Thence it reaches northward to a most curious desert land, where is a cemetery lovely beyond dreams.-Aleister Crowley, "Absinthe, The Green Goddess"
Background
The legend, a synopsis: In the Salt Lake City Cemetery, there is a gravestone for a woman named Lilly E. Gray with an inscription that reads, "VICTIM OF THE BEAST 666." Many people have attempted to research this stone and Lilly, but strangely always hit a brick wall, as there is no information aside from her obituary, which states only that she died in a local hospital from natural causes.
The Investigation
I have begun an investigation into the mystery of the strange inscription on this tombstone. There are few facts and clues to begin with. Lily Edith Gray's infamous gravesite is in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. This is not a rumor, urban legend or hoax; the cemetery, gravesite, and inscription are real, and can be viewed by the public during cemetery hours. I have personally been to the gravesite many times.
Lily Edith Gray's obituary is apparently easily found on microfiche, and the contents of which are reported by various easily accessible internet sources as containing information concerning her name, Lily Edith Gray, and her address at time of death, 1216 Pacific Ave, SLC. Survivors include a husband, Elmer Lewis Gray, and several unnamed nieces and nephews. Death is said to be from natural causes at a local hospital.
There are several discrepancies between the information on her grave maker and the information contained in records. The cemetery sexton's records confirm the single L in her first name, and the birth date of June 4th, 1880, opposed to the stone's version of June 6, 1881.
New information...
Background
The legend, a synopsis: In the Salt Lake City Cemetery, there is a gravestone for a woman named Lilly E. Gray with an inscription that reads, "VICTIM OF THE BEAST 666." Many people have attempted to research this stone and Lilly, but strangely always hit a brick wall, as there is no information aside from her obituary, which states only that she died in a local hospital from natural causes.
The Investigation
I have begun an investigation into the mystery of the strange inscription on this tombstone. There are few facts and clues to begin with. Lily Edith Gray's infamous gravesite is in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. This is not a rumor, urban legend or hoax; the cemetery, gravesite, and inscription are real, and can be viewed by the public during cemetery hours. I have personally been to the gravesite many times.
Lily Edith Gray's obituary is apparently easily found on microfiche, and the contents of which are reported by various easily accessible internet sources as containing information concerning her name, Lily Edith Gray, and her address at time of death, 1216 Pacific Ave, SLC. Survivors include a husband, Elmer Lewis Gray, and several unnamed nieces and nephews. Death is said to be from natural causes at a local hospital.
There are several discrepancies between the information on her grave maker and the information contained in records. The cemetery sexton's records confirm the single L in her first name, and the birth date of June 4th, 1880, opposed to the stone's version of June 6, 1881.
New information...
Comments
gar
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/17/2009
thanks for researching this. i live in slc and have a friend buried in the same cemetary (no evil connection however). i've seen the gravestone and always wondered.
Steve Hancock
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/28/2009
Interesting start. I hope there's more on this. Richelle, I'm impressed with the variety of interests conveyed by your material. You seem to have quite a knack for research.
Rob
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/21/2008
thats some scary shit i hope u find out what realy happend i hope she rests in heaven now un tormented
It's a common occurence--the font is slimmer, and it is used so the entire line can be accomodated in a small space.
Al Coyle
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/10/2007
I am intrigued mostly as to why the message is in a different typeface to the rest.
Fascinating Richelle. I love graveyards because of the bizare history they hold. A gravestone in Williamsport, PA I came upon once had no inscription at all. Just a tree trunk with a noose around it, possibly indicative that the individual was hung and not worthy of a mention. You make me wish I had dug further.
Thanks for your comments Carrissa and Mark!
I read your first article on this stone, and I'm glad you're following up. What a great mystery. I'm really hoping you can crack the code. Good luck. I'll be sure to keep reading....
This is quite a research project that you're doing here. I don't know what how you discovered this, but I can understand your preoccupation with it. Who can resist something like this?
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