Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-11-20
euANAyuAro,s CEMETERY.
A Queer Block Of ston- Crypts ON = Noun.
tain Side-Cofiins For Rent.

tain side-Conins For Rent.
p. II. Mack of Inyo county, who is
engaged, with Patrick Reddy, in some
mining enterprises in the strange little
atate of Guanajuato. Mexico, 1000
miles below FL Paso, tells a remarkable
story of the queer burial customs In
the ancient city OF Guanajuato. the cap
ital Of he little state, place $50 years
old 1t is at the old city, in the heart
of Mexico, where the burying ground
is, that Mr. Mack is interested in the
mining enterprise alluded to.
1.-The burying ground is on a high
point Of mountain near the town."
said he, land is nearly 100 yards
square. It is inclosed by wall IL feet
in height and s feet thick, and in the
walls are pigeonholelike places, OF
crypts, for the bodies
"Whon a man dies, his relatives can,
on the payment of $40, get him put in
one of these crypts. The ends are sealed
up, and he is allowed TO stay thei for
five years. AT the end of that time, il
the relatives come forward and pay
800 more the remains are allowed tc
remain there perpetually. If, however,
the relatives have died, moved away OF
fail 10 put up the 500, the remains are
taken out, carted away and put into
great yard near at hand, where remains
have in like manner accumulated and
where bones now lie 20 feet deep There
is flight of steps leading down into
a passageway which is 300 feet long.
At the end of this passageway is great
excavation for the cast off bones 1t is
here that they are piled to such an i'm
mense depth.
"There are to be seen arms, legs,
skulls and other bones at pleasure or tc
your horror, just as you take it. Not
many Americans have ever been there,
and of those who have, including some
lady tourists, number have tainted
outright. The sight was too much for
their nerves.
'"There is potter's field aside from
all this as Il part of the burying ground
already told about, and this consists Of
trench in which bodies are buried
three deep without any kind of coffin.
l. HIS DtlHS % puiyih Siouhu anu
managed by the authorities, the collins
that are used are owned by the munici-
pality, and it simply rents the coffin for
use till the body is slowed away in the
crypt told about awhile ago. The collins
are used over All over, and one of them
may have previously had 20 bodies in
it, 1t is kept as any other receptacle
would be and is used as long as it will
last
"There is another adjunct to this re-
markable burying ground. 1t is this:
At the bottom of the stairs, on both
sides of the 800 foot passageway, which
is more properly a tunnel, are mummi-
fed bodies They are sealed up III the
holes on each side, and they dry up III
such a way as to be preserved. An
American down there managed to steal
one of these bodies, as he thought II
would be quite curiosity to exhibit.
He got the body out in some way and
got clear TO Guadalajara with it before
he was discovered and brought back.
1.-THE tow of Guanajuato was found
ed in l545. At one time it had 80, 00C
inhabitants, but now it has so, 600
You can imagine the vast number o.
deaths that must have occurred in Thu
ancient town since it was started, anC
this is the only burying ground they
have. The deceased citizens have al
been slowed away there San Fran
cisco Cali.