Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-05-22

scum Oncrs An Hefused-Now His Grave
Has been Robbed.
The item appearing in the daily pa
pers narrating how the grave Of Edgar
Pratt, we'll known az the ossified man,
had been robbed recently caused consid-
enable excitement in the vicinity where
Edgar Pratt was born, educated, learned
bis trade, transacted business and where
his widow and her mother at present
reside.
Edgar Pratt was son Of William
Pratt, well known farmer, who for
many years resided on q farm which he
owned on the town limo road between
Williamson and Ontario, gouth Of the
Ridge road, 80 called. The family is
ono Of the Oldest In Wayne county. N. Y.
The ossiiied man was born in the
| town Of williamson, N. Y; was edu-
Gated at the public schools in that vii.
lago and completed bis education in So
/ dus academy Ho was we'll formed
young man, bright and fine looking. lie
want to sodus, N Y, about 1873 and
went 60 WORK for Charles Delano, learn
ing the trade Of carriage trimming. lie
wal not religiously inclined, in which
respect he differed very materially from
bis parents and other members Of the |
Pratt family. While the young man |
was working at his trade his father sold |
tho farm, and with the family removed
TO Douglass, Butler county Kan, tho
son, Edgar, accompanying them. The
latter secured position as stage driver.
Through exposure ON the stage route be
contracted rheumatism, which eveutu-
ally compelled his abandoning that vo-
cation. His condition became critical
he recovered from his illness and short
~ afterward removed to Sodus, where
he opened npa carriage trimming estab
lishment in the Mills building on Ma
pie street. Rheumatism returned, and he
was soon Frustrated with his old all
mont Medical science was invoked, but
nothing copld be done. At length being |
in destitute circumstances, his brother.
Daniel Pratt, came from Kansas and
took Edgar out west with him. Shortly
after this, Justification began TO set in,
and the patient suffered untold agony.
An exh0rter went to Douglass, which
was then comparatively destitute Of re-
li8ious influences, and Pratt became
converted. He joined the Methodist
Episcopal church and soon became one
Of the warmest supporters Of that de-
domination. Ossitlcation by that time
lad become so advanced that the man
sas taken before board Of medical ex-
ports in New York city The case had
lailied tho skill of all western ply
iCians who had been consulted. This
Vow Yorl; surgeons pronounced the case
most marvellous one in the annals of
medical Jurisprudence.
An offer of 81 900 per year during
ifo and $4,000 to the widow at his
eath, provided Pratt would contract to
ave his body delivered to the New
ork medical experts at his death, was
burned, Pratt alleging that his condi-
ON was cue to an act Of Providence
10 claimed that he was suffering inst
anishment for not improving his tai
lts while young and before being az.
icted with disease. His exhortations
'came so pronounced that his religious
imirers built wagon, in which he
y stretched ont rigid Us q block Of
arble. During the last four years Of
s life he suffered no pain whatever,
10 was unable TO move joint. Starvsa
IN at one time threatened him. aud
ar Of his front teeth were removed,
d through the aperture thin liquid
ID was injected, and thus was life ---
stained. In his carriage he was taken
camp meetings, whore he was tho
nter OF attraction ON account Of his
nditlon and the enrnestness with
iich no exhorted 1t is said that
rough his instrumentality thousands
re converted.
Offers from museums were refused,
att insisting that his mission was TO
iyert as many to religion as possible
ring his remaining days His faithful
te remained with him until his death,
ich occurred less than a year ago
isoun managers and physicians, even
er Pratt's death. continued TO deluge
widow and parents of the ossified
u with letters and kilograms Offering
go amounts for the remains. This so -
rmed the father that he declined TO D
wv his sen 10 be buried in the Doug
! cemetery, but instead had the body
r1ed in flower bed in the Clooryard
cath the fathers window. whore he
Id keep an ever watchful eye upon il.
o happened. however, that the father
drown as juror at El Dorado, the
MY seat, and during his absence the ---'
us succeeded in robbing the grave.
To relatives in Wayne county have
lihod their intention OF uniting in
ring a large reward for the arrest
conviction Of the grave robbers.