KinSource - Tale of the Week

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Daily Globe, April 9, 1879, p. 4

A DEAD SECRET.

A Ghastly Mystery of the Streets of St. Paul.

A terrible secret was unearthed yesterday on Tilton street, between Rice and St. Peter streets. Literally unearthed. Laid bare, it has created no little sensation in that vicinity. Under the very noses of the folk up in that locality, not far from Gen. McLaren's residence, the wonder is that it has not been discovered long before. But discovered, it has given rise to no little speculation and very much talk in the neighborhood. The discovery was made accidentally, and was truly appalling to him, who first uncovered the ghastly secret. A citizen of that vicinity was treading along the sidewalk, or, rather, the berm for a sidewalk, none being laid on the bare ground, when he came to a board. He thought it casually there, as it were, and gave it a kick. A hollow, [reverberating] sound was heard. He kicked again with his No. Elevens and the board gave a little. More kicks and the board was uprooted from the ground and --- a coffin was opened to his view, containing a fleshless skeleton, ghastly, grinning skull, and in all parts complete.

His discovery was widespread at once. Many congregated to see the remains, and none could even hazard a guess as to how it came there. It is well known that within "the memory of the oldest settler" there has been no graveyard in this locality. How the bones and encasement got there is a puzzle. All the appearances go to show that the interment took place long ago; the bones are well bleached and the common wood coffin bears the impress of time.

Speculation is rife as to who he may be. But no solution can be given apart from speculation. This same takes all manner of phases from a murder in early days and a secret burial in the wilderness to the death of some peaceful emigrant or mover and his interment with tears. Gabriel's trump alone will solve the mystery.

It would seem that he who has reposed undisturbed so long would for pity's sake be reinterred without trouble. Such is not to be the case, for the city authorities are quarreling over the bones. The find was reported to Health Officer Myerding. He declined doing anything, believing Street Inspector Schmitz should remove the remains. The latter contends that the bones and box are no obstruction to travel through the street, and he'll have none of it. Meantime the fleshless grinning face looks up to heaven in appeal. Maybe Dr. Murphy wants a skeleton.