Sebastian Clemente
05/05/2021 6:01 AM
Clarín.com
Cities
Updated 05/05/2021 6:01 AM
Just when
the yellow fever epidemic
was
150 years old, the
Chacarita cemetery disappeared the plaque that identifies the grave of Dr.
Manuel Argerich
, who died while fighting the epidemic that
took the lives of 14,000 people
. It is just one of the acts of
vandalism
that caregivers, relatives and specialists in Buenos Aires heritage have been denounced. In Chacarita, some graves are left
without identity
and it is difficult to identify them.
Argerich died on May 25, 1871. And on April 14 it was 150 years since it was decided to open a new cemetery in the Chacarita de los Colegiales area due to the collapse of the Sur burial, which was in
Parque Patricios.
He is considered a hero of those times in which the epidemic had put the lives of Buenos Aires in check. And his name takes relevance again in times of coronavirus, while the pandemic that plagues the world also impacts the City.
The Chacarita vaults are the ones that suffer the most from the theft of the plates, which in general are usually made of
bronze
and are
resold
in sheds and junkyards. For this reason, more and more people do not allow us to know which family they belong to or whether
illustrious characters
rest there
.
The theft of the plaque from Argerich's tomb was added, for example, that of the tomb of the jockey
Irineo Leguisamo
, who rests in a family vault, but does not have his last name.
So it is impossible to know that there are the remains of the man who competed for more than 50 years at racetracks in Argentina and Uruguay, the country where he was born, and who, in addition to inspiring artistic works such as tangos and films, gave the
cane its
name.
Legui
, a famous drink that is still served in bars today.
The tribute of Ramón Palito Ortego on the bronze plaque that was stolen from Irineo Leguisamo's vault.
Not only were the plaques that identified Leguisamo's tomb stolen from Chacarita.
They also took one in which the dedication of who was his "son of the heart",
Palito Ortega
, was read
.
“Your example and your love will always live in me.
Your son Ramón.
December 2, 1985 ", said the bronze that is no longer in its place.
Chacarita is
the largest cemetery in the City.
It has an area of
95 hectares
.
In recent years, robberies and vandalism have become a recurring conflict.
And despite the fact that income is limited by the pandemic, even last year, the full quarantine, plaques of monuments and bronze elements from vaults and tombs were taken, including a
cenotaph of Eva Duarte de Perón.
Other robberies
Manuel Balado
was responsible for the opening of the chair in Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the UBA.
The plaques identifying his tomb also disappeared.
Nor are there any more bronzes from the mausoleum of maestro
Osvaldo Pugliese
, one of the great icons of tango and an inevitable character of the Buenos Aires and national culture.
Metal elements were also taken from the grave of
Rosita Melo
, Uruguayan pianist, composer and concert performer, author of the famous criollo waltz “From the soul”, a creation that placed her as one of the first women to become known worldwide as a composer. of the music of the Río de la Plata.
The mausoleum of Osvaldo Pugliese, in the Chacarita cemetery, suffered the theft of bronze plaques.
"The theft of the plaques from the Argerich vault took place more than a month ago. Decree 3395, of December 1970, says that the preservation of the funerary heritage is the responsibility of the National Commission of Museums and of Monuments and Historic Places. He should take care of
replacing the pieces that are stolen,
"says Hernán Vizzari, historian and expert in funerary heritage.
"The commemorations should not only be a symbolic act. We must work
to protect what remains of the Heritage,"
adds Vizzari, who was declared an Outstanding Personality of Culture for his work.
Consulted by
Clarín
, sources from the Buenos Aires government assured that they are aware of the theft of the plates and affirmed that cemetery personnel are
already in contact with the families
.
In addition, they reported that this year
10 complaints for robberies were filed at Police Station 15.
Changes in funeral rites made
fewer and fewer people go to cemeteries
.
Thus, part of the heritage was abandoned by the families and deteriorated.
And with almost no people circulating, theft and vandalism were also favored.
Chacarita, Flores and Recoleta are under the purview of the Cabinet and, in turn, the Ministry of Citizen and Community Management,
since December 2019.
At present, of the 7 accesses that Chacarita has, there are
only 2 enabled
with security control;
one vehicular by Jorge Newbery and the main one, which is pedestrian.
In addition to the entry and exit controls, the City reported that
three smart cameras
monitored by the City Police
were added
to which they were fixed.
And that
"work continues to strengthen security
.
"
Covid protocol
Access hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By pandemic protocol, family members can only enter in groups of no more than 2 people with a maximum stay of one hour.
In the case of burials or cremations, up to 9 designated family members, plus a religious minister, may accompany.
SC