Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-22
REMOVING the DEAD.

A reporter Of the Posi-
called upon Mr.. .. G. Shorey, the con-
tractor for removing bodies, N onuments
and stone work from the old city GENE
terry TO the new burying ground, adioin-
L ing the Masonic cemetery, and asked
him for anything of interest in connec-
ten Herewith that has so far come
under his observation. Mr.. Shorey said:
Il have been a. work about three weeks,
and have removed so far 10 bodies,
together with most of the monuments
and stone work. and have, think, over
half of the work done. | have been
laying of for few days, waiting for
the Catholics to get their grounds in
readiness for the reception of the bod
les Of those of that faith. l have also
delayed seme Ia order to give all friends
of deceased persons an opportunity to
select new lots, and to give all such
friends an opportunity to be present
daring the removal of the remains of
their friends and loved ones.
Last week among the remains taken
up and removed were those of Mrs.
Mary Conklin, who died and was buried
eleven years ago, at the age of 20 years
and 10 monts. During her life she was
known by the old settlers as Mother
Damnable,' and many will remember
her by that name. We discovered that
the coffin was very heavy, weighing at
least 100 pounds. and it took SIX men to
lift II out of the grave. On removing
the lid to the coffin we found that she
had turned to stone. Her form was full
sized and perfect, the ears. finger nails
and hair being all intact. Her features
were, however, somewhat disfgured.
Covering the body was dark dust, but
after that was removed the form was as
white as marble and as hard as stone.
When We took up the coffin under
the headstone marked William
Carnes," Who will be remembered as a
large butcher. who died some ten years
ago, We found the form Of small,
delicate woman, wish her clothing on
and vatchchain about her neck. The
way i account for this il as follows
some time after Carnes died, his
friends had a stone made to mark his
grave, and the parties employed to set
the stone placed IL over the wrong
grave.
When the remains of James Mckay,
the tanner. who died ten or eleven
years ago, were taken up. they were
found well preserved. though the fea-
torres were unacceptable. All the
graves, at certain seasons of the year,
are fall OF water and the collins float in
the boxes. The action Of the water has
Turned most of the bodies black. Ia a
greater number of the coffius there is
nothing but few bones The ooffins
a 20 elS akrYsn1 nd
them We place them in new cedar
boxes. So far We have found nothing
OF an offensive natHre 80 far as smell Is
concerned, most of the bodies having
been buried SO long that the flesh has
either all turned TO dust or been eaten
by the worms. | shall take up and re-
move al the bodies that can be found,
including those who sleep in unmarked
graves within the Polterstield, bat
shall not interfere with the Chinese
graves. as the Cinnamon desire 20 take
mp the bones of their dead and ship
them to the Flowery Kingdom.
Many graves have been sadly neglect
ed. and fear that some will be conse-
quently overlooked. | wish you would
tell the people again that am anxious
to hear from all those who have friends
barred IN she old cemetery, and have
them point out the graves to me, espe-
ciauy those that are unmarked. A for
eat IRE ran through the cemetery two
years aeo, and burned mp number of
wooden grave marks, which adds 20 the
difficulty of finding some of the graves.
The new cemetery IL located ON fine
site between the two lakes, and can be
made beautiful burying ground With
proper care and attention.