[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 13 Dec 1823 - Local News (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 13 Dec 1823   (p. 2, col. 6 and p. 3, col. 1-4 + 6)     [continued] 

 

So anxious were the crowd to witness these exhumations, that they rushed over the church-yard walls (seriously dilapidating them),
and trampled down the graves, to their great disfigurement. This had attained such a pitch on Wednesday, that a printed notice was
issued 'by order of the Clergyman and Churchwardens,' that 'whoever was found climbing the church-yard wall of St. Mary's, or
otherwise injuring the yard, would be prosecuted as the law directed;' and five shillings reward was offered by the wardens for
every offender brought to justice. 

 

About the same time another printed bill, addressed to the inhabitants, was posted about the town; it was signed 'Humanus,' and the
object of it was evidently to increase the commotion. The violation of the sepulchres of the dead was attributed 'to the supineness
of the magistracy, and the parsimony of the clergy;' and the people were called upon to assemble and adopt means of prevention, &c.
The true character and tendency of this sinister address were fully exemplified in the fact that the printer shrunk from attaching
his name to it. 

 

Every person of common feeling will grant to 'Humanus' that these violations, and especially the manner in which they appear to have
been conducted, are most repulsive to our nature, and ought, if possible, to be prevented. But it remains to be proved how they are
imputable to the 'apathy of the Magistrates,' or the 'parsimony of the Clergy,' inasmuch as they were carried on under the shade of
night, unknown to every one but the unfeeling authors of them and their confidants. When it can be shewn that the honourable persons
accused have participated in the crime, then attack them; but let us not have every occurrence converted into means of local
disunion: of that, we have quite enough already. 'Humanus,' however, will say, we presume, that the Magistrates and Clergy ought to
have provided means of prevention: this he may assert, for a particular purpose; yet, whoever he be, he knows better than to attach
any weight to such an argument. 

 

Many persons have met men about late at night, in various parts of the neighbourhood, for some time past, who evinced a particular
dislike to be approached; and they even pursued some individuals, in order, it is presumed, to keep the way clear for their
companions. 

 

The depredators have doubtless left the town ere this, as a matter of prudence;-were they met and recognized by the populace, their
lives might be pronounced of little value. 

 

It is unlucky for the Scots Greys that any of their number were seen with them, as a violent suspicion is thereby raised in the
public mind that the plunderers derived assistance from individuals belonging to that gallant and exemplary corps. 

 

Among the many ridiculous rumours to which these events have given rise, we may enumerate the following:- 

 

It was asserted that the offenders were murderers as well as resurrection-men: that they met people in the highways, even the
streets, clapped a strongly adhesive plaster upon their mouths to stifle their cries, whipt them into a bag, and sent them off for
the dissecting knife! 

 

A little girl had strayed from her parents at Upperby, gone to Cummersdale, and could not be found for eight-and-forty hours-she had
been carried off by the resurrection-men! 

 

William GRAHAM, the coachman, cannot at present be found-he, too, has been carried off by the resurrection-men! 

 

In the beginning of the week, female servants could scarcely be prevailed on to go out only a few steps after dark. On Sunday
evening, one young woman of this class, was coming up Castle-street, brim-full of fear, keeping a sharp look-out against the common
enemy. When she came opposite Long-lane, as it is called, a gust of wind caused the corner of her shawl to flap in her
face-imagination instantly converted it into the dreaded plaster, and she screamed most loudly for assistance! 

 

Letters from Edinburgh, too, have been intercepted (addressed to the parties at Long Island, and opened by somebody or other),
containing an order for a general assortment-'an old cock, an old hen, a double hen, and three or four young chickens!' On inquiry
at the Post-office, we learn that no delivery of letters takes place at Long-island; and we scarcely need add that the story is
altogether a fabrication. * Who can help admiring the brilliant thought of the old cock, old hen, and the double hen? 

 

It was said that a young man in the employment of Mr. ALLISON, in passing near St. Mary's churchyard late on Saturday night, saw a
party of the marauders coming over the wall-and that on accosting them, he was terribly cut in the hand by one savage, armed with a
sharp long knife, larger than a carving knife!-On inquiry at the fountain-head, we learnt that the young man in question, while in
company with others in Castle-street, on Saturday night, saw two men on the other side of the way. A shout was set up, 'There are
the resurrection men! when one of the two ran off, and the tobacco-spinner had a slight scuffle with the other, in which his finger
was cut; but with what he knows not, neither does he know that the persons so assailed were otherwise than honest, well-meaning men!


 

Further depredation is now out of the question, for the church-yards are carefully watched by the friends of persons recently
interred.-Do we not begin to feel the want of a Police? 

 

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* It is true, however, that double letters were frequently received from Edinburgh by one of the persons (the tallest) now known as
the Resurrection-men, under the name of LAMBERT; he regularly called for them at the Post-office. 

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[to be continued] 

 

 

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