Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1895 — A LITTLE FISHY. [ARTICLE]

A LITTLE FISHY.

'tale Hermit Embalmer in West Virginia's Mountains. Redkey, (Ind,)•_ Special to Indianapolis Scnti nel, Mar. 11. Four years ago, Fam Gilbeft.a centric in a cabin on the side of a mountain tn West Virginia. The man’s name is G. H. Henderson, and he is known as the hermit embalmer. —He is very and will not have anything touio .with his„ lie ighb leave him alone, considering him crazy The hermit is seventy-eight years of age, has traveled all over the world and is well preserved for one of his age. “ His wife is seventythree, is intelligent, but is getting feeble and is afflicted with caneer-r The hermit displays a gold medal with ranch pride, giving him by the President of France as a testimonial of his efficiency as an embalmer. Mr. Gilbert at once became interested in the hermit and wrote him a letter, and, receiving a reply, kept up the correspondence, which terminated recently in an invitation to Mr. Gilbeii to visit at his cabin in the. mountains. The invitation was accepted, and last week Mr. Gilbert, in company with Mahlon Godwin, left for the abode of the hermit. They arrived at the terminus of the railroad Thursday morning last, and striking out over the mountains, after a twenty-eight mile tramp arrived at the hermit’s cabin. The visitors were expected and they were .warmly welcomed by Hermit Henderson and his wife, who invited them in. They found the abode of the hermit to be a log cabin located well up on the side of the mountain. The cabin contained two rooms below and one- above, reached by a Ladder from the inside. The floors

of the .two lower rooms were carpeted with the finest of rugs made from the skins of animals and preserved by the hermit. The rugs were three or four deep and consisted of the skins of cattle, coons, cats, snakes, frogs, minks,-etc. The skins were perfdctly preserved and were as if just taken from the; animal. One lower room was used as a living room by thb old couple. The other room was a bed-room -and was--not- -visite4i—The—upstairsroom of the cabin was where the curious sights met their gaze. Standing upright leaning against the wall were the bodies of two lovely females, looking as natural as life, save the sinking of the eyes and Stomach. Longhair was hanging down over their shoulders and thev looked as if death had come but yesterday. They appeared to have been about thirty years of age at the time of death. Investigating closer, it was found that the bodies had. become almost of a stony hardness, and in fact were grad : ually turning to stone. The hermit explained that the bodies of the women were obtained at an insane asylum eight years before and had been eubalmcd by him and kept in this roojxi ever since. In another part of the room was the body of an infant in a cigar box. The body was perfectly preserved and had been dead for seven years. On a stand was the head of a negro which had been cut off four years. When the head first came into the hermit’s possession it showed signs of decay, but at the time of their visit was'in good condition and was assuming the stony nature of the bodies surrounding it. In other portions of the room were the bodies of a weasel, peacock, rooster, dog, cat and a calf, all as natural as life. The visitors spent nearly all day at the cabin and found the old hermit very communicative, but determined to have his own way in everything. He said he had lived the present life twentyeight years, but had spent a portion of the time in travel and had been all over the world. The formula of the embalming fluid was of his own discovery and had been kept a carefully - guarded secret. He has always refused to sell it or give it away, and had even refused to let the people u living in his vicinity have the use of it, claiming that everybody is selfish and after money. He seemed to take a liking to Mr.

Gilbert, however, because the lattei took an interest in the old bermitU discoverv. an d before thp visitors departed drew'up a contract putting Mr. Gilbert under a bond of SSOO ti faithfully carry out its provisions It was witnessed by the hermit’: wife anil Mr. 'Godwin. THmSmtrac: requires Mr. Gilbert, when the hermit dies, to travel to the cabin ant ; embalm his body by his secret form i ula and see that it is interred in 1 [ stone vault,' which the hermit has : already constructed in the side o: the mountaim Tn consideration ,o“ I this he presented Mr. Gilbert w'itl 1 the formula of the embalming fluid Mr. Gilbert departed and probabh will not meet the eccentric old mat ’again until he goes to prepare his body for burial. The fluid is beyond question one o'. the greatest discoveries of the ag( and means a fortune to Mr. Gilbert [if properly handled. It is onous and will preserve perfectly [ bodies,- vegetables and fruits sot [ years. The hermit exhibited roasti ing ears which looked as fresh as on the day they were plucked from th< stalk; cherries which were as fresh and plump as when taken from the tree. By mashing fruits afid placing them in the fluid the finest wines are the result, and the visitors drank some while there. In preserving bodies nothing is removed, and they ! are preserved as natural as life for ages. Mr. Gilbert will first bring [ the fluid into use in a medical college at Baltimore, Md., where be [wit Ip reserve a few subjec ts foruse next winter. When the capabilities of the fluid are thoroughly tested he will utilize the secret as he thinks most profitable. It will also take the place of the present embalming ffluid-now used by Mr. Gilbert.