, 1883-08-18

At ll:30 this morning farmer rushed
INTO the STATESMAN Office, and in an excited
manner stated that the City Cemetery, stu
a.ed about two and half miles east of town,
was in flames, and that Sexton Mcneil
wanted help. Our reporter inmedia.ely
notified Marshal Robinson. and in less than
i've minutes vas astride Of Lee & Adams
Heet horse. Dandy" bound for the scene
of action Arriving At the main gate, .
dense smoke obscured our view. and it was
some time before We could work our way to
the eastern portion Of the grounds, where
the fire originated, and wa still 6erseIy
burning along tho fence. Here We found
Sexton Mcneil. with hin limited force. As
sisted by two Indians, working Ike tigers
with shovels. buckets. boards; anything with
which to beat the tall. rank grass that fed
the fiery element. The small force had done
noble work, and before the hsck-loads of
men arrived from town. to render assistance,
the fire was under control By that time
the devOuring element had swept over the
entire east and southeastern portion of the
grounds. and reached a far a Central
Avenue.
The conAagration originated in the Chi
nese enclosure, at the extreme southeast
corner. The sexton stated that about II
o'clock he wss working on the nsv sexton
bailding, when he noticed two Cinnamon
hurrying through the cemetery. Presently
he observed dense smoke arise from the
Chinese quarter, but before they could
reach the spot the flames had got started in
the high grass and were les,iDg six feet
skyward.
A great many graves were burned over,
with wooden headboard. consequently We
were unable to get the names of all the plats
that were laid low by the deyouring ele-
ment, but We deciphered the following
names from the stone and marble slabs that
are more or less injured and blacEened:
Edward II. Shelton, Mr.. Langford, DR..
Kellogg. Wm. Holbrook, Mr.. Sheppard, ].
+. Patterson, Wp. Matzger. W. Phillips.
Thcs ]. Henderson, Richard Boyle, G. r.
Grove, Samuel Edwards. ]. P. Stan6eld.
Emma Hall, D. R. Mcleod, D. Mcconnell,
j. Truesdsle. ]. N. Coolidge and several
others on Central avenue.
1t was indeed . close call for had the
sexton been unable to control the flames
where he did, the entire cemetery would
have gone. As luck would have it there are
but few graves in the burnt district most Of
the settled fats being in west and northern
part of the ground.
An amusing sight was an immense quanti-
ty of all kinds of fowls and roast pig. that
the Cniness had left for the use of departed
c1uutrymen. and which lay cooking on the
graves. The departed celestials will have
to order grub we'll cooked this trip.
Chief Crane. of the fire department. and
N. T. Cation, of the cemetery committee,
were on hand promptly. and rendered valu-
able assistance.
A lot Of hay belonging to Doc Bentley,
was totally destroyed.
Mayor Tannatt ordered the fire bell IN
Washington Engine house, to be rung, to
which a number Of firemen promptly re.
sponded, when they were Immediately dis
patched to the cemetery in carriages.
The identity of large number of graves,
was destroyed through the burning OF the
wooden head boards with which they we're
marked. This matter should be looked to
at once.
The cemetery fence between the Chinese
plot and that of tho Odd Fellows, was al
mos. totally destroyed. Also portions on
the north side of the cemetery.