Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-10
AN OLD GRAVEYARD.

\
AN OLD GRAVEYARD.
| Work Of Disinterring the Bodies 1t the Old
Presbyterian Cemetery.
MANY PERSONS OF PROMINENCE WERE BURIED
| rHERE-soME CURIOUS INCIDENTS OBSERVED BY
THE sExToS-soxE IN GOOD PREsERvA ALTON,
| OTHERS GONE TO Dusr-rHR IRISH PATRIOT
TONES REMAINS
| A LMOST WITHIN A STONES THROW OF
"A the center Of Georgetown is an historic
cemetery, which for years has been cherished
as a sacred place by the many residents whose
ancestors and friends filled the several hundred
graves within the Enclosure. Situated as it is
in the center of the square bounded by 33d
| and Saith and q and r streets and inclosed by
= high board fence. the ancient city of the
| dead attracts no attention whatever. No
visitors except those personally interested in
the place ever appear inside the gates.
Owing to the action of the authorities some
months since prohibiting further interments
the ground has not been kept in order and the
graves are overgrown and the shrubbery has
not been trimmed in many months. The
ground 10 known a. the Presbyterian cemetery
and built on the same piece Of property is a
frame structure many wears old, which has been
used as a Sunday school room and mission,
where children assemble Sunday afternoons to
worship God.
This building, it is said, is more than fifty
years old. while the cemetery is more than u
century old.
Years ago this desolate spot was as we'll il not
better cared for than any other cemetery, and
the old citizens Of Georgetown had reason to be
proud Of it.
p1sINrERRrSa THE BODIES.
The work of disinterring the bodies and re-
moving them to other cemeteries has been 60
ing on of late. and the work is in charge of Mr..
Elmer Burdette, the sexton, who during the
past month has had some singular and remark
able experiences in removing the bodies from
their supposed last resting place.
The grave Of John Cox who held the Office
OF mayor OF Georgetown for several successive
terms, remains in the grown up piece of woods
undisturbed. His name is still to be seen in
many places, especially on the keystones Of the
arches built over the small streams. His name
appears on the High street bridge over the
canal under date of 1881. The body of his wife
was buried beside him, and that too. remains
undisturbed. These graves are sealed 30 that
should they ever be opened the sexton will not
have to dig through the stony ground in
search, perhaps, of enough dust to fill a small
vessel.
are hidden the graves of many distinguished
persons, some Of whom have relatives living in
Georgetown, and others, perhaps, who have no
friends to care for them or to remove them to
another place Of rest.
JOHN HYDOCKs EPITAPH.
Among the graves is that of John Hydock.
who in his time, during the first part of the
present century, was said to be one Of the most
prominent stonecutters in this section. After
his death, which occurred in 1907, it was dis
covered that he had cut his own tombstone,
which was only one of his many eccentric acts
Upon the tomb he had chiseled out the fol-
lowing:
stop. traveller. one moment wait
Mile my solemn story relate;
Ths w s5TEnf , ,aaWs yos,a and I'd health
Madly dehed my Makers .rown.
Atlenxth incurable disease
a,n assh g view By ds,ress
10 drag me down to endless pain
Perhaps too late, for when died
mai ris mad d sd n9 Mott, ny le IT. t. prove
1t has been about three years since the last
interment was made in this place and among
buried there, child, and it was in first-class
condition.
Probably the most remarkable case was that
OF an old citizen who had been buried for
about seven years. At the time Of his death
embalming fluid was used, and this no doubt
and could have been stood against tree with
out falling in heap, and the features were rec
ognized by those Of his dear friends who saw
the body exhumed.
Of Mr.. Libbey, the lumber merchant were also
in remarkable state of preservation. The
good old lady died about three score wears and
ten ago and her body mad decayed but little, and
lock Of her hair was secured by one Of her
relatives.
THE IRISH PATRIOT TONE.
The sexton of the cemetery, who has removed
the remains of so many persons lately, has
waited patiently for some one to come for the
body Of William Theobald Wolfe Tone, the
Irish patriot, whose patriotism the cause
OF his being forced to leave his native country
and come here, where he could work for the
cause of Ireland without fear Of molestation.
Beside his grave is that of his wife, and on the
other side Of her is that of her second hus-
band, Thomas Wilson.
On the tombstone Of the wife is inscribed:
In memory Of Matilda, widow by her second
marriage of Thomas Wilson.
Born June II, 1863 Died March lS, 1S49.
"Revered and loved as the heroic wife of
Theobald Wolfe Tone
The grave Of the patriot is covered with
fat marble slab, and upon it in letters that are
not much more than visible is the inscription:
In this grave lies the mortal remains Of Will
Liam Theobald Wolfe Tone last remaining son
Of the martyred Irish patriot, Theobald Wolfe
Tone.
Born the Goth of April. 1871, and departed
this life the 18th of October. 1923. This stone
is consecrated to his memory by his bereaved
and uncomfortable mother"
On the tomb Of the second husband the in
formation Ia given that he was born in Edin-
burgh, Scotland. and died in Georgetown. He
is pictured as a true philanthropist, whose
wishes and endeavors ended in the happiness
and freedom Of mankind.
In some graves opened the bodies, as already
stated, are found in an excellent state of pres
ervatiOn; in other instances only the large bones
| are found, while in some there is nothing left
but dust.
THREE IN ONE GRAVE.
In one grave opened few days ago three
bodies had been buried. One was that of Il
grown person, presumably woman, and the
others were those of children but not the chill
dren OF the woman. All that was found OF the
young ones except dust was the shoes and two
, or three coffin handles. By the size Of the
| shoes the children were known and they were
placed in separate cofins and taken of to other
cemeteries.
In the vicinity of the cemetery are many
houses occupied by colored persons, the Twenty
| Buildings being in the same square, and among
| them were many superstitious ones who were
lDE