The New York herald., 1874-09-27
POPULAR DELUEIONS DISP-LLED.
The Truth Regarding His Burial and the
Erection OF His Monument.
A HISTORICAL SENSATION EXPLODED.
Sacrlegious Hands Destroying
His Tombstone.

great deal tnat Is true and great deal tnaI Is
IAlse; the former corroborated by testimony which
one cannot reiute the latter appealing to the
popular heart through the channels of mystery
and romance. The truth and the fiction have
gone out together in the world through thousand
Inherent mediums and it Is, indeed, question
winch has gained the most disciples. 1t
rs not the intention OF the writer TO
give aught OF the lie OF Aaron Burr
only so as Will be necessary 10 explain
certain circumstances connection with his
death and burial. That lie, with all Its talents
romance and lame, has been written so often that
the new chronlcler would simply reproduce The
language OF the old and be sorely puzzled to pre-
sent anything fresh; but, Al the same time, during
my soourn In this quaint old town. IN the con-
,nes of which repose Burr's ashes, have learned
enc or two things concerning his Lurlal that
while overturn1ng the popular theory entertained
by thousands at the same time unveils the truth
Ii mas oeen stated-nay may say it is generally
believed-that
THE BURIAL OF AARON BURR
was conducted under very gloomy and mysteri-
GUS circumstances. That he was inferred at the
dead OF night by few men engaged especially to
do the work. and that the secret OF the conin and
the hour 1t lowered reposes with these men
alone. II is SAID that the plain monument now
over his last resting place was brought TO Prince
Ton secretly piece by piece, that IL was reared at
midnight, that no one at the time knew who had
secured it. and that no one now can :ell from
whence 1t came. One sensational writer that
i recall, not quite satisfied with the
story as narrated above, introduced
storm upon the night OF the interment,
accompanied by thunder, lightning and various
other atmospheric phenomena worthy OF a Bouci-
cauit There Is peculiar consistency between
the story just related and the general opinion con-
cernlng Burr,s lie that Is calculated to give it
rredence and that has actually gained for it
great many believers Here In Princeton even 1
have found many people who affirm II as a fact
and Professor Hart told m this morning that he
Is called upon almost every day OF his life 20 con-
tradict 1t. In consideration OF the fact that the
story is oeing revived again IN many provincial
papers, and that WITH Its revival Sun another gem
grafton may IN the romance lose the actual truth.
the contradiction, think, would be exceedingly
Apropos; and, accordingly, give it.
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
Professor J. ;. Hart was present at the burial OF
aaron Burr, and saw the body lowered IN the
grave He says:-"l often wonder how certain pop
alar stories find their origin. There aoso-
velop the story which so many believe. attended
the services myself and was an eyewitness to all
that took place. The coffin enclosing the remains
arrived here at Princeton about midday. The year
was 1885, and, II am not mistaken, lall was luss
opening After the arrival Of the remains they
were conveyed to the college chapel, and a brief
funeral sermon was preached by Dr.. Carnahan,
VINO was the President OF the Institution. Alter
the ceremonies the body was carried to the ceme-
terry, the students following the bier to the grave.
There was nothing extraol binary or even unusual
In any oil the proceedings All who cared TO attend
the funeral were al liberty 10 do So"
"'But the monument questioned. ''Is there
any mystery IN relation to lt.n
None that am aware ol,h was the reply.
Leaving Professor Hart and visiting the library
or the College / examined the Lille Of Aaron
Burr as written by James Parton. and upon page
So oi the volume read the lOlo wIng:-
PARToS's sTATEhENT.
knew or Knows anTths whatevep Teeeeeter IL or
there sonecuter in the vicinity competent to
any Of my informants explains the
na ee fs ay sad
Burr owes The stone that commentaries his namei
Here, then, ! found what appeared 10 be indis-
putable evidence that the erection OF Burr's mon
nment involved IN mystery lmpenetrable.
Mr.. Parton distinctly states, nrst no one thus
monument erected: secon1 no one knew then or
Knows now anything whatever respecting it.
II Is dangerous at all times 70 question the au-
fhorlty OF biograpner Ike Mr.. Parton especially
when De says that the enigma Of the tombstone IS
NO subtle tina. mo relative OF Aaron Burr nor any
ol my numerous lniormantsu can give MIN any In
formation at all IN regard to it, ''Stll,o thought l.
'the best OF men sometimes make mistakes, and
perhaps Mr.. Parton, in regard 10 the monument Of
Aaron Burr, lell mo an error similar TO tnat
which he is alleged to have made IN his
article concerning the newspaper correspondents
NJ Morristown.u Therefore / became re solved 10
search the town through and through, with the
view of getting down 10 the actual truth Of the
matter. But who was | TO approachY Carnahan
President Of the college at the time OF Burrs de-
cease tthe gentleman who delivered the funeral
orationl. was dead and so were many OF the pro-
fessors VINO 0t the time composed the faculty
Indeed | did not 1t the moment snow whether
any one o them was living Finally remem-
oered an old, Old man, well worn with his many
honorable years one Wdo was an Instructor IN
the College !Or nearly hall century. and who
until the coming or DR.. McCosh, was Prlnceton's
Doole President. remembered hm--John
Eacean-and / called upon nim with the hope
that ne might throw some hight upon the question
that appeared 20 be so dark. ! found MN alone in
his quiet home. and told him my OBJECT Ia calling.
THE STORY OF THE NUHEST.
'l have to contradict constantly MANY
romances IN relation TO Aaron Burr" said he
'Ine papers are continually In error N respect to
MS biography
''Was the monument really put up secretly?
who procured ityn
There is no mystery about the monument. All
these stories are ucsr continued the venerable
ex-Presldent, in his peculiarly nervous and ex-
We'll tell mc the truth, then. Doctor = 7 said.
"Burrs BODY was brought here in MIDDAY"
was the answer, "and bur ed IN presence of All Inc
students. A great many prominent men came
with the remains, among whom / remember Mr.
SwartOut tnen Collector OF The Port OF New York
and his brother Governor ogden, OF New Jersey:
Judge Ogden Edwards, OF New YORK: Colonel
Scott Of New Jersey, and minister OF the Gospel
named Van Peit. The monument was made In
New York ana paid Tor by contributions rom
Bnrr's relailveS-L. e., tue monument was reared
by members OF the Edwards family"
''it was not put up, then, secretly ~ I asked.
''Do you know old John Murphy qnerled the
Doctor as II disregardlng Iny question enIreiy.
"Wel, he resides somewhere in town: every
body knows nim. Find him OUT, Tor ne II was that
-eared the stones aDd can, therefore, give you all
the particulars
thus closed the interview. II vas brief but not
unsatisfactory; for learned that the monument
was reared, as we al believe our tOmbstOnes VIII
De provided we die TOO poor TO rear them our
selves, by relatives and friends. According 10
Dr. Maclean's statement, therefore, rs Mr.. Parton
IN error WheD ne says tO Homan'S liberal hand
name Yi
then set out 10 ind Old John Murphy. Every
one knew MIN, as the Doctor bad assured me, but
no one could tel me where ne could be iound. one
sara mere, another there, and yet ne not pres
ent st any point designated At last | went TO his
mouse, whlch was located away out OF town. con-
trary 10 wnat every one had assured me- ! found
MN at home and told MIN my errand
OLD JOHN MURPHY.
"Dd you put up The tombstone Of Aaron Burr -
asked.
'.fes, sir, repned inc Oh man, with emphasis
"Did you do IL secretly ~