The times., 1901-06-08
TOMBOTONES NOT INJURED
Headst0nes Over the Graves of Chi
nese Smeared With Melted Wax.
The supposed Vandalism of Mischief
Makers Explained as Celestial
Custom How the Ceremonies
We're Carried on for Several Years.


We're Carried on for Several Years.
custom. hardly prescribed by ortho-
dox Celestial burial rites. but followed by
the Chinese Of Washington. is RESPONSE
BE for complaint being made to the Com
missioners Of desecration of the graves
of MOngolians buried in Congressional
Cemetery. Investigation of the matter
shows that it is the countTymen of the
Chinese buried in the cemetery who are
responsible for the discolored tombstones
over sixteen graves Workmen employed
in the grounds for years past state that
during the past two years the stone over
the grave of recently buried Chinaman
has been discolored within day or so
of interment by Cinnamon who come to
the cemetery and place sticks of wax on
the eadstones. The rays of even faint
sun melt the wax. which drips over the
white surface of the slab, which in con-
sequence soon presents a badly mutilated
appearance.
About six weeks ago a Chinaman infiu-
ent4al among his people in this city buried
a relative at Congressional Cemetery. In
two days the newly erected headstone
was marred as others had been He COM
planned TO American friends, but did not
volunteer the information that his coun-
trymen were in the habit OF doing the
act The small boy was blamed for the
vandalism and the municipal authorities
were Informed.
The superintendent Of the cemetery,
John T Earnshaw. and a number Of en-
pIcyes told. a Times reporter yesterday
that the headstones were always mutt
lated by Chinese. Mr.. Earnshaw does
not allow small boys in the grounds. The
DETACHMENT is too consistent for the work
OF a misChievous boy. The ground is not
disturbed and the process of applying the
wax was evidently the same in all cases.
The Chinese whose relatives, mostly laun-
drymeE nd storekeepers. are buried
there sa-- title o. the matter. In fact,
they sh, y no feeling at all and appar-
emily accept It as inevitable.
The graves of the Chinese, sixteen in
number. are in group in the lower part
Of the cemetery, not far from the East
ern Branch and ncaT a section set aside
for soldiers OF the Marine Corns. The
first Chinaman was buried in Congress
sional about 1894 IN another part Of the
grounds.
The grave was never mClested. nor were
any Of those buried near the river until
q time about eighteen months or two
years ago. At that time there were about
twelve graves. one day large number
Of Cinnamon. dressed in their best
clothes. came TO the cemetery. With them
they brought large quantities Of food and
paid little attention u the attendants
working about the graves They soon
reached -he plot Of ground where were
inferred the bones of their couutrymcn.
The little bits of red paper marked in
. Tr--
dispensabie feature Of all Chinese cele-
5rations were scattered uniformly about
the mounds Of turf Jess sticks were
lighted and placed at the feet and heads
of the graves.
Not a defacing mark showed at this
time on the clear white surface Of the
simple marble headstones which were in
scribed with Chinese letters evidently
giving the names OF the persons buried
and the Chinese provinces from which
they came.
sticks Of wax were produced. The
members Of the party approached the
headstones. In the end Of each stick Of
wax was snort wooden stick. which
was placed on the top Of the headstone
weighted with stone in such manner
that the wax protruded over the edge
of the slab 1t did not take long for the
sun 70 melt the compound. The curious
workmen on the adjacent slopes Of the
cemetery ground thought little Of the
matter They supposed it was some Gu
rious celebration by the Chinese in honor
of their dead, whom. next TO their an
cestors. they accord the most and the
deepest veneration.
After the delegation left the cemetery
q grave-digger passing by the resting
citizens Ff TIP EigW1rE
kingdom was surprised to see the faces
OF the headstones badly defaced. Upon
closer examination II was founu the stun
smeared over the inscriptions was sort
of wax When a bit was scratched of
with a finger II proved almost as lndelI-
ble IS india ink The matter WSs referred
10 the man then acting as superintendent
Of the cemetery Owing perhaps 20 a ue-
sire not TO medc.e IN matters OF religion
or ritual Cf a strange people nothing was
done about the matter.
Not long after this time one Of the direc-
tore Of the cemetery was walking through
the grounds and hgticsd the condition OF
the headE-OHes. H engG4red as 70 the
cause T. was explained that through
some custom nj the Chinese the Wax was
Fruez red or the gTaEE-tgEles- The gentle
man expressed the opinion that such bar
harlan DbEsrEaUces should De prohibited,
but was prevented ~ g-L=r matters rom
iuves-lR gazing it further
Shorty ztterwsT1 another Chinaman
was buried flaTe- zBg1s tao days after
ward TWO Csleat.ai6 came % the cemetery
ia q ca TAeg walze1 70 The grave pf
the CEiDau.sr recently inferred and with
t1e Ir-4s eIreDgEE placed the soft wax
- ne asslas5ss where ls Ezs sDgu melt
- ~ ere szgs - l1= bright s2n- j s.
: 1grs--= - frzE f.eE z1gn1 ~ - the
se.s.sL-sg fg- tss strange var sIa'ss the
s8l b. s.Z-t e.-e-Es ~ e@sLy a-s-t the
lo sa.1e.y G. zsa = p. E2~1shaw BE-
fznlr Eaf. r----f.c .ce5TL - s.lt Crzlrzess- BE
I'D ,siys-sFe1 -tle anUt1lss-gu q Ttas ,-eaG
afxsk-s I.1 1re aasI--F NaS selec a- Els
sfrss.rfg.. .yy t.le burial - zsztJ-t-f China
xgsa sftysr gave we fssalg- -4 1s-e
1erre s.snaeE. About 81 1oekS @Eg Z
Cf.ssgsl-F as--. GENITAL stl-fE ll-f -e- ---tt "
r.rn a.lE sleEel1-aeFs g-F-ec 2 cy-s1- ~
Cgrvfezs51azl Eesl,i=fy - tAe e,ae.- --
fi.s ~ tae ceremony Le sDIfD@clec a.f.
to Vgs.vrs h. Feg1rsfeC Gs. E1t-si-a "
10 bern 80 a. Delleye that fas cEtacs-
rucut va tns WgrZ - Chimes I" HrE
eeked II the Chinese CID j.. tGe ApsI-
g0Ear reulied that they assIreciy 1-9 not
The suUerinteudeHt Wa8 taken aDaEk. ana
resolved % keep watch on the grave -
see in what manner and ~ whom u "DDl1
he molested.
Two days later two Cinnamon entered
the gates Of the cemetery They !eit "a
short time later The tombstone bore the
marks Of an application Df the Same Wax
which marTg4 the beauty of the other
stoncs. and which. despite the rains OF
DIno !