Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-09-14

that the fact am going TO state, is not
incredible. Many of the graveyards
have seen are elevated three or tour
feet above the general surface by the
human dust that bas been deposited in
them. They are, in fact, horrible nui-
sances. The fostering putrefactlon
oozes out under the walls, and they
send up exhalation (which poison the
air; and yet the addition TO the evil
goes on daily. Notwithstanding that
fine rural cemeteries have been provi-
ded, like Mt Auburn, and societies are
formed TO lessen the expense of such
extra-menial sculpture, thousands af-
ter thousands are still deposited in the
crowded vaults and graves attached to
the city churches. When new grave
is required, the sexton sets strong-ner-
we'd men to work in spot where the
collins have had, not time enough to
decay, but the most time. They don't
dig far before they come upon coffin.
With a probe or sound, like those
which custom house officers use to test
certain goods, they penetrate the coffin
to ascertain whether decay is SO far ad-
vancedas to make it safe to proceed.
If the putrefaction is in a too early and
active stage they desist, fill the slight
hole, and dig elsewhere. But if the
body has proceeded considerably on
its way to disorganization and dust,
they break right through and the old
tenants have to give place to new set.
Though mournfully laid there 10 sleep
till the resurrection, they are without
tears or compunction thrown out and
carried off in carts, Heaven only knows
where. If there is lead about the cof.
fins, it becomes the prey Of the sexton,
who exchanges its for silver. A deep
grave is dug and great many old cof-
fins are cut through and thrown out,
SO far as they come in the way. This
being done a new series of tenants
commences. A funeral train, with ha-
biliments and formaltes of wo, such
as we seldom see in our country tall
waving black plumes, and black pals
over the hearse and the horse that
draws il, and undertakers with black
Grape Haunting a yard in length from
their hats-deposit coffin with its
corpse at the bottom Of the deep grave.
A few shoves of earth are thrown up
on it, and the service being read, the
train retires. The sexton by no means
fills the grave. Boards are put over, 4
foot or two from the surface, and the
earth is thrown in which had been on
the top before, leaving large hollow
beneath. The next funeral deposits
another coffin upon the top of the for
mer, and So on till the grave is full.
A committee Of the House Com
mons have investigated this subject,
and brought to light strange and hor-
rible facts. One witness, a practical
grave-digger, tells story which | adj
wise the "nervous" not to read. In
deed, | suppose they have turned TO
another column already, and will none
OF them read this letter, though as
faithful observer, l feel it my duty to
write it-This man had been set to dig
deep grave and had cut down through
coffin after coffin, till he was far below
the surface, indeed seven or eight feet.
He had come upon coffin which was
rather substantial and was examining
it, when suddenly the headless corpse
u woman fell upon him, its clammy
arms thowng themselves about his
neck, and the blow knocked him down
with his face upon the coffin. This
woman was dressed in her shroud, and
had not been long dead. The eXplana-
ton was that former sexton, hard
character who had himself been buried
but few weeks before, had disintered
this woman, stolen her coffin and her
head and sold them, and then covered
up the trunk in it's STROUD at a slight
depth. The new grave-digger know
ing nothing this, had dug his grave
SO near as to undermine il, aud it rolled
out upon him.
What effect such denominations must
have upon the health and mora! feelings
of the metropolis, is evident enough"
For the Herald
THE STATE OIrESTlON