The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-02-22

From tie Dayton Ohio Empire, Jan. 13
Opening Grave---Extraordinary Preser.
vation of Human Bodies.
Mr.. George Lane, who has charge oi
Woodland Cemetery, near this City, was
called upon the other day by Mr.. Geo. P.
10y, who resides about three miles south.
east of Germantown, in this county, to
remove the remains of his first wife, a
grandchild and other bodies, from fam
lily burying-ground upon his farm, and
inter them in bis lot in the Germantown
Cemetery. The burying ground was made
many years ago upon the side of little
hill, in q field some distance from the
residence of Mr.. 10y, in accordance with
the custom in Mama Valley at that day,
when almost every property holder had a
burying place upon his farm.
The first grave opened was that of Mr..
Loy's first wife, who was inferred about
twenty-four years ago. On reaching the
coffin it was found to be perfect-at least
to appearance-andt the men proceeded
to completely unearth it, and raise it
to the mouth of the grave Yhis they
soon ascertained to be q difficult task,
and the small force engaged at it was
compelled to procure assistance. The
earth at this time was completely taken
from around the coffin, and removed from
under the coffin, as far as it could be
reached, but still it was found difficult to
even move it.
The assistance of six men was ct length
obtained, and it required all the strength
they were in possession of to raise the
coffin from its bed and place it upon the
ground at the side of the grave. 1t was
supposed by those engaged In the disin
terment, that the coffu was filled with
water, on account of its extreme heaviness,
but after it was taken from the grave, it
was measurably dry, and no signs Of
water could be discovered. The lid was
then with difficulty removed, when it was
ascertained that the body was in an ex-
cellent state of preservation. Upon close
examination, it was found that the re-
mains would not give way under the
pressure Of piece Of board which one Of
the gentlemen placed upon the corpse;
and this strange circumstance led to still
further investigation. The shroud and
indeed all the covering which was upon
the body at the time Of finterment, twenty
four years ago, had disappeared-not a
. veStige ofthem remained. The body was
perfect except the right leg, from the knee
to the ankle joint, where the flesh seem
ed to have wasted away, and lay at the
bottom of the coffin in substance re-
sembliug ashes mixed with sand. With
this exception of decay, the body and
limbs exhibited the same perfectness of
exterior as they did when life and anima-
ton were in the body.
The body indeed, had been petrifed !!
It was by some strange quality of the
earth, and other causes of which we
can form 10 conjecture, turned into a
~tone Of drah, or, more properly speak
Ing. feeh color; and the chisel Of the ar
tit might initiate, but could not make SO
close a resemblance to the "human form
divine" The smile which lighted up her
countenance at the moment when death
gently united the cord which bound the
soul to clay, still seemed to linger upon
the face of stone! The light of the eyes
was gone, and they were sunken but
FROM the sightless orbs the soul seemed
to look upon those who were viewing,
with astoDishment, that human form OF
stone.
The grave of the grandchild of Mr.
10y was next entered, and the coffin ex-
humed.-It was also found to be heavy
and when opened, the corpse presented
much the same appearance as that of Mrs
10y. 1t was not as perfect, however, al
though petrifed. The body and limbs
had about the same appearance as they
did in life, but the exterior had lost its
life like contour. The most remarkable
thing connected with the remains of the
child was, that the hair upon the petrif
ed skull was to all appearances the same
as in life /! Mr.. Lane clipped small
ringlet from the crown and tied it into &
knot. The other bodies which were ex
humed-one or two in number-wer,
only partially petri6ed, and were mostly
decayed.
A great many persons, attracted by 81
remarkable a phenomenon, gathered a
round these remains with wondering eyes
The like had been "reld about" but
never seen by them before; indeed, VI
very much doubt whether as great curl
osities in human petrifaction were eve
before seen, although we have strang
accounts coming down to US through mis-
ty ages. These bodies of stone in human
shape were re-interred in the cemeter,
at Germantown, where they will proba
bly, remain until the "Great Day." whe
they will be transformed into receptacle
for immortal souls.