New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-20
THE YELLOW FEVER SOUTH

IL New Orleans the deaths from yellow fever last
week reached 10 and the Christian Association is
elegraphing to other cities for aid. In Charleston
last week the deaths from yellow fever were lO3.
letter from New-Orleans in The Memphis Inquirer
gives an interesting account of the mode Of burial in
that city
There are in the city and it, environs fourteen
cemeteries. Some five of these in the midst of the
city, surrounded by closely built and densely popn-
lated streets. Owing to the pecuarty of our soil,
these burial places are peculiar. We cannot dig
more than three feet below the surface without
coming to water, that most OF the dead are buried
above ground. There grounds are regularly laid oH
in squares the walks raised and covered with shells.
The squares built up with vaults and monuments,
many of them very splendid and expensive, costing
thousands OF dollars. There are great variety OF
models and devices, many of them Of rare and ex-
auisne beauty. Around these tombs are beautiful
evergreens intermxed with fair and fragrant flowers,
which grow with much lnxurlance in our rich soil
and sunny Cline
'The Cemeteries below Canal and above Esplande
street. called the French burynggrounds, are regarded
"a the mos. interesting exhibitions OF sculpture,
where grief records its woe OF pride in imperishable
marble.
"Around these cemeteries are walls ten feet high
and eight or ten feet thick. These pierced with
three or four of tombs about twoanda-half feet
square, rising in tiers above the other and has the
appearance of the pgeonholes for letters in the post
Office though on q much larger scale. These are
perfectly closed with slabs and alright ceinent, ex
cept at one end. This is open for the insertion of the
coffin.
The burial service at the grave is performed thus:
The procession moves from the hearse to the wall,
where certain one Of the vaults has been previously
selected--say No. go, they all numbered). The
coffin is about two-thirds inserted, and the service
whatever he It's character is then attended to; this
over the coffin is pushed nthen the mason, with his
brick and mortar, trowels and hammers begins his
work The family and friends stand uncovered until
the masonis DONE when the date and name are written
in the smooth soft plaster spread over the brick, and
the company depart and leave the sleeper to his last
and lonely bed!
Zone gets used scenes like this but at first seems
so business like and mechanical, So like any other Ia
bor any other piece OF masonry aud contrasts strong
" with the burial the hillside where the turf Is
green and the old trees spread their broad green
bonghs, and the little birds in Summer time sing re-
QUEENS and the lone winds in Winter time niirmur
solemn dirges er the dead. The city authorities are
discouragng intements in the cemeteries in the
crowded portions of the city. Some three miles from
the city, about midway from the river tn the lake,
there il a. low ridge Of land known a. the Mctairc
Ridge Here the city authorities laying out among
the live oaks public park, and here there IS famous
race course and here most Of citys dead arc to
sleep their last sleep. What strange usesl"