Dying by Library Paste
You never know what may spark an interest in learning about the past or encourage a genealogical passion in discovering the journey that our ancestors took. “When I was in high school, one of my best friends lived near a very old cemetery. We would occasionally walk through the cemetery and examine the gravestones. I found it fascinating. Later, I took a writing class at Coffeyville Community College and one of our assignments was to go to a cemetery and select a gravestone. We were instructed to use whatever information we could find on that gravestone and create a story about that person. This is one of those assignments that I always remembered (Coble 27 May 2021).”
For me, it’s all about the stories. As a retired librarian, I was intrigued by an article I read in the Las Vegas Review Journal, titled Paste Eaters Tombstone. In fact, the tombstone is inscribed with UNKNOWN MAN DIED EATING LIBRARY PASTE. This tombstone is found in Goldfield, Nevada; the unknown man died July 14, 1908.
Historically, all kindergartners have been admonished not to eat library paste. Today, most schools use Elmer’s glue. While the glue is nontoxic, eating it is still discouraged. However, back in 1908, library paste was indeed toxic. In addition to water and flour, in 1908, library paste “contained alum, a common additive in adhesives that serves the purpose of 1) preventing mold by keeping excess moisture out and 2) whitening the mixture for improved aesthetics. As our hungry vagrant discovered too late, alum is also toxic in large doses (Let Them Eat Paste).”
According to the Carson City Daily Appeal in articles dated July 20 and July 21, the unknown man who died was suffering from starvation with his digestive and respiratory organs in very bad shape. Dr. Turner performed the postmortem examination of this man who died near the automobile garage in an alley in Goldfield, Nevada. This man was nearly dead when he found a pint jar of library paste. It probably tasted pretty good and was a little sweet due to the alum in the paste. With his body in such bad shape, he inevitably died soon after ingesting this toxic mixture. He has never been identified, but he did have a letter on him that may be a clue. It was addressed to Mr. Ross of Goldfield.
Goldfield, Nevada was established in 1902. Then good fortune struck. “After a significant gold discovery in 1904, Goldfield grew to be the wealthiest and largest city in Nevada, boasting three newspapers, five banks, a mining stock exchange, and what was likely the longest bar in the country – boxing promoter Tex Richard’s Northern Saloon, which required 80 bartenders to handle its clientele (Goldfield, Nevada).” During its peak time as a gold boomtown, Goldfield had a population of 20,000. Alas, this heyday did not last. By 1910, Goldfield only had a population of 1,500 which was a significant loss. In 2022, the population was just 212.
It’s safe to assume that some people who came to Goldfield in the early 1900s had a run of bad luck, lost everything and became destitute. Our “Unknown Man” may have been one of those.
Sources
Coble, Jacquelyn. “At the Cemetery – Week 21 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” Journeying with Jacque, 27 May 2021, journeyingwithjacque.com/at-the-cemetery-week-21-of-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/.
“Goldfield, Nevada: Goldfield Ghost Town: Goldfield Hotels.” Travel Nevada, 3 May 2024, travelnevada.com/cities/goldfield/.
“Jul 21, 1908, Page 1 – The Daily Appeal at Newspapers.Com.” Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s – Newspapers.Com, 21 July 1908, www.newspapers.com/image/465245108/?match=1&terms=Unknown+Man.
Lane, Taylor. “The Little-Known History of Goldfield’s Paste-Eater Grave.” Review Journal, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11 Aug. 2024, www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/the-little-known-history-of-goldfields-paste-eater-grave-3121012/.
“Let Them Eat Paste: Sanford’s Library Paste Jar.” MSU Campus Archaeology Program, 17 Dec. 2021, campusarch.msu.edu/?p=4287.
Ugc. “Paste Eater’s Grave.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 25 Jan. 2017, www.atlasobscura.com/places/paste-eaters-grave.
“Unknown Man (Unknown-1908) – Find a Grave…” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/24301650/unknown-man. Accessed 29 Aug. 2024.