The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-07
GUARDING GARFIELD's TOMB.
A Bleak Spot Which the Soldiers Prefer
Their Regular Station.


Their Regular Station.
Cleveland Special.
If there is stir anywhere in the lower lake
region, day or night, breath Of air, the low
plains to the east of Cleveland and the high
ridge beyond them get touch Of it. The trend
of the lake shore to the north seems to throw the
blast across the country at this point, and the
soldiers who stand sentinel at Garfeld's tomb
are of the opinion that seven kinds of weather
to the hour, and all of it cold, is the rule this
winter Day and night, week in and week out
a form in blue con be seen pacing backward and
forward before the vault in which the dead
President lies.
1--WE are ordered away" said one of the men.
'the date fixed upon for our departure being
June 3d." After that the family or the trustees
of the Monument Association will have charga
of the remains. On hill some distance from
the soldiers quarters and the vault high board
fence incloses about an acre of ground The
gateway there is barred, and over it the terse
inscription, keep Out" No one is within it
during this wintry weather. Huge blocks of
stone lie about At the centre of the Enclosure
stands rough broad structure. through the
roof of which derrick protrudes. Within, COW
cred closely with straw, are the first nine feet of
the Garfield Monument Work will be resumed
in the spring and pushed forward as rapidly as
possible. The association has over $125, 900,
which is so invested that 1t increases at the rate
at $1,000 year.
Lieut.. Clarence r. Edwards, an orderly SER
Scdnt, anu bnlfI06u Heu Oh the lWepGy-CnIru
United States Infantry are at present on guard
at the grave. The men are good on the average,
being picked, and are allowed to come here
rather as a favor than otherwise 1t is change
from duty at Fort Wayne, Detroit, where the
command is at present stationed. A remark to
sentry as the lake wind went cutting through the
trees, Its cold place brings out the re-
sponse "Yes, but not like Fort Wayne, with
the blast sailing down the Detroit river"
One of the thirteen men is detailed as cook.
oot ~ oth 11%xy -; ~S
two hours on and four off-for the twenty -four
hours. A little square building stands across
the roadway from the tomb Here the men re-
main while on duty. 1t contains good fire and
a couple of bunks with blankets and buffalo
robes
The tomb is provided with two doors The
outer one is made of heavy iron and remains
open during the day when the weather is fne
The inner door or gate is constructed of iron
bars, arranged in a vertical position, and allows
full view of the metallic casket in which the
body of Garfield is nclosed. The metal is
changing it's color. and the black cloth drapings
are beginning to fade into brown. Lieutenant
Edwards carries the key to the inner door. and
can gain entrance through his consent
A trick was played upon one
of his predecessors in charge, and there is no
danger of its being repeated. man went to
Lake View and, with many entreatieS empha-
sized with tears. asked to see the face of the
dead. 81 was his schoolmate," said he, land
one of his dear friends did not see him after
his death nor for years before, as I was out of
the country. All ask for is one look" He
finally prevailed and was allowed to look at the
dead. Then he went away and published dis
torted account of his visit in the newspapers and
got the poor officer into trouble.
Each Sunday morning the bouquet upon the
casket is changed. There is great demand for
the faded flowers and relics. People write for
them sometimes from all parts of the country.
A lady residing in California wrote for part of
one of them. soldier sent it, In return he
received a package containing collars, neckties,
gloves, etc. The demand for mementoes of a
visit to the tomb is almost as great as at first,
and one of the chief duties of the soldiers is to
keep the visitors from chipping off the corners of
the stone vault. 'Some come with hammers in
their pockets" said the sentinel, "and would
carry off the whole place if we would let them.
They are content when they can do no better to
carry away pebbles from the path" They come
even yet in crowds, on pleasant DAYS some be-
ing strangers who are stopping in Cleveland, but
the majority are from the city. Very few are
seen by night, as any one coming near the tomb
is halted and made to explain his business before
coming near. A local newspaper reporter who
was searching for Lieutenant Edwards one
night was collared by the guards, and despite his
protestatons was taken across the ravine to
headquarters, where the officer was routed out of
bed, recognized him, and took him into shelter.
The headquarters are In neat little frame
house, built by the government dozen rods
from the vault 1t contains TWO rooms, one we'll
furnished, with bed, a lounge, writing desk,
rugs, and curtains. This is occupied by the Off
GER of the guard who remains here every night
and most of the day His parents reside in
Cleveland, his father being the head of a large
wholesale house and partner to ex- Congressman
Amos Townsend. The Lieutenant says that
Cleveland people have treated his squad very
kindly. The men are allowed the use of all the
books they desire from the public library. and in
other ways have been aided in dsposing of their
leisure time. Their quarters are in plain but
comfortable house, a few rods from that occu-
pied by the officers. Everything is kept in the
most perfect state of cleanliness, and the whole
concern is run on strict military basis. The
Lieutenant is kept busy, as he combines while in
Camp Garfield the positions of quartermaster
commissary, and signal officer. The cost of
keeping the men here is only ST. 50 per day for
the whole command, or less than $l1 week.
above the expense necessary to maintain them
somewhere else in fort This is much less
figure than most people had supposed
Yale's Female Law Student
Boston Transcript.
It is not true as reported in New York naners