The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-24
TIE QUARANTINES DEAD.
THE HORRORS or THE sEG UIN'S
POINT GRAVEYaRD.

Robbinu the Fricndicss Immigrants Of their
communicating their Bodies into the
Trcnches-The Opening Of the Graves
Complete Confirmation of The suns A.
bnny Dcsputches-Bodics without Cofins
The sun Reporters Interview tho Dead.
There appeared in TnE Suns Albany cor
respondence Of last Wednc Jay, hasty narrative Of
| the astounding charges that had been preferred
| against Health Oncer Swtburne. Prominent
among these was one, which If true put the boast
| cd civilization of the age to the blush II was In
eject that the bodies Of the emigrants who died in
| the quarantine slip had not only been buried with
out colns but had actually been thrown into their
| graves ike dops. and in some instances. when
the holes so-called graves were not deep enough
TO contain the corpscs, the monsters entrusted with
the execution of this hellish job would crush them
into their last resting place by dnt Of stamping on
them with neir feet. They denied the dead conn,
in order to steal the fec Of ye dollars allowed by
the State Tor that purpose. How long this In
| famous state OF affairs has continued at
| Quarantine 1t is impossible to tell The
| information was first impaired not long ago to
| member Of Assembly from Kings county, under
| very peculiar circumstances. IIe procured friend
| a situation under DR.. Swinburhe about year a;o.
| A few months later the Asscmblyman met his friend
| Ia the street and said:
L
| by DR.. Swnburne :"
mo" replied the other, II left Of my own ac
| cord"
| why ?" asked the Assemblyman.
| Don't ask me. 1t makes me shudder even to
| think oft. Ihayo heard of
| DEMONS on EARTu,
bet had TO go to Quarantine to see them. Before
| went there had heard that they robbed the poor
enigrrnts who died there. That was bad enough,
| bu, what WILL you say when tell you that we took
the dead bodies to the Staten Island shore that we
pitched them into holes and were ordered to stamp on
them so as get them In. Isn't that horribtf Twoud
like to take you there some day. You could then see
for yourself You won't Gld two fe t of sod over
them" said the late employee on board the quaran-
| tine ship From the Assemblyman's own lips
reporter learned that this was nothing wnen COM
pared to other things he had been told by this man.
| Tie latter he said, would call on him and talk By
| the hour Of his experience the lower bay. That
be would uarrae the particulars OF individual cases
and tie many ttvo.ting scenes he had witnessed
| When questioned by our reporter conc erning the
| mans veracity, the Assemblyman replied, that II
was well worthy OF belief and that he had taken tho
| prccauton to make memoranda ofnames and dates
In case the affairs at Quarantine ever to be sn-
ed by a Grand jury.
Determined TO ascertain whether there was founda-
ton for the charges u Sun reporter wa, on Friday
last sent 10 QuArantine. He was instructed to hire
men aud team, proceed TO the buryins ground,
near seguin's Point open the trenches, and asoer-
tain whether the emigrants were buried In corins
This was the only way TO reach the truth. Men
might lie, but
| GRAVES COULD NOT LIE.
| Tie secrets OF the earth might be hard to reach,
but when reached they speak double tongue.
Their language is plain and the rev1letions e1orted
unmisiakable.
AT QUARANTINE.
o- p-.A-y . len thi. city oa
| the ferry boat Westneld. After consultation with
| persons who knew the island thoroughly, a team
was engaged shovels, pick axes, and dark lantern
| were procured, aud two men without fear were
| hired 10 turn over the trenches Between 8 and
o'clock p. NJ. the reporter drove from the Quarau.
tine landing in a'co,ercd wagon. lie took the road
for seguins Point The night was rather cloudy.
Occasionally the moon came out from behind the
clouds, and threw pale lght over the island. The
air was chilly. The two grave diggers accompanied
the reporter One big burly man with the thews
and siuews of Thor The other slight and
slim OF build, hut active and agile as a cat They
knew their business. In the bottom OF the wagon
were the two spades, also pick while on a seat
beside the reporter was dark lantern.
on rus ROAD TO rHE DEAD.
Away they went, through the dark and gloom o.
the night. The big, burly man drove aud the slim
man sat on the back seat beside TUE Sun man. The
business was too serious to admit OF much conver
sation To interview the dead Is 10 pleasant task
Shortly before seven o'clock coun try tavern loom
ed up on the le OF the road Up to this time hardly
a word had been spoken. The team had gone at
good gait. Five miles OF the distance hal been &C
complished
"LEr Us STOP HERF,"
said THE Sun reporter "and get some cigars" NJ
. | second invitation vas needed The THO tumbel
! out Tie barroom was well furnished. There wsl
stove on the LET, Of the entrance, Tut chat, :
The bar was on the right. II about twenty fee
! ! | long and the wall beyond WAS well supplied witt
hottes and decantcrs. Tie bsrkecpcr was probably
thhtv.ave years old lie was alone when the purt'
= | black moustache, and was well-built
Have you got any good cigars y inquired thu
"Y5s" replied The barkecper.
Wen guess wen need dollars WORTH" sal,
,. the reporter. " How much are they apiece"
r | Ten cents" Was the reply
e give us ten" answered the reporter, laying
| dollar note upon tn, counter.
The barkeeper threw II handful ofcigars upon tn
counter, aud the reporter made his selection.
(which way are you goingt" asked the bar
" Going on a seighridng party" replied one o
the grayediggers IN jocose manner.
e | Meantime n boy outside hat waterei the horses
The smallest of the grave diggers gave him ten cents
and tho party crept within tho cover VI IIe wagon.
r NEARING rue DEAD.
. Away once more through the nigt, The twink
: Hing lights grew fewer and fewer, and the under
! | bru.h grew thicker and thicker. The gravcdgger
b. knew the road, but In the gloom OF night found
/, necdtu to make inquiries, The horses began tt
n steam. They were going from home, aud their spec
y sackenel percepbly. The party couversed IN Low
d. tones, and hopeful of tile OF the expe
dition shortly after O'Clock the party neare,
, | Princess Bay Station, on the railroad. DoubtL
IN | regarding their position, they refined up a
c. a frame cottage ON the left Of the road The moO
2 was behind cloud. 1t was very dark Unable L
ID md gate, TnE sun reporter cllmbeTed over
picket fence and knocked at the front door, but IL
VAN. No one came. Seeing a light IN the kitchen
tue reporter bent his steps in that direction IL
knocked on tie window, The curtain W IS linei
20 and u group Of merry children were seen at play
1ley were evidently frightened, and did not rais
al | the window.
u "Whcro is Princes Bay slationf" shouted the re
- | porter,
" YOU'RE on the road now" answered the terrific
z children. Its only little way OH" pointing IN III
a | direction OF the station.
T. In the wagon again. A short drive, and the part
reach the railroad. The grayedisgers then knew
is they were on the right track, and ahead they wen
le about quarter of mic. The big Lurly ma
IN driving quickly said, "Ilalt,"