The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-24

QA are great trenches
NsV forty-fve long' ne
teen feet wide and
seven deem One hundred and nfty oc-
cupants is the census report OF me
number In each trench. and every TENN
day. on an average. the one hundred
and fftieth takes possession OF It's las'
long home. writes Kate Swan In tae !
New York World.
Three times every week the aiter-
dcok-load OF the charities department
steamer consists Of q two-wheeiea
truck whose burden is closely covered
with canvas. The odor betrays the
nature Of the trucks load. II per-
meates the boat from stern TO bow ana
sweeps all over the little sallboat bob
bling In It's wake.
The steamers decks are deserted, TOT
the only passengers from Wards island
are the stark. silent ones bound TOT
the POtters Field on Harris lsiana'
The motley crew OF workhouse convieis
group themselves forward. The Old
man who for nine years has ferried
the paupor dead 20 the Potters field Is
left alone with his gruesomc freight.
There's only thirty-slx today he
said. THAT odor amt anything today
You ought to get II during that NOT
spell"
At Hart'a Island Keepers Dartcl ana
Bait aud the three official grave dig-
gers take charge OF the load on the
truck. and at once prepare to bury the
dead.
As far as location goes the Potters
field Is as ideal a spot as many OF the
cemeteries where some people love TO
wander Sundays and holidays pleas
urlng." Half dozen trees form a
short alley In the field.
In the soldiers plot three blaek-le'-
tered white signs break the monSo-
nous level. One says:
On Fame's eternal camplng-ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards with solemn round
The blvouac OF the dead.
Most OF the soldiers buried here
,nded their days IN the almshouse.
some lived on their claims TO being
soldiers. having no papers TO prove
heir right. but rest here alike, and the
living see that flowers bloom during
he season. BEYOND the soldiers plo
s another. covered with rank weeds
On white stone Is carved. "Our Sailo
Boys"
There isn't q body here" kecrc
Bartel said. as he led the way over lh
trenches. "that ! couldn't locate pgo
,lsely."
on the edge Of a trench the othe
lay there stood three rough pine co
in-shaped boxes. covered with stan
4 pile OF thirty tiny boxes stood h'
aide an irregular excavation, In q
middle of which workhouse men WEI
ligglng a fresh hole in which the littl
boxes were 20 be laid.
Three Official graye-diggers arrive
One Jumped down into the excavaiio
- and brushed on the dirt from the be
en- nlaced last In the trench. The m
d. pine boards OF the collins In the low
tier bent and shook under his she
Keeper Bartel scored the pine box
with an instrument invented Tor 4
nurpose. The number OF tie box
IN twice cut IN is top. These three a
lgg. isi and 1875. They finish the u
r. tier on this side Of the trench. TIVE
i, ty-aye more will be put in to OH
~. the usual quota Of the trench.
sv No. i23 was handed down by 4
, men. and packed on top OF the scoo
a. Tier. 4 third man jumped down on
y. collins In the trench Ills boots "a
"e loudly. Don't jump go hard
"- koeper ordered. No l2i was n
a handed down. A couple OF women '
vs. ltors held handkerchlefs TO their fa'
.ne The odor from the trench was dlsir'
~, ing.
un No. i25 was lifted down. but
cen three boxes wouldn't NJ into the 50
-, left.
iW' where's that hatchet?" the koo
AT asked. Then he climbed down on
ool az No. i2l and chopped with qu
rom sharp blows at the edge Of the C
until red stains appeared. and
the box dropped into position.
get some dirt on them" ord'
80 the keeper. and the three official ~
- dirgers hurriedly shoyeled the q
-. over the new arrivals and shut out
ala distressing odors.
US Three adults we're next buried In
' @s eonsecrated ground. The boxes
~ ~ these bodies were stronger and b.
oao' made than those OF Nos. l23, ia
C c.- iss. Sometimes the tops OF the b
Oon' fan on so nlmsily are they made
'V ~, The three oiicial graye-dlggers
I n''' tucked the little boxes away In
w trench. Two were real collins dec
'l'a ed with little silyered screws On
ls'u' moor little box scarcely two feet
NV. nv and six inches square was a poV
Nate stricken artificial white wreath.
Lu' That's where the premature b
'are,' and college cases 60" the keepe
, MI nlained. pointing 20 the irregular
VIVA cavatlon into which the little
80 we're placed.
Rosa "Do you believe In cremation
naisa, e.toS
.lorla, "s nt, IN ,ho, sort do most certaI
ana no said. There's the college
Sometimes we get an arm and a
later other parts OF the body and
finally, along comes a head.
omor,