The Woodville Republican, and Wilkinson advertiser., 1853-08-23
From the Ndr OrleaNs Deltu.
A Visit to the Cemetery.

,
spectacle which was reported to be presented
there. We learned, on our our way thither,
that the authorities had ceased to send corpses
TO this place, in order to give time to bulv
those which already lay on the ground. This
pruvtd To be a prudent measure, as it was the
only means by whilh the accumulation Of un-
huHd cotlins could be disposed Of As we ap-
preached the cemetery, we discovered its loca-
tion by the number of carriages which were
passing and repassng For some distance
before we arrived at the gate, the odor was
quite offensive, and we were warned bv rer-
sons who were returning that it would be in
sutferable within the inclosure. Notwishstand-
irg the cessation of the corporation coiiins,
there ha been at least so sent there by private
ndivi ualS, which, .aS it is a public cemetery,
,oud not be refused. As we passed through
the gate, inhaling the most pestilential odor,
we noticed curious exhibition of the care
less indifference too characteristics of our peo-
pie on occasions like this. Before the door
Of the small house AT the gate of the cemete
ry, we saw several little children engaged in
the most Joyous merriment and an old wo-
man vending ieecream 10 passers-hy who had
to hold camphor to their noses to avoid faint
ing from the odor. A strange contrast with
the gloomy spectacle within. There lay quite
number Of coffins Of rough, unplained plank
painted gloomy black, with miriads Of flies
hanging around them, and discharging most
repuIsye odor. Tue chain-gang, composed
of negroes under penal restraint were en-
ployed quite briskly in depositing the coflicns
in trenches, dug scarcely foot deep. All the
, white aborers who were originally employed
in this work have either died or abandoned
the ground As high as five dollars an hour
have been offered for laborers to supply their
, places, and they canEot be obtained. The
" trenches alluded to were aboutsix feet square,
: SO that six coflins could be crowded in one Of
them Here they were wedged as close to-
c gether as possible, and a coating of quick lime
o thrown upon them. The loose earth was then
l. heaped upon the cofiins. This had to be done
r very carefully so as to prevent the collins
from being seen, as their surfaces appeared TO
be not over six inches from the level Of the
earth. This labor was performed by the ne
re groes, who could only be kept to their work
H. by liberal and frequent potations of whlskey.
m
" thus disposed Of despite the ofensiveness Of
d the odor and the revolving character Of the
spectacle. We had the satisfaction OF per-
II perceiving that at sunset there was no unhurled
,e coffin left on the around. But what burals
is thev were To think that in an acre OF
d ground around us, there were not less than
as four hundred bodies, lying within few inches
Of below the surface Of the ground around in
h the very first stages of decomposition, deposl-
n ted there within the last week. And TINS
n. within the corporate limits OF New Orleans
~ and within a few minutes walk Of the most
~ hourshing and beautiful part of our clty Is
not too much reason to apprehend that such a
bt disposition of so many dead bodies will gen
crate malaria and originate diseases thst will
r. involve our whole population acciiInated ana
or unacclimated We do not say whose fault
no it is. We are in no disposition g such time
,b of gloom and distress, to indulge IN strong
IN feelings or denunciations Of public ot1clalf,
or AMI. if we were 50 inclined the utter wanlo'
y system and organization. OF clearly and us
t;nctly marked duties and functions for nose
entrusted with the Police of the city, u our
system Of city government would Ssua'n
M
" such manifestations on our part.
~ But. considering the emergency OF the oe-
i'' casious, the great responsibility devoyng up
on those whom the people bave entrusted wiz,
~. m the protection Of the lives the h.all'' anu
81 prosperity Of the citizens, we belleye 'hH'
w. there is 20 func,ioaary who will not oe Ju''-
o. fed nav. applauied for assuming the neees-
81 sarv n ,wers 10 supply whatever dehe'e"ey
~ there NAV be in the law, in meeting the de'
y mands Of this present affi citing visitation
10 Wetake pl asure in saying that his Honor
W n. MAYOR. was on the ground at this cemete
ne rv experimenting and fastening the work o'
interments
j.. With heavy heart, and gloomy mInd
0- we left this lazaretto only to encounter scenes
az Of affection aud death, even more par'VwIng
ry without For the disposition OF NE body
IRE when the vital spirit has abandoned 1.-THE
he more clayey tenement Of the soui-We con
ID, e.. tba, We do not feel that sentIntntallsm
us ,rh;ch i a nr valent feeiing. We thltk that
esl s,,.te,n nf burial as practiced.n tins city
fa- :"S 1n,'la,od 10 rs6der that mode of dispsins
an e ,ho daad wbSSb permits their bodies Y rot
~ ,"s III, ovay. food for filthy worms, and
Of anu presidential odors far less agreeabeto
res tsIbStb61ghts and feelings Of refined lntelN
is cent being, than the Roman custom Of burn
no the dead and inurniDg Their ashes. II
lg tbis city, the introdpeaon Of this system, re
lbs rnls;ye ,, as il Is % prejudice, which has n(
he ION n res, upon, would be apublic benefit
ng p,, he seene which touched our heart'
la more decply and nearly, are those which met
our -,few, as we passed down one Of the tho
u rourhfares, to this cemetery, (which is but on'
~n Of hrlfdozen in our city, Hearses, without
zee solitary mourner, driven by negroes, Wh'
an were half asleep, and drawn BY horses nearly
al foundefed by the severity Of their toll 9th
81 81 er, that were followed BY trains Of friends
" BY women carrying their children, and b!
n, men with countenances too often displaying
~ more levitv tnau sorrow Now and ther