The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 91

of bygone years was not adverse to accepting bribes from those who, prompted by curiosity, wished to invade the privacy of Nina's crypt. The marble mausoleum, once flawlessly white, immediately became tinged with red. Blood like splotches, reminiscent of the symbols of the first Jewish Passover, appeared above the wrought-iron entrance. The frightened sexton, believing this manifestation an omen that he had accepted money tainted by little Nina's blood, refrained from accepting bribery for a while. The stains are said to have disappeared completely, and the sexton, forgetting his former fear, began accepting bribes again.

And again the bloodlike stains appeared, more realistic than before. No amount of scrubbing could wash them away. The sexton is said to have been so terrified that he never again admitted any unauthorized person to the interior of the sepulcher. The splotches remain above the doorway to this day, and the legend persists that they grow darker on Saint Luke's day the anniversary of Nina's death. The true explanation, in all probability, is that the marble is of inferior quality and is gradually reverting to limestone.

The story behind this is an epic of parental devotion and frustration. For not with all his wealth could John Craigmiles have averted the tragedy that tore his lovely little daughter from his arms. His efforts to immortalize Nina after her untimely death became fanatic in their proportions. He was obsessed with but one desire: to have the township remember the sweet-faced child who once had walked in its midst. rlNA CRAIGMILES was born Au N' gust 5, 18G4.

Her parents, Mr. Til: fi) 3 nT, and Mrs. John H. Craigmiles, were extremely wealthy, and commanded a position of power and prestige in their community. Had Nina grown to maturity, she no doubt would have been one of the most pampered belles of the Southland.

Her family's affluence was evinced by the erection of an ornate opera house In the business section of Cleveland. But it was a church Saint Luke's Episcopal which was to assure immortality for Nina and the Craigmiles clan. Saint Luke's was, at the time of its founding, not a church, but a mission. Organization was begun on July 22, 186T, with John Craigmiles as a committeeman. Rev.

George N. James of Athens, was Instrumental in founding the mission, and he agreed to hold one service a month for its small membership. The mission was named Saint Albans, after the first Christian martyr in the region that is now England. Early meetings of the parishioners were held in a room of the old Cleveland Masonic hall, which in later years was to become the Cleveland Female institute, and, still later, a parish house. On July 1, 1868, Rev.

Mr. James moved to Cleveland and thereafter devoted half of his time to the infant mission. (Continued on page 14) Photot by the author The Craigmiles mausoleum back of St. Luke's Episcopal church, Cleveland, Tenn. i i EM in Marble An odd tale haunts the Cleveland tomb of Nina Craigmiles By Lee Christian THE coarsely dressed middle-aged woman, :.1 Mi that everyone In Cleveland knows that the body of a child, perfectly preserved, lies in state in the marble crypt behind the church proper, where It was interred almost 80 years ago! The youthful Rev.

Mr. Boardman and his wife were soon to learn that their parish is steeped In weird legends concerning the marble mausoleum, centrally located on Cleveland's main street, which enshrines the remains of little Nina Craigmiles. Many credulous Clevelanders believe that the persons inhumed in the crypt are not only perfectly preserved, but that on certain occasions their vaults are opened and bared for public view. Many a prominent citizen will admit that, during his earlier years, he feared to cross the stone wall which ensconces the Episcopal church and the Craigmiles crypt, because of the fables that had arisen concerning Nina's memorial. The sepulcher, Intended to be an elegy in marble, is swathed in myth and misconception.

It Is said that an avaricious sexton MtMHIt inn flanked by five Nina sman children of assorted sizes, rang the rectory doorbell imperiously. Pretty Mrs. Armlstead Boardman, wife of the new rector of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church In Cleveland, hastened to greet her callers. She expected to enjoy a pleasant social hour with one of her parishioners, but It soon became evident that the woman was not of the parish, nor bent upon social tete-a tete. Her purpose, apparently was to conduct her children upon 'a macaber tour of the environs of Saint Luke's.

Hoarsely, but unhesitatingly, she asked, "Kin you show my litt'luns the girl you got pickled In alkie-hol?" Young Mrs. Boardman flinched. "You can't believe," she gasped, "that we keep children preserved in alcohol on our premises!" The visitor was not to be so easily deterred. Belligerently, she maintained Nina' tomb, like an altarj inside the mausoleum FIVE THI NASHVILU TENNESSEAN MACAZINE, APRIL 16. 1950.