Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11
THE DEAD IN OLD SWEDES
UNEARTHEDB ny RAILROAD LABOR
ERS WHILE EIC4HATiHG.


the churchysrd Just acquired by the rail
rond company.
"Yes, we placed the remains in the tool
shed for the present." the old sexton
muttered az. shading his blinking eyes
from the slanting rays OF the sun, he
motioned his visitor from under the
antique gateway portico to follow him
across the springy turf OF the yard, past
the big plane trees, to a small low
structure buttressed against the church
walls es If to support the venerable
structure in its weight of many years.
"Here are the boneg," the sexton said,
pulling aside heap OF sailcioth. A COM
plete anatomical set was disclosed, fne
enough TO delight the eyes Of any young
sawbones ambitions Of furnishing him.
self with such accessories. The deceased
must have been very fine sample of
manhood, TO judge from the lusty length
and strength of femur, hnmerus and
tibia, as they lay in q heap clothed with
dsnk smelling red earth. Tho skull, too,
was very large.
"When they were dug up" continued
the sexton, "they were found hardly IL
inches from the surface, and there was
no coffin nor any signs of one there
Dhu 1uu huh my otbct bthtEb
"Yes, two more the same day, that Is,
this day week.
ibid anyone object to your removing
any of the remainsS"
''No, but Mrs. Deadly and her son
claimed the other two bodies. She said
one was her husband ana the other the
remains OF her sister"
"What was done with the bodies"
"Dr. Burr and reburied. Them in an.
other spot in the churchyard."
The sexton and his visitor then left the
charnel house, as the former explained
that 1t was time for him to ring th9 even.
ing bell. Daring the latter operation the
reporter ascertained that tho relics of not
more than three dead people had been
discovered When the duty OF tolling
had been finished the couple repaired to
the excavations when the sexton indi-
Gated the locality where the bodies had
been found. This was 1T the south east
corner of the chuichyard, where the
wofkmen Ind first commenced digging.
The remains of the two identified bodies
had been re-interred about l5 yards back
.&snnc tba wall hnnndarv.
"Yea, I'm here all the time" the sex-
ton replied in ankwer to the reporters
queries as to what watchfplneas and So
lioitude is extended that decent usage be
guaranteed 1t the moment any human re.
mains are exhumed by the railroad COM
panys digpers. es's
"When the workmen find any bones
they Immediately come and tell me, II
don't happen to be around. Er. Burr
appointed me to watch and I'm back aud
forward all the time" Standing over
the freshly made grave of the couple re-
ferred to the sexton continued; 1--WE ex'
pected TO find the woman fret, bat it waa
the man. You know goman's head and
n woman's j'ints are much smaller than
mans. That's how we knew
Bidding good day to the old sexton the
reporter descended from the church yard
TO the lower grade Of the railroad, and,
walking slowly along the side of the ex-
cavation, carefully scrutinizs d the eartheu
wall for any indicationof extruding bones
or reyidence OF ootlins in the barred ground.
Foreman Edward Conner was found who
reported no discovery other than those
spoken OF. There are some so feet yet 10
be cut away.
Mrs. Kate Deadly was yet to be found.
She was distinguished by Sexton Ward as
bChlk tub CthiluHut vi tlO lWO bbtt1o1 fhhs
had been re-interred and she lived on De-
catur street. The latter was discovered
20 be an obscure street limited to some 20
small frame houssBall occupied by colored
people. No such person as Mrs. Doady
lived there, and as a spriRhtly young
female deniasn OF the locality remarked,
'the other side OF the street amt De-
oatur. II amt got no name. Only tbs
side is Decatur" At length fish ped
dler, one of score of dingy aad anxious
counsellors recognized the name, and gave
Mrs. Deady's address as Greeley street.
Greeley street was found. The fact OF
the existence OF Buoh an extraordinary
street with suoh extraordinary human
habitations is offered to the street euthor-
tiles of Wilmington rs one ofthe most IN
6escribably strange revelations within
the limitations of the city. The houses,
riekety little frame structures, are built
upon the odge OF what appears like land
slide. They are squalid and unhealthy
beyond description. The reporter was
escorted by throng of courteous daul-
Gems to No. IL, Greeley street, Mrs.
Deady's residence. Opening the door,
she visitor faced n troop of dogs and cats
,t all nges and vGrieties. Last OF ali came
The occupant, a very elderly lady, who
most politely proceeded to tell her story;
She said the remains discovered IN old
Swedes chutcbyard are those OF hor nus
band john Deadly, 0 soldier Of the wal OF
the rebellion who enlisted under Captain
Ohaytor in Delaware regiment.
''He died from his wounds IL years
ngo last Christmas week. His sister,
Minerva Mellinger WAS buried ~ years
ago. My husband was buried niongslde
her. When they dug them up she was
oil gone but the bones. saw part OF hls
shroud and tho coffin was quite good" IN
reply TO tho reporters question whether
she was sure 1t was her husbands re-
mains she added :.
II know 1t we'll. buried him myself.
I'm positive about that because was IN
the church. 1t was Just after the war.
They took him to the poor house buryings
ground. But went after him ana
brought him back here. got the gronhu
and paid for hurying him, HIS sistei
was there and therefore ! had the right
"Was any objection made to your re-
burying the remains in the Old sweaea
churchyard9"
''No, sir; DR.. Burr was perfect gen
tlersn as far as that goes. de aoted the
gentleman by me nnd my son. s,l
very we'll satisfied about il all now, oniy
I'd like to get one OF those soldiers
Rravestones that they are all Aikine
about for my husband.