The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-31
THE LADY OFTHE CASKETS'
AN ECCENrRIC MlLIIONAlRE

Buried in u Fifty Thousand Dollar
Caske ct and Half Million MauSO-
leum--Rcr Second Husband Was a
Coachman.
A correspondent of the New York
Sun writing from Wilmington, Mass,
under date Of Mav lSch, says:
Mrs Francis Hitler, widely known
rs the "Lady of the Casket," died at
her home this morning, after Il sick
ness lasting all winter. She will be
buried in tho magnificent 800, 600
casket which she had carved for her
self some thirteen years ago, 4 sirailar
one being made st the same time for
her llrst he's sband, which now contains
his remains a. the Protestant cemc
terry, Wilmington. The last resting
place Of Mrs. Hitler will be in Is mau.
sOleum, which cost $500 900. The mau-
soleum has walls live feet thick and
massive gates with double locks to
prevent grave robbers from entering.
Mrs Hitler, according to the story
told by one OF her niCCcs, was born in
England, although she herself said she
wus born in the West Indies.
She was the wife OF Dr. Hitler, who
was known throughout the country as
the maker Of q pateut medicine sold
from the main office in Boston. For
years they were engaged in the busi-
ness without attracting particular at
ten:iOn, when they moved to Wilming.
ton, a suburban city, twenty miles out-
side Of Boston. At that time they had
about $50 0uU. She herself has told
OF her ambitions at that time.
We always lived very fruga.iy,"
she said. For several years it was
the ambition Of oar lives TO get a mil
lion dollars. When we had that all
safe two millions lO0ICd UP ten pting
ly ahead, and when We had that three
and four and five millions led Us on. If
there he such thing as luck, then
luck favored ns. EVERYTHING we
touched turned to gold in our hands.
'Chi dren were born 10 us, but tn y
did not live. Though VIC both were
vigorous, our little ones pinCd away
and died in early life so OF the twenty
three darlings | have had, fourteen of
whom were twins, not one is alive to-
day to give JOY to my heart and add
sunshine to my home. 1t was Gods
will let His will be done"
1t was because they were cnidlcss
that In 1885 Mrs. Hitler began TO think
OF erecting the mausolcums ana build
ing the caskcts, which since made her
famous. She has also told this story
In her own words:
Seeing we were not likely to have
offspring to perDotuate our name and
fortune, | spoke to my husband about
being buried in costly caskets and pre-.
served under lasting mausOleum. He
told me to carry out any idea Nigh
have. ! sent ali over the world for ap
propriatc wood from which to make
my caskets. Planks from tho big red
wood trees Of California [ had paid
$1,000 for [ throw aside as useless.
Then | paid 81, 800 for wood from the
cedars OF Lebanon, only TO discard that.
Later purchased teak and red cedar
at big price, to be further disappoint-
ed. at last | sent to the far South,
and at ter infinite pains p :ocurel mahog.
any planks enough to build the sarco-
phaEi and the two Caskots."
The mausOleum itself was planned
to DC OF stone and the country side was
soon talking Of il. With walls five
feet thick, and the gates massive and
double locked to prevent grave robbers
from entering. The Knockers on
tho doors were OF gold and worth q
fortune in themselves. and on the
collins were gold medallions said to be
worth $500 each.
Mrs. Hitler also specially designed
her grave clothes. Her robe was made
OF costly corded silk dccked with 500
yards OF handmade silk lace. In uuad
the robe were over 5000 English
daisies embroidered by skilled artists
OF France. On TIC sides are panels Of
surah white silk. The robe Ia fastened
by nearly 500 silver hooks designed hv
Mrs. Hitler. The cost Of the outer
robe was said at the time TO have been
$4,000 and with it went unuergar-
1nents costing S. 600.
DR.. Hitler died on November II,
al /, nln
coffin. AS the mausolcum WAS not then
completed the body WAS placed in a
temporary tomb until It's final resting
place was ready to receive It.
TO the citizens OF the town Mrs
Hitler was constant source OF won.
dor. There and in the nearby towns
she was called 1.-THE lady OF The cas-.
kcts," and her oddities wore on evutv
tongue. One Of her ecccntricitlos was
to lead the pickcrs to her cranberry
bogs attired In black silk and wearipp
diamonds. Among other ornamcn ts
was d necklace worth $40, 600.
early in 1893 Mrs. Hitler again be-
came the subject Of universal notice on
account OF tho announcement that she
was about to marry her coachman, Is
young Canadian, named Potter Sur
rettc She took the public into her
confidence on this point also. He came
to her, che said, 8nd asked her II shc
was going to got married, as no had
heard. On assuring him she had 10
such intention, she said he began his
love making.
81 am poor servant" he said, with
out money or friends, but am Il faith
ful, devoted admircr Of your womanly
qualities, and, as humble rs | am,
please consider o, proposal from me-"
:" | was thunderstruck at first" Mrs
Hitler said, "but the subject attracted
my attention, and said why not ?
He is honest, loyal, obedient and low
lng.' Father Ryan was called in, con-