This episode contains graphic depictions of violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

The summer of 1897 was a particularly hot one in New York City.

On June 26, a group of Ragamuff and boys were roaming the banks of the East River

when one of them noticed something bundled up and bobbing in the surf.

This was a busy shipping lane, and for years these boys had fished interesting items

out of New York's East River.

Without a second thought, one of the boys dove in, on a mission to retrieve the mystery package.

A few minutes later, he re-emerged on the shore, dripping wet and dragging his loot behind him.

The boys gathered round to inspect their prize.

The package was heavy and waterlogged.

It had been carefully wrapped in a bright red oil cloth. One of the boys stuck it with a knife and alogged. It had been carefully wrapped in a bright red oil cloth.

One of the boys stuck it with a knife, and a red ooze trickled out.

Perhaps it was a piece of meat that had fallen off a passing ship.

The curious boys huddled in closer as the first boy began to unwrap the mysterious package,

cutting loose the bindings around the red

cloth. When the straps were loose, the boys began peeling back the outer layers of the wrapping.

And then, there it was. Oh, shit. One of the lads shouted, stumbling backwards. these were hardened New York street kids but even

they weren't prepared for what laid before them on that rocky river bank on this sweltering day in

1897 it was a bloody torso a man's chest to be exact no head it, it had been removed, and no legs.

They'd been sawn off as well.

Both arms, quite muscular, were still attached.

...