Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-10-07
Who Ate Roger Williams?

Ninety years after his death, in 1771,
steps were taken to erect some suitable
monument but the storms of the Rcvolu-
ton came on, and the work was forgotten
But recently the question has been agita-
ted anew, and Williams may at least have
some outward 81 gns to mark his greatness
and perpetuate his name. During period
of one hundred and cighty-thrce years
not even a rough stone has been set up to
mark the grave Of the founder Of Rhode
Island, till the precise locality of his
grave has been almost forgotten, and could
only be asccrtaiued by the most careful
Investigation. Suffice it to say, however,
that the spot was found, and the exhuma.
tiou made a while ago, although there
was little to exhumc. On scrapng off
the turf from the ground, the dim out
lines of seven graves, contained within
less than one square rod, revealed the
burial ground of Roger Williams. IN
Coouial times each family had its own
burial ground, which was usually near the
family residence. Three of these seven
graves were those of children, the remain.
ing four were adults. Thc eastern grave
was identified as that of Mr.. Williams.
7. tn digging down into the charnel
house." it was found that everything had
passed into oblivion. The shapes of the
coins could ouly be traced by black line
of carbonaccous matter the thickness Of
the edges Of the sides of the cottins, with
the" ends distinctly defined. The rusted
remains Of the hinges and nails, with
few fragments Of wood and a single knot
was all that could be gathered from the
grave In the grave of his wife there
WAS no trace Of anything save single
lock Of braided hair, that had survived
the lapse Of more than hundred and
eighty years Near the grave stood a
venerable apple tree, but when and by
whom planted is not known.
This tree had sent two of its main roots
into the graves Of Mr. and Mrs. Williams.
The larger root has pushed its way through
the earth till it reached the precise spot
occupied 10y the skull Of Roger Williams.
There, making a turn as if going around
the skull, it followed the direction of the
hack hone to the hips. Here it divided
into two branches, sending one along each
lcs to the heel, where they both turned
upward TO the toes. Oac Of these roots
formed slight crook ut the knee, which
made the whole bear close Resemblance
to Il human form. This singular root is
preserved with great care, not only as an
illustration Of II great principle in ve@ota-
ton, but for its historic association. There
were the graves. emp.ed of every particle
Of human dust. Not a trace Of anything
was left !
1t is known to chemistry that all flesh,
and the gelatinous matter giving consis,
tcncy to the bones, are resolved into car.
bonic acid gas, water, and ar, while the
solid limedust usually remains. And in
this case even the phosphate of lime Of
both graves was gone. There stood the
guilty apple tree as was said at the
time, caught in the very act of g robhiug
the grave" To explain the phenomenon
is not the design Of this article. Such
an explanation could be given, aud many
other similar cases adducel 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 propelliny
a steam 'engine it had bloomcd 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
question might be asked 'Who ate Roger
Williams ?-ChriStian Era.