The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-13
THE POTTER,S FIELD INQUIRY.
An Alderm anic Visit to Harris IslandL
How the Paupers Are Buried-The
Trench System Investtg ated.

| An Aldermanic Visit to Harris Island-
How the PauPers Are Buried-The
Trench System Investigated.
Aldermen Koch and Gilon, OF the special COM
mttee appointed to inquire into the case Of Grand
Master Nathaniel French, Of Bermuda, who was
buried in Potter's Field, yesterday resumed the
investigation by visiting Harris Island At halt-past
ten O'Clock the Aldermen accompanied by James
E. Morrison, Jr., Grand Deacon OF this State Presl
dent Laimbeer and Warden Brennan, embarked
at Twenty-sixth street, on the steamer Mnna-
han0nck for the island. On arriving there they
were introduced to Warden Dunphy, who exposed
the books for the inspection OF the committee and
explained the manner Of preserving the records Of
persons buried IN Potter's Field Very little not
already divulged upon this point was elected but
1t was ascertained that the only available
ground owned by the Commissioners or
Charities and Correction is about ten
acres on the east side OF the island,
that the buriais are about four to five thousand
per year in trenches in some cases five tiers deep,
as the ground Will permit. careful record Is
TERED, so that whenever body is called for,
reference to it's place In the trench, as compared
with the number IN the books. will at once enable
the authorities TO disenter the body named.
Mr.. Dunphy explained that the ground was
and Episcopal clersymen; that a the oatn %Ss
are inferred In separate ground; that in no case
IL lnele any ulIuculJy IN locating any body, and
there has never been cent charged to the friends
OF deceased persons Tor disnterment OF the bodies
The following Is the order OF the entries In the
book
First-Number of coffin.
Second-Name.
Third-Age
Fomth-Reiigion, If any.
sirG-How long in the country.
SerenGh-Date OF death.
EighH-Cause OF death.
Ntnth-Signaturc of physician.
Tenh-Kesidence, II known.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
The entry in the case of Mr.. French is:--"Nathan-
lei French, aged Orty-nine, native OF Wales; died
pta," and the permit Tor burial is signed by Dr..
Elisha Harris.
The committee pushed their Investigations to-
inferred IN separate graves, but the testimony
taken shows that II would require about one acre
per year for this purpose, so that the entire
ground would be used up in two or three years
from the date OF the opening of POtuer's Field.
The trench system OF burial Is precisely the same
as was followed In the army during the late war,
and the system OF keeping the records seems
to be very perfect-as perfect as can be, except
keeping diagrams OF tine trenches and their Occil-
pants. II was ascertained that the Commissioners
permit the removal OF bouies from the trenches in
the winter season, but do not In the summer, as
the opening OF the trench would not only subject
the employees and occupants OF the hospitals and
Industrial School, but the Inhabitants of City
Island, adjacent, to disease. lew separate
graves were found, and among them one bearing
neat headstone, upon which was inscribed the
name OF O nobleman Of Prussia, who died In the
Charity hospital. The inscription reads:-