The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04
MYSTERY Ar M,krsLEYroMB
Night Artack on the sentfncl-Atsempt
To stab Him-Men Escape.

Canton, o., September "A strange
story comes from West Lawn cemetery
tonight. where a company of regulars
from Fort Wayne. Mich. are guarding
the vault in which the body o. the
late President Mckinley lies. Il Is to
the effect that the guard on duty on
top OF the vault fired a shot at one man
who refused &c heed his challenge; that
b shot was diverted by another man
who appeared from another direction.
and that an effort was made 10 stat
the guard Military regulations prevent
either the officers Dr. the men OF the
post from being quoted on any matter
connected with their service and for
this reason Captain Biddle. who Is in
command. was obliged to decline 10 be
quoted at the camp tonight. He viii
make a full report TO his superior Of
ficer at once.
Reliable authorities made the follow
Ing statement: Private Deprend was
on guard duty on top OF the vauls at
a point commanding the entrance be-
low and the approach from the rear.
ON@NNN Low AN So" what IL RObh
to be the face OF q man peering from
behind a tree about 30 feet from his
post. He watched il for 20 minutes. he
says, and at 7:45 saw the man hurry TO
a tree ten feet nearer. He challenged
the man to hau but his was not heed
ed and the fellow approached nearer
Deprend levele6 his gun and aimed TO
shoot for effect, but just as this instant
another mar who came towards him
from the other side caught the gun,
threw 1t up and the bullet was spent
in the air. This same man struck De-
prend on the right side OF the abdomen
with a knife or other sharp weapon,
cutting an Il" cash in his overcoat an
inch and a half long each way and
a small one in his blouse. The flesh
was not broken but was bruised under
the cuts in the clothes. Deprend in the
struggle fell and rolled down the side
Deprend is a recruit enlisted in New
York four months ago. He is said
TO be an excellent soldier and to have a
fine record with his officers. He says
the man VINO attacked him was masked
but that the first ~ he saw was not
masked He says the latter carried a
white package in his right hama and
something that glittered in his left.
Since the incident stories hav been
told in camp of some incendiary con-
versations overheard in the crowds that
have visited the cemetery, including
one today alleging that some stranger
said: Lots of people would like TO see
this whole thing blown up" There are
seventy soldiers at the cemetery,
twenty Of whom are constantly on
guard about the vault and camp.
Lieutenant Ashbridge was on duty
less than a hundred feet away in front
of the vault n is said to nave reached
the top within five seconds after ne
hood +l1 eLNr l,rf y-han hn a rriNrad tho
guard was at foot Of the slope in which
the vault is built, where he rolled after
the assault and the supposed prowlers
| were making there escape with a good
lead. Others of the company were at
tracted by the report of the rifle, but
reached the scene too late to be OF as
sistance except to participate in the
| pursuit and the search made Of the
cemetery and in increasing h guard
for the night. Stories regarding the in
cident when hey reached the city We're
connected with the Jail delivery that
occurred about the same time.
THE STORY DOUBTED.
Canton, O., September 3G.-The off,
GERS and men of Company c., of the
Fourteenth United States infantry, On
duty at West Lawn cemetery, guarding
the resting place of President Mckln-
ley worked diligently today investigat-
ing the strange story in which private
Deprend. who was on duty at the top
of the vault Sunday night, figured so
prominently. The same r~eticence, i'm
posed by military regulations, which
prevented the officers and men from
making detailed statements concern
ing the incidents last night, was oper-
alive today. From interviews with all
the commissioned officers, several nom
commissioned and a number of privates
the following was gathered:
All the commissioned officers and the
members of the company in general
accepted fully the story related by pri-
vate Deprend, last night, and really
believed that the providers were about
the vault with no good purpose.
Today only M of the commissioner
officers adhered to the belief that an
attempt had been made upon the SER
tinel for ghoulish purposes.
All the men who were seen expressed
the belief that private Deprend acted
in good faith and that he related only
what he believed to be the real circum-
stances. With the captain and Others
he went over the details of the whole
affair at least a dozen times and il Is
said he did rot vary in a matter Of i'm
portance. Particular inquiry was made
as to his sobriety at the time, and it IS
said that it is established beyond all
reasonable doubt that he a not been
drinking and that he was in his normal
condition.
The most common belief is that the
sentinel was overweight by the lone
illness of his position; that his nerves
were overtaxed. and that imagination
contributed some of the details related
in good faith. The post was regarded
by all as particularly isolated and de-
pressing to the man guarding 1t 1t
night and it is understood that more
sentinels will be stationed at the point
in the future.
Captain Biddle thanked the reporters
for what he called the fair manne in
which the incident had been described
in the morning papers, saying they
gave a full n complete statement
OF facts SO far as revealed last night.
He was fully convinced last night OF
the truth of h story as related, but
after investigation entertained doubts.
not Of the sincerity OF private Deprend
but Of the correctness Of the conclu-
| sions.
Captain Biddle authorized this state
ment: II think the sentinel deceived
himself as to the occurrence. I do no;
| think an actual attack. as related by