The Press., 1897-05-06
GuANAJuATO's CEMETERY.
A Queer Block of Stone Crypts on a NTou
tain Side-Coffins For Rent.

A Queer Block of Stone Crypts on a Noun
tain Side-Coffins For Rent.
P. FL. Mack of Inyo county, who is
engaged, with Patrick Reddy, in some
mining enterprises in the strange little
state of Guanajuato, Mexico, 1000
miles below Ell 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 tanrying ground is on a high
point of u mountain near the town, y
said he, land is nearly 100 yards
square. 1t is inclosed by a wall II feet
in height and 8 feet thick, and in the
walls are pigeonholelike places or
crypts, for the bodies.
"When 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 there for
five years. At the end of that time, if
the relatives come forward and pay
800 more, the remains are allowed to
remain there perpetually. If, however,
the relatives have died, moved away or
fail to put up the $500, the remains are
taken out, carted away and put into a
great yard near at hand, where remains
have in like manner accumulated and
where bones now lie 20 feet deep. There
is a flight Of steps leading down into
a passageway which is 300 feet long
A 81
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 to
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 a potter's field aside from
all this as part Of the burying ground
already told about, and this consists of
a trench in which bodies are buried
three deep without any kind of coffin.
"This being a buTying ground and
managed by the authorities, the collins
that are used are owned by the munich
pality, and it simply rents the coffin for
use till the body is slowed away i'll the
crypt told about awhile ago. The collins
are used over and 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, Oh both
sides of the 800 foot passageway, which
is more properly tunnel, are mu,nmi-
fed bodies. They are sealed up in the
holes ON each side, and they dry up in
such a way as to be preserved. An
American down there managed TO steal
one of these bodies, as he thought il
| 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.
The town of Guanajuato was found
ed in 1916. At one time it had 90, 000
| inhabitants, but now it has 30. 900.
You can imagine the vast number OF
deaths that must have occurred i'll this
ancient town since it was started and
| this is the only burying ground they
have. The deceased citizens have all
been slowed away there. San Fran
| cisco Call
One Kind of Business.
N - Al a.: