The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-04-27

Remains Of Bert Percivallia Dis
covered in Shocking State of
Decomposition

Mike Viccaro. q wood packer, who
lives at the Diamond mine on Prospect
Mountain, came into Eureka Monday
and reported that on visiting the cabin
Of Bert Percivsllia near Secret Canyon,
about 20 miles southwest OF Eureka.
Sunday. he found the man dead In bed.
IL seems P~ercivallia has been in the
employ Of yiccaro for q year or more
cutting wood. aud some time in Novem.
Der last he took q large load Of supplies
and provisions to the woodchopper's
camp. since which time, until be found
him dead Sunday. he had not visited
that section or seen him.
On reaching the cabin on the day
stated he ~endeavored to gain an entrance
through the front door, but found it
locked. He then went around t o the
side Of the house and peering through
the window saw Percivallia lying on
the bed. Being unable to arouse him
by repeated raps on the door and win
dow. he became convinced something
was wrong and forced open the door.
AS soon rs he did so a most sickening
stencil pervaded the atmosphere-in
fact, 80 rank was the air in the room
that Viccaro was only able to take a
hasty look at the body to satisfy him.
self the man was dead, when he again
closed the door and came to Eureka and
notified the Coroner Of his discovery.
/ Tuesday Coroner L. W. Cromer, ac-
companied by @. G. HUI. Mike viccaro.
Pete Repetto, W. L. Davies and Jake
Clough, went u to the place where the
dead body was found and held an in
quest. The jury returned q verdict
| hat deceased came to his death from
natural causes. and from the appearance
of the body and the circumstances sur.
rounding his demise concluded that
Percivallia must have been dead at least
one and possibly three months.
The remains were a ghastly sight to
behold. The body was horribly swollen
and decomposition in its rankest form
had set in. The carcass of the man was
alive with maggots and the wood rats
had devoured portions Of both feet.
1t was the intention Of the Coroner's
party to bring the body to Eureka for
burial. but the condition of the remains
rendered this utterly impossible, and it
.-a- tH4xofro kn~soI .o.. nko~. he
died.
Deceased had lived in Eureka and
vicinity for the past 30 years. Although
not a large man in either height or
build, he was noted for his feats of
strength 10 or 10 years age. II is re-
lated Of him that he could take hold Of
a wine cask filed with water by the
chimes. the barrel and contents weigh
ing about 500 pounds, aud lifting it
breast high place it in a wagon.
Another instance recited was n day
while on his way to the wood ranch
from Eureka where he had been for
provisions, the supplies being taken to
camp on the back Of a buro. he follow
ing ON foot. On meeting a party of
men on their way to Eureka. about a
mile or so out of town, they remon-
strated with Percivallia that he had the
little animal too heavily loaded and
liable to break the buro's back. The
owner denied that there was any danger,
stating that he could lift more than the
load himself. To prove his assertion
he placed himself under the animal and
his beholders were sstonished to observe
him raise the buro and load clear Of the
ground. These instances are vouched
for by men now in business in Eureka.
About a year or two ago his health
began to fail and at frequent intervals
he suffered severe sick spells. but moth
ing of a serious nature was thought to be
imminent.
All the money found on or about the
body was $l9 05 in coin. and quite a
supply of provisions was in the cabin
where he died.
He was a native of Italy. and about
66 years of age.
Body Later Buried at Eureka
The friends of Percivallia repaired to
the place where the body was buried.
Saturday, exhumed it and brought 1t to
Eureka. The funeral took place Sun
day afternoon. interment being made
in the Catholic cemetery.