The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-19
DR.. RENNER'S GRAVE.
A Visit to the Memphis Cemetery Shows
He Lies Forgotten and UnhOnOred.


Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
MEMPHIS Tenn, March 15.-When I decided
to take trip South a short time ago, I did so
not only to recuperate from the effects of my
sojourn at the Hotel de Pest" but to fill long
cherished desire to visit the grave of my
lamented friend DR.. j. E. Renner, who, as every
lndianapoltan remembers went South during
the terrible epidemic of yellow-fever at Grenada
and Memphis in 1873 offered his services to the
Howard Association, and died while in the dis
charge of his noble work. Immediately after
arriving here l started in search of the necessary
information in regard to his place of burial. A
digent inquiry among physicians and such as
were likely to know elected nothing. No one
could recall the tall form of the genial Renner
Going to the Office of the Elmwood Cemetery, 1
found in the register this simple statement: Or
j. f. Renner, died Sept. II, 1878. Lot 265, be-
longing to Howard Association" Providing our
selves with floral offerings, my wife and | en-
tered the south gate of the beautiful cemetery,
where magnificent magnolias and holly trees
shade the resting place of SO many thousands.
Deep emotions were stirred in my breast as we
slowly walked between the monuments. Had
not already known the facts of the dreadful
scourge of that memorable year, the oft
recurring date of September 1878, on the tomb
stones would have told the tale. Groups of
mounds of from three to eight and the many
names on some monuments spoke more elo-
quently than could volumes of writing of the
losses that some families sustained
After calling at the superintendent Office to
inquire as to the location of Howard section an
assistant conducted us past the Masonic burial
place, near the north gate, and pointed out an
open space as the location. The sight here
beheld shall never forget, and the words, ''Sic
transit gloria mundi" unwittingly escaped my
lips. Before us were three rows of grass grown
mounds thirty two in all A little beyond separ-
ated from these only by small space, were five
or six rows containing forty two graves. Here"
said our guide, lie thirty-two volunteer physi
clans who fell victims to yellow fever in 1878
Those beyond are the graves of the forty-two
nurses who died during that time, while nursing
the sufferers.
For moment all was silent. The desolate
spot brought to my mind the thought, how, had
not insurmountable obstacles prevented our join
ing Dr. Renner in his MISSION !, with two other
indianapolis volunteers, might now be resting
under one of these little mounds. Not a monu-
ment to tell the wanderer whom this dry grass
covers; not a slab with name, not even shin
gle with a cross toindicate the individual graves
Seventy four brave souls Went forth without
hope of reward, facing death, to help the fever
stricken people; and here they lie unknown, I'M
numbered and unsung
No one connected with the cemetery could
tell us which one of the graves contained our
friend Together with the superintendent and
his assistant we examined the registers and
plats, but failed to locate the lookedfor spot it
only made confusion more confused, inasmuch
as the number of the section in his books was
given as POL while that of the city Office gave
265 In the records of the cemetery the names
of seventeen out OF the thirty-two physicians
and many Of the nurses are not even
corded!
The bitterness my discoveries caused me only
diminishes when | call TO mind the details of the
calamity; how, of $4,000 inhabitants, 10000
sought safety in the distance and left the rest to
take care of the sick and dying; how all the I'M
dertakers were occupied to their fullest capacity
day and night, necessitating tine use of Grays
and wagons in place of horses, the digging of
long trenches instead Of graves. True, at such
times it is not easy to keep perfect records |
wish not to cast reflections upon the city of
Memphis, nor the Howard Association, but it
occurs to me that the arboriculturist. in planting
trees, and the florist, in setting out cuttings no
matter how busy, take the time to attach tag
with its name to the plant. The physician and
nurse who leave home and all to meet death are
certainly worth the tag.
AS for DR. Renner individually, | am certain
his many friends in Indianapolis will be aston
ished to learn the true state of affairs. The inn
preston prevails among many that not only his
resting place is we'll known, but is marked by a
suitable monument The cause of this enron
eous impression doubtless arises from the fact
that the Doctor left not inconsderable sum of
money at his death. am not sentimentalist,
but insist that if the city of Memphis does not
sufficiently value the men who laid their lives at
her feet to keep green their memories, the
friends of Dr. Renner owe it to themselves to
see that his grave is found and marked
This may be accomplished without much
trouble or expense. The books of G..
H. Hoist & Bro, undertakers, show that
they buried Dr. Renner Sept. II, 1878, in a
metallic casket, the number of which is recorded
in their books. A man called Tom, in their
employ, recalls well the time of the Doctors
burial, but as he buried two physicians within
few hours, he can remember the row, but not the
grave By opening one or two graves (which
the superintendent assures me is frequently
done), and examining the number of the casket,
the right one may easily be found. We erect
monuments to soldiers who take life, why not
honor the memory of those who preserve It'll
THEODORE A. WAGNER