The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-16
IN HIS HEARSE:

| A RETIRED UN DER IAkE En-
SPENDS EVERY NIGHT
IN IT.
1t Earned Him $5O,000-With It
He Struggled Fugitives Out of
Country in Civil War
Sweeping Changes in
the White House.
Geneva, N. Y, Sept. 5.-Josiah
Bis5oro, an aged and retired un-
dertaker sleeps in an old hearse
which, years ago, he used in his
business. The old man lives alone
in barn on his premises and rents
his farm and dwelling out. For
fifteen years be has slept in the
hearse. The latter is an antiquat.
ed affair containing the old-fas aion-
ed oval glass windows and doors
and the usual lugubrious trim
mings and draperies.
Newcastle was an undertaken
during the civil war and conducted
what was known as the "under-
ground railway" He was paid fab
ulous sums to get Union wounded
soldiers-and in fact any one else
who was willing to pay the price
for transit-over into Canada in
those troublesome times. The
bearse still contains the tell-tals
"air-holes," which afforded the sup
posed corpse air. In the hearse was
a rough box ingeniously made with
holes to admit enough oxygen to
let ths corpse breathe.
| The hearse, box and the faithful
team of Jet blacks owned by New
castle at that time, combined with
the undertaker's natural stock of
craft and diplomacy, secured the
exit to Cauada for several hundred
dollars and others inclined that
way The hearse brought in New
castle more than $4,000.
He was twice married. His last
wife died % years ago, when the
old man decided to spend the rest
of his days in the barn and in his
hearse. The latter is cleaned eve
ry day and the brass rails kept
shiny. The equipment of the hearse
consists of a hair mattress, two
quilts, canary bird and an old
lantern. Newcastle cheerfully shows
the hearse to all persons with good
intent. He has requested that at
his death the hearse and his body
be cremated together. He has one
brother living in Michigan who will
carry out this request of his eccen-
trio undertaken brother.
Washington. Sept. 5.-Changes
at the White House to which the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt gave
their s,nction before leaving for
Oyster Bay have all been complet-
ed and nothing remains but a few
final touches. While Sept. 26th
was fnally announced as the time
for the presidents departure from
Oyster Bay, the message from Lord
Roberts postponing his visit to
America, for which it is probable
the president was Fastening to
Washington, may give them some
of.the fall days at Sycamore Hill.
Mrs. Roosevelt, however, almost
daily sends some instructions to the
White House.
There is scarcely in or outside of
the White Honse now nything to
remind the American people of its
former appearance but the four
wall, aud the fence about the yard.
The broad drive ON the north front
of the grounds Is come feet narrow
er than it was, and of graceful
curve. It is smooth and well beat
en- down, with a narrow strip OF
green between it and the sidewalk.
When congress opens next month
senators and representatives, with
members Of the cabinet and other
fortunate individuals, may hereaf-
ter drive down gently-sloping av-
enue with milk wagons, bread wag.
ons and other market men, and step
from their carriages into the White
House offices without 50 much as
passing stranger gazing upon them.
Formerly, visitors to afternoon re-
ceptions and tourists inspecting the
place we're as likely torun into the
market man with his great baskets
OF provisions, or the milk man with
his ten gallons of milk day for
the executive family, as into an
am AMBASSADORS or Senator's wife.
Il Me- fho x,aarEaf man will dri We