The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-09-23
A 1MAbb m 81 tioNEs,

The Horrible Work of Chinese Gisouls In
San Francisco-Dead Bodies Stolen from
Cemeteries In Various Parts OF Caiiror-
mia.
A horrible discovery was made in
Chinatown, Cal, last Thursday. III
formation was given to the city
that a frightful stencil was being emit
ted from a cellar on Pacific street. lie
went TO the cellar and found the floor
covered with human skulls and bones
partially covered with flesh in The last
stage of decomposition. In an inner
room the coroncr found n number of
Chinese engaged in boiling down the
| remains of other bodies, while several
| other Cinnamon were engaged in
scraping the boiled bones and packin"
them in boxes for shipment to China.
1t is estimated that tho cellar contained
over three hundred dead bodies, which
had been taken secretly from various
cemeteries throughout the State. As
an Instance of Chinese ingenuity it is
stated that those in charge of these
operations, fearing tho stencil from
boiling pots would be so great as to
attract attention outside, had procured
two living skunks, so that tho odor of
the latter might overcome that of the
former. The coroncr has taken charge
of all the remains.
This discovery of the horrible prac.
ticcs of the Chinese In preparing the
bones of their dead fcllow-c0untrymcu
for shipment to China, which has been
carried on under the very nose of the
city authorities, has created q deep and
intense excitement. The acknowledge
mcnt that such q mass of p%utrifaction
was lying exposed in the very heart of
the city, while at the same time the
drainage and sewers of the city arc
known to be in filthy condition, has
caused q feeling Of fear for the health of
the city. After all the boxes contain
ing the remains of the dead Cinnamon
had been removed to the morguc, the
Coroner was interviewed in regard to
the matter. lilo stated that when he
arrived at the cellar i'll which the
bodies were stored, and in which the
purified remains, which had still to be
boiled, were lying, he set to work to
some sixty bodies in all. Each box
contained q tin case in which, carefully
wrapped in oil cloths, were n number
VI 'iiis' NV Nv SIlltlllCI JULIUS
and long strips of skin were wrapped
within the larger ones. On the outside
of each box was a label, bearing Chinese
characters, giving the name of the dead
person within, so that the remains
could be identified by relatives in
China. After having opened several
boxes the Coroner concluded to seize
the whole lot and remove them to the
morguc. Express wagons were called
for the purpose. While the cases wcrC
being placed in wagons some of them
rolled off and fell TO tho pavement
breaking open and exposing the con
tents. The crowd which had assembled
upon learning the cause of the excite
mCnt, jumped on the bones and in thcil
Indignation trod them under foot. The
policcd quickly intcrpose ,and the load
ing continued without further inter
ruptions. The remains were removed
to the morgue. Most Of tho boxes
containing the remains were on exam,
ination found to have come from cities
in the interior Of the State. The re
mains were shipped from there to SAL
Francisco in common tea boxes. Thos,
that come from the interior are boilct
and prepared before shipment so tina
no odor is p%erccptible on the route
Only those received from San Fran
cisco cemeteries have the flesh still OF
them, when brought for preparation t,
the cellar. 1t was the intention t.
to have shipped all those on the stcamc
City of Pckin, which sails Saturda,
next. 1t is rumored that the Chimes,
companies will bring an action agains
the coroner for Il removal of the boxc
and remains.