Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-05-20

and reign supreme over that small city
of the dead
The outer fence upon the eastern
side has been almost entirely pulled
down and carried away, probably for
fire wood by some cowardly miscreants
who were too proud to beg and afraid
to steal, except to rob the dead of the
enclosure which surrounds them. The
other portions of the fence are in
dilapidated condition at almost any
point, affording ingress for cattle and
hogs which roam throughout in undis-
puted possession and root and tear in
all directions.
Within the limits Of this cemetery
are goodly number of small enclos-
ures in which are buried some of the
old residents of our town of years ago,
as also the friends and family connec-
tons of those who have long since re-
moved to other parts of the country.
A majority of these enclosures have
been stripped Of all the palings, the
locks and hinges of the gates are gone
and the desolation is complete. We
have also been informed that it is next
to impossible to keep either lock or
hinges npon the gates Of the small en-
closures belonging to the various fam
lilies of the town at the present time.
The brick walls of the few old vaults
present the appearance of having been
Investigated by boys in pursuit Of
ground squirrels, while many of the
headstones of graves not enclosed have
been knocked down and, in some in
stances, carried away from the grave
and broken in pieces. We think the
fend incarnate whose devilish heart
prompted such dastardly acts is not
fit to live among men and would be a
disgrace to the denizens of perdition.
While standing near locust my
friend while pushing his cane among
the rubbage collected about its base,
accidentally unearthed an empty whis-
key bottle, and we have been inform
ed that frequently upon Sabbath days,
boys are seen engaged at cards with
in this enclosure, thus showing that
the sanctity of the dead is violated by
the incursions of drunken jewellers
and youthful gamblers. My friend
also informed me that he had upon
one occasion put out some flowers and
shrubbery upon the grave of his little
babe, and upon subsequent visit he
found, not only the flowers gone, but
the plants actually rooted out and ly-
ing near.
The beautiful location of this old
Cemetery upon such prominent site,
together with other attractions, would
be an inducement for the friends of
those who are sleeping there to beau
tify and adorn the graves with Nat
ure's choicest flowers, and beautiful
evergreens so appropriately emble-
matte of the Immortality of the soul,
suggesting the cheering thought of a
future meeting with the loved ones
gone before, in that fair cline beyond
the river Of death where separation
and sorrow will be no more.
At present, however, from what
we have been informed, it would be
utterly useless for any one to put out
flowers or shrubbery, as the probable
tiles are they would be taken away
before the lapse of a week. Such are
the facts in tie case and the present
condition of that cemetery, open as
it is to the incursions of cattle, and
devils in human shape, is a disgrace
to this community. Cannot some &C
ton be taken by our Corporate au-
thorities to prevent this vandalism and
furnish protection to those who will
cheerfully adorn and enclose the
graves of their friends