Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-20
THE TOMBS OF LIVING MEN
Final Resting Places For Noted
MiIIionaires.
EXPENSIVE MAUSOLEUMS
Marked by Severe Art and Solidity-lmpres-
sive and Massive Stone Structures Into
Which No 6houl May Enter.

A tour of great city of tho dead, like
Greenwood or Weodlnwn, Is well calculat-
cd to impress one by tho vast sums that
arc being spent of late years In monu-
ments sarcophagi and tombs, some reach
ing as high as $3.50 600 for n single mauso
leum. But tho most striking thing about
the great cemeteries now is tho toinbs be-
ing built by living men who seem to have
been forcibly struck by tho adage, IF you
want a long life, prepare for death"
Charles T. Yerkes the Chicago cable
king, is fond of his niausoleum in Green
wood. 1t is the acme of concentrated So
lidity. Nothing. it is claimed, could be
mure indestructible in the way of masonry.
His plot cost him about $11, 900. 1t is
beautifully located, near Ocean Hill and
within stones throw of Horny Ward
Beecher's last resting place. 1t is built of
crystal granite, light in color, with n fine
grain, and is 80 feet inches in length, 28
feet wide and 90 feet inches high. Tho
pure Greoian STYLE after tho Parthcnon,
was followed There arc eight columns,
with Ionic capitals and four pilasters.
Within six pilasters Of marble support
marble ceiling, which is divided into four
panels. In tho center rest two sarcophngi,
the outer ono being of polished granite
being of heavy bronze. The stained glass
windows wero imported.
The bronze entrance doors arc as burglar
proof as the great New York clearing
house SAFE according to the builder. They
are double, and 1t would take an expert
safe breaker at least l2 hours to gain an
entrance. On the door fronts are lions
heads and grille work. Tho name Charles
r. Yerkes' Is carved above the portal.
William H. Webb has carefully planned
his tomb. Mr.. Webb made the greater
part of his fortune in shipbuilding. Not
long ago Mr.. Webb erected on n beautiful
spot on the banks of the Hudson an acad-
envy for tho training of tho youth of the
country in tho art of ship construction.
This academy and its endowment cost him
1000, 600. There arc u series of beautiful
bronzes in Mr. Webb's tomb, showing the
different stages of the shipbuilder's art
and bronze models of some of tho great
warships launched at the famous Webb
shipyards on tho East river, near Sixth
street.
The Webb mausolcum Is 22 by 40 feet
and has ten separate tombs. The entrance
is through massive bronze doors, of which
it is said there is none more beautiful in
any mausoleum. The interior is artistic
ally adorned with fine marbles, and stained
glass windows of great beauty of color
lend additional richness to one Of the most
refined and beautiful examples of mortu-
airy architecture in the world.
What is perhaps the largest and most
imposing mausoleum in this country was
recently completed in Salem Fields GENE
terry, Greenwood, n. Y, for Banker Jacob
Schiff. Mr.. Schiff is known chiefly for
his philanthropy. Mr. Schiff' mausoleum,
in which will also rest the members of the
Loeb family, to which Mr.. Schiff Is relat
ed by marriage, is in purely elastic de-
sign, executed in granite, and it cost very
near S1S0,000 1t is 52 by A feet and
32 feet high. In addition there is n grand
eolonnade on both sides leading to the
massive bronze doors. The mausoleum
walls arc absolutely proof against body
snatchers, for 1t would take them several
days, it is claimed, to chisel through the
granite blocks weighing 40, 900 pounds on
the average. The interior is decorated in
a most artistic manner. This Grand tomb
is now empty.
When that great philosopher, DR.. Chaun-
ccy M. Depew, seeks his last resting place,
1t will be in handsome mausooum erect
cd at Peekskill Over the entrance Is DR..
Depew's name, and since its completion it
has been visited by numerous tourists.
Dr. Depow wife now rests in this beauti-
full tomb. 1t is purely classical in design.
The roof is formed of two mammoth pieces
of granite, weighing together about 100,-
600 pounds. Tae interior is artistically
finished in several varieties of marbles and
contains 12 catacombs. The bronze double
doors are exceedingly neat in design. DIR.
Depew's mausoleum cost him about $685.
Al. -
is in one of the most beautiful spots in
Hillside cemetery, two miles from Peeks-
. Aill.
The friends of DR.. Clark W. Dunlop
claim that his tomb in Woodlawn is the
handsomest one in the country. 1t is &C.
tagonal in shape and Of Moorish design,
costing about 800, 900, including tho lot.
All the interior walls ore of costly marbles
in several varieties. There are three large
stained glass windows and the floor is ex-
ecuted In mosaics. There are bronze por-
trait medallions of DR.. Dunlop and his
wife. There are only two vaults in the
tomb The tomb is of granite and there
is very elaborate carving about the en-
trance. There is 81 feet of granite ap-
proach, one large platform stope being II
feet by 12 feet and weighing 30, 900 pounds.
The total height of the mausoleum Is 40
feet. 1t is unoccupied
There is one silent tenant now in the
mausoleum planned by Banker Giovanni
p. Morosini, the body of his wife. This
superb temple of the dead is in the form of
tho Greek cross, and is of modified type
of the Byzantine school Of architecture.
The Morosini lot is 1000 square feet, and
this beautiful work Of art occupies the
central space. Mr. Morosini studied out
every detail with the greatest care in COM
pany with prominent firm of architects.
Two lions couchant, resting on blocks Of
granite, from which they, too, are carved,
flank the doorway to the right and left.
The foundation for the structure is of solid
rock. 1t would be an almost impossible
task to tunnel through it. Every precau-
ton is taken against body snntchers, and
it is Mr.. Morosinis intention to keep
constant guard in front of his tomb. Jay
Gould's tomb in Woodlawn is now closely
guarded by two former policemen night
and day.-New York Herald.
Furniture scratches.