New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10
HUMAN MULBERRY TREE:
From The philadelphia Press.


Tn the nrivate cemetery adjoining the Academy OF
ratrrai Sciences. almost hidden by the tall green
crass and covered with moss there stan1s VIC
stnn,n ~ what was once hourshing mulberry
free IL this stump could speak IL would unfou
most wonderful tale of transmisration not OF tne
spiritual but of the physical STG. r LII '9 fonnd II,
birth IN human death. and hourished ana grew
mon diet of blood and bones and CONN ooarusI
Roger Williams Linked with the history Oh TINS
atuInp there Is another history, equally CURIOUS,
which concerns two churches, one long since 'orn
Sawr md forQotten the other now standinR III,
s.hinnabIc anarter of the city. Away back In the
begnuing of the present century. before sIeanislps
were even thought Of Mira Agnes duncan sout sbin
for the infant Republic. When in mid-ocean Tue
elements set up a terrible hubbue. the ram came
down In torrents the waves rolled ,,n,n be,
this boon from merciful Providence TO build ana
enSow church phsa sss by her direction
framc nhnrch was built on Thirteenth-st.. on me
west side halfway between Marker Tssac McIpnss
ALSO a Scotchman. The church grew and prospersu,
and number OF the congregation. for their ow sa
convenience established prU W Sciences.
This was in 1924 Mrs. Duncan removed 70 pssi
more. A branch church or chapel was eslapnsnoa
At Twelfth and Nv walnu R. st Bacs%s and after
ward by John Palmer, who VIII De m ,Ss it,s
many. Blackwell gave his name 70 tu re- I Pew
I'm a
Mr. Meinniss, who had grown to be STOUT o.a
s,s,,sman with white hair fell sick aud died OF
typhus fever He was covered Win az md cares
fnlly deposited In his own plot OF grounu an, ~
The ynriyste cemetery. The years went oy ana tno
memory Of Pastor McIpniss faded from tne metor
~ ali Int a few One fine day In spring mulberry
sanling pushed its way up through the grass near
the head of the grave. Warm air ana slnsnho
favored its growth and bn sOSn Of SIoodred
hesy,ias which the children in the neichborhood
moronoized as fruit created especially Tor tne de
Notation of their tender palates Persons remaroa
that the position oil inc eanse Of ,ts pres
ence woud probably not be known had ~ no, Degi
for quarrel which arose In the blackwe ,nn,
and which finally eliminated I'D .ho .sI ,rave
ing as the property OF the onurch' 'n' "''''
They were oustsd and In revenge ordered inc
bones of their ancient pastor Mcinhls =, nroceeded
he trustees. The grave digger drove his SPADE IA
The ground and scattered tho damp DIRT afoua aa
Deener and deeper INTO tho ground went the spS1i
The pile of earth by ms rs Sos , grew smay was do
ncted i'm the coln OF the trustees ue spu
became entangled in the roots OF the mnloe,.y .h
When moro dirt was removed IL was found tnat .no
roots had completely filed that portion OF the grave
occupied by the coffin. Of winch not 80 much as
fragpent was left-only two OK inc % hn.sa
could he }ound The mulberry tree bad aosoro os
evsyvth,ns. Not even q trace OF bono or OF tne
shroi,d was there, although lops tune was spSns
IN the search 90 ~ A ss a. q cast them
in the pine box which the trustees bad orongntt
along q The box was closed and taken 70 Mouns
sbs bones Of old Pastor McInniss than any hill Of
dirt which can be picked up on Chestnut-sI,, anu
the mulberry tree IL gradually decayoa gnu va
stumn' A cannibal without stomach, ghoul WIZ
ont ghoups instincts. v memory Oh iemaIAsS'e
physical resurrection.