Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-04-06
Lone Mountain Cemetery.

Lone mountain cemetery.
We have received the following des-
ription of Lone Mountain Cemetery,
San Francisco, California, from John
Michel, late Of this village, now at
Dallas City, Oregon
Every city in civilized country has
its cemetery and San Francisco is not
behind the rest in this particular. Lone
Mountain Cemetery is situated some
three miles west of the city. Having
seen almost all of the antiquities of this
western city, we thought we would take
a hasty visit to this renowned cemetery,
somewhat out of curiosity to sec the
tomb Of Brodcrick, the martyr senator
Of CALIFORNIA. The day was gloomy ,and
as our way lay over sandy road, it was
considered better walking if it did rain.
Starting from the city about half past
two clock, we arrived at the cemetery
at four o'clock. Tn the center, elevated
considerably above the rest, stands the
tomb of the martyr Senator. lie was
shot in the legislature while speaking
against slavery, and died soon after.
It is cut marble in pyramid form, end
ing with broken shaft. The words,
.'Mecbanic Broderck, Senator are on
the first steps Of the pyramid, and on the
second, "died in San Francisco, Sept.
10th 1859" This simple monument
and these few words mark the resting
place of one of earths proudest heroes. If
he were living now, what would be the
Joy Of the now 'silent martyr" But
why trouble we him now, he is as the
'cIods of the valley J" though he be
dead, he yet lives in the hearts Of his
countrymen. Applying the words Of the
poet to this dead martyr:
Rest thee there is no prouder grave
Fen in thine own proud land
we started down another avenue, and
"Lcft him alone in his glory"
We were attracted by broken mast
enclosed in simple iron railing we
came to the grave of s'Arthur French, =
who sold his life, while trying to save
the lives of his shipwrecked mates. No
BILE soul! worthy this memento Of friend
ship. His last words we're, "Tell my
wife [ shall die doing my duty Turn
ing to the west, we noticed small marble
monument with specimens Of quartz, &c,
denoting the resting place Of some wan
dering miner, who, perhaps, left home
and friends to seek wealth in this west
tern country. But he rests beneath the
sod, with naught to comfort his troubled
mind, but his specimens Of quartz, opbir,
&c, upon his tomb Still passing down
another avenue, we noticed little graves
one to eOur little May image
of lamb bending over the engraved
words. A little path is made around
the marble slab, of pretty shells and
stones, signifying the undying affection
Of some loving parent to her sleeping
babe. Another grave, with an engraved
angel kneeling over square cut slab, on
which are the words, "To our Nelly,
marks the last resting place Of some
loved one.
We soon come to the splendid vaults
Of the rich, built of hewn granite after
the shape Of dwelling house; some with
iron barred windows SO that the impu-
dent visitor could catch glimpse Of the
last resting place of the honored dead.
We had no pretensions to anything of
that sort, so we did not intrude AS we
have not space todwell minutely on these
monuments, we journey to the western
end Of the cemetery, passing the sexton $
house on our way, and see. much to our
surprise and JOY, a "Chinese Vault. "
1t is built after the same style, as the
other vaults, with tower some 10 feet
high on the roof, with Chinese archi-
lecture, and the porticoes hung with nu-
merous bells We were informed that
John had been lately buried, his cof-
fin weighed $500 pounds,-the body
was preserved in alcohol, enclosed in a
leaden coffin, a mahogany easement over
that, and the whole enclosed in a strong
wooden box Outside Of the vault were
two boxes, filed with earth and as many
as a hundred wax candles stuck in it,
which had been burned considerable.
It seems that according to their reig-
ious belief, every visitor sticks a wax
candle in the box,and lights it,and there
it burns till some rude intruder sacrelig-
iously blows it out. Around the vault
was a great deal Of chewed rice, another
of their rites at the burial Of their dead
also some talking papers which they
saw keep away the devil They con
sist Of slip Of fine wrapping paper, a.
bout six inches long, and two wide, on
each Of which are cut Chinese hieroglyph-
les in four rows The road to the GENE
Il .o.r- ,-ao a1xo c+reu,n with those the nro-