Evening star., 1909-04-23
DUG FROM THE GRAVE.
Dust of L'Enfant Removed
From Riggs Farm.
new TOMB IN ARLINGTON
TO Be Reinterred After Fitting Cere-
monies at the Capitol.
BUT LITTLE OF BODY FOUND
A Few Bones All That Remains Of
Frenchman Who Planned the
City Of Washington.
Tut LITTLE OF BODY FOUND

Preparatory to burial in the Arlington
national cemetery alongside the graves Of
those the people of the nation delight to
honor, the remains of Maj. Pierre Charles
LEnfant, who planned the National cap
ital, were disinterred from their resting
place on the Riggs farm. west of Hyatts-
vile, yesterday afternoon.
From the unmarked and almost oblit-
Grated grave in secluded spot. little
known to the people who take pride in
the National capitals beauty, the dust
OF the famous engineer will be taken to
burial spot overlooking the seat Of the
nations government. over which will rise
a handsome memorial to mark for the
ages the final resting place.
The disinterment OF the remains was
conducted without ceremonies of any
kind. It was witnessed by only a small
group Of officials of the District govern
ment and descendants of the families
who have owned the farm. since Maj.
L'Enfant's burial there eighty-two years
ago. The party was headed by Henry
B. F. Macfarland, president Of the board
Of District Commissioners, !. and DIR. Will
liam Tindall, secretary to the board. AS
Commissioner H. L. West was i'll yes
terday and Engineer Commissioner Will
liam v. Judson was finishing up the
cial trip to Boston, they were unable to
be present.
Work Done by Experts.
Others in the party were DR.. James w.
Morgan. grandson Of Dudley Digges. with
whom Maj. L'Enfant lived during the
last years Of his life, and who took
charge of the burial ceremonies four
score years ago: George Howard. grand
son of George w. Riggs, who purchased
the farm from the Digges family; Her
Key, the author of THE Star Spangled
Banner; Gist Blair, Clarence Moore,
John F. Wilkins and Nathaniel Simkins.
The disinterment was directed by D. H.
Office of the War Department. who has
supervised the exhumation of thousands
Of bodies. On account of the long time
which has passed since the body was first
inferred 1t was the desire of the Com
m1ssiOners, who have the transfer in
charge. to have the work done by experts
A tall cedar, planted probably at the
time of Maj. L Enfant's burial, marked
the grave and stood as its headstone.
Shortly before o'clock yesterday after
Mr.. Rhoades, began to clear away the
vines which had overgrown the grave
and to spade out the dirt around the tree.
The tree was soon pulled down, and as
Tie OlSSIn& continued II was 0Ot1Ce0 thdt
the dirt was not packed as tightly in an
area such as would be dug out for a
grave. Although over eighty years had
passed since the grave was dug and filled
In again, 1t never regained the same den-
sity as the earth around 1t, and that in
dicated Immediately the resting place of
the remains sought by the party.
thunderstorm interrupted the opera
tions for twenty minutes after the ground
had been broken, and then the work was
begun again. The digging of the grave
continued in silence for an hour or more.
Outlines Of Coffin Visible.
A straight line of black earth, sharply
contrasting to the yellow clay that had 80
far been found, was discovered at the
depth Of about four feet and a half.
Then the shovel was used cautiously. the
object being to trace out the line of black
earth. AS the dirt was carefully remov-
ed along the line, the outlines of the cas-
ket were made discernible. 1t was SO
marked that 1t proved conclusively to the
party that the resting place of Maj. l. En-
FAINT had been found.
From the wagon of the quartermaster
generals department was removed the
box which contained a new metal cas-
ket, and this was placed at the foot of
the grave. AS the party stood with un-
covered heads around the excavation, the
transfer of the remains Of the famous
engineer was begun. The bones and
blackened earth that were found inside
the limits in6icafpd hv tho hlack rfh