The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-23

and scrow drivers, tho placing Of tho
closed coffin in larger pine box for
shipment, and tho hauling away of
tho latter by m outfit of kicking
mules and lazy driver
Finally, nurse told mo that IL
funeral service was held ut the bury
ing ground ovory afternoon at i
o'clock. SO the next day [ reported
att o'clock to witness the coromony.
Tho shovel gang were thoro IA be
fore, only moro Of them, and found
two chapluins waiting to begin
Chaplain Batcman, regularly in
charge, and Father IlrIInrmnn, II
Roman Catholic priest, who had
como up from brooklyn to assist
him. a pilo Of hospital rofuse was
burning nonr by, and tho odor Of
graves and disinfoctants was strong
in tho air.
"Wo nro waiting for tho bodies to
como up from tho dead house," suid
tho hoad chaplain. "Thc men have
bocn digging graves all day-you
see tho ones that arc roady--and also
taking up bodies for removal. A
great many arc being taken mp; |
should say ono third Of thcm."
Wo waited nbont ton minutes, tho
shovel gnng chatting in groups, jest.
ing and swearing. Ono Of them
amused hlmsrl by shying chunks of
fresh earth at another down in Il
grave. The hoad chaplain paid no
heed, the priest shook his hcad and
whispered, "Thcso mon arc dread.
fully profanc. | can't boar to hear
thcm curse in God's name"
Presently an orderly rode up and
sp"k" to tn" head chaplain:
"Gon. WhccIor wants to know, sir,
how soon you can 60 with Capt.
Morrison's body?'
Tho chaplain looked at the graves
looked at his prayer book and said
that hn would go ut once; his nsso.
ciato might road tho service Owe,
these. Thon no wont away. Be-
tween ono dead Captain and n dozc,
dead privatcs thcrc was no hcsitn
ton.
Tho priest and | walked down tc
tho dead house, or dead tent, an,
saw collins stacked up thoro hal
way to tn" ridge pole, collins insid,
and outside, collins already occupied
collins soon to be occupied. All that
was IN plain sight Of sick men il
twelve hospital tents not a hundrc,
yards away, aud brought small com
fort to them. 1t is not good fo
fovor stricken soldiers to smell tn,
bodies Of dond comrades
Tho priests faco was sad and stcr.
as he turned away; wo agreed t.,
meet at / o'clock on the morrow TO
tho burying Of doublr bntch.
Tho next afternoon | arrived be
times Mt this pcstilcntial huryine
ground, and, stretching myself OF
tho grass to tho windward, watchc,
tho unloading Of tho dead. At in
t"rvnls an army wagon withou
! springs, loaded with collins, woul,
bump its way up, tho drivor usual,
curslng, tho mulos kicking. Th
} shovrl gang would gather at tn
wagon tail with carrying bnrs an,
lift tho collins out. Then, as the,
lowered onch box into its grave, th
talk would run Oh hriskly: "IIasy
d'r"; you'll drop him" "Git yo
, ropo under, you -~~ -" "Now
' "o"h u" goes, ana thon Il squirting
Of tobacco juice from Bowory lips.
Then another coffin, and nnothe,
tho drlvor calling ont after oncl
- "Which is dat bIoke?" And som
one would read II namo on tho ho.
y "liook, | tell yo" "Naw, it's Cook.
{ "Snmurl Hook, sure it is; amt
V wrote on dn covcrY' "Wcll, dc,
I drr"'s his cross" and another GRO.
d wonld be pitched ont to tho digger
0 by I o'clock most of tho bodi,
had como up, and now II young ma
y appeared with y. Nj. G.. a. on his hu
Tho head chaplain was busy ngai
and he was to replace him. Thre
la, H.