The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-20
CALL IT A MIRACLE
NEW ENGLAND TOWN EXCITED OVER
HEARTS APPEARANCE
1t Comes Out on . Church Door and Is Seen
BY Great Numbers Who Pronounce 1t to
be Marvelous-It Is Examined Carefully
and Discovered to be Nothing More than
Oil that Exaded from Some Coal and
Got on the Door-Expianation, However,
is Not Accepted by the People Who Still
Claim 1t is q Miraculous Presentation.

| Palmer, Mass, Aug. 19.-The people
| of Thorndyke have been much excited
today over what they have looked upon
| as a miracle. The excitement has no;
been confined to Thorndyke, but has ex-
| tended to Three Rivers, Bondsville and
| Palmer.
The news of the supposed miracle was
| first circulated yesterday morning by
] the janitor Of the Catholic church.
He reports that upon one Of the doors
! in the church has mysteriously appear
| ed a representation of the sacred heart.
! He could not describe very accurately
| how the heart had been reproduced up
| on the door, but was sure it had not
been painted or carved.
At first the story was not credited,
but few people were allowed to see
the heart. and their reports confirmed
that of the janitor.
Yesterday the feast of the Assump-
ton was celebrated in the church. and
on account of the day, unusual import
ance was attached to the strange for
nation upon the door.
Many people firmly beloved the mira
Gle had been performed, and before the
day was over this theory was generally
credited. Large numbers of visitors
asked permission to see the strange
picture and it was readily granted.
Rev Father Lynch did not know at
first how to explain the matter, and
could only show the door to those who
wished to see il.
All day yesterday and today crowds
gathered on the streets and in the
stores in Thorndyke to discuss the
miracle. Some OF the congregation of
the church who have been dilatory in
their attendance felt strange qualms of
conscience, and wondered if the
wonderful production had any personal
application.
A few insisted that there was prob
ably some natural explanation Of the
miracle and Father Lynch was among
this number. He decided today to make
a careful investiga ton, and in company
with Father Marchand of Three Rivers
visited the church. The result Of their
investigation was announced this even
ing, but is not generally known.
The facsimile of the heart was on the
outside of the door to the coal bin. The
picture seemed to be formed of a gum
my or liquid substance, and quantity
of the same substance was found on the
woodwork inside the coal room.
An examination of the coal revealed
the same substance in a considerable
quantity, ana IL was SalQ 10 De sort OF
oil which excludes from the coal This
it is supposed has worked through the
wooden door gathering upon the out
side
Just how to account for the peculiar
formation of the substance upon the
door is still something of a mystery.
This explanation was given to few
this evening. but they seemed 10th to
accept il. The formation is of such
peculiar formation that it seems hard
ly CREDIBLE to the average person who
has seen il that it formed itself
1t is expected that many who have
seen the heart will always refuse 10 be-
lieve that a miracle has not been per-
formed, but Father Lynch and Father
Marchand are sure they have given the
true explanation.