The state herald., 1899-07-21
cArAcoMBs OF ST. mARY,s.
A Strange nurla'-rlnoo In tho Heart of

A Strange Burial-Pinoo In tho Heart of
London.
How many people in London are
aware of the catacombs Of st. Mary's?
Despite the hustle and roar incidental
to the biggest railway station in Eng
land-Liverpool street station Is on the
opposite side of the road-the visitor
to st. Mary's can by little stretch o.
the imagination picture himself in one
of those strange burial places OF the
early Christians which may be found
on either side of the historic Appian
way, says the London Telegraph. Here
lie the bodies of hundreds of the faith
full departed" the collins Theoretically
sealed In a fashion which would salts
fy the prejudices of even the most scru-
pulous Of sanitary inspectors. The
place Is not open to public view. but.
thanks to the courtesy Of Father Flem-
ing, our representative was allowed to
thread his way, with the assistance OF
lighted taper amid the crumbling
remains Of former parlshioners OF st.
Mary's. No Inscriptions arc visible.
but each coffin is duly noted in the
register of the church. Some illustri.
GUS personages are buried Immediate
ly beneath the high altar-Bishops
Poynter, Bramstone and Gradwell, for
example. There is ample space for sew
eral more, but modern authorities are
not partial to burials in the heart Of
the city. Close by the bishops. In a
number OF collins piled In regular tiers,
are the remains of upward OF thirty
priests who served the church well in
their life and now find congenial rest
ing place beneath the very altar where
they celebrated the mysteries Of their
ancient faith. 1t was the dearest wish
OF Cardinal Wiseman to have his body
inferred within the sanctuary OF St
Mary's, but the law interviewed, and a
white marble slab with modest epi-
taph composed by himself when in the
full vigor of health now indicates the
| place where he would have gladly rest
ed. Strolling about this strange Gem
etery. situated in one of the most
densely populated quarters of London.
| 1t was a somewhat weird experience to
hear street cries, and, peering above
the collins through ventilation holes,
! to see continuous lines of buses and
cabs in the adjoining thoroughfare
Among the notabilitles in the cata-
combs We find Honest Jack Lawless," I"
doughty follower of O'Connor the
| Llberator, and many other personages
who held a large share of public at
tention in their day, Weber. the cele-
| brated composer, who, strangely
enough. was made count after his
DEATH" was buried here. but some
/ years later his remains were removed
to Dresden. In the small strip OF
] ground adjoining the church. rs well
as In the vaults. no less than $500
Catholics were buried prior to the year
! 1853. when the church Is demolished
1t is probable that everybody will have
10 be removed. although where so huge
n collection of dead humanity will ul-
timately rest does not yet appear to be
decided. There is an instance on rec
ord in the city where similar removals
were undertaken at flo per head. II
is obvious that so costly an outlay
would be impossible in the presen,
case. Though dead. many OF the per-
sons buried In ST. Mary's. Moorhelds
are not forgotten. and the prospect oi
an approaching removal OF remains
will result. 1t is anticipated. In del.
uge OF correspondence from relatives