Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-22
Revelations Of a Sexton-An Invitation
Declined-A Bridegroom Buried
Alive A Startling
Affair. ......


were newer and Of late design, although
the beauty OF
MANY NOBLE SHAFTS
was marred by the gingerbread lettering
that cannot but fail to inigre the otherwise
striking effect. He also noticed the air OF
neglect that pervaded the entire grounds.
Many of the enclosures were broken down.
some handsome ones OF iron being
carelessly patched with wood; 9TH
ers had only portion OF the
original enclosure left, while many
of the monuments had sunk to the degree
that would lead one to imagine they were
in lmm inent danger of topping over. The
grass and weeds on the grounds and groves
were long and everything connected with
the cemetery seemed to oetoken the entire
absence of the hand and care OF man.
Turning an abrupt bend in the road the
reporter came upon the object OF his search
busily engaged in grubbing away the weeds
and overgrowth covering an adjacent lot.
Rect gniziDg the reporter, and being in
laxative mood, the sexton left his arduous
labor and joining him, accepted OF ten
dered weed and Immediately Joined him IN
desecrating the air OF the Lords vineyard.
The sexton, on being vigorously pumped.
vouchssfed the following information:
The grounds, asyou are doubtless aware,
are in the hands of private corporation.
Well the management of the affair has been
in the hands of the present BOARD OF direc'
tors upwards of fifteen years, and Tor the
air of gloomy neglect you said you noticed
on entering, they are entirely responsible.
The grounds. at least all but small corner
contiguous to the road, are entirely hiled
and have been for some time, ana Tor the
reason | suppose, any Improvement would
cost an outlay of money perhaps from the
pOckets of private individuals, the board
has taken
NOT TIL SLIGHTEST ACTION
in the matter and allowed years to diff
by without making any effort in the DIT
rectiOn of beautitying the grounds. The
cemetery includes upwards oil 70 acres,
and as | am the only man employed on
the place, il is ridiculous to suppose that
the grounds can be kept in even .paSSaois
repair. | forgot there is one actiOn com
u,epdable 10 the Board been taken recently
and that is to destroy the locust shade trees
along the carriage drive and replace them
with water maple, which will add greatly
10 its beauty. The stockholders OF the
corporation have, l understand, recently
awakened from their lethargy and will
soon makes an effort to GUST the old Board
snd elect 8 new one. The neglected APP
pearance in many Of the lots is due to the
fact that many persons are buried here
whose friends have removed to distant sec
tiOns of the country. OF course | could
not. without remuneration, attempt to
beautify any of these lots, as | would
merely be so much out in time and mon.
ev. This place, with its natural facilities,
could, with reasonable outlay, be made
the most beautiful cemetery.
THE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS
one has from this the highest point in the
grounds, are pronounced by distinguished
visitors as exceedingly tine views that
cannot be excelled by any celebrities IN the
new or old world. The view from the river
front always excited their admiration.
while the view of the valley was pro
nouaced by many as sublime. There Is
one improvement that needs immediate
attention, and that is the carriage drive,
which is, you see, IN very bad repair, the
road in some places being entirely wOrn
away. The are quite a number OF warriors,
who were engaged in the late unpleasant
ness, sleeping here, some OF whom 10 the
shame Of their relatives never receiving
anv attention, but once year, when on
Decoration Day some kind hand lays q
bauuet OF roses tendprly Ga the slice ping
place of one who died lighting for hts
country and flag. In this grave, pointing
to a low, suuken and almost imperceptibie
grave, lies the sole representative We have
II these
OLD HhfhHANS
Who fought aud gained our country's free
dom in l7I6. The stone head.piece you see
is yellow with age aud fast crumbling
away. Ii you wish, you can copy IT. Inere
are none, think, hvlng VINO Will OBJECT 70
IT,
Following his advice the reporter SCI
down the lettering on the head piece,
In the Slst year OF his age -,,
ID ParIeu MS LIE Oh 81, sse '''u ""s VI |NP''
William Fairs Son.
A genius OF no Ordinary graee'
a ap pSs a ,,S,ristain and n
volunteer in the Revolution.
EPITAPH.
,, 10, a,,or
M ma Ia, Saaea,h III 81 ,Ts ana then a
ni1ht Shall resi- his heal,
There are several other old graves IN
the grounds with the SINE style OF eu!o
| CYSTIC epitaph, although this think rather
| simple and pathetic and yet appropriate,
You ask how long | have been engaged
here. Let me see, it is about seven years
my predecessor was old George McCurty,
now deceased. AS my mention OF
his name denoted he was very ole
but held his appointment up tC
the day Of his death. lie was a quie
sort OF man and used to tell strange stor
les about the sights he had seen and the
| strange noises he had heard after nishttalI
IN N, the grounds. W course you ana / an.
ali PIaIttiCa' me- uieh 10 So n T; oei'e p,
IN any lS'In ou. tue nqu'u, - oV III
go so pau 10 wei SealueI: AS ua,e soio
you Haae an ,aaI -, %
sFSS' s ,.s'',n, , SUI "
SHAM AND 'S'oH'on'N'L%
when entering the grounds after midnight
particularly just before storm, as l have
sometimes been obliged 10 do. You can
not appreciate what am saying out here
in the bright sunlight. but come up here
late some evening and 1 will make .
midnight round with you and will relate
several little personal experiences, which