The Meeker herald., 1899-07-22
cArAcoMss OF ST. MARv's.

CATACOMBS OF ST. MARY'9.
a Strange Bariai-Pisoe 1. the Heart OF
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 OF
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 cofins hermeticahy
sealed In fashion which would satis'-
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 F1em-
ing, our representative was allowed to
thread his way, with the assistance OF
Q lighted taper, amid the crumblinz
remains Of former parishioners Of St.
Mary's. No inscriptions are visible.
but each comm 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 ara
not partial to burials in the heart OF
the city. Close by the bishops, in
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
Marys, but the law intervened. and a
Hhite marble slab with a modest epi-
taph composed by himself whom in the
full visor of health now indicates the
place where he would have gladly rest
ed. Strolling about this strange cem-
etery, situated In one Of the most
densely populated quarters Of London,
1t was somewhat weird experience to-
hear street cries, and. psering shove
the cofins through ventilation hoses..
to SO continuous lines of buses and
cabs in the adjoining thoroughfare..
Among the notabilities in the cata-
combs we find Honest Jack Lawless."
a doughty follower of O'Connor the
Liberator, and many other personages
who held 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. a. we'll
as in the vaults. no less than $500
Catholics were buried prior to the year
1858. When the church is demolished
1t is probable that everybody will have
to be removed. although where 70 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 f10 per head. It
is obvious that so costly an outlay
would be impossible In the present
case. Though dead, many of the per-
sons buried In st. Mary's. Moornelds-
are not forgotten. and the prospect Of
an approaching removal of remains
will result. 1t is anticipated, In a del
uge Of correspondence from relatives.