Wow, I can't believe I've never seen this before. Ah, my kingdom for the morbid drama of the Victorian age!
From Hutchinson News, Kansas, January 16, 1891. (It must have been really cold that night, too.)
While Out Driving James Baker Dies In the Arms of His Betrothed.
DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Jan. 15.—"Carrie, dear, I believe I am about to die." Hardly had James Baker said these words ere he lay dead in the arms of the girl. he loved. Miss Carrie Wismer is a well-known and popular young lady of Solebury township. Last Friday evening she went with Mr. Baker of Bethlehem, who was her friend and lover, to a literary entertainment held at the residence of Peter Woolsey, of Solebury. While driving along the way toward Miss Wismer's home the young man uttered the startling exclamation quoted above, and almost immediately fell a corpse into the arms of the sweetheart to whom he should never again speak. Miss Wismer's position was a very trying one. She was alone, late at night, on a country road, and in the carriage with her was the corpse of her lover, but checking her emotion, with one hand she seized the reins and with the other supported the body of her companion. Thus she drove home. It was half an hour before she reached her residence. Then the remains of Baker were carried into her father's house, where an inquest was held by Deputy Coroner William Connors, of New Hope. The jury rendered a verdict of death from heart disease. Baker's funeral was held yesterday, the Interment being made at Coatesville, Chester county.
Wow. I loved this story!
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