The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-16
THORNTON 4 ]. 8.
LIVELY CORPSE.
Sister Thought Him Dead
p But he Proves His Ex=
iStenCe to Her.

is about the llveliest corps that ever
came down the pike. but his mother
of Rising Sun and his sister Mary
of Chester, did mt think so until she
looked upon him yesterday. Several
days ago, the body Of young man
was found in the Delaware river
off Chester, and although she did
not see the body, she declared that
it was that OF her brother William.
1t was premonitlono of her brothers
death she said. All day, while at
work, a voice seemed to whisper to
her that all was not we'll with "Wil-
le," and while seated on the steps
of her boarding house, 53S Penn
street, that evening, she could con
verse with no one, with that dread.
full feeling devouring her mind. as it
constantly suggested a mishap to
her brother.
Seeing Officer Daniel Ogden, of
the Chester force approaching, she
determined upon questioning him
and said, II don't know why, but
have had all day long the most for
chile premonition within my mind,
that something had happened to my
brother. Do you know whether any
Young man has been found dead or
injured lately that they do not
know"
The officer informed her that a
body had been iound floating in the
Delaware river on Monday last and
that Coroner Fry had taken, posses
sion of it, afterwards burying it
among the unknown at the County
Home.
The worried sister then explained
how three weeks ago her brother
William Thornton had lett his home
in Rising Sun, with the intention of
looking for work. That she had
heard from him but once during that
time, receiving letter from him
written at Germantown, and from
the feeling she had had all that day,
she telt positive he had been killed.
On the advice of the officer she
went to the Office of the Coroner at
Third and Engle streets, who gave
her description OF the man and
the clothing he had on when found.
IL know it is Willie said she,
"and if | could but see him | could
make sure. must see him Coroner
or the agony Of this doubt will kill
ME.
Explaining the fearfulness of the
sight that would be presented to
her from the awful condition the
remains would be in, after being
dead such a length of time, did not
alter her desire to have the deterra-
ton and view of the remains.
A carriage was procured and &C
companied by Mrs. Hannah Dugan,
with whom she boards, Mamie was
driven by the Deputy Coroner to the
grave OF the unfortunate man.
1t was but a short while until the
pine box was unearthed and raised
to the ground. The lid was raised
and Mamie gazed down INTO the
blackened features, hardly recog-
nizable, one would think, but with
a shrek, she said: Eyes, that is
Willie She would have dropped
to the ground from the excitement
but for the supporting arm OF Mrs.
Dugan, who stood back of her.
The body had been buried in the
clothing just as it had been taken
from the river and it was these
habilaments that prompted the sis
ter to say it was her brother. A
particular point of recognition was
the sleeve buttons he wore, which
we're gold with pearl setting and
had been given to the boy by his
mother.
These, with portion of the coat
and shoes, were brought by the sis
ter to her mother here, and, yes, 1t
was he. 1t was her brother who
walked into the room and greeted
his mother and sister with hearty
salutation. Joy. of course, was the
portion at the happy ending of Il
ms6t Of the spiritual premonition.