The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-08-19
From the New Orleans Delta of the 9th i
A Visit to the Cemetery.

From the New Orleans Delta of the 9th 1
visit to the Cemetery.
We paid visit, last evening, to the corpo
ration cemetery, in the Fourth District, il
order to satisfy ourselves of the reality of til.
spectacle hich was reported to be presented
there. We learned, on our way thither thai
the authorities had ceased to send corpses t,
this place, in order to give time to bury those
which already lay on the ground. Thi.
proved to be prudent measure, as it was the
only means by which the accumulation Of
unburied collins could be disposed of. A.
we approached the cemetery, we discovered
its location by the NUMBER Of carriages which
were passing and requesting. For some dis
lance before we arrived at the gate, the odor
was quite offensive, and we were warned by
persons who were returning that it would be
inst ferable within the enclosure. Notwith-
standing the cessation o. the corporation cot.
fms there had been at least fifty sent there
by private individuals, which, as it is public
cemetery, could not be refused As we pass.
ed through the gate, ,inhalne most pestIen.
tial odor, we noticed a curious exhibition OF
the careless Indifference, too characteristic of
our people on occasions like this. Before
the door of the small house at the gate of the
cemetery, we saw several little children en-
gagged in the most joyous merriment, and an
old woman vending ice cream to passers-by,
who had to hold camphor to their noses to
avoid fainting, from the odor. A strange
contrast with the gloomy spectacle within
There lay quite number of collins of
rough, implanted plank, painted gloomy
black, with myriads OF flies hanging around
them dlschargng most repulsive odor.-
The chaln.gang, composed of negroes under
penal restraint, were employed quito brishiy
in dePositing these collins in trenches, dug
scarcely foot deep. All the white labor
ers orig nally employed in this work
have either died or abandoned the ground
As high as five dollars an hour have been Of
tered tor laborers to supply their places, and
they cannot, be obtained. The trenches al
alluded to were about six feet square, So
that six collins could be crowded in one of
them. Here they were wedged as close as
possible, and coating of quick lime thrown
upon them. The loose earth was then heap
ed upon the collins. This had to be done
very carefully so as to prevent the collins
from being seen, a. their surface appeared to
be not over six inches from the level of the
earth. This labor was performed by the ne.
work by liberal and frequent rotations of
whisky.
We remained until all the collins were
thus disposed of, despite the offensiveness of
the odor and the revolving character of the |
spectacle. We had the satisfaction of per-
ceiving that at sunset there was no unbured
coffin left on the ground. But what burisls
they were! To think that an acre of ground
around US, there were not less than four hun.
ired bodies, lying but few inches below
The surface Of the ground, in the very first
stages of decomposition, deposited there
vithing the last week. And this within the
corporate limits of New Orleens, and within
/ few minutes walk of the most Furnishing
Ind beautiful part of our city. Is there not
90 much reason to apprehend that such dis :
,osticn of so many dead bodies will gener-
tie malaria and originate diseaes that will {.
INVOLVE our whole opuation-acclmats !
md unacclimated! We do not say whose r
ault it is. We are in no disposition at such Z
time of gloom and distress, to indulge in I.
trCng feelings or deDunciations of the public :
ficials; and, if we were so inclined, the ut /
er want of system and organization, of d
aerly and distinctly marked duties and fiInc. r
ions for those entrusted in our city govern II
nent, would restrain such manifestations on !,
'ur part. I
But, considering the emergency of the &C. =
aston, the great responsibility devolving c
pom those whom the people have entrusted r
With the protection Of the citizens, we be- h
eve there is no functionary who will not j.
e justified, nay, applauded, for assuming the Dc
necessary powers to supply whatever def p
iency there may be in the law in meeting 81
he demands of this present affecting vista l.
ion. be
We take pleasure in saying that his Hon. o,
r, the Mayor, was on the ground at this GEM to
terry, experimenting and Fastening the work az az
{ interments. wi