Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-13
CuriOSitieS Of q Grave Yard.

WORK OF RE-NTERMENT.
Some few weeks since THE STAR gave an ac-
count of the disinterment of a cast iron casket
at the old Holmead cemetery. made in the form
Of mans body. and of the perfect preservation
of the remains found therein, which had been
buried there for many years, no record of the
same being found upon the books kept by the
former sexton of those old grounds This un-
expected relic was found by Mr.. George I. Nc
Glue. who has the contract for the dsinterment
of the bodies, and their removal to the Rock
Creek Church Cemetery, north of the Soldiers
Home, while in the progress of his duty. The
novelty of such casket being found there with
out any monument to mark the spot. and the
strange fact that there was no record kept, in
duced Mr.. McGlue to keep the casket and its
contents unburied with the hope that some one
might come forward to claim some relationship
to the deceased and give directions relative to
the re-interment of the remains. The casket was
carried out to Rock Creek cemetery along with
other coffins. and was kept in the public vault
until last Saturday, when the sexton. Mr.. Neal,
sexton, Mr.. Neal, stated to STAR reporter yes
terday that before he buried the strange casket
he again opened the lid and found
THE FEATURES OF THE DEAD MAN
unchanged. the face remaining as white and
perfect as when buried, the mouth being slightly
open. Mr.. McGfue assured the reporter that
the flesh on the face, though rigid, was to the
touch similar to that of man recently dead.
The place where the body was buried has been
noted and should any claimants come forward
and establish a relationship, it can be produced.
The portion of the grounds set apart for the
burial of the bodies removed from the old HOl-
mead cemetery is about in a northerly direction
from the venerable old church. and distinct from
the old burial place. The removed bodies are
arranged in the form OF scmi-circle, in rows,
with space between them sufficient for paths
wide enough for two to walk abreast, There is
room, however. to make the semi-circles of
graves into perfect circle should there be a ne
cessity for it. which is not likely to be the case
as many of the bodies taken from the old Hol-
mead cemetery are buried in other ceme-
teries by direction of surviving friends
THE WORK OF REINTERMENT.
The work has thus far been most satisfac-
torily done, and everything is in perfect order
at the new resting place of the dead. In exca-
vating in that part Of the old ground where
some of the heroes Of the war Of 1912 were
number of old military brass and copper but
tons, but nothing else except few bits of
wood. supposed to be remains Of coffins. Among
other relics was also an Old-fashiOned handle to
coffin, very rusty, made similar to handles
which used to be fastened to the ends of trunks
iron e0ffin above described, has not been buried
more than thirty years, as about that time such
caskets We're sometimes used, especially when
dead bodies had to be transported distance
for burial. So far there has been about one
thousand dead removed from the Holmead
ground, and it is thought there will not be
above one thousand more. The STAR reporter
was permitted to take an inside view of the
venerable old church, the bricks of which were
imported from England, for its erection. in 177S.
1t is very neatly kept inside, and with its choir
loft and organ hidden from the auditorium on
one side of the chancel, its old baptismal fOunt,
and the old Bible on the rectOrs stand. pub
liished in 1727. Gan Oxford edition. carries one
back to the colonial times. Some Of the slabs
in the parish cemetery date back to IT'S These
ancient graves are all in the immediate vicinity
of the church. Many of the best families Of this
District have burial lots i'm this cemetery, as can
be seen by the more modern and pretentious
monuments.