The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-09-03
MILES SIANpISH,S BONES.

Harvard Historians Think They Haze
Found the Doughty Warriors Body.
Harvard historians think they have
found the grave of Captain Miles
Standish of Plymouth Rock fame. and
IL, as seems probable, the crumbling
remains of the doughty warrior have
been found, an interesting historical
controversy will be settled. 1t was
known that the body had been secretly
buried somewhere in the old town, but
the exact location has not been shown
to the satisfaction of historians. A
memorandum from centenarian, Ben
Iamin Pryor, which had been given to
him by his father, who. in turn, had
been told by his father who attended
the funeral, was to the effect that the
grave was marked by two three-cor-
nered stones. Harvard College his
torians interested themselves in the
matter, found the grave so marked
after prolonged search. secured per-
mission to open the grave, aud last
Monday they broke into the ancient
burial place. The one marked by the
triangular stones was opened first, and
a number of bones found, those of the
lower portions of the body being much
decayed, while the skull was quite
perfect. and from the presence of long
hair coiled into knot at the back it
was undoubtedly that of woman who
might have been from thirty-five to
forty years of age. A cloth of some
kind had been pinned over the hair,
and was secured around the face by
pins similar to those now in use,
which crumbled upon exposure to the
air. Around the body was wrapped a
cloth, apparently of wool and of home
manufacture. 1t was woven in stripes
Of alternate colors, which was pro-
badly white and blue or green, al
though age had changed them much.
The position of the stones correspondent
exactly with the head and feet of the
skeleton.
By sounding It was found that an
other ancient grave existed five feet
opened. In it were found the bones of
a man who was plainly much older
than the woman, and whose tooth
only one was fOund-wa5 so much
advanced age. Near the skull was q
small quantity of light hair, nearly
white in color. A rough measurement
showed the man to have been about
five feet seven inches high, or trihe
below the ordinary stature. The
bones were photographed and then
put back and the earth replaced.
Standish is spoken of as short man
by various writer's, but what their
authority is for the assertion is not
known, for no reference to his height
is mentioned in any book on
Pilgrim history to which access has
been had. Standish directed in his
will that he be laid las near as con-
enviently may be to my two dear
daughters. Sara Standish. my
daughter, and Mary .Standish, my
daughter-in-law," and this may ac-
count for the female skeleton near the
grave opened recently. If further in
vestigation should show that another
woman's skeleton was buried beyond
the graves already examined. it would
be strong evidence in favor of the pre-
sumption that the last resting place of
Captain Miles Standish had at last
been found.
Prof. Hart, of Harvard College was
present at the disinterment. 1t is
intended to make precise statement
of all the data bearing upon the sub
iect, and communicate the same to
some historical society for investiga-
ton, with view of finding, if possible.
the burial place of Miles Standish.-
Boston Cor. n. Y. Sun.