The Washington herald., 1908-05-17

Village Where Monument viii Be
Erected-NemOriaI stone Here.
After faithful guardianship Of nearly
100 years Washington is called upon to
relnquish the body of one Of her most
hoaored dead. Maj. Gen. George Clifton.
soldier ana statesman. faithful servant
of his country through her darkest days,
serving with tongue and pen from earliest
manhood until force of arms became more
effective than pacific methods. Then.
when Columbia had passed from under
the war clouds. as Clinton had beer one
OF the first to take up the sword at need.
so he laid it aside to resume the mightier
pen, and from the time of his election
TO the governorship of New York to the
day. exactly thirty-hve years later. when
he died while Vice President of the Unit
ed States, he served IN framing and ap-
plying laws for the yourg republic.
George Clinton was born in New York
State, and was It's first governor. Kings
ton was the State capital at that time
so it is appropriate that If Washington
| be deprived of the honor so long en-
joyed. that State and city be chosen.
| Nevertheless, there is not one citizen
here who viii not view with real regret
the procession winding its way from
Congressional Cemetery 10 the Union Sta
/ ton, whence the body Of Clinton was es-
corted 10 Kingston-oH-the-H Hudson. In a
tomb not fifty feet from the spot on which
he stood when he was inaugurated COVER
ner and at the gateway Of Sleepy HoI-
| low. this body which Will have been ac-
| corded two great civic and military bur
l ials was finally laid 10 sleep.
Three generations OF Americans have
looked on the splendid head In bas-Felief
craven on the fine monument 10 mark
the grave OF Clinton IN old Congressional
Cemetery. For just one century the oaks
/ and somber cedars of these fifty acres on
| the Anacostia have shaded the favorite
burial place OF distinguished Americans.
Now on Way 10 Kingston.
Last Monday this nlneteen-ton monu-
ment was taken to pieces and is now on
its way TO Kingston. The great-grand-
son Of Ct4F.ton promises to have a tablet
. Z
the monument was removed.
After the monument was carefully TAX
en- down, in the presence Of a group Of
gentlemen consisting Of the great-grand-
son of Gov. Clinton. the committee from
the legislature Of New York, members
Of the AnthrOpOlOgiCaI Society OF the Dis
trict of Columbia, physicians and others.
the earth. the first handful Of which had
been thrown in by President Madison
ninety-six years ago was taken from
above the coffin Of Clinton.
When the vicinity of the coffin was
reached. seven feet below the surface. the
ground was found to be very vet. and as
the lead cofin-the wooden case had
yielded 10 tlme-was lifted, clear water
ran from a hole in the top. which had
been accidentally made by the sounding
rod few hours before. To tighten the
burden an incisl0n was made in the foot
Of the ccfiln and from that flowed a
dark and rapid stream Of liquid for sew
eral minutes.
AT the head OF the lead coffin. which
was otherwise in iine condition, was a
rent about four inches long, evidently
J
cardboard box will bulge and burst il
the top is suddenly pressed down.
Beginning at this tear the lead was
cut around and laid back on the left. not
entirely removed. As already stated the
body had been kindly dealt with By the
natural forces. There was every evil
dence that the water had been in the
casket many years. as the body was par
TALLY preserved by its action, condition
those who know call adipocere. as il re-
sembles both fat and wax.
As long ago as f7S6. when the Cemetery
of the InnoCents al Paris was removed.
most OF the collins of those long dead who
were Inferred in damp ground were found
10 contain this substance-this protects
the bone structure and also seems to pre-
serve fabric, for in Paris the linen of the
winding sheets was often found; and after
nearly a century the silk stockings of
Clinton were sufficiently strong to stand
washing. The great Fourcroy. who had
before naUed this substance read q pa
per on the subject before the Academy
OF Sciences in f7S9 Chemically. adipocere
Is found to consist Of margarate of am
monia-a substance somewhat similar is
found in peat; it is known as bog-butter.
No Evidence OF Alcohol.
There was some speculation as to the
likelihood Of alcohol being used in Clln-
tons burial, as was the case in the prep
aration Of the body Of Paul Jones; the
lead coffin making It possible but If al
cohol was used it escaped at the time
the rent occurred.
The head Of Gov. Clinton was Subjected
to anthropometric measurements, as was
the whole body and found to be Charac-
teristic of the normal high-grads Ameri-
can, neither too large nor too small. the
lower jaw showing great deternlihc ton
The lungs gave evidence of the effect of
lung fever as It would have been called
IN those days, which is probably correct
as Clinton's illness began in treacherous
March, and was announced in the press
Of the day In the following terms:
Tuesday, March 24-Senate did not
meet owing 10 the serious indisposition
of the Vice President" And his death
was announced after four weeks.
In the stockings one perfect t0enail
from the great toe was found. and this
being marked with ridges supposed to
be caused q rheumatism or gout, prove,
if proof Wis needed, that there is no
mistake in the identity of the body, Clin-
ton having been one of the sufferers from
the disease Of the period. gout
In the examination Of the head quite
a deposit inside the skull at the base
proved. on analyses, 10 be brain sub
stance: of course. the brain cells were
long ago destroyed, as of all the body,
the brain yields first to the tooth of time
but the informal microscopic investiga-
ton showed the presence of brain erys-
tails; how wonderful it seems. a brain so
strong as to defy a eentury's decay.
Placed I'm New Cnsket,
The group around the reopened grave
was as reverently tender of the body of
this great man as could have been his
personal friends-and the torso was not