Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-12
RAISING THEIR DEAD.
How Chinese Bones Are Dug Up and sens
Back TO China.

Bones of Cinnamon are valued IN China'
says the Chicago Times. No matter how
worthless the owner OF the bones may
have been when alive. as soon as he Is
dead his remains are sacred and must
take up their final resting place in no spot
outside the Flowery Kingdom. When q
ChInamsn dies In o foreign land he does
SO with the full understanding that some
time I'm the future mis- brethren VIII carry
him back TO the land whence he came.
In Chicago work was recentlv COM
menced on the sacred duty OF exhuming
the bones OF number of Chinese who
have been dead six years or more. Tine
names and dates OF death of the men
whose remains are to be carefully pre-
pared for shipment to China are: Lay
Lum. 1879; Mon We. 1850; Ling Blng, Zee
Hong, Moi Tong Leng. Quong Moy Shung.
1852; <ee Moy Ham. Two Bark, Hee
Lee, lie Hing 1870: Hing Wah, Tong
Ching, Foo Lam, 1884. May Yon Sing, An
Shuk Maynam Bing. 1855: Ling Sings lie
Chung. Moi Foo Ching, Tong Chow, oy
FOX. 1856; Yon Sam. Hon Tip, Woo Wah,
1851.
Owing to the rough weather this work
was put OF. but nothing OF much i'm
portance was accomplished beyond Sc
curing the necessary Board OF Health
permit. An inspector from this depart
ment was sent with Sam Moy to Rosehill
and Graceland cemeteries. where the dead
men now rest, to see that the examining
process was done according 10 law. Az
soon as the weather permits the work
will be carried on in earnest and the
Chinese bones will be prepared for their
final grave.
The Chinese custom Is TO take up the
dead after they have been buried six years
or more and send them to their friends
In China. where once every year cele-
bratlon In memory OF them takes place.
on that occasion the graves are decorated
with flowers and the dead receive offer
ings of roasted chicken, which, however,
IL afterwards eaten by the living with
many wishes that the DEPARTED could be
there to enjoy II with them.
Bodies have been exhumed at San Fran
cisco. Portland and other places In Amer
ica and sent across the ocean. but thos
ceremony has never been performed In
Chicago. The mortal remains OF nearly
100 subjects of the Emperor and Son OF
the sun rest I'm Rosehll and Graceland
cemeteries. Some OF these have been
under the ground longer than the requi-
site period OF six years. and their bones
are to be disinterred, carefully sealed in
tin boxes. and shipped TO the land OF
their nativity, where relatives Will re-
ceiye and care for them ever afterwards.
The work will be carried on under direc-
ton Of an official from San Francisco.
known as the Chinese Coroner. Ills name
is Grin Joy Poo
The Chinese quarter Is greatly interested
in the undertaking. chiefly because the
custom has never been put into effect
here. and the strange rites celebrated In
! connected herewith promise some diver
| sion TO the Chinese. whose monotonous
| routine of daily existence on south Clark
| street makes a littir variety welcome
/ The money for expenses Is all collected.
/ the tin boxes and heavy wooden-cases
/ have been made. the undertaken Is here.
| ana everything Is I'm readiness.
| To an American the ceremonies Will be
novel and interesting Before grave
Is opened four lighted candles will be-
| placed, two at the head and two at the
| foot, and kept burning until the bones OF
! the dead have been taken out. The UNDER
taker standing at the head, will recltc
a few incantatiOns and perform "A short
! religious service. He will be dressed In
! the robes of his office, which are de-
/ scrbed as being gorgeous In gold trim
/ mings and embroidery After the bones
| have been lifted from the grave they will
| be- dipped into a kettle or lar OF boiling
| oil. made OF aromatic herbs and rootg
| and then carefully wiped off with soft COG
! ton cloths and dried. II Is claimed that
! the hot oil soaks into the skeletons r-'
| preserves them so that they will las
/ thousands Of years. DR.. Gee Wo chan
| who is a veraciOus man, said YESTERDAY
/ that the bones OF some OF his aucest ir-
| have been kept In good condition g.,
| years.
Further preparation consists OF a.,
/ wrapping of each bone in a heavy piece ~
muslin and labelling II. The Tx box h.
made just large enough 10 hold the skull
and trunk of the body intact. The smaller
| pieces can be packed inside and around
| these. II single bone or silver OF bone
| Ia missing IL must be accounted for In
written certificate by the undertaken. Sl<
or eight OF these tin boxes will be placed
| In n wooden case for shipment. Each box
will bear card giving the name OF the
man who once wore flesh on them, as well
as the names OF the persons 10 whom II
Is consigned. When 1t is received by them
the bones will be taken out, examined
to see that they are right, placed I'm a
stone jar made expressly for the purpose.
! and buried.
| The money for expenses was collected by
subscription among resident Cinnamon.
| Part OF the expense goes Ia paying
| the undertaken who received so a body
| for his services.