Thorson Brynild daughter01

Waupaca Post

May 10 1894

A GHASTLY FIND: Workman Turn up a Box Containing a Woman’s Leg. On Monday afternoon while workmen were excavating for the city hall they turned up a tin box about three feet under the surface, shaped like a milk can, in which, when opened, was found a human leg, in fairly good state of preservation. The leg was evidently that of a lady; and had been amputated about three inches above the knee. The foot was small, and well formed. It was at first thought that there had been foul play, as the leg had been cut and bent to get it in the box, and from its appearance it was thought it couldn’t have been in the ground more than a few years. An investigation discovered, however, that it had been there a great many years.

About forty years ago, in the building which stood over the place where the find was made, was a drug store, run by Dr. Thayer, who was a practicing physician. About that time Dr. Thayer and Dr. Sheldon amputated the leg of a daughter of Brynild Thorson who lived near Iola in the town of Scandinavia, and who died from the operation, and it was that leg that was found in the tin can. It seems that Dr. Thayer, after the amputation, put the member in the can, filled it with alcohol, and put it away, expecting at some future time to experiment with it. About thirty-seven years ago James A. Chesley was clerking for Dr. Thayer, and in taking inventory of stock, came across the box, opened it, found out what was in it, and put it away again. It is supposed that Dr. Thayer eventually planted it where it was found, and forgot it, or else thought it would never be in anyone’s way, and left it there.

It was taken to Jeffers & Hudson’s warehouse and quite a crowd looked at it, after which it was taken away and buried. The box was slightly rusted on the inside, and the flesh on the leg was still soft, a truly remarkable state of preservation.