Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-03
(From the Dayton (Ohio) Empire. jan l3)
Opening a GraVe---ExITanrGfna
Preservation OF Human Bodies.

NJ. George Lane, who has charge OF Woodland
Cemetery, near this city, was called upon the 9th
or dav by Mr. George P 10y, who resides about
three miles soulheas. OF Germantown in his couR-
ly. to remove he remains Of his first wife, grand
child, and other bodies, from a family buTylng
ground upon his farm, and inter them IN his lot III
Germantown Cemetery. The burying ground was
made many years ago upon the side OF lille hull,
in a fisli some distance from The residence OF Nlr.
10y in accordance with the custom IN The Mama
Valley al that day, when almost every property
holder had burying place upon his farm
The first grave opened was that OF Nlr Loys
first vile, who was inferred aboul twenty ionryeaTs
ago On reaching The coffin il was iound to be per
fsct-atleas 10 appearance--and The men proceed
ed 10 completely uDearh it, and raise II 10 the mouh
OF he grave. This they soon ascerianed 10 be
difficult task and lie small force engaged at i was
coun0alsd 10 procure assistance. The eal;h a.ttis
time was com npeleIy taken from around The collin.
and removed from underline coffin, as lar a'i could
be reached bul sill l. vas found GlElicut 10 even
move il.
The assistance Of six men waaat length obtained
and i, required all The strength hey were in posses
.ion OF 10 raise the coffin from is ted and place ii
upon The ground al the side Of The grave. 1t was
snpoosed BY those engaged in the dl<ntermeni that
the coffin was filed with wafer, on account OF is
extreme heaviness but afer il taken f:om TIE
grave, il was neasurably dry, and no signs Of wa
Ter could be discovered The lid was then with
the boiy was in an excellen, s;ae OF preservation.
Upon close examination, il was found that the
remains would not give way under the pressure 0!
piece Of board which one OF The gentlemen plac-
ed upon the corpse and This strange circumstance
led 10 sll further investigation. The shroud, and
indeed all the covering which was upon the body
st the time ofinerment, twenty tour years agE had
disappeared-not ve<tge OF lhem remained. The
body was perfect, except the Tghl leg, from the
knee To the ankle Joint, where the hash seemed 10
have wasted away, and lay al The bottom Of The
coffin in a substance resembling ashes mixed with
sand With this exception OF decay, the body and
limbs exhibited The same peTfecIness ol exerIor as
Ihey did when lie and animation were il the
body
The body, indeed, had been pelriied! Il was,
by some strange qualify OF the earth, and o'her
causes OF which we can form no canj sctufe, arned
into etcne OF drab, or, more properly speaking,
Rssh color; and he chisel oitAe arlL might im
tate, but could not make so close a resemblance 10
ths " human form divine The smile which light.
ell up her conn,enance al the moment when death
gently united The cod which bound The soul 10 clay
still seemed 10 linger upon The face ofsione -
The light OF he eyes were gone; and they we're
sunksn but from the Sighless Obs The soal seem
Ell 10 look upon those who were viewing, with as
ionishment, thai human form OF stone.
the grave Of The grandchIil Of Mr. 10y wac neEl
entered, and The coffin cXhumed. Twas also found
to be heavy, and when opened: the corpse present.
ed much The same appearance as that OF Mrs Loy.
II was no perfect, however, although pe'rilied.
The body and limbs had about the same appear
ance az ihey did in life but The ex erior had lost e
life like contour The mos remarkable Thing con-
uecled with the remains oil The child was, that the
hair upon The pe,Fifed skull vas 10 all appearance
the same as in life Dir. Line clipped small
rngle, from the crown and lied il into knot. The
other bodies which were exhumed-one or two in
numbsr-were only partially psIrltisd, and were
mostly decayed.
great many persons, attracted ty so remarka-
ble phenomenon, gathered around these remains
with wondering eyes The like had been read
about" but never seen by them before; and indeed
we very much doub! whether as great curiosilies in
human peirifacion were ever before seen, although
we have strange accounts coming down TO hfo'
misty ages. These bodies ofsone in human shape
were reinerred in the cemetery al Germantown,
whsre they will probably remain until The " Great
Day. when they will be transformed into recepla-
ces for immortal souls.