The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-09-17
The Pauper Dead at Naples.

writer in the Cincinnati Gazette gives the
6'lowing account Of a visit to tho place where
the hcpanpcr, dead of Naples arc buric,r: =
9 About two miles from tho city, Ia large
square place, enclosed by high wall, thsro
are 500 cistcrnshapcd vaults or pits, with an
aperture on top about three feet square. These
cisterfs are some twenty or twenty-five feet
deep by twelve Or tiflccn feet in diameter with
the opening covered by n heavy stone, aud
tightly cementcd. Ono of these II removed by
portable lever every dry IN tho year, 70 re.
ccivc tho dead Of that day, md II Ii then closed
again for year They begin to deposit the
bodies about 4 o'clock in tlic evening and end
at 10. Whom got there, about ten or twelve
people had already been thrown In, aud wcro
lying promiscuously ~ they chnnccd to fall,
with head, body and limbs in every possible
attitude, acress, over aud under each other
An old priest two or three attendants, and q
lew idlc spectators Of tho common sort wero
lettering about
Shortly aftep my arrival, a box was brought,
containing the body Of child some four or fivo
years old; its hand held bunch Of flowers,
and . rose was in its mouth. Tho priest mum.
bled short prayer, sprnklcd II with holy wa
Ter, and turned away; q man then took tho
little fellow by the neck and heels and pitched
him ~ ho would stick Of wood; his head
struck the curb ms he went in, and he went
whirling to the bottom; seeing tho nowcrs that
foil from his hand, he took them uI, and throw
them after II. In f6w minutes moro man
was brought to tho mouth Of tho pit; tho
priest again prayed and sprnklcd tho attend.
ants took him UP by tho head and legs, and
down he went also ri
Then followed another child liko the flrst,
and was about leaving the ground, when 4
fourth subject entered. Tho lid OF the box
was thrown back, and Il was the botv of =
young and rather handsome female. She was
apparently about twenty, and died evidently
from some short illness Her arms and face
were round and full, and she appeared more
asleep than doah T'hs prayers and holy wa.
ter. were again In rcquisition; tho attendants
took her roughly up and tossed her In. inn
mediately stepped to the mouth OF tho vault
and looked down; her limbs, and thosc Of the
dead below she had disturbed hy her fall, wero
still IN motion, Her head was slowly turning.
and her hair, which WAS long, black and lux1.
RANT, was settling In thick clusters ncross
very whito and naked body lying near her.
For moment the whole horrid mass seemed
instinct With life, and crawling on'the bottom
OF its foAihsomc charncl house. I had seen
enough; sick and dsEasted I turned away,
and moralizing on the difference between such
nm interment and q peaceful ono in our own
beautiful cemetery at Spring Grove, Imounted
my yolantc and returned to Naples, meeting
on my road some half dozen boxes. great
and small, containing moro victims for that
Unsuitable nav that opens It's mouth but onco
a year to be gorgcd with its dreadful banquet
Tho bodies thus inferred arc gouerally from
tho hospital. and tho sight can be Witnessed
ny one 800 times years. Before the pit IL
closed. quick lime Is thrown In, and nothing
but bones arc ieR when II ia again opened
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