The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-22
A Curious TneidenE-.-The Grave Of
Roger Williams

Ninety years after his death (1771) steps
were taken TO erect TO him some suitable
monument, but the storms of the revolu-
ton came on and the work was forgotten.
But recently the question has been agi-
tatcd anew, and Williams may yet at
least have some outward sign to mark his
greatness and perpetuate hia name
During period of 1873 years not even a
rough stone set up TO mark the grave Of
the founder of Rhode Island, till the pre-
else locality had almost been forgotten,
and could be only ascertained after the
most careful investigation. Suffice il To-
say, however, the spot was found, and the
exhumation was made short time ago
though there was little TO exhume.--
On scraping off the turf from the surface
Of the ground, the dim outlines Of the
seven graves contained within one square
rod, revealed the burial ground of Roger
Williams. In colonial times each family
had its own burial ground, which was
usually near tho family RESIDENCE. Three
Of these seven graves were those Of chill
dren, the remaining four those Of adults
The easterly grave was identified az that
Of Mr.. Williams. On digging down in
to the "charnel house." it was found that
everything had passed into oblivion, the
shapes Of the collins could only be traced
| by black line Of carbonaceous matter,
the thickness Of the edges of the sides Of
the collins, with their ends distinctly de-
fined. The rusted remains of the hinges
aud nails, with few fragments of wood,
and single round knot, was all that
could be gathered from his grave. In
the grave Of his wife there was not a
trace of anything save single lock Of
braided hair, which had survived the
lapse Of more than $50 years. Near the
grave stood venerable apple-tree, when
and by whom planted is not known.-
This tree had sent two Of its roots into the
graves Of Mr.. and Mrs. Williams. The
larger root had pushed its way through
the earth till it reached the precise spot
occupied by the skull of Roger Williams.
There making turn, as if going round
the skull it followed the direction Of the
backbone to the hips. Here it divided
into two branches, sending oHe along each
leg to the heel, where they both turned
upwards to the toes. One of these roots
had slight crook OF the knee, which
makes the whole form. This singular
root is preserved with great care, not on
ly as an illustration of a great principle
of vegetation, but for its historical asso-
citation. There were the graves, emptied
of every particle of human dust! Not a
trace of anything vas left! 1t is known
TO chemistry that all the fcsh, gelatinous
matter giving consistency to the bones,
are resolved into carbonic acid gas, water
and air, while the solid lime dust usually
remains. But in this case even the phos-
phate of lime of both graves was all gone
There stood the equity apple tree" as
gas said at the time, caught in the very
aet of"robbing the grave"
To explain this phenomena is not the
design of this article. Such an explana.
ltion could be given and many other SINH
lar cases adduced. But this fact must be
admitted: the organic matter of Roger
Williams had been transmitted into the
apple tree; it had passed into the woody
fibre and was capable of propelling a steam
engine it had bloomed in the apple.
blossoms and had become pleasant to the
eye; and more, it had gone into the
fruit from year to year, SO that the ques
. ton might be asked, Who ate Roger
Williams Hartford Press.