, 1866-10-14
ROGER WILLIAMS.
search for his aemulns-IIi@ nodY ABB
korbcd by the koots Of = tree-A Curl-
oun Incident

<earrl, for llts IRenauins-IIiA uody ABB
Horhcd BY the Roots Of = trec-A Curl-
ous Incident.
Rev. J. II. McCarty, Of Indianapolis, Is
writing n series Of rery interesting articles
snr the Ladies' Rt7aosito1y on Roger Williams,
tho founder Of the Stale of Rhode Island. In
the last number, VIC nud thu fbti"-~s.ss e"r,-
ous MD Interesting statement concerning
The rculnana Of the distinguished man:
Ninety years after Ills death, In i'll, steps
were taken 10 erect to him nome sultablc
monument, but thr storms Of The Revolution
came on and the work was 1OrEotton. But
recently the question has boon aglt4tcd nnow,
and Wiltiama may yet At least hare some
outward slgu 10 mark III: greatness and per.
years not even rough Stone hns been set up
10 mark the grave OF The founder Of Rhode
Island, till the prccisc locality Of his grave
Ind been almost forgotten, and could only
be asccrtaincd by the most careful invcstiga-
was fund, and the cxhunatIon made a short
tine aso-tAougl there was little to cxl.umc.
I'm ecrnping oil the turf from the surface Of
The ground, the dim outline of seven graves
contained within less than one square rod,
lia,ns. In colonial tsmes each family had
IT. own burial ground, which WIS usually
rthe family residence. Three Of these
strcn graves were those Of children, the re-
manning lNHF WcsG NouIls. Hc EaAtelly grave
was Unidentified as that of Mr.. Williams. On
digging down iuto the "charnel house," It
xus fund that everything had passed Into
obliyion. The shapes Of the collins could
:.ouly s= Traced hy a black line Of carnona-
s<.cous matter the thickness Of the edges
e Tie sot soans with H. tlels r.,c ends dis
ri the hinges aud na'is, With
f:ss fragments Of wood and single round
hEot was ull tllnt could be gathered from Ills
grave. In the grave Of hi, wife there was
not trace Of anything sase single lock Of
more than $50 years. Near tue grave stood
venerable apple tree, when and by whom
planted II IS not known. This tree had sent
Two Of its main roots int Q the grnvc Of Mr.. aud
M1r. Williams. The larger root had pushed
its way through the Garth till 1t reached the
1S,y:ze spot occupied by the skull Of Roger
Williams. There mailing turn rs If going
rrund the skull, 1t followed the direction Of
the backbone to the hips. Here II divided
into two branches, sending one along each
1ae to the heel, v here they both turned up
ward to the toes. Ono or these roots formed
slight crook at the knee, Which makes the
whole bear very close resemblance to 4 hu-
man form. THIS singular root is preserved
with great care, not only us an illustration Of
aereat principle OF In yeEesation, but for Its
great historic association. There were the
graves, emptied Of every particle IF human
dust! Not q trace Of anything was left f! 1t
is known to chemistry that of flesh, and the
Eelatinons matter giviog consistency to the
bones, are resolved into carbanic acid gas,
water aud air. while the solid lime dust usual.
Il remains. But in this case even the phos-
Tatc Of lime Of the bones Of both graves was
all gonei There stood the 'euilty appte
tree" as was said at the time, caught In the
rcry act Of 'trobbing The grare.''
To explain the Phenomenon Is not the dc
Sign O: this article. Such an explanation
could be given, and many other similar cases
adduced. But this fact must be admitted !:
the organic matter Of Roger Williams had
been transmitted into the apple tire; 1t had
nf propclling steam engine II had hlonned
in the apple blossoms, and had become pleas
ant to The eye; and more, It had gone into
the fruit from year to ycnr, so thai the qucs-
ton might be nskcd, who ate Roger VII
1iatns: