The Elbert County tribune., 1906-08-30
Ccl:CoWLEs NEW
RocHElLETHousE

New York.-The little town of New
Rochelle has developed another claim
for distinction other than being the
setting for George NJ Cohans Forty
hve Minutes From Broadway" in that
1t contains weird and curious coIlec-
tion entitled by its owner THE Mu-
scum of Death" In one of the most
palatial OF the old colonial mansions
Of the town is housed this strange as
sortment of curios, all of which in
some manner. directly or indirectly.
have caused the death of a human be.
ing They represent the life work of
j. Edward Cowles, a retired and
wealthy man, and form what is per-
haps the most grewsome hobby that
any man ever allowed his fancy to
indulge in.
But apart from the history attached
10 them in the tragedies where they
have played deadly part they stand
as rebuke to the superstitious, which
was really the prime object of Col.
Cowles' hobby and its inception.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of
weapons, each of which has found its
in some corner of the world. and there
are other articles in the collection
which of themselves are harmless
enough. but which have been used to
facilitate the murderer to accomplish
his purpose.
The collection is in little attic
room at the top of Col. Cowles' home
in Trinity avenue, adjoining the resi-
dence of Frederic Remington, the
artist. Col. Cowles' hobby covers 25
years of search and study. and the re-
suits number about 10000 different ar
ticles, but beyond the cost of travelling
the collection represents the outlay of
very little money.
There Is hardly curio In the whole
collection which could not form a good
plot to either a romance, tragedy or
true tale of human affairs. In fact
there is a wamon's finger. gold mount
ed and as perfect as it was in life, in
connection with which is one of the
strangest mysteries that can possibly
be imagined. The finger is a thing of
horror to Col. Cowles' friends and is
as uncanny an article as any in the
collection. Although it has never
preservative it has never shown the
slightest hint of decomposition, and,
strangest of all, ii always contains
certain lifelike feeling that sends
shudder through anybody touching it.
Starts With Woman's Finger.
In leading up to the time when Col
Cowles first conceived the idea of col
lecting mementos of murders all over
the world it may be mentioned that
superstition Is unknown in the col
lector's household. Col. Cowles has
young and pretty wife and little girl
who is only two years old. With the
exception of the servants, who keep
away from the museum as far as pos
sible. Col. Cow1es and his family are
not haunted by the fear that any of
the grewsome articles may bring them
i'll fortune. In fact. Col. Cowles is one
of the happiest men on earth. and his
troubles have never risen above the
ordinary.
Col. Cowles was travelling in India
when he secured the article with
which the collection was started 1t
was the woman's finger, and the man
ner in which he. became possessed of
it came about very strangely.
He was greatly interested in occult
lore, and studied enough of it to gain
himself the title of chelah, or disciple.
He learned the Hindustani, or native
tongue, and became very friendly with
some of the yogi fakirs. During his
stay in India he saw wonderful things
which he could not account for and of
which he very seldom speaks
OF the finger. however, he speaks
freely. He was walking along a sandy
road near a little town few miles
from Calcutta. and in the heat of the
afternoon sat down under tree in the
shade. He had been sitting there for
a few moments only when he heard
means coming from the direction Of
small bush a few feet away. Col.
Cowles is certain that there was no.
body there when he first sat down,
but when he approached the spot he