Continuing with the topic begun in the previous post, in Confessions Book 13, chapter 9, Augustine says,
"... The body tends towards its own place by its own gravity. A weight does not tend downward only, but moves to its own place. Fire tends upward; a stone tends downward. They are propelled by their own mass; they seek their own places. Oil poured under the water rises above the water; water poured on oil sinks under the oil. They are moved by their own mass; they seek their own places. If they are out of order, they are restless; when their order is restored, they are at rest. My weight is my love. But I am carried wherever I am carried. By your gift, we are enkindled and are carried upward. ..."
The above suggests the idea of the placement of Gumb's victims' bodies in flowing water, and their subsequent movement through it. Recall that Gumb weighted down the body of his first victim (Frederica Bimmel), and that therefore she was found third - thus, 'out of order' with respect to the later victims.
A photo of Frederica Bimmel from the FBI Buffalo Bill case file.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine (Outler)
