Year: 1874

On Alondav afternoon remarkable
incident took place at what is known as
the Potter's Field, or the city's burial
ground, where is deposited the mortal
remains of such poor unfortunates as
frequently, in large city like Balti-
more, die without friends to care for
them, and often without being identi.
fed. The city, as is we'll known, makes
provision for the burial of all such per-
sons as die within its limits without
friends or means to provide for their in
terment. 4 plain poplar coffin, stained
/ to represent some dark wood, cost
ing probably from six to eight
dollars, is furnished upon proper app]i-
cation, and the interments in all such
cases are left entirely to the disposal of
the city authorities and are made at
the Potter's field, which is located on
the north side Of Mine Bank lane, Just
beyond the eastern limits Of the city.
The incident which we are about to re-
late may have been an exception to the
usual mode Of conducting such burials.
but if rumor is not altogether at fault
the same thing has been done before
and, indeed, it has been more than once
;ntimated that it is really the custom a.
ry method. This method. so far as the
incident to which reference is made H.
lustrates it, is simply this: to cheat
the poor paupers out Of their cotins,
and, Of course, make the city paw for
the same coftins over and over again.


On Monday afternoon last two gen.
tlemen of respecta bility having walked
through the German burying ground
which adjoins the Potter's Field, one of
them proposed that they should rest
under large tree that stands on the
north side of the Potter's Field, near a
clump Of bushes. The two accordingly
got over the fence and sat themselves
down upon the grass to rest. Whilst
reclining here, conversing, light
spring wagon, having red body and a
black top, was driven into the field.
The wagon was dawn by bay horse,
and was occupied by two men--a
young mau of perhaps twenty or twen-
ty-fve years, and short, stout, middle
aged man with grayish hair. The lat
ter was dressed in light colored clo-
thing, and appeared to be the owner
and in charge Of the wagon and it's con-
tents. The wagon was driven up to a
grave which was only partially CON-
pleted, and here the horse was stopped,
and whilst the men got out and went
to work finishing the digging of the grave
the two silent spectators Of this scene
were screened from the view of the
gravediggers by the bushes, and re-
manned quietly in the shade of the tree
watching their movements with some
anxiety. Finally the grave, a very
shallow one, was completed, and the
man who had been at work in it jump
ed out, and going to the wagon, unbut-
toned the back curtain, dropped the
end board and called to his companion
to assist him. The two men then first
removed the screws from the cof6n-lid,
and having removed it, set it up against
one of the wheels. This done, the men
jumped out of the wagon, and the elder
man caught hold of the end of the coffin
and pulled it out so that the other could
get hold Of the other end and assist
in removing it to the grave. The coffin
and its contents were then taken to the
grave, when they not very deliberately
turned 7he coffin over till the poor
corpse, which it contained. fell out into
the shallow grave that had been pre-
pared for its reception. The empty
coffin was then Immediately placed in
the wagon, but the lid was still left
standing by the wagon. Each of the
men then went. to work with shovels,
and proceeded to shovel the earth down
upon the body and fill up the grave.


When the grave had BEEN almost half
tue* they stopped to take rest, and
during this halt a German and his wife
and two children were seen approaching
the grave. The moment the men observ.
ed them they called out to warn the in
truders away, telling them that thev
had better not come any nearer the
grave, as it contained the BODY of A.
man that had just from yellow fever Of
the worst sort, and that if they wished
to remain on earth the best
thing they could do was to make tracks
for other parts. The German and his
family took this advice, and left in
haste. The men then returned to
their work, and in few minutes the
filling of the grave was completed.
Just as the men had completed their
task two men entered the graveyard,
and, noticing the men at work, walked
in that direction. and as they adavnc-
ed they passed the tree under which
the two witnesses of this
strange scene had been concealed.
and as it happened that
all were acquainted, they paused to
exchange salutations. and then