New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-11

ASVS
Royale, and 20 to the Luxor column, re-
traces the cia d0lorosa of the revolution on
the afternoon of tenth of ThermidOr.-
F0rtnightly Rerier.
ATTEMPT TO DEsPOIL THE LINCOLN
MONUMENT.
Thieves Trying to Steal the Bones Of the
Martyr President.
An attempt was made this evening to
perpetrate one of the most infamous out
RACES which the mind Of man can conceive
of-tbat of stes ling the bones and ashes of
petrators escaped, leaving, however, the
evidences of their crime behind them, and
though the clues are next to nothing, if hu.
man ingenuity can track them it will be
done. Somehow or other, NO ono exactly
knows how, j. G. Power, the custodian of
the Lincoln monument, became impressed
with tho idea that there were designs upon
the remains, and he communicated his
suspicious to Leonard Swett and Rob
ert Lincoln. They could hardly believe
that any one, even the meanest and lowest
scouudrel in the land, could conceive such
a thing. However, to prevent the horse
from getting ont Of the stable, they con-
cluded to lock the dcOr-to adopt precau-
tions even should there be nothing in the
feeling Accordingly, SWEET wrote Colonel
Stewart, of this city, about two weeks ago,
requesting him to station guard at the
monument. This was done, but no one
came to disturb the corpse. Detective Tyr
rell. OF the United States secret service,
whose headquarters are in Chicago, having
business here, was requested by SWEET and
Lincoln to see Mr.. Power, and to look
around town and watch for suspicious
characters. He arrived here three or four
DAYS ago, and at once commenced vigOr-
GUS shadowing Of several of the small
hotels, but he saw no one whom he re-
cognizel. This afternoon Mr.. Power
came into town in q hurry and hunt
ed up nyrrell and informed him that two
very hard looking cases had been out to the
cemetery looking around, and he felt as
pose. One registered as from Racine. and
the other from Kenoshs, Wisconsin. Their
nance are suppressed, since they have had
nothing to do with what occurred later. An
effort y i'll Of course be made to find out who
they are, and should they prove to be inno-
cent Injustice would be done them by telling
now who they are. Mr.. Power, not being
used to detective work, could give but
meagre descriptions Of them. The result of
the interview with Tyrreii is unknown, but
he must have concluded that election night
was an excellent one in which to rob the
tomb.
This evenings train brought from Chicago
ex Chief of the Secret Service Elmer Wash.
burn. who, it seems, had been requested by
SWEET and Lincoln to come here aud aid
Tyrrell. About half-past six Washburn,
Tyrrtll and three other men went out ia
Oakwood and concealed themselves in
Memorial Hall, inside the monument, to
await developments. One man was posted
in the labyrinth in the rear, so called be.
cause of the walls running in different di
rections and making numerous passage
ways, these walls supporting the terrace.
His object was to hear the noise made in
the vault if any were made. After patiently
waiting for nearly three hours, and when
about tired out from standing still, the ut
most silence being imperative. he heard a
grating noise, which lasted perhaps
i've minutes. Then, in q little while,
came several successive thuds, as il
some one was hsmmering. The
time having arrived for action, Washburn
and his men slipped cut Of the door, with
to shoot to kill if any resistance was made
j ust as they were turning the corner to the
left one of the men accidentally exploded
his revolver. The noise was very loud, &C
still were the surroundings, aud unfOr.
tunately it was too loud, for, though there
were but about 40 feet TO go over, when
the officors got to the door of the vault the
dastardly villains were gone. They mus
have had come one watching to give
them the signal of danger, or els<
had come outside for breath o.
| the cap and ran into the woods which sur
rounded the monument. 1t is but shor
distance, and man could get within shelter
| and be unobserverable in . quarter of {
minute. The men at once scattered. anC
went in the a;::ccos:1M the thieves had gone
land, while lodging behind the trees, two o
them exchanged shots, each mistaking tn
| other for one OF the fugitives. After shooting
| at each other, they cried "Wash," wash
| indicative of friend in such an emergency
and then they found out their mistake
The bullets whizzed close to both, and i
| was miraculous that they escaped injury.
No traces of the thieves being discovered
| the party returned to the catacomb, ant
beheld . sight which made them sad. tn,
| body, as is known perhspe, is inclosed in ,
| lead casket. This is surrounded by q ceda
| case, and the receptacle of these is marbl,
| earcophagus. The latter had double lid
the upper one not being % large as tn
| other. Both had been pried of with ,
| chisel or an ak, and somewhat Clipped il
| the operation. The under lid was laii
CrOSSWlsc Oh tuo CdoAots tuo UoAu ploCo VI
| the floor, and the upper lid standin,
| against the wall. The casket itself wa
| pulled out about q foot from the body o
| the earcOphague, and q small piece ha,
| been taken of on the floor, where an q,
| with the edge full of marble dust, an ordi
| nary chisel and a pair Of nippers. Th
| other tools had evidently been taken ava,
| since the lock on the iron grated door ha,
| been sawed oil.
1t should perhaps be stated that the sal
| co )hagus was in the catacOmb and not il
the crypt, being thus placed in order tha
| visitors might see it. The damage done i
| comparatively little.
| The officers of course were dissppointe,
| at not catching the vandals, but they thinl
| it is only q question of q little time whel
| they will be apprehended.
| Only one motive can be attributed t
| these despoilers of the grave, and that
| the hope of q reward for the restoration O
the remains. If they had succeeded in cal
rying them of, it certainly could not hsv
been their intention to take away the casket
| for it must weigh from 500 to 600 pounds, an,
halt dozen men could not have carried it t
the fence for transfer to wagon in the road
| 1t is more than likely that they intende
to cut open the casket and gather q
the bones and dust of the martyr. Presiden
and put them in bag. What would hav
been the indignation of the country ha
this been done! The scheme concocted b.
these men is certailny unparalleled in tn
history of crime, and, now that there is ev
denoe of minds so debssed, it is certain tha
measures will be taken to guard the mont
ment aud prevent future attempts. Th
facts given above did not come until earl
this morning, and are known to only few
otherwise the outrage would have occupie
as great q share of the attention of th
community as the election. Words can nc
express the feelings of those who do kno,
it, and it is earnestly hoped that the doubl,
distilled perpetrators of this attempted rol
hery of the remains of Americas most love
p esident will soon be brought to Justice