The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-10-17
HEARSE WAS DISMISSED
Then il Was Found That the
Corpse Was AIive---Queer
Mistake Results in Re-
union of Geo. Aliens
Family.

The sensation that was experienced
by George Allen at West Unity, Will
liams county. yesterday, must have
been decidedly novel. It's a new thing
for q man to attend his own funeral,
and that was exactly what Allen did.
He reached town just in time to find
crowd Of his relatives and friends
waiting at the depot to JOIN in the fare
well parade. They were all attired in
the most sombre garments, the hearse
was there, and in fact there was moth
ing lacking to make the affair q strictly
up-to-date one. The foregoing should
be qualified in one particular. The
corpse was wanting.
Mr.. George G. Lewis, Of 1910 Cherry
street, this city. was a witness of the
proceeding. He came in on the same
train with the live corpse. Mr.. Lewis
was at the police station early this
morning, and it was there that he told
the story to a reporter Of the Blade.
The circumstances connected with the
incident are strange in the extreme.
In order TO understand the situation
thoroughly, one must go back twelve
years. At that time George Allen left
his home in West Unity to seek health
and fortune in the West. His search
was successful only in the direction Of
this worlds goods. From time 70 time
reports reached his relatives and friends
about his health. 1t was said that he
improved but little, and that he was .
victim of tuberculosis. A month ago .
letter was written from Chicago to his
brother at West Unity, saying that
George was confined to bed in one of
the hospitals at Chicago, and that his
condition was not encouraging.
Day before yesterday a telegram was
received from the superintendent of
the institution, announcing the death
of Mr.. Allen. His brother Immediately
made arrangements 70 take the 6rst
train for Chicago to superintend the
transportation of the remains back 70
the mans boyhood home. Mr.. Allen
had expressed desire to be buried in
the pretty cemetery at West Unity.
Before the brother started for Chicago,
he went to the cemetery sexton and
left instructions for the preparation of
the grave. The funeral car was ordered
and the friends notified that the inter-
ment would take place Immediately
upon the arrival of the body. When
the brother reached Chicago he was
taken to the hospital at once. The
corpse was uncovered, and then the
first sensation developed why, that
| is not my brother. You have made
some serious mistake. / never saw that
face before" he said.
The records were inspected and 1,
was found that two men by the name oi
George Allen had been patients at the
hospital. One was in ward L 2, and
the other in ward L. A visit was i'm.
mediately made TO the last named ward,
and there the brother found Mr.. Allen
alive and much better than he had beer
for weeks. The hospital people had
confused the men. The brother hast
ened to a telegraph Office and wired hi.
relatives: 1--WE will arrive tomorrow
morning on the 8:15 train" Naturally
they supposed that he referred to him
self and the corpse that was supposed
to be. After thinking the matter over
the brother decided that his relatives
might be confused by his message, and
he sent another. This one read: "Wil
come home with George in the morn
ing" However this did not chang
the matter any at West Unity. 1t wa
body of his brother. AS the trail
pulled into the station, the six men VIII,
had been selected as the pallbearers
stepped up to the baggage car ready Il
take out the casket. 1t was not there
Then they looked back at the othe
end of the train, and there they discov
cred gathering of excited people. tn
corpse they were waiting to receiv
, was live man, and he was surrounde
by relatives and friends who were weeI
t ing for Joy. The hearse was sent bac
to the undertaking establishment, tn
[ pallbearers were dismissed, and th
r friends who came to sorrow were tol
| to go to their homes. Later in the da
l invitations were sent out announcin
, that there would be family reunion 4
; the Allen home this afternoon. 1t wi
j7be the first gathering Of the member
isof the family in years. All will