Year: 1867

A strange incident took place in New
Orleans few days since. A man, far ad-
vanced in years, had been employed to car
ry a box to a certain quarter in the city :;
but, previous to reaching his destination,
he fell dead in the street. The authorities
ordered the body to be removed TO the
hearSe depot the box being meanwhile left
in an adjoining house. The inmates pro-
ceeded to examine the box, when, to their
astonishment, it was found to contain the
skeleton of a child, and the skull and some
other bones belonging to the body of an
adult. The discovery was communicated
to the proper authorities, and at length the
following particulars transpired: Don Ra-
mon Duran, a native of Spain, married in
Catalonia, many years ago, wealthy lady,
called Donna Isabel Romero, for whom he
professed the most tender attachment.


The latter dying after the emigration of
the couple to New Orleans, Duran by some
means obtained the skull and some of the
other bones of his deceased wife, which he
ever after kept with the greatest care,
wrapped up in piece of black silk. Some
years after the death of his first wife, Du-
ran married a second-a person much
younger than himself. By this wife he
had a daughter, on whom he fondly dotted !;
but the latter dying about 1888, when only
in her seventh year, Duran was plunged
in the greatest grief, and, determined not
W pdTG WIFI his uduSuGeTS UCuy, Hdu IL
secretly embalIned and put in box with
the remains of his former wife; but, In or
der not to appear as opposing the laws and
established customs, he went to the eX-
pense of mock interment.


This loss exercised so strong an impress
sion on his mind that he seemed Indifferent
to all about him, and his affairs began rap
idly to decline. His keenly sensitive mind
was, however, destined to feel another, and.
from the attendant circumstances, still
more painful bereavement, in the
elopement of his wife, which event
almost unseated his Judgment
Ruin made now such rapid strides In the
fortunes of this hapless man, that, in the
course of short time, the once wealthy
proprietor was reduced to the condition of
a common beggar. But he had still one
treasure left; the humble suppliant wan
dering from door to door, dependant upon
public charity for support, had yet in his
possession an ignored and priceless gem.
which shared with him his fortunes-the
box containing the bones of his wife and
child. He thus lived on for a series of
years, and whenever it became necessary
TO shift his place of residence. the box con-
tanning the precious relics was ever his
first care, and tor which he craved shelter
under the title of important papers. His
last residence was at the house of a widow
who mad known him in better
times. Here he lived until sickness over
took him, when, the scanty means of his
hospitable landlady not allowing her to
administer to his wants, he removed to the
public hospital, where he died about year
and half since. This lady, who appears
in some degree to have imbibed his preju-
dices. out of respect to his memory, would
not. for long time, allow the relics so
highly priced to be removed; but the earn
est solicitations of her acquantances, who
were already, as well as herself apprised of
the contents of the box, induced her at
last to consent. Proper steps having been
consequently taken to insure their admis-
sion to the public cemetery, an old man
was employed for the purpose of convey
ing them to the hearse depot, who, as we
have seen, sunk under his burden to rise
no more.