New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04
ON GUARD AT THE TOMB.
MEN THERE NOW DAY AND NIGHT.
THOUSANDS WATCH THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK
How THE BODY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
-BEAUTIFYING THE GROUNDS.

THOUSANDS WATCH THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK
How THE BODY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
IDENTIFYING THE GROUNDS.
Bright skies and balmy breezes tempted thou'
sands of persons yesterday morning and afternoon
to visit the Grant Tomb. to see how far the WORK
on 1t had advanced and to take a last look at the
armor-stee case containing the body or the Gen-
eral In the repository before II Is broken TOT the
transfer OF the coffin within to tho sarcophagus'
Some Of the visitors arrived In costly turhouts'
some on foot and hundreds after hundreds on o'-
cycles MANY persons there in the afternoon were
from distant places outside of this city. The rn-
Iicemen on duty Mt the tomb said that the crowd
yesterday was not so large as that on the preceohB
day. but they expected that unusually Dig
throng OF sight-seers would keep them busy from
morn till night to-day. II the weather Is fine.
For some time two policemen have been guard
ing the repository night and day. and one man has
been constantly watching the tomb. This morn
ing the guard at the Tomb will consist OF az least
O dozen stalwart graycoats and at night there VIII
be two watches instead Of one. No less than Two
men Will be on duty there at night from now on
until some timo after the ceremonies AT present
the policemen on duty at the tomb have to be ex-
ceedingly dilgent and alert. they are afraid
some enthusiastic relic hunter viii chip OFT some
portion OF brick of the repository or inJure the
steps leading TO the tomb
Every since the first stone Of the tomb was laid
q number of persons nave weekly |iSiteu tio SpOS
and closely watched the building or IT, some OF
these frequent visitors TO the tomb were among
the throngs there yesterday. and they noteu Win
pleasure the almost completed tomb. with the
partly finished asphalt path leading to IT, In the
brief space of a few days great progress had Decn
made The tomb Itself. from an outward Vew'
seemed complete but within IT'S massive stone walls
the marble work is yet TO be polished IheSe rev
finishing touches to complete the TOMB VIII pe AT
tended some time this week -, -. H.
Considerable work yet remains TO be done OH ths
entrance to the tomb and to the elevated grounu
on which IL rests Some fifty feet of ground north
Of the tomb has been filled in with dirt; 1t will he
rolled so that its surface Will be on leVei WIN
tho approaches and asphalted walks 10 the lohp9
The main path to the tomb Is being asphalteu
About ten feet OF It Is still uncompleted On eaci
to tho Drive and along the bank of the Drive OPP
posite the tomb similar blocks are beng put III
place. ,, - A.. or,, nm
mon has been engaged. The workmen number
about one hundred, and most or them yesterday
were employed in identifying the grounds; About
twenty-five men were busy yesterday IN dumping
dirt on the riverbank for at least several hundred
feet north from the end OF the cycle path. Inc
work OF getting the grounds In readiness ABOUT INC
tomb will be finished by about April T. ana three
DAYS later tho erection OF the STANDS VIII propapiy
be begun ,.ozo,,,
A thing which every visitor seems to be Intensely
interested In Is the opening of the armor case
containing the body of General Grant FOR the trans
fer to tho sarcophagus. 1t was reported that TINS
work was already under way, Dut IL VIII MOI ~
undertaken for some days yet. Blowpipes VIII
probably be used in loosening the hermeticaly
sealed case After the armor-steel case mas Deen
loosened a rosewood box copper lined. Will have 10
he opened before the coffin IL reached. The work
on the case will probably be done at night, and he