The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-05-02
WONDER OF DOCTORS.
EDGAR PRATT, THOUGH OSSIFIED.
WAS A POWERFUL PREACHER.
Only Completely Ossifed Man on Record.
Said to Have Converted Thoussnds-Mu-
scum Offers All Refused-Now His Grave
Has Been Robbed.

said To lave Converted Thousands-mu-
scum Offers All Refused--Now His Grave
Has Been Robbed.
The item appearing in the daily pa
pers narrating how the grave Of Edgar
Pratt, we'll known as the ossified man,
had been robbed recently caused consid
cradle excitement In the vicinity where
Edgar Pratt was born, educated, learned
his 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 farm which he
owned ON the town line road between
Williamson and Ontario. south Of the
Ridge road, 80 called. The family is
one Of the Oldest in Wayne county, N. Y.
The ossified man was born in the
town of Williamson, N. Y; was edu-
Gated at the public schools in that viii
lage and completed his education in So
dus academy. He was a we'll formed
young man, bright and fine looking. He
went to Sodus. N. Y, about 1878 and
went to work for Charles Delano, learn
ing the trade Of carriage trimming. He
was not religiously inclined, in which
respect he differed very materially from
his parents and other members of the
Pratt family. While the young man
was working at his trade his father sold
the farm, and with the family removed
to Douglass, Butler county, Kan. the
son, Edgar, accompanying them. The
latter secured a position as stage driver.
Through exposure ON the stage route he
contracted rheumatism, which eventu-
ally compelled his abandoning that vo-
cation. His condition became critical.
He recovered from his illness and short
ly afterward removed to Sodus, where
he opened up carriage trimming estab-
lishment in the Mills building ON Ma
pie street Rheumatism returned, and he
was soon Frustrated with his old all
ment. Medical science was invoked, but
nothing could 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 exhorter went to Douglass, which
was then comparatively destitute Of re-
ligious influences, and Pratt became
converted. He joined the Methodist
Episcopal church and soon became one
of the warmest supporters Of that de-
nomination. Ossification by that time
had become so advanced that the man
was taken before board of medical ex-
perts in New York city. The case had
baffled the skill of all western ply
sicians who had been consulted. The
New York surgeons pronounced the case
most marvellous one in the annals Of
medical Jurisprudence.
An offer of 81, 900 per year during
life and $4,000 to the widow at his
death, provided Pratt would contract tc
have his body delivered to the New
York medical experts at his death, was
spurned, Pratt alleging that his condi.
ton was due to an act of Providence.
He claimed that he was suffering just
punishment for not improving his tai
ents while young and before being af
fiicted with disease. His exhortation:
became so pronounced that his religious
admirers built wagon, in which he
lay stretched out rigid as block Of
marble. During the last four years Of
his life he suffered no pain whatever
but was unable to move joint. Starva
ton at one time threatened him, anC
four of his front teeth were removed
and through the aperture thin hquiC
food was injected, and thus was lif,
sustained. In his carriage he was taker
&c camp meetings, where he was the
center of attraction on account of hi
condition and the earnestness will
which he exhorted. 1t is said tina
through his fundamentally thousand
were converted.
Offers from museums were refused
Pratt insisting that his mission was t
convert as many to religion as possibl,
during his remaining days. His faithfu
wife remained with him until his death
which occurred less than year ago
Museum managers and physicians, evel
after Pratt's death, continued to delug'
the widow and parents of the ossifie,
man with letters and kilograms Offering
large amounts for the remains. This s.
alarmed the father that he declined &
allow his son TO be buried in the Doug
lass cemetery. but instead had the bod.
inferred in flower bed in the dooryar,
beneath the fathers window, where h
could keep an ever watchful eye upon il
1t so happened, however, that the fathe
was drawn as juror at FL Dorado, tn
county seat, and during his absence tn
ghouls succeeded in robbing the grave:
The relatives in Wayne county hay
signified their intention of uniting i
Offering a large reward for the arres
and conviction Of the grave robbers
Viewed from scientific standpoint. tn
case of Edgar Pratt was one of the mos
puzzling ever brought before the atter
tion Of medical experts. Pratt is be
heved to have been the only completed
cssified man ON record. New Yor
Times.
An Obiiging Onacer.
On the door of Fries drug store is