Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-03
THE GRown or THE GHoULs.


Fr1H. The Ven 3 o e L~etfNffH7
Unfertaker stephen Merritt, who had
the ~obseduies Of Gen. Grant in charge,
with timely consideration and a common
dable show OF business propriety toward
the feelings OF the family and chicfmourn-
ers Of the ilustrious dead, snow about
clearing up all accounts and summarizing
each item Of expense. in order TO-, within
This week, he able to forward TO the APP
nropriate parties or authorities for settle
ment, the bills or statements lor the entire
cost OF FURNISHING, conducting and fully
carving ont the arrangements OF the
burial of the hero OF AppomatoX. There
has been putin circulation by a sensa-
tioual morning paper and some reckless
sout-oitowu correspondents. stories TO the
~effectthat when the cost Of the eX-Presi-
DENTS burial would be made known the
peoule OF the whole country would be
shocked at exorbitant rates charged.
TRUE POINTS OF THE EXPENSES.
This morning a reporter called at I'm
dertaker Merritt's store to get a lalrldea Of
what the cost OF the great funeral would
be. and the actual particulars as to whom
me accounts would he sent 10 for settle
melII. FOf the AIHL Alllt SibNt ilAb u@s W.
the memorable obsequies an honest and
lucid estimation and explanation OF all
The pnint was obtained. Mr.. william
Merritt. the son of the head OF the estab-
lishmeut WHO'S in charge Of the accounts
and correspondence, was seen, and on
being interviewed he said, substan-
italy:
The statements published that we in
tended to charge excessively tor zen.
H-..s- ---.-N .A. .--an.aFFA Tint tho
bill will be for an unusual amount IN
comparison with any ordinary burial, OF
course. anv one with an ounce OF common
sense can understand. But SO far as its
coming up 80 3 1000, because it may have
to be paid by the government, IS con-
cerned-that is nothing but a stretch OF
Imagination for sensational purposes.
When M bill is put IN there viii not De
one item that cannot stand full lnNestga-
ton or comparison. We have not yet
completed the whole making out Of the
bill. and as to whether the expense VIII
all be borne by the government even that
J cannO now state "a a certainty.
TnE QUARTERMAsTER's BILL.
'sYou see, in the first place, when the
General died, we received a { legraphlc
dispatch from Col. Fred Grant, at Mount
McGregOr, ordering Us TO come up that
night and take charge OF the body and
funeral arrangements. Then after that
we received a verbal order from Col.
Hodges. of the Quartermsster's Depart
meut. 10 have the carriages and atten-
dscts on hand for the President, vice
President. Gen. Hancock and stan and
the other military and official dignitaries.
Then csme the verbal order from the War
Department. as 20 the canopy or funeral
car. and other details. Wen. the bill 70
the Quartermas-er We sent down today.
To supply tne carriages we secured them
all bv contract for the DAY. They cost $40
each, there being Jn in all. while the
President. Vice President and Gea. Han
cock and stats carriages will foot that
expense up 70 something like 5000. The
bill for the War Department we will now
send IN, but the expense relating to the
arrangements at Mount McGregor and
the casket. case and more private details
we will no d 10 receive further orders
about. But we expect, how yer, the gov
eminent may take the whole expense on
its shoulders, as the General was one OF
the country's great men. There is no fear
Of US not receiving our pay on time, or a
thought that an item will be disputed,
because we have not attem pied to swell
any OF our charges. W by, the heavy steel
case which was made tor the casket was
furnished TO US at cost price, and so
It will 90 on the bill.
1T does seem strange to me how some
CT the papers will place things. Here one
sheet has u bill fixed already as going
to be enormous and extOrti0nate. An
other in Philadelphia states that we got
the funeral through political consldera-
tons, Then the disposition OF a few
small flags hat did service on the canopy
comes in for a share OF harsh criticism,
, and finally an evening paper of a more
cynical turn spreads itself on setting
forth that the canopy that was used over
Grant is 20 bakept on exhibition by US.
All this is b0sh."
How ONE STORY STARTED.
Said one of Mr.. Merritt's assistants:
"The bottom of that sensation about
the terrible sum Mr.. Merritt is going to
charge the government for Grants tuner-
al lies up at Mount McGregor. l under
stand, and TO tell you the truth, it has
connected with it points of what might
have proven some pretty lively reading
from Mount McGregOr on the night Of the
Generals death. l will tell how IL was
now. You see, AS soon as the Merritts got
the dispatch down in New York 10 come
right up to Mount McGregor and take
charge of the body. they saw at once 1t
would be impossible to get the necessary
things up in time for icing the body, etc,
before the next morning. So, 70 lose no
lAllE anu 10 uANf iiG nNIN lHlllFAlNktiA
cared for, they telecraphed up 70 another
undertaken Mt or near the mountain TO 20
over 70 the DreXel cottage and place the
body on ice and remain in charge until
morning. Well. the undertaken in ques-
tion did as he was ordered by Merritt and
seemed delighted to get the chance.
CLAIMING GRANTS REMAINS.
''The next morning young Merritt and
his assistants from New York arrived.
But the trouble WAS that the country III
dertaker. instead Of then removing his
tbings and ending his work as directed,
actually refused TO do anything Of the
kind. and declared that so long as he vas
the first in charge Of the Generals re-
mains he meant TO stay so. Young Mer-
ritt politely told him he was making a
mistake. He was not engaged by the
family, but by him-Merritt-ouly tenn
pOrariiy. But even this did not deter tie
Mount McGregor man IN his determine
ton, and ne began 20 speak rather loud
and threatened 10 arouse the whole Grant
household TO witness a wrangling over
the remains. Young Merrit x better
sense Of reasoning came TO his rescue.
He aulled Col. Fred Grants telegraphic
order from his pocket and going TO that
gentleman explained the situation Of At
fairs. The Colonel had not spoken ten
words to the ambitious country under
taker, when his effects were soon SITTER
with himself-hurried from the death
chamber which be would desecrate in ms
49, LaH GOO "a N-NHAH. 800