The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-25
A GUARD SET At THE TOMB.
yAypERBILT MAusoLEUM WATCH
ED BY PRIVATE DETECTIVES.
Wire Signals to Town-Stnce the
Death of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Extraordinary Precautions Have
Been Exercised Constantly.


In the little Moravian cemetery at New
Dorp. S. l., six Pinkerton detectives keep
nightly vigil about the tomb of the dead
VaBderbilts
Since the death of Cornelius Vanderbilt
every precaution is being taken by the
family to prevent repetition Of the theft
which threw mystery about the remains
OF A. T. Stewart When the body OF WIZ
liam II. Vanderbilt was first placed In tbs
marble mausoleum twelve years ago eight
detectives were put on guard. They
marched up and down In front or the tomb
night and day with Winchesters IN hand.
Visitors were allowed to go within twenty
feet of the bronze doors. where they were
halted and ordered back.
The Pinkerton force was discharged four
years ago, but when Cornelius Vanderbilt
was buried Ii was decided to resume the
guard upon the tomb by day and by night.
SO six detectives were hired for this SER
vice alone. During the day they are
housed few hundred feet away from the
mausoleum. The cemetery workmen keep
watch during the day, and II any sus-
picious persons are seen word is sent TO
the Pinkerton men. Then at night begins
the most arduous part OF the work.
New Dorp cemetery Is a quaint lovely
place The Vanderbilt tomb is in a dense
thicket on top of a high Hill In front Is
a large clearing from which the lower bay
and the south shore of Staten Island can
be seen. The large tract which William
II. Vanderbilt laid out for cemetery is
surrounded by a stone wall. Large iron
gates which bar the only entrance to the
grounds are closed at shutdown.
When the sunset bell OF the cemetery
rings the special watch about the white
marble mausoleum begins A little house
.<, xxyhA kt,fl ..--fa - sal
box, is pushed up the hill by the detectives.
Then the night vigil starts, and until dawn
three Pinkerton detectives tramp up ana
down in front of the tomb Night watch
men sometimes sleep on duty. but II is not
go with the Pinkerton men charged with
the duty of guarding the ashes of the
dead.
system of Electric signals.
On cold or stormy nights the detectives
take turns on post. The house Is about
twice the size OF the small huts used by
railroad men at crossings. and in it is a
small kerosene stove. There are no chairs
inside. A narrow board serves as a seat
but Il Is too uncomfortable to sit on long
or take a doze. On the four sides of the
lockont-house are large windows
Each detective takes his turn on winter
nights outdoors and In the lookout-house
The usual arrangement is for one detective
to spend an hour pacing around the kero-
sene stove getting warm and watching
the roads to the tomb through the win
dows, while the other two are on guard
at the doors. The only weapons carried
by the detectives are revolvers, but In a
corner of the heating box Wholesalers
are stacked ready for use.
Since the death of Cornelius Vanderbilt
other precautions have been taken A sys-
tenn of signals has been put in from the
tomb to small house nearby, In which
- -.
terry and ten of his workmen sleep every
night. These men are ready to turn out
armed at few minutes notice. From the
house telephone wires also run to the VIII
lage OF New Dorp and the police stations
on Staten island. According to the detec-
tives, II is seldom that any one ventures
into the cemetery after nightfall
The keys which unlock the gates of the
tomb are kept night and day In the SUPER
intendent's house They are never used
except for a member OF the Vanderbilt
family, and since the death OF Cornelius
Vanderbilt no member of the family has
visited the tomb. II was the custom OF
and spend ten minutes there once In every
three or four months.
Nicholas Curry, odd caretaker, who
has seen every Vanderbilt placed in the
tomb and watched over the remains of
William Henry Vanderbilt, while in the
yard philosophers. Gazing at the tomb
last week he said:
Millions = Terrible urden.
millions are terrible burden for a
man 10 carry on his shoulders. A man
spends all thu years OF his life looking
after his wealth, and then we spend The
years Of our life watching to see that no
one disiufbs his poor body after he's
dead"
Have you any fear that the tomb win
be robbed as Stewards wasg' he was
asked,
mo The vanderbiits hav. always been
a good family. They have done no person
an injury, and why should not their bones
rest forever In peaceT
Only once has n suspicious character
been found rrowling about the tomb
trampiing was heard In the bushes near
by one night a week ago. When the de-
tectiyes gave chase I've steps made off IN
another direction. Pass the Sloan tomb.
then across the road BY the burial place OF
Elliott r. Shepard. NJ hill and down hill
the watchmen hunted the fleeing figure
As the man ran across the road one af
the detectives fired IN the air as a warn
ing. The man ran faster
Halt" shouted ono Of the watehmen.
"or IN shoot you dead"
The man WAS running through the Mora
Wan cemetery below the Vanderbilt
grounds toward the road He stopped and
vas surrounded.
Mercy he cried Take my watch ana
chain, but spare my nfaf'
Never MIND your watch and ehain,~
said the head detective eruffly why
were you prowlIng around the vandefbfjt
tomb at night"
Il have been drinking and iSst nay
way" aid the man. somewhat sohered By
fright. "a 1--we Up al stapleton. I'm no
body-snatcber.
The detectives we're satisfied that his
story was true. aud he was allowed TO 70.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
More Islands 90 Bay.
ST. I.o.is Republic