The Washington herald., 1908-05-19
MOVE CLINTON'S BODY
Admirers of Hero at Open
ing of the Grave.
NOW ON IT'S WAY TO KINGSTON
Remains Removed from Congress
siOnaI Cemetery in washington
and VIII be Sent to New York
village Where Monument VIII BE
Erectcd--sIemOriaI Stone Here.

After faithful guardianship OF nearly
100 years Washington Is called upon tc
relInquish the body Of one OF her most
honored dead, Mai Gen George Clinton.
soldier and statesman, faithful servant
OF his country through her darkest days.
serving with tongue and pen from earliest
manhood until force of arms became more
efrective than pacific methods. Then.
when Columbia had passed from under
the war clouds, ss Clinton had been one
Of the flrst to take up the sword al need,
so he laid it aside 10 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 young republic.
George Clinton was born in New York
State. and was It's first governor. Kings
ton was the State capital al that time
SO It Is appropriate that II Washington
be deprived OF the honor 50 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 TO Kingston -on-the-H Hudson. In q
tomb not fifty feet from the spot on which
he stood when he was inaugurated COVER
nor. and at the gateway OF Sleepy Hol-
low. this body which will have been ao-
corded two great civic and military bur
ials was finally laid TO sleep.
Three generations OF Americans have
looked on the splendid head in bas-rellef
craven on the fine monument to mark
the grave OF Clinton IN old Congressional
Cemetery. For just one century the oaks
and Somber Cedarg Of these nfty acres on
the Anacostia have shaded the favorite
burial place Of distinguished Americans.
NOW on way 20 Kingston.
Last Monday this nineteen-ton monu-
ment was taken to pieces and Is now on
its way to Kingston. The great-grand-
son Of Clinton promises TO have a tablet
Of bronze erected on the site from which
the monument was removed.
After the monument was carefully tax
en- down, in the presence OF 6 group Of
gentlemen consisting OF the great-grand-
son of Gov Clinton, the committee from
the legislature Of New York, members
of the AnthropologieaI Society of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. physicians. and others.
the earth, the first handful Of which had
been thrown IN by President Madison
i,fvs4r-- -2fx x,e-~s 90 v-,s ,-l-a, fro-,
above the coffin OF Clinton.
When the vicinity OF the conn was
reached. seven feet below the surface. the
ground was found 10 be very wet, and as
the lead eofln-the wooden case had
yielded to tlme-was lifted. clear water
ran from hole In the top. which had
been accidentally made BY the sounding
rod q few hours before. To tighten the
burden an inelsion was made in the foot
Of the coffin, ard 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 fine condition, was a
rent about four inches long. evidently
caused by sudden pressure, just as q
cardboard box viii bulge and burst II
the toD Is suddenly pressed down.
Beginning al 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 It's action, q condition
those who know call RdipOcere, Gs 1t re-
sembles both fat and wax
As long ago as 1886 when the Cemetery
of the Innocents a. Paris was removed,
most OF the cofins OF those long dead who
were inferred IN damp ground were found
TO contain this sgbstance-this protects
the bone structure and also seems 10 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 named this substance. read a pa
per on the subject before the Academy
Of Sciences In 17S9 Chemically, adipOcere
is found TO consist of margarate OF am
monia-a substance somewhat similar Is
found In peat; Il is known as bog-butter
No Evidence OF Alcohol.
There was some speculation as to the
likelihood Of alcohol being used in Clin-
toms burial, as was the case in the prep
arauon Of the body Of Paul Jones: the
lead eofin making It possible, but If al.
cohoI was used Il escaped at the time
the rent occurred.
The head Of Gov. Clinton was subjected
TO anthropometrie measurements, as was
the whole body, and found 10 be cheTac-
teFistic of the normal high-grade Ameri-
can. neither too large nor too small The
lower Jaw showing great determination
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 tTeacherous
March, and was announced in the press
of the day In the following terms.
Tuesday. March 24-Senate did not
meet owing to the serious indispositi0I
Of the Vice President" And his death
was announced after four weeks.
In the stockings one perfect toenai
from the great tee was found. and this
being marked with ridges supposed &C
be caused by rheumatism or gout, prove
II proof was needed, that there is no
mistake in the identity Of the body. Gin
ton having been one Of the sufferers from
the disease OF the period. gcut.
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-
tlon. showed the presence Of brain crys-
tails: how wonderful 1t seems, a brain SO
strong as TO defy a century's decay.
Placed In New Casket.
The group around the reopened grave
was as reverently tender of the body OF
this great man as could have been hii
r,e-eo-oi f~fa-'1~--orld fle trrea was uot