The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-05-30
who Ate Roger Williams.

Ninety years after The death of Roger
Williams, in 177l, steps were taken to
erect some suitable monument, but the
storms OF the revolution came on, and the
work was forgotten. But recently the
question has been agitated anew, and
Williams may yet al least have some out
ward signs to mark his greatness and per
petuate his name During aperiod 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 had been
forgotten, and could only be ascertaincd
by the most careful examination. Suffice
II to say, however, that the spot was
found and the exhumation made while
ago, although there was little to exhume.
On scraping the turffrom 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 It's own
burial ground, which was usually near the
family residence, Three Of these seven
graves were those Of children, the re-
manning four were adults. The easterly
grave was identified as that Of Mr. VIII
liams. In digging down into the "char-
mel house, it was found that everything
had passed into oblivion The shapes of
the collins could only be traced by black
| line of carbonaceous matter, the thickness
Of the edges of the sides Of collins with
their ends distinctly defined The rusted
remains of the hinges and nails, with a
few fragments Of wood and single round
knot, were all that could be gathered
from his grave In the grave Of his wife
there was not trace Of anything save
single lock of braided hair that had sur
yiyed the lapse Of more than one hundred
and eighty years. Near the graves stood
venerable apple tree, but when aud By
whom planted Is not known.
This tree had sent two Of ~ main roots
into the graves Of Mr.. and Mrs. Williams.
The larger root bad pushed its way
through the earth tin ii reached the pre-
else spot occupied by the skull Of Roger
Williams There making a turn as If go.
ing around the skull, il followed the d.
rcction Of the backbone 10 the hips. Here
divided into two branches, i sent one
along each leg TO the heel, where they
both turned upward 10 the toes. One Of
these roots formed a 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 as al Illustration Of a great
principle Ia vegetation, bat for its his-
toric association. There were the graves
emptied Of every particle Of human dust
/ Not trace Of anything was len
, It's known 10 chemistry that all hesh
and gelatinous matter giving eonsistnncy
to the bones, are resolved into cafbonie
, acid gas, water aud air, while the solid
, lime dust usually remains. But Ia this
, ease even the phosphate q lime q The
bones Of both graves was gone. There
stood the guilty apple tree" a. was saih
at the time, caught 10 lhe very ad Of
robblng Tie grave" I0explain tie Pile.
nonenon Il not the design o. thIs a.iiele.
such an explanation could be given, and
y many other similar cases could be adj
y dneed. Bot this fact must be admitted,
I. tho organic matter u Roger Williams bad
been transmitted into the apple tree u
had passed into the woody Gbfo aud was
9 capable of Hopelling q steam engine u
{ had bioomed IN The apple blossoms, ani
bad become pleasant 70 The eye and more
d Il had gone into he fruit nom year 10
D year, 80 that the question might be asked
Who ate Roger Williams