The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-11-15
Who Ate Roger Williams ?

Ninety years after bis death, in 1771, steps were
taken TO erect some suitable monument, but the
storms of the Revolution came on, aud the work
was forgotten. But recently the question has been
agitated anew, and Williams mGy at least have
some outward signs to mark his greatness and per-
petuate his name During period OF one hundred
and eighty-three 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 aud could only be ascer
tanned by the most careful investigation. Suffice
it to say, however, that the spot was found, and
the exhumation was made while ago, although
there was little to exbume On scraplug off the
turf from the ground, the dim outlines of seven
graves, contained within less than one square rod
revealed the burial ground of Roger Williams. In
Colonial times each family had its own burial
ground, which usually the family residence
Three of these graves were those of children
the remaining four were adults. The eastern grave
was identified as that of Mr. Williams
In digging down into the charnel house." it
found that everything bad passed into oblivion.
The shapes of the cofius could only be traced by
black or carbonaceous matter the thickness of the
edges of the sides of the collins, with their Gods
distinctly defined The rusted remains of the
ulHEes anu uhlIcs WIN n lew TdRuitNlb VI NOOu
and a single knot, 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 a
hundred aud 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
,os obal
the precise spot occupied by the skull of Roger
Williams, There, making turn as if going around
the SKULL 1t followed the direction of the backbone
to the hips. Here it divided into two branches,
sending one along each leg to the heel, where they
both turned upward to the toes. One ofthese roots
formed slight crook at the knee, which made the
whole bear close resemblance to the human form.
This singular root is preserved with great care, not
only illustration of great principle in vege-
tation but for its historic association There
the graves emptled of every particle of human
dustI Not trace of anything was left
It is known to chemistry that all flesh, and the
geatinOus matter giving consistency TO the bones,
are resolved into carbonc acid gas, water and air
while the solid limedust remains. And in this case
even the phosphate oflime of both graves was gone
There stood the "guilty apple tree" as was said at
the time, caught in the very act of robbing the
grave" To explain the phenomenon is not the
design of 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 tree; it had passed into the woody fibre, and
was capable of propelling steam-engine; it had
boomed in the apple blossoms, and had become
pleasant to the eye; and more, 1t bad gone into the
fruit from year TO year. that the question might
be asked: " Who ate Roger Williams &c Christian
Era