Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-21
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST COSTLY
MAUSoLEUML IN AMERICA.

HAost Deoushui Aiaee VI nest fof TINS
Dead-Guartled by PInkerton.s Men.
NEW iohh' 'uiy .-lnere are few nan %
more familiar TO the general public than ttat
of Vanderbilt, the name of the richest family
in the world; the owner of the half million
dollar pleasure yacht Alva, the Fifth avenue
palace, with its three million dollars worth
of treasures of art and luxury: the virtual
owners of the Central Hudson, the only four
tracked road in America.
Not the least notable and remarkable Dos
session of the Vanderbilts is the mausoleum
lately com mpleted at New Dorp, Staten Island
The island is the old home, the native heath,
of the family, and their name is a familiar
one in its history. 1t was at New Dorp that
the old commodore started his son William
H. as a farmer, way back In lS42. 1t was
here, to little farm of seventy acres, that
the future COLOSSUS Of Roads brought his
wife when failing health compelled him to
give up position In banking house at the
princely salary of s16 a week. Here
for more than twenty years he lived
the simple life of q farmer, and il in
as farmer, and good one. too, that
he is chiefly remembered on the island. From
Tue llJIle SIaIlOu Is aDOuC IlalI q mile TO the
old farm now owned by George Vanderbilt.
This lies between the railroad and the shore,
but going in the opposite direction I'D New
Dorp lane, and then turning northward on
the main road, you find yourself, after about
a hall mile walk, at the entrance to the No
ravian cemetery. Just beyond the gate is
the church where Vanderbilt worshiped, and
beyond that is the parsonage which was one
Of his gifts to the church. The road through
the cemetery is the approach TO the mauso.
leum, and is thoroughly macadamized and
put in order Around the church are many
graves, where various members of the family
were buried, among them the old commodore
and his wife, who have been removed to the
rnausoleum on the hill since its completion.
As you pass on away from the conmo-
iore's first simple tomb you suddenly come
IN full view of the new mausoleum, which
has been hidden until now by the trees lining
the road. 1t crowns the summit Of hill,
and, as you first see it, looks like a huge
mound Of dirt, with a massive granite front,
and two turrets, also of granite, rising above.
Seen from below it is very impressive and
massive rather than beautiful But when
the spectator reaches the summit he finds one
"
approach to the tomb is by road about half
a mile long, winding among the trees and
gradually rising for about $50 feet, when it
ends in a broad esplanade $50 feet in width
and 200 long, directly in front of the tomb.
This is sodded and laid out in flower beds;
around it IS a massive granite wall with
smooth stone copings, open, however, for
carriages to reach the front OF the meuso-
leum-
This is now complete, or at least the out
side of it is; the interior decorations Of
statues, carvings and inscriptions are not yet
in place, nor indeed are they likely to be for
some years. 1t is finished in marble, and
will have in time a number Of carvings
representing Creation, Ascension, ,""Cru-
cifixion," and five other kindred subjects.
The walls Of the tomb are Of Quincy granite,
eight feet thick; the solid foundation reaches
fifteen feet below the bottom Of the cata-
combs, that Is beneath the floor Of the tomb
proper. 1t is about 25 feet high and 50 feet
wide on the outside. 1t is nearly 100 feet
deep and is divided into two Compartments
The outer one is merely a vestibule extending
clear across the front, with inches for statues
and slabs for inscriptions Within this is
the tomb proper. sort OF chapel or long
aisle, with massive carved altar backed by
heavy reredos for the burial service at the
farther end. On each side of this aisle are
four sets OF vaults, each holding nine bodies;
catacombs beneath the floor bring the ca
pacity OF the vault up to 127 bodies. The
chapel is lighted from overhead by two tur-
rets rising ten feet above the two feet Of
earth which covers tie tomb. They admit
the light through large windows Of the finest
plate glass two inches thick, which are pro
tected by heavy bronze gratings let into the
solid masonry of the turret. Through these
one can look down on to the marble floor OF
the chapel twenty-five feet below.
The design of the front is Gothic. An i'm
mense arched doorway, fanked on either
side by smaller similar doors, gives admis-
sion TO the tomb. 1t is closed by heavy
double gates of bronze, made Of bars nearly
an inch in diameter, placed about four inches
apart, with two heavy crossbars uniting
them. Over these as the solid part of the
gates is placed very graceful arabesque of
gates a very ornamental appearance and
doing away with the idea Of mere strength
and solidity. A large combination lock, the
secret of which is entrusted to but one per-
son, holds the gates in place Each Of the
smaller doorways is closed by similar gate.
Just within the main entrance is a large iron
screen, to prevent visitors from looking into
the interior of the tomb Opposite each Of
the side doors is funeral urn, Of marble;
on one is inscribed, 81 know that my Re
deemer liveth," and on the other, an tho
flesh shall see my Redeemer"