The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-08-29

:
EB1E, Pa.-There are few, persons out
side Of this immediate vicinity. who know
that the remains of Gen. Anthony Wayne,
the hero of Stony Point and the Northwest
ern Indian wars, are inferred in two graves
--one being in bis native county Of Chester,
in the Southeastern corner of this State,
and one on the shore of Lake Erie, in the
Northwestern corner. History makes NO
mention Of this fact, but it is well authen-
ticated. The circumstances connected
1ith 1t will be of particular interest now,
as the centennial anniversary Of the storm
ing and capture of Stony Point, one of the
most important events OF the, Revolution,
is to be celebrated on Wednesday next at
the scene Of 8" Mad Anthony's'' great ex-
plot. ..s...... r..-..,.s
In 1897 what is now the City of Erie was
Fort Presque Isle. The fort was nothing
more than q wooden stockade.. General
Wayne, after his successful - campaign
against the Indians, returned to Presque
Isle in the above year. He soon after
wards died in the fort of gout. He was
buried at the foot of the flagstaff. In 1915
his family obtained permission to remove
the remains to Chester county. A SON Of
Gen. Wayne's made the journey clean
across the State. much of it then dense
wilderness, with horse and gig. He had
informed DR.. John G. Wallace, of Presque
Isle, of his intention to remove the remains,
and requested him to disinter, them and
prepare them for removal DR.. Wallace
was an old Indian fighter, and had accom-
panied Gen. Wayne through all of the lat
ter's campaigns. He exhumed the re-
mains. He was surprised to find. that the
body had not deeayed, but that the flesh
had become as hard as bone, and of great
weight. Knowing that it would be impos-
sible for the son to carry the body to Ches-
ter county in that condition, DR.. W. deter.
mined to remove the flesh from the bones.
This was done by boiling and the use of
knives. The bones of Gen. Wayne were
then carefully packed in convenient form
and were delivered to the son, on his arrl
val. He vas not informed OF the operation
that had been performed. he returned
with the box. to Chester county, were it's
contents we're buried with appropriate GER
emonies. a fine monument, commemora-
tive of the dead hero and his deeds, was.
subsequently, erected at the grave. The
portion of the remains removed by DR..
Wallace was placed in a coffin and returned
to the grave The lid of the coffin bore the
initials of the deceased, his age and date
of his death, made by brass headed nails,
Fort Presque Isle gradually went to decay,
In few years nothing remained to mark
its sight or that Of the grave, The parties
concerned in preparing the remains for re-
moyal died and everything connected with
the burial was forgotten .,.b az "a t- -r~.,
Four years ago an antiquarian was hunt
ing for relics round the ground where the
OLD fort stood. Two feet below the sur
face he found some pieces Of wood, which
be removed. One of, the, remnants was
found the initials "A, W." in brass head,
cd nails. These decayed, pieces of wood
proved to be the remnants of the coffin in
which the detached remains Of Gen. Wayae
were buried. They we're returned to the,
earth, a mound made, and the u OF en-
closed BY heavy iron chain hung on four
posts. Last year the citizens Of this, city
petitioned the Legislature for an appropri-r
alton to pay for the raising Of a monument
over the grave Of Gen, Wayne. Inquiry
by members of the Legislature resulted in
establishing the above facts. The grave IN
Chester comfy, already marked By a mon
ument, was regarded as the real burying
place of Gen. Wayne, however, and the
appropriation was not made. The citizens
Of Erie are now moving to rear monu.
ment on the Fort Presque isle grave by
voluntary contributions. "a = .zj@ ~ asa