The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-26
DESIGNATED DEAD.
Bleaching Bones in Cemetery
A Horrible Sight at the Winchester
Burial Ground.
Whitened Legs and Arms Protrud-
ing from the Embankment.
Dogs Seeking Sustenance Among
the Neglected Graves.
Wolf River the Depository OF Washings
from Decomposed Human Bodies
"A scandalous Condi-
ton OF Affairs.


ing District
DO YOU know that there exists most
horrible condition Of things out yondcr at
Winchester cemetery?
Are you aware that the bleachod bones
of some of our ancestors are allowed TO
protrude through their crumbIcd sepul-
chcrs, and offend the sight OF passers-Dy
and shock them with a sense Of outrage?
On Yesterday friend OF Tue Ar
PEAL and resident Of Scotland re-
ported that portions OF Winchester
graveyard were washing away, leav-
ing the whitencd bones OF cOrpscs OK
posed to view, and that the people who
travel on the green car line are shocked
and Mortified every day 10y tho CHASTITY
sights that confront them. TnE APPEAL
was disposed TO laugh, us the story IL in
credible What folly Was not the au-
tocrat OF the Taxing District in the best
of health, and did lac not make
daily inspections OF streets and alleys.
and didn't he see everything that "; q
going on, even down TO diapidatcd brick
sidewalk? And how could that all-secing
eye OF his overlook M foul u sight2 I'm
possible TIE ArrEAL's informant said
he wasn't keeping tab on MADDEN, but II
anybody doubted what lac reported. the
way 10 settle II was 20 20 out and see"
Tho advice was sound, and TnE ArPEAL,
through one OF its local representatives,
went out and saw.
For the information OF those who have
seen the locality brief description may
not be ont Of place.
Part OF what is now Winchester avenue
cuts through what was once known rs
a.
yard was turned street, some revcrential
souls, dcsiruus Of protecting the graves Of
those intcrnd there, organized themselves
into nm "Old Folks society" and had that
portion al the cemetery east NJ the street
fenced IN to save u from destruction. The
other side Of the old cemetery was left
without inclosurc Of any kind. Cattle
tramped over IL, hogs rooted there ut will
and every rain washed from some rotting
coffin the thin sod that covered II from the
sight Of men. On either side oi both
divisions Of the cemetery are gullcys or
bayous into which the washiugs from the
cemeteries are discharged. One or both
OF these How into Wolf river after n series
OF copious rains, and in the nature of
things carry with them in solution The
crumblCd bones Of some exposed CORPSE,
or worse STILL skull or limb that in the
PROCESS of dissolution had become detached
from iis companion members
II any reader Of TnE ArrEAL discrcdts |
this statement let him take green car
going north get gu, in front oi the gate II
the cemetery, take a northwcricrly cut
through the weeds that line the margin oi
the bayou, and there, no, lar from the root
OF sycamore tree he will find the
hlcachcd
nruAtys oF wuNr WIRE oNCr TWO iTGs.
baking IN the sun. II hc should drsr
further pruui let him rclrlcc his steps and
take the west side OF the street. There hc
will find an inclUsurc with a dilapilatcd
icnCc Inside the inclosurc are grny,s,
some with toml-toncs, others without
such marks Of identification. The ground
slopes upward from the gate, aud At liz
crown the surface level Is about fifteen
feet higher than the street. The side III
the hill parallel with the street presents
the form II a steep embankmcnt, which
washes and caves with every rain, and all
along the line oi the cmbankmcnt
nlEAump noNE NAY M sErN rHEriNG
or,
here the small limb Of child, there the
arm OF an adult, here the pelvic bone IT
what was once doubtless Godicaring
and punctual taxpayer, there the attcn.
unicd rih ~ some unfortunate creature
who left no pustcriiy to save his bones
from destruction. The cemetery IN de-
serted. At the time TuE ArrIAL reporter
made his visit dog was seen scnmpcring
through Il with something In his mouth
that looked like bone. Even the post
holes IT some portions oi the fcnco have
lost their walls. and the posts hang thcp
ready 10 fall NJ the tint heavy rain. No
less than twelve ~ thirteen different ing
mcnis Of blcachcd aui dccaycd humanity
have iorccd their way la this manner
Through ro,ung ccrcmcniS, ghu-tly wit
ncS-cs IA the ghoulish sacrilclc that has
been committed
The people Of the ncighborhood hay,
become callous 20 the sight Custom ha.
mAlo them indifferent The boys In th,
ucighborhood will tell you how they iin,
bones In their play Tur Arrr,L ~
porter found group ~ them STATED ON N,
hank NJ the bayou, hchinl the Standnr,
Oh works lie inquired ul thrm.
"Arc ihcrc many bones ol people scat
tord ahou, hcc7'
"Oh, yes, they replied In chorus. ~,
run ncru,, thcm every day DO you wan
a. sor rpmrY'
The r'ppricr nodded assent. They nj
rose, scImpCrcd down 10 the haynu
jumped acrIs- narrow place. aud th
boys pointed cut herr and there in IN
sidc of the cnbankmc human homes iu-
pccping through thc outer crust Ut earth
Onc young fellow sald they USED Ia Tim
skulls hut these were b,ruming lc,
common.
Another said Il found q skull In ia
gullcy a lew days age, with two little eat
fish IN it. Another little fellow > shar
eyes detected something ON the grOun,
and picked IL ~.
want to see one side Of a mans jawg
he asked.
The reporter nodded. The hoy brnurl
him maNillary bone. with three tepth 1
II, and handled Il as indincrnty A, n
hal been baseball.
There's a grave down here In Ties
weeds somewhere, said another.
lie led the wayi the reporter iullowe,
Within five feet OF lhc fence inclosng IN
back yard VI the standard OIL company
WAS LONTtY GRAVE,
covered from sight with deep grass. 4
the head Of u was a stone foot high bCa
ing this inscriptions
IS. Ross CLorroN, ptEp iS7b.n
From such horriying scenes the rcpor
or turned with a sickening sense oi al
gust and boarded n car 10 get away
quick NJ possible from the proiancd aimo
phcn. But what will the people Of Men
phs say when they learn that they ina
have been drinking ior years tho drsinAs
OF a cemetery Paughl
=@ -
a Rich Quarts Min. Discovered.