BURIED IN UNKNOWN GRAVE 1900

BENNETT

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/10/2016 at 22:24:44

Dubuque Herald, August 10, 1900
BURIED IN UNKNOWN GRAVE
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The Body Found in Lake Peosta
Interred in the Potter’s
Field
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The body of the floater found in Lake Peosta was buried Thursday in Potter’s Field. The coroner was unable to find anything to establish the man’s identity and his grave will be marked as that of an unknown unless some person appears with information regarding him.

The parchment papers found in the leather sack hung around the dead man’s neck was deciphered and was found to be a prayer. It was at first supposed they were some record of birth of title and might prove a clue to an interesting history. Several of the best German students in the city tried to decipher the letter found in the dead man’s pocket. They could translate the words, but there was no connection between them. The chirography is good and the spelling correct, only there is no sense to the letter. One expression is “Damnation of the dead.” Another is “Blow out every heart.” Those who read the letter think that the man was wandering in his mind and was unable to express himself.

All those who viewed the remains think there is a story in the man’s life. While he was dressed in ordinary clothing, his appearance was impressing. He was of an unusually large physique and was well proportioned. His face was refined and everything gave the impression the man had seen better days, had probably known a title across the seas.

Coroner Bennett will do the utmost to probe the mystery and is anxious for any evidence connected with the deceased.

The general impression is that it was a case of suicide that the despondent because of his disease, ended –rest of article is missing.