The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-08-30

Of woe cnveloped our hearts.
From the New Orleans Daily Delta.
"A Visit 10 tlac Cemetery.
We paid visit, last evening, to
the corporation cemetery, in tho
Fourth District, in order to salts.
fly ourselves of the reality Of the
spectacle which was reported to be
presented here. We learned on
our way thithcr, that the authorities
had ceased to send corpscs to this
place, in order to give time to
bury those which already lay on the
ground. This proved to be prudent
measure, as it was the ouly means BY
which the accumulation of unbn"ied
collins could be disposed of. As we
approached the cemetery, VIC discov-
cred its location by the number Of
carriages which were passing and
rcrass!ng. For some distance be.
fore we arrived at the gate, the
olor was quite citcnsivc, and VIC
| were warned by persons who were
returning that it would be insuHcra.
bic within the imclosurc. Notwith.
standing the cessation Of the corpora
tion coitins, there had been at least
fifty sent there by private indiyidu.
ais, which, as it was public ccmc-
terry, coull not be refused. AS we
passed through the gate, inhaling
most pcstilcntial odor, VIC noticed
curious exhibition Of the careless in.
difference too characteristic of our
people on occasions like this. Be.
fore the door of the small house at
the gate of the cemetery, we saw sew
eral little children engaged in the
most joyous merrinent, and an
old woman vcndin. ice cream to
passcrs by, who had to hold campborr
ta-thelr noses To- avoid .!!9;sSsng, from
the odor. A strange contrast with
the gloomy spectacle within. There
lay quite number Of ccflins Of
rough unplaned, plank, painted
gloomy black, with myriads OF flies
hanging around them, aud dischar-
gins a most repulsi:c odor. The
chaln.sang, composed of negroes un-
der penal restraint, we're employed
quite brislly in dcpositin5 tircsc
collins in trenches, dug scarcely
a foot deep. All the white labolcrs
who were originally employed i'll
this work have either died or aban-
| doned the ground. AS high as
five dollars an hour have been Of.
fercd for laborers to supply their
| places, and they cannot be obtained.
The trenches alluded to were ahou.
six feet square, SO that six cotlins
could be crowded in Que of them.
Here they were wcdscd as close to.
gcthcr as possible, and a coating of
quick lime thrown upon them. The
loose earth was then heapcd upon
the collins. This had to be done
! very carefully SO as to prevent the
collins from being seen, as their
surfaces appeared to be not ov-
cr six inches from the level of
the earth. This labor was performed
by the negroes, who could only be
kept to their work by liberal and
frequent potations Of whiskcy.
We remained until all the collins
were thus disposed Of, despite the
offcnsivcncss of the odor and the
revolving character Of the spectacle.
We had the satisfaction of perceiving
that at sunset there was no unbur.
ried coffin left on the ground. But
what burials they wcrcl 10 think that
an acre Of ground around us, there
were not less than four hundred
bodies, lying but a few inches be-.
low the surface Of the ground, III the
very first stages Of decomposition,
deposited there within the last week.
And this within the corporate limits
Of New Orleans, and within a few
minutes walk Of the most nourishing
aud beautiful part Of our city. Is
there too much reason to apprehcnd
that such disposition Of SO many
dead bodies will generate malaria and
originate diseases that will involve
our whole population--accimatcd or
unacclimated? We do not say whose
fault it is. We arc in no disposition
at such a time Of gloom and distress,
o~lndpl &c in strong feelings or dc.
nuncations of public officials: and,
II we were SO inclined, tho utter want
OF system and organization, of clear.
ly and distinctly marked duties and
functions, for those entrusted with
the Police of the city, in our sys.
ten OF city government, would re.
STRAIN such manifestations on our part.
J But, considering the emergency Of