Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-02-10


most in the sunny south Of America"
FREDERIKA BREMER.
+ OPENING AGRAvE-ExTRAoRDINARY PREsERvA-
TIoN OF HUMAN BoDrEs.-Mr. George Lune, who
has charge of Woodland cemetery, near this city,
says the Dayton (Ohio) Empire, was called upon
the other day, by George P. 10y, who resides
about three miles southeast Of Germantown, IN this
county, to remove his first wife, a grandchild and
other bodies, from family burying ground upon
his farm and inter them in his lot in the German
town cemetery The burying ground was made
many years ago, upon the side Of little hill in
field, some distance from the residence Of Mr. 10y,
in accordance with the custom of the Mama VAL
ley at that day, when almost every property-holder
had burying place on his farm.
The first grave opened was that of Mr. 10y
first wife, who was inferred about twenty-four
years ago On reaching the coffin it was found to
be perfect-at least to appearance the men
proceeded to completely unearth it. and raise it to
the mouth Of the grave This soon ascertained to
be 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 diff
fcult to even move it.
The assistance of six men was as length obtained,
and it required all the strength they were in pos
session 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 disinterment,
that the coffin was filed with water on account Of
the 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 excellent state Of preservation.
Upon close examination it was found that the re-
mains would not give way under the pressure OF a
piece of board which one Of the gentlemen placed
upon the corpse; and this strange circumstance led
to still further investigation. The shroud and in
deed all the covering which was upon the body at
the time of interment, twenty four years ago, had
had dsappeared-not vestige Of them remained.
The body was perfect, except the right leg from
the knee to the ankle joint, where the flesh seemed
to have wasted away, and lay at the bottom Of the
coffin, in substance resembling ashes mixed with
sand. With this exception Of decay, the body and
limbs exhibited the same perectness of exterior as
they did when life and animation were in the body.
The body, indeed, had been petrifed 1t was
by some strange quality of the earth, and other
causes of which we can form no conjecture, turned
into stone Of drab or more properly speaking,
flesh color; and the chisel of an artist might i'm
itate, but could not make so close resemblance
to the "human form divine" The smile which
death gently united the cord which bound the soul
to clay, still seemed to Hnger upon the face Of
stone! The light Of the eye was gone, and they
were sunken-but from the sightless orbs the soul
seemed to look out upon those who were viewing,
with establishment, that human form Of stone.
The grave Of the grandchild Of Mr.. 10y was
next entered, and the coffin exhumed. It was also
found to be heavy, and when opened, the corpse
presented much the same appearance as that Of
Mrs 10y. It was not as perfect, however though
petriied. The body and limbs had about the same
appearance IS they had 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 petifed 1kul was to all ap-
pearance the same as in life! Mr.. Lane clipped q
small ringlet from the crown and tied it into knot.
The other bodies which were exhumed- one or two
in number only only partially pezi6ed, and
we're mostly decayed. era zssaa
- A great many persons, attracted by so remark
able phenomenon, gathered around these remains
with wondering eyes. The like hsd been "read
about" but never seen by them before; indeed,
we very much doubt whether IS great curiosites
in human petrifcaton were ever before seen, al
though we have strange accounts coming down to
US through misty ages These bodies Of stone In
human shape were reinterred in the cemetery at
Germantown, where they will probably remain until
the Great Day" when they win be transformed
into receplacles for immortal souls.
CLASSICAL ExrRAcT.-W are not in the habit Of
copying articles from the newspapers OF our city,
says the Louisville Journal but occasionally We
meet with paragraph in them 60 exceedingly clas
steal and elegant that we feel impelled By both
city and State pride to give It = wide eirculaion
. possible Such is the following Characteristic
paragraph from the Times Of Saturday:
Coal il rapidly being burned by our citizens, and