Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-25
GARFIELD'S GRAVE.
The Lonely Watch Kept Over the Tomb by
Sentry-The Body Fast Wondering
Into Dust-How the Report of an Attempt
to Rob the Grave was Started.

Sentry-The Body Fast Wondering
Into Dust-How the Report of an Attempt
to Rob the Grave was Started.
Especial Telegram to the Globe
CLEVELAND, O., June 24.-The guards
are still watching the tomb of the late
president. When the GLOBE correspond
ent walked up to the vault in Lakeview
cemetery, containing Garfeld's body, q
lonely and solitary private was patroling
weary look in his face. By the way he
held his musket should Judge it weighed
in the reighborhood of hundred pounds.
Inside the vault near the entrance is a tall
silver vase, which is filled with beautiful
flowers twice each week by florist en-
ployed by Mrs. Garfield. On the casket
is a handsome wreath of immortelles,
placed there by Modjeska, the actress,
when in Cleveland some time ago. Near
the wreath lies a sheaf of wheat,
laid there by Garfeld's father-in-
law. At the base of the casket lies the
large palm that was placed on the casket
in Elbsron on the warm morning in
September when services we're held in that
FraRcklyn cottage by the seashore. Front
ing the tomb is wire fence, on the gate
of which hangs q small tin box which is
used as a receptacle for small contribu-
tons by visitors to the Garfield monu-
ment fund. The average receipts are
about $3.50 per day. At this rate it would
not take many years to secure a goodIy
sum with which to build a modest monu-
ment.
Has anyone viewed the remains of the
dead recently" was asked of the guard in
attendance. eyes; the lieutenant in
charge sees the body once month. You
see the officer having the
body in charge is held responsible
for its safe preservation. and when the
lieutenants change off on the first of each
month, the newly arrived officer unscrews
the plate that covers the glass over the
casket,and looks in to see that the remains
are still there. 1t is a most disagreeable
task, assure you. The last time I saw
the body there was every indication that ii
was rapidly crumbling to dust. The face
was covered with white mould, and the
features were we'll nigh obliterated."
"Do the relic hunters annoy you to any
great extent?" asked the correspondent.
''Yes, they bother Us terribly. They
carry off anything they can lay hands upon.
even to the grass that grows around
the vault. For this reason we were
compelled to place wire fence
around the vault. In my opinion
| there was really no necessity for the plac-
| ing of guard around this grave. The
idle talk of four drunken men had more
than anything to do with it. The night
after Garfeld's body was placed here in
this vault, the cemetery emploYe who stood
in the shrubbery near by guarding the
vault, was startled by four men who drove
up and began rafting at the vault door.
One of the men claimed to be United
States officer, and wanted to know why nc
guard was stationed at the grave. The
sexton threatened to pound him with a
club if he did not leave the grounds; and
the party retreated in good order. When
they returned to the city they started the
report that an attempt had been made to
rob Garield's grave, and the government
troops were hurried here from Fort Wayne
and placed on guard