Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “Can’t Be True,” July 18, 1859

CAN’T BE TRUE. – The Northern papers state that “one of the passengers in the late disaster upon the Michigan Southern Railroad, settled with the Company for the loss of his wife and child for $500.”

There are a good many mean men in the world, (such as he who sold GEORGE WASHINGTON’S bones for $200,000;) but we must be permitted to doubt whether there is one who would barter off the still bleeding and mangled bodies of his wife and child for $500. It must be a mistake.