The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-15
WAS REALLY
PETRIFIED
But the Woman Was Dumped
Into the Swamp
BY A TRAVELLING MUSEUM.
The Mystery of the Stone Lady Is Unraveicd
by the Man who Had Her Carted
Out In Box to Her Final
Resting Place.

Out In q Box to Her Final
Resting Place.
The story of the finding of portions
of a petrified human body in the Fair
field street swamp, exclusively men
toned in Monday nights NewsDemo-
crat, excited the wonderment of hun
dreds of citizens who read the story and
imagined that the woman might have
been an early resident of this city who
had slipped into the bog in that section
when the "cold springs" were abund-
ant; or the body of an Indian woman
buried there. Such, however, is not the
case, and a News Democrat reporter
has unraveled the mystery. The head
of the woman could not be found, and
it possibly will not be found at least
in that portion of the city. And there
are a few other missing pieces, one Of
them being a foot and several smaller
pieces of the leg.
The petrifaction is real one, as
stated in this paper. There is every
element of truth in that statement, as
asserted by experts who have examined
the portions of the body found. 1t ap-
pears that the body was placed in the
swamp, far in it's center, by a well
known citizen. A number of months
ago a travelling museum came to this
city and rented room in East Tusca-
rawas street. near Piedmont street,
owned by Mr.. e. A. Biechele. After re-
naming there a while they left very
suddenly, leaving behind a large box
containing number of petrifactions,
among them being that of the body
found Saturday. AS Mr.. Biechele was
desirous of cleaning up the room, with
out paying much attention to what the
box contained, he ordered his driver to
haul the stuff somewhere and throw It
away. The driver did as he was di-
rected and hauled the contents of the
box to the Fairfield avenue swamp and
emptied the pieces out of the wagon
there.
The portions of the body were not
found until Saturday by the boys who
called Mr. BARS attention to them.
Mr.. Bair at once took charge of them
and hauled them home, where an in
| teresting stream 'of visitors has called
to see them. The portions of the body
are acknowledged to be simply perfect.
1t is not believed that the owners of
the stuff will ever call for it, and Mr..
Bair is highly elated over his find. Mr..
| Biechele stated Tuesday morning that
had he known what the contents of the
box were, and their true nature he
would just as soon have kept them to
exhibit at his store as not, but that
having thrown them away, he cannot
now reclaim them.
An interesting fact in connection
with the swamp in that section of the
city is that many decades of years ago
there existed what was called a series
Of "cold springs" there, which were
considered so dangerous by citizens that
few persons dared go near them for fear
Of sinking into the bog and losing their
lives. 1t is stated that some petrifac-
tions of small nature have been found
where these springs formerly existed.
In the hot summer time these springs
are said to have issued ice-cold water.
because of the strong force of the water
flowing forth from the ground. One Of
these springs was discovered number
years ago in that section near the
South Market street bridge. A num-
Der of interesting stories are related
concerning the escapes of citizens who
were almost caught in the so-called
death trap" but were assisted out of
their predicament by citizens who were
close at the time.
Mr.. Bair will search for the missing
foot, as alleged to have been placed
there by Mr. Blechele's driver, and the
stone remains may probably be placed
on exhibition to the view Of citizens.
The name of the museum company is
not known, nor is there any informa-
ton obtainable as to their whereabouts
beyond the facts related. 1t was stated
that they had purchased the portions
or the body and carried them along
with their curiosities, but that being in
complete without having the head, they
did not wish to carry the large and
naa hSxr I,,V, xtftI,