National Republican., 1882-12-14
RESURRECTION RENrrN1scENoEs.
Squire McNTuIIcn Recalls the Time When
He Watched Graveyard Ghouls.
phaddeiphia Press.

he nntcncu 9TRNeynfu NhVuhHs
Philadelphia Press.
The revelations of the Press in regard to
the desecration of the graves in Lebanon
cemetery recalls "reminiscences of the exploits
of the ghouls who many years ago piled their
revolving calling in the southeastern section
of the city. al remember that good many
years ago." said Squire McMullen in speak
ing of the Press's capture last evening. We
used to watch several people down in this sec
tion with lively curiosity as to how they
made a living. There was an old fellow
named George Alberti, who bore the name ofa
resurrectionist. We never could get the
proof on him, though l remember that
q man named McCloskey, who lived
on Seventh street, below Fitzwater street,
did many queer turn which caused
a lot of talk McCloskey had a brother-in-
law--I think his name was kane-and the
two had the reputation of taking home more
helplessly drunken men than did any hun
dred of the drinking people in the neighbor-
hood. Many of the members of the Moya-
mensng Hose who lived in the old district of
Southwark talked about seeing McCloskey
and Kane rolling up Passyunk avenue about
midnight with what seemed TO be a drunken
man supported between them" The squire
gently smiled as he recalled the "Reminiscences,
and added "Our people always said, in
speaking about the matter, that Mac was
Why" excitedly continued the select council
man from the fourth ward, "the boys of the
hose company, when member died, made up
| a scheme TO watch his grave or that of any of
his family We used to go down to st.
Joseph's cemetery, at Seventh street and
| Passyunk road, and as far down as st, Mary's,
| below the prison. Many time have we
taken turns in watching graves as long as four
or five weeks after the bodies had been
| buried In winter time we had buffalo robes
to cover us, and with pipes and tobacco the
time was passed away until morning. Several
times, as l have been told" concluded the
squire, MAC and his dead and live partners
took the Ninth street course up either TO the
| university, which was then on Ninth street,
above Chestnut, or to the Jefferson college, at
| Tenth and Sansom streets" Another old resi-
dent of the district of Southwark stretched
his recollection of illegal resurrections as far
back as 1S40. "St. Josephs cemetery" said
this ancient individual, occupied all the
ground about that year, from its present posi-
tion across what is now called Washington
avenue. When the cutting was made for the
railway company to put track down it was
named Prime street, and prime time the
body snatchers had in those days" chuckled
the old man. 81 remember that Sprogle gave
me fine fright one night"
"Who was Sprogle," was asked.
"Oh he was a hard one" replied the old
Greenwich point, opposite Gloucester. He
and some of his Neck gang got drover down
in his house one winter and nearly killed
him after robbing him. They thought he
was dead and they threw him under bridge
He beat them if they thought they had O
subject for the college, as the cold air re.
vived him and he lived long enough to have
Ned Sprogle convicted and put in prison
Forty years ago l lived where Passyunk
road and Federal streets are now ON tn,
city map, and | was going to tell you about
the way i was frightened when you in
terrupted me about Sprogle's history. One
night about 1874, l think it was, l had
left old man Givin's grocery store at the
corner of Carpenter Street 1t was pretty
cold night and was trotting along to keel
warm. Just as / got TO the high woodeI
fence which ran around st. Josephs cemetery
where Father Barbelin has since been buried
the body of dead woman was flung across
the fence in front of me. 1t gave me the colo
shivers and my hair rose on end. | could Sc,
the white shroud, and never shall forget tn,
sight. There the poor dead woman lay, and
/ involuntarily backed up the street saw th
devilish face of Sprogle and another man
raised over the fence to see what had becom
of their prey. The oil street lamp showed m
this much, and, as was not armed, left tn
spot, knowing the desperate character o
Sprogle and the man who went with him.