Evening star., 1897-04-27

that the body of General Grant was In the
temporary tomb Ii was inclosed I'm three
coffins. There was one OF copper and cedar.
cne Of polished cedar and one OF steel. The
two first are now sealed I'm the sarcophagus
which is I'm the crypt of the new tomb. the
steel casket having been removed. Its place
has been taken by five tons OF solid granite.
The first CONN is air tight and is consid-
cred indestruciible. Ii is six feet long. and
the outer case OF cedar is covered with
black cloth. The metallic interior is copper
highly polished, and is ofe-eighth OF an
inch thick. The frames and port ais are of
solid silver: the top is open the fuli length
and covered with a heavy. French plate
beveled glass. Over this glass the lid fits
to make the copper coffin complete and on
the lid is a gold plate. fixed with gold
screws which bears the inscription: u 8.
Grant. Died July p. 1885, The handles are
massive, of a special design, and are OF
silver Within. the coffin is lined with
tufted silk. hight cream in color. with a pill
low. on which is embroidered in white the
initials. u. 8. g.
The second coffin is solid cedar and serves
as strong protector for the first. Inside
!: is lined heavily with lead. outside II Is
highly polished and heavily mounted with
silver
The steel case. which formed the third
covering, which was large enough to permit
the coffin to fit suugiys was the mos
markable of the three. II was of Ss-inch
metal of the finest quality, fianGed at every
angle and so heavily riveted and carefully
made that neither air nor water could find
pin point of entrance way. II was made
at Troy, n. Y. The greatest care was taken
In its construction. 1t was perfectly plain
steel box. broken only by the double line of
rivets, which were driven home and weldea
with the understanding that they were
rcver to be drawn. They were almost a
part of the steel casing itself
When the big steel case had been finished
and brought to this city. II was placed In
the temporary tomb. bolted to the piers. all
ready for the reception of the coffin on Au-
gust e. The end which faced the door was
left open, and II was through this end that
the coffin was slid into place.
After the first coffin had been made I'm
Rochester, ii was brought to New York.
For two days IL remained In an undert aktng
establishment on Sth avenue. and during
that time 1t was looked upon by nearly
10000 persons. All sorts and conditions of
PEOPLE went and were SO anxious to get a
sight that they made wild rushes and dam
eged considerable property in the neighbor-
hood. Policemen had TO be called TO keep
the crowd within bounds.
The closing of the end of the steel case in
the temporary tomb on the night the coffin
was put there. August \. 1876. was an in
teresting detail Some few people then were
able to understand the care with which tn.
case had been constructed. Early in th,.
evening of that day.' Patrick Cregan who
had charge of the work. with seven men.
who had come especially from Troy, en-
r tered tn The , tomb; Eyeryihipg was in readi,
bolts. which were to fasten the front steel
wall. For two and a half hours the men
worked by the light of candles. A portable
furnace roared. and the clash of hammers
on metal gave the little tomb every appear
ance and sound of a boiler works When
the task had been completed. creran said
the armor steel case was not only heretical-
ly sealed. but was chisel proof. sYfhat will
last 10000 years" he remarked as the tomb
GoOr was locked.
More than a thousand people had gath
va.l :.
work in progress. A Gordon of police how
ever, kept them back. When IL was all
over the people scrambled for each tiny bit
OF metal and other material left by the
workmen. One man got. and treasured the
end of a candle that workman had held in
his hand.