St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-25
THE HEATHER DEAD.

UnedrfhfnG Shipment for Chsssa-Ah
Sans R-sHrrecftoH Contract.
There may be something rational in the
desire of the Chinese to have their bones
molder into dust in the soil Of China. but
there is nothing human about the manner In
which these bones are dug out Of the sand IN
the city cemetery. There are just nov being
exhumed the bones OF several hundred Mon
golians TO be sent back to the Celestial king
dom, In accordance with the so.emn cove.
nant made by the various Chinese companies
with each of their members. From Nov. Il
until yesterday there have been resurrected
at the city cemetery about $50 collins, With
their decaying contents, and this number
viii probably see large increase before the
year expires. The cause Of this wholesale ex-
humatiou OF bones Is said to be connected
with c. c. O'Donnell's election as coroner. Il
seems that his anti-Chinese denunciatiou
has had some influence npon the living chi
Lese, that in particular they are afraid he will
carry out bis threat Of preventing the trans
fer Of human bones to the land OF their birth.
and that for this reason they were undoiug
the undertaker's work as fast as possible be-
fore the doughty 0'Donnel assumes Charge
Of the morgue department Of the munich
pality. Others, however, deny that appre-
hension of that kind has anything TO do with
the matter, but say that q combustion of cir
cumstances has brought about the transplant
tation movement. These circumstances are,
first, that November and December are
''lucky' months; second, that a large num-
Der of the dead are "ripe,' having been In
the ground for two years or more; third, that
the finances of several Chinese companies
are In hOurishiug condition; fourth, thai
freight to China is low, and, fifth, that human
bones have not been, and are not likely 10
be.declared contrabaud Of war by the French.
But whatever may be the cause, the fact is
that one SAM" northumberland Chi
nese, has taken q contract TO resurrect sew
eral hundred Of his deceased couutrymen.
and that be is now at work carrying on. his
contract. He has pitched tent in the plot
oil the Fook Yam Tong company, and every
morning at O'Clock be begins blowing q
Chinese imitation OF Gabriel's trumpet with
the result that towards evening several wagon
loads Of bones, and sometimes more than
bones, come rolling into town. Yesterday
All Sam was digging up the wOmen's cor
ner In the plot. Five living Chinese women
were ready 10 welcome the planted ones back
10 light and whenever a cover would BE-
Knocked of toe decaying collins these crle s.
tiai beauties would eagerly bend over the
contents, without regard TO the direction OF
the wind, and begin a search for the Jewels
and money of the late lameuted. Generally
The bodies proved to be swsthed in so much
cloth and blanketing that poking with stick
would not reveal the treasures, and In
such cases the Mongol dame would
dsintily deposit their cigarette upon the
collins edge and dive into the horrible
mass with their fingers. The first article
looked for generally was the coin which is
placed In every Chinaman's mouth that be
may get to heavens gate with sufficient toll
70 purchase admission. To srarch for this
in the depth OF a ginning skull aud to find
it vas pronounced as good luck by these
danes, who were said to be respectable mar
ried women, as Otherwise they would not be
permitted to enter the buri Il plot set apart
Tor the lords Of creation. The money found
the earrings were the next prize. aud II by
chance a little DIT OF cartilage adhered 70
the bit OF silver and jasper the living hands
would pluck il away II Il was q sweet
mOrsal Of prime roast pork. Then the las
per bracelets would &c disengaged from the
bones OF the hand aud forearm, and this
done, the professional bone-picker would be-
gin his work. These bone-picksrs plaiuly
we're not men OF sentiment They went to
work in matter-of-fact way: smoking cigars
furn shed by the friends OF the deceased.
Theif hands were their tools, 10 matter bow
repulsiye-iooEing we're the contents OF
cOffn.
Beginning at the feet these men pick out
Of the coffin every bis and silver OF bone,
carefully MASKING any soft substance be-
tween their fingers To make sure that not
even trace Of bouy structure remains in the
land Of the white devils. The bones are
then cleaned after 4 fashion. and II Il is
found that even Joint Of the small toe is
missing, the grave, the coffin aud the ground
are thoroughly searched. When all the
bones have been found they are wrapped in
pieces OF muslin, each part OF the body by IL
self, and. then the whole is placed In a little
zinc-liDed box. which is ostensibly the pack
age which goes to China. Il Is only osfensi-
bly, so, because the law compels The Chinese
70 solder up their cases before they leave the
cemetery, but when these same cases reach
Chinatown it is said they are unpacked into
large boxes and then shipped TO China and
freight paid on these by measurement. Quite
often these zine boxes, which are supposed to
have been sent TO China, return to the GENE
terry for another invoice OF bones, a proceed
ing which is not encouraged by the superin-
iendent
Our sutoeratic statutes declare that two
wears suffice to reduce Chinese corpse 10