed ut that time thar the cement which
held this monument to Its base had crumbled
away and that the monument leaned very
slightly toward the excavation. The coffiu
having been lowered and the ropes withdrawn,
the heavy stone shat toppied over. slid
from It's base. and fell into the grave. Several
won en- tainted. and there was great dismay
and confusion. Somebody sont for Superin-
terdent Moore Of the cemetery. who came to
the place with more workmen to remove the
stone. lie directed the friends OF Mile. Poulin
to take her away. and she was removed. but
broke away from her brother and the
others who were with her, and ran back, and
would have thrown herself into the
grave but for the restraining hands
OF the crowd At this sight even the mon
broke down and cried. Superintendent Moore
begged the crowd to dispense. but II was
hour before the peOnle went away, and In that
time the monument had been raised with
ropes, the workmen covering the coffin as the
stone was lifted out
The superintendent promised to have the
body put in a new colin and reinforced on
Thursday at the expense of the cemetery. and
he sail that he should hold the section boss
and his men to account for the accident