The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-24
Mrs. Surratt.
OF HER BODY BY the x1I.IrARY-
DIsNrERxENr AND APPEARANCE or THE
REMAINS. laf

The order for the disinterment Of Mrs.
Surratt was obtained from the President
by Rev J. A. Walter, pastor of st. Pat.
|ricks church, at 10 o'clock this morning,
and was Immediately placed in the hands
OF Gen. George D. Ramsay, commandant
OF the Washington arsenal. Positive or
ders were given that all show and parade
on the occasion was to be avoided. Gen.
Ramsay detailed Major Hill, of the army,
to superintend the disinterment.
Mrs. Surratt's body, together with those
OF the other assassination conspirators,
having been some time ago removed from
the graves under the scaffolding, where
they were originally inferred, were renter
red beneath the tagging of one Of the store.
rooms OF the old penitentiary building, and
the collins were arranged in the following
order, beginning at the north wall, viz !:
Mrs. Surratt, Payne, Herald, Atzerodt,
Wirz, the Andersonville jailor, and Booth.
The locality of this place of burial was not
known to more than twenty persons until
to-day. In accordance with orders, Major
Hill superintended the work of exhuming,
which was done by gang of several work
men, under the direction of Mr.. Patspauph.
one of the foremen. The grave or pit 10
which the bodies were placed side by side
is apparently about ID feet long and 8 feet
wide, and about 6 feet deep. The earth
was soon thrown out and the coffin was
taken up. In digging down, the coffin of
Payne, which adj0ined that of Mrs. Sur
raft, was disclosed. At O'Clock the COT.
fin was taken ont and handed over to Mr..
Richard Harvey, undertaken.
The only persons present at the disinter.
ment, besides the workmen, were Rev,
Father Walter, Of st. Patricks Church,
Mr.. Tonnery, . friend Of the family, Major
Hill aud Mr.. Harvey. The box containing
the remains was of rough pine boards.
Upon the top was strip Of wood, painted
white, with the name "Mrs. Surratt -
painted upon it in black letters.
The box was opened, and although the
body was somewhat decomposed. It was
not offensive. The dress, CATERS and black
silk bow at the neck were all in perfect
state of preservation. The hair was also
perfectly preserved, and did not seem to
havs been disarranged in the least. A
steel arrow pin, with which Annie Surratt
fastened the bow about her mothers neck,
Just before she was led to execution, was
also in place. A lock of the hair was cl,p-
ped of for Annie Surratt at her own re-
quest. Upon examining Mrs. Surrat.'s
Get it was discovered that the rope with
which her feet were tied just before the
irop Tell had disappeared, and this ut first
'ccasioned some remark, but those who
witnessed the execution will remember that
when Mrs. Surratt was cut down the rome
'ecame lOosened and it was thrown aside.
The remains were Immediately placed 10
mother box aud taken to Mount Oliyet
Jatholic Cemetery, where the remains
we're placed in vault. The remains will |
'e tomorrow morning transferred to q uew
.urial case. The transfer will be made in |
he presence of Annie Suratt and her |
'rothee !ssac, and one or two intimate
riends Of the family. The remains will be |
Inferred in their final resting place at two |
clock. The ceremonies will consist only |
Il reading the burial service of the Catbo- |
ic Church. Rev. Father Walter will on
late, and the ceremony will be conducted
u strict privacy.