The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-15


bercd as the ossified Man who Attended
the Camp Meeting at Riverside Park
Medical Association were Anxious to
Get the Body. but by the Mans Request
itwas Buried by His Fathers Window.
Many persons in Wichita were starti-
ed yesterday by the rumor that the
body of Edgar T. Pratt, the osefed man,
had been taken from his grave beneasn
his fathers window, near Douglas, IN
Butler county.
1t had long been known that the medi-
cal fraternity had been anxious to Sc
cure the body of Mr.. Pratt for scientific
purposes. and with the general feeling
of gouKshness, which seems 10 have
reached Kansas soil, the rumor was
generally credited yesterday, especial
ly among the medical fraternity.
The Eagle, anxious TO learn all the
particulars concerning the case detailed
a reporter yesterday to call upon the
intimate friends Of Mr.. Pratt in the city
and found that they were investigating
the rumOr also.
The first person called upon was Rev.
]. W. Anderson, who said:
I'VE wifi know about the case this
evening as Mr.. Hyatt, a father-ln-laW
of DR.. Collins, viii be in the city. L
am afraid the report is true. Before
the death Of Mr.. Pratt. both he and mis-
wife were approached by medical So
ciety representatives who were anxious
TO secure the remains. One firm in
Philadelphia offered a large sum Of
money and many Of the friends thought
that both Mr. and Mrs. Pratt did wrong
in not accepting the tempting offer. as
they believed that the body would have
proved Of great interest and benefit TO
the world. and also have left his wife
something on which TO live after her
eight years Of unceasing toll, labor and
care II is fact that for eight years
the wife was his constant nurse, and
had never during all that time known
what it was to have a nights rest.
while Mr.. Pratt for over eight years
was unable to move a single limb, not
even his jaw, and had to be feed by
forcing his food in liquid form into his
mouth, where a tooth mad been extract
ed. Yet he was probably the most
sensitive man that had ever been seen.
He could ont stand for a fly 10 touch
him and his ibedclothing had 10 be with
put a wrinkle.
For some reason he could never
bear the idea of having his body dis
turbed after mis- death, and all offers
were refused There was something
peculiar about Mr.. Pratt's case that
was different from any case of ossifica-
tion. ] can call one Of these peculiari-
ties very vividly TO mind, and that was
an outgrowth from his finger nails.
This was very trender and had to be
removed every ten days. For some
time physicians Were called in to do
this work, but they could by no means
allay the great pain, and finally the
work was done by his wife alone.
Before his death he requested that
his body should be buried beneath his
fathers bedroom window, which faces
the public highway, and is about half
a mile from Douglas. His mother is
dead and his father and sister live in
the house. This was done 10 prevent
the body from being taken and if ii has
been removed IL has been while the fam
Il . we're away. If you will call upon
Dr. Collins l think ne can throw some
light upon the question and when his
fdther-in-law arrives l will tell you of
tt"
DR.. Collins was seen and said: 'T
have been personally and intimately
acquainted with Mr.. Pratt for years,
and although the body is buried be-
meath his fathers window, it would not
surprise me that it had beeen taken.
especially when the medical societies
have offered such large rewards for IL.
He was not the only ossified man, but
there We're peculiaTities about his case
that could not be found with another
subject. / have told lith him and his
wife that 1t would be next to impossi-
bile to prevent his body being taken.
But the suibject was an unpleasant one
TO him. He was beloved and respected
by all and II it is found that the body
has been taken ii Will create a commO-
ton about Douglas such as has not been
witnessed for years"
Mr.. Pratt died on Saturday morning,
Jan. -. 1895, and was buried on the
next day in the afternoon. Before his
death he had made all arrangements
and his wishes were carried out to the
letter. Sell, notwithstanding all that
care, such thing might have occurred.
His wife is in New York state now,
and l know the news of such thing
would doe hard blow for her Come
up about o'clock when Mr.. Hyatt
arrives and he will probably be able
10 tell US the latest"
At o'clock the reporter called upon
the doctor and found that Mr. Hyatt
had arrived, but had gone out. but
from the doctor the following particu-
tars We're learned:
The first thing we did was 10 ask
him about the case of Pratts body hav-
ing been removed He said that when
he left Douglass there was no commo-
ton with reference TO the matter. and
ne was certain that if there had been
anything Of the kind he would have
heard Of Il. Yet he recognized that
such thing would be possible and
would not say that Il had not been done
but he was certain Of one thing and
that was that if he grave had been rob-
bed that il was not known to Mr. Prat II,
Sr.. or 70 the public in general He also
said he would so 10 the grave on his
return and see II It had been tampered
with. He also said that the great re-
spect felt in the nsighborhood for both
Mr.. and Mrs. Pratt. and the unani-
nous desire 70 see that the poor mans
wishes were carried out would cause a
search 10 be made as had never been
known before"
From the above II seems certain that
the rUmOr OF the grave being robbed has
risen from the Topeka affair and the
known desire of the medical fraternity
70 secure the body. The high respect
teit by all for the man who was so
greatly afflicted during life. stands IS
guard about the grave which IL is be-
HeFed VIII furnish II protection even
against the elculish epidemic which is
prevalent a this time.
A J. Sauer was granted 4 druggists
permit Yesterday by the probate court.