Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-24
Removing the Dead.


THRoNGs OF CURIOUS SPECTATORS.
Holmead cemetery, which occupies the square
between 18th and 2Oth streets, and Boundary, is
| attracting daily perhaps larger number OF vist-
tors than ever before in its history, which dates
from the early part OF the century. The work Of
disinterrng the bodies, before the square is offered
for sale by the District government, has fairly be-
gun, and there are great many interested specta-
tors. Mr.. McGrew, who has charge OF the work,
mas ABOUT sixty men employed, and they have be-
gun at the southern extremity Of the cemetery,
along street, to dig trench which Will be feet
deep and about 10 feet broad. They will then be-
the same depth OF excavation throughout. They
Will dig over the entire square, which is $50 feet
deep by 311 feet wide. When STAR reporter asked
MT. McGrew how long it would take him to accom-
plish this work, he said in rather skeptcal tone:
.,Ihe Commissioners think that it can be done in
| thirty days"
A DIVIDING LINE.
The portion Of the cemetery where the men are
now at work, 1t is thought will not yield very many
objects likely to crafty the morbid curiosity Of the
spectators perched upon the banks Of earth on the
edge OF the trench. There have been number OF
coffins found, but the bodies entirely decayed
although the ground, even at that depth. is very
dry; yet 1T was found that the graves were full OF
wcn PROBABLY for the
OF the cemetery, from where the remains are now
being removed was used as the burial place for
the colored people were buried, and Mr. McGrew
points out point midway, which marks the d.
vtding line between the two burying places. The
northern part OF the cemetery was occupied by the
Wealthv people, and many private lots were owned.
A large number Of bodies were removed several
thinks This gentleman estimates l that there are
about 1000 graves now in the cemetery.
ANCIENT ROMANS.
"Most OF the co1ins we got out yesterday" Mr..
McGrew remarked in conversation with several of
the spectators this morning, "were entirely de-
cayed. In some cases only the bottom Of the
coffin was left. think that these must have been
collins OF the soldiers of the OF 1912, as have
here"
'some Of the cholera victims in 1892 were buried
here" observed one OF the listeners.
II don't think they were" replied Mr.. McGrew.
"A few of them might have been when their
friends had lots But the cholera victims were
buried near the almshouse"
AS the workmen get towards the upper part Of
the cemetery the preservation OF the bodies will
cof1ns were used, ana when hermetically sealed
the bodies retain llfelike appearance, even after
Mr.. McGrew, who has had charge of the work Of
removing the bodies for several years past tells OF
the outer lid being lifted of Showed the face Of the
dead with features and color preserved perfectly.
He began taking out one Of the screws which last
ened the glass top, and, 1t was lOOsened the air
got In, and the contents OF the casket fell into
pile OF white ashes.
STABB1Na CASE BETWEEN BoYs-A 14-year- old
colored boy, named David Massey, was charged be-
fore Judge Smell to-day with assaulting another
small boy named Hugh Baggett The testimony
was to the effect that the boys were in front OF the
Arlington hotel selling peaches, when they quar-
relied about sheet OF paper, and Massey stabbed
Baggett1n the hip with banana knife. Judge Smell
fined Massey S.
A Bo0KKERPRR CHARGED WITH EMBHZzLENRNT.-
MI. Bendiza j. Behrend, OF the firm OF B. J. Beh-
rend Son. OF 6l8 9TH street northwest, swore out
warrant to-day against Mr.. Herman H. Miller, q
0ookkeeper, charging him with embezzling on last
Monday $H belonging to the firm. The warrant
was placed In the hands OF Detective Block, who
arrested Miller and took him to the Police Court,
where he gave bail for his appearance In the court
tomorrow. When arrested he said TO the detec-
tive that he took the money with the intention OF
returning it. but had failed to note it on the cash
book
Ex-Gov. PAGE INDIcTKD-The grand Jury for
Rutland. Vt, yesterday found indictments against
ex-Gov John Q. Page, OF that state, TOR embezzIe