The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-28
THEVANDERBiLr MAUsoLEUM.
How the Last Sleep of the Archmil-
Iionaire is Guarded.

Ounudy Gun
The face of the structure is of granite, and
it has only one high, wide doorway, closed
with double door of wrought iron bars
There is main structure, and on either side
wing bends forward, so that the whole
forms an arc of circle. Three broad semi
circular steps lead to the doorway. Through
the doorway may be seen in the centre
Roman arched doorway, closed with a door
OF metal. Behind this door the remains of
w. H. Vanderbilt rest on one of several
shelves, arranged like the shelves of ordn-
airy receiving vaults in cemeteries. The
mausoleum is set into the face of the hill be-
hind it. The bottom, sides and top are
formed of massive blocks of granite which
nothing but derrick could move.
Mr. Vanderbilt's body had been in the old
receiving vault nearly year when it was re-
moved on Friday last. He died on Dec. 8.
1886, and the body was laid.in the receiving
vault on Friday, Dec. II. That the body
should have been placed in the receiving
vault on Friday was remembered by resi-
dents of New Dorp yesterday. The coffin,
enclosed in wooden box, was removed from
the receiving vault on Friday in the presence
OF William X. Vanderbilt Frederick w.
were in front of the receiving vault at the
time only the close carriage in which Mr..
Vanderbilts three sons had been dri en- to
the Morayian cemetery and an undertaker's
open wagon with one horse.
group of Pinkerton detectives, who
have kept watch at the receiving vault for
nearly year. stood at the entrance of the
vault. The three sons took off their hats as
the remains of their father was carried past
them and put into the undertaker's wagon.
A little procession followed the wagon up to
the mausoleum The wagon with the coffin
went first with the undertakerS assistants
at its side. Then followed the Vanderbilt
brothers in their coach, and the Pinkerton
| watchmen on foot formed the rear The
mausoleum was an eighth Of mile distant
There was no relig GUS ceremony. The hill
in front of the mausoleum is covered with a
thick growth of tall, slender. young trees,
which will form in future years beautiful
shade,
The duties of the Pinkerton men on guard
are simple, but monOtonOus. A watchman's
registry clock is fastened to the barred gate
Of the mausolenm, and one each to the two
cupolas which surmount the mausoleum. In
each OF these key must be turned every if-
teen minutes, day and night, the year round
Superintendent Bangs of the Pinkerton agen-
cy said yesterday that he was not at liberty
to say how long detectives will be kept on
guard at the tomb. They carry reyolyers
and live in a 0ne-story shanty on the brow
| OF the bill on which the mausoleum stands.
The watch is changed every six hours. At
| night two big lights with refiectors are placed
| on the steps of the mausoleum, and their
light reveals the features of the stranger who
1 climbs up the road leading to the mansoleum.
| The minute his head appears gruff voice
| from in front of the mausoleum demands
who goes there?" Unless the stranger
| can give satisfactory account of himself he
| is not allowed to remain.
The view of the upper bay, the Narrows,
| and the lower bay from the top of the maui
| soleum is one of the most beautiful in the
| neighborhood of New York city.