Text: Anonymous, “Exhumation of the Poet Poe's Remains,” Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), vol. LXXVII, no. 119, October 1, 1875, p. 4, col. 3

[page 4, column 3, continued:]

Exhumation of the Poet Poe's Remains. — The foundation for the Poe monument, in the churchyard of Westminster Church, corner Green and Fayette streets, has been prepared for its reception. The inauguration of the monument will take place some time this month, the programme for which has not yet been fully arranged. It was found necessary, in order to get space required for the foundation of the monument, to remove the remains of Poe to the grave of Mrs. Clemm, his relative, buried near by. The remains were found about five feet below ground. The coffin at first appearances seemed to be sound, but when raised the sides were found decayed and fell to pieces. Nothing remained inside the coffin but the skeleton, all the flesh and grave clothes having long since returned to dust. Some hair yet attached to the skull, and the teeth, which appeared all white and perfect, were shaken out of the jaws and lay on the bottom of the coffin. The old coffin god its contents were placed entire as exhumed in a wooden case and lowered into the new grave and closed up. The stones for the foundation of the monument were put in place, and everything is now prepared for the superstructure.