New-York tribune., 1902-05-08
HEAVIER AFTER DEATH.
BODY OF JUDGE ELMER s. BUNDY
SHOWS GREAT INCREASE
IN WEIGHT.
THE THEORY OF PETRIFAcTIoN ADVANCED
THAT OF ABSORPTION OF MIN
ERAL MATTER RECEIVES
MORE APPROVAL.

For some time there has been speculation as
to whether the body of Elmer S. Bundy. who
was a United States Circuit Court Judge was
petri1ed. Though at the time of his death, five
years ago, the judge weighed only little more
than one hundred pounds, ii took six or seven
men TO handle the coffin recently at the Mora
Wan Cemetery, where the body is in the
receiving vault, awaiting reburaL The present
weight is said to be more than five hundred
pounds. 1t was learned at the cemetery that
the theory of petriflction had been pronounced
against by experts who visited the vault and
examined the body not long ago. But there is
no doubt that the body has undergone marked
and curious changes, and the fact has attracted
the attention Of embalmers.
The body. which was originally buried in a
metal coffin which is said to have been sealed
and alright, was later exhumed and taken West
for burial. and is here in a vault of the
Moravian Cemetery. where it is soon TO be
buried once more. The later elimination devel-
oped the fact of increase in weight and the ex-
animation which was made showed also that the
color had changed to almost the shade OF
bronze.
Frank H. Chase, an authority on embalming
when seen last night at his home. No IL Bank
ST. by Tribune reporter said that he recalled
the case, and that the mere fact of increase in
weight was not extraordinary.
The body could hardly have become petrified
in so short time five years" said Mr.. Chase
as petriication is always accompanied by great
age. But an increase in weight might easily
occur if the body We're in grave where waters
charged with mineral substances percolated. I
can see way in which the increase of weight
could take place if the coffin alright
But the pToba bility Is that it was not. 1t is
extremely difficult to male a metal coffin air
tight, and unless water could percolate 10 the
body there is no means by which it could gain
weight. The embalming fluid could give in
crease. and there would be nothing in the body
itself to do so. The color described is probably
more the shade of leather than bronze. En-
balminS will keep a body in its natural cOndi-
tiOn for weeks months but matter how
well done. the color would alter TO the tone Of
leather is the case with the Egyptian mum
mics in the space Of a year so.
When a body is embamed, too. there is
gradual tOughening of the tissues accompanied
by a disappearance of the watery substances
so that in time weight is lost instead of gained.
would in a year weigh more than
twenty-five pounds. You can lift a mummy
easily with hand. But TO account for an
increase in weight. il is necessary to suppose
a perfectly dry grave no increase in weight could
take place. This is simply due % an accretiOn
OF mineral matter, and such cases are by no
means unprecedented.
Gases of petrifcation are also on record In
petrifcation the body becomes brittle: but in
the absorption of mineral matter II merely be-
comes tOUghened"
Friends OF the late Judge Buudy recall that he
outdoors the body would become enduring and
not subject 10 the usual changes. He used TO
spend much OF his time in the open air. and
generally went without hat