Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-10-08
ELMWOOD CEMETERY.
Lost &raves-The Living Searching in
Vain for the Graves OF their
Dead-A True Tale Of Horror,
and Of the September
DayE.

On Sunday last a number of heart.stricken
citizens repaired TO ElmwoOd cemetery for the pur-
pose of visiting the freshmade graves of their loved
and lost and spreading flowers the earth hilOcS
that marked those sacred spots But to their horror
and dismay the graves OF the dead could not be
found, notwithstanding the long and patient search
made by the mourneIs and By the employ es of the
cemetery. This Is horrible fact 10 have to disclose,
because 1t is well calculated to awaken the deepest
alarm In the minds of hundreds of citizens who had
their loved inferred at ElmWood. 1t Will be we'll
to remember how the dead daily encountered the
graveyard and how hundred collins lay around
Elmwood daily awaiting interment, which had to be
postponed for dy5 sometimes owing to the scarcity
of grayediggers the terrible deathTate and the sick
ness of those In charge of the cemetery during the
gloomy days of September when the fever-pe gath
cred In hundred victims day. Those who died
during those days. and whose relatives had not lots
part OF the cemetery known as Chapel Hfli. The
dead were taken out, and the collins. boxes, etc,
according to the then superintendent of the cemeter
and those having charge of the inteTments the
exact spots designated as lots number sO-and-so
The graves could not be dug until the next day. and
the relatives and friends of the dead could
not, of course, wat to see their dead in
tered. 1t now turns out that in these days but
little attention was paid to the manner of inter-
ments. Long trenches were dug and the collins
were placed therein side by side, regardless of the
fact that in many instances private graves with reg
ular numbers were purchased and promised to be
furnished. How can the living now find their dead
Can they feel certain (unlesS an eXhumatiOn takes
and pray and spread immoTtelles rests their own be-
loved dead? Certainly not. On Sunday last IL
would make ones heart ache to have seen gentle
searching for the lost grave OF his wife at Elm
wood cemetery He had purchased a private grave
but it cannot be found, and the horrible belief that
his wife had been buried In the trench or ditch
haunted the unfortunate man as he wandered
around, searching and weeping. He had flowers
to strew the grave, but he searched in
vain. The employees of the graveyard
searched In vain. The grave was lest
A lady at the time searching for a private
grave on Chapel Hill, but that grave was also lost
and the treacherOus bitches by the place sug-
geSted the fate of the loved one who died The
present employees at ElmwOod are new people, who
were not there during the dark death days of Sep
TENDER, and they know nothing of the past Many
of the old employees have died, others are absent
AS of the present employees said, In September
everything was In horrible condition here; there
was no order nor system followed as to biirying the
dead, and many of those entitled to private graves
were put in the trenches" The negro grave-dggers
tell tales as to how the dead were buried in these
days. tales not we'll calculated TO assure the living
that their dead buried in accordance with diree
tions or in such graves as had been specially pur
chased for such purposes. Thee is no one to
blame probably, but the horrible fact exists never