Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-10-02
GHOULSWS|TM M'k|KLEY Vault
AS THE GUARD FIRED At ONE INTRUDER
he RECEIVED A KNIFE THRUST.
THE GHOULS MADE THEIR ESCAPE.
Tome Think That the Intruders Desired 10
Blow Up the Vault Of tho Late President.

Canton, Ohio, September 90 "A strange
story comes from West Lawn cemetery
tonight, whore q company of regulars
from Fort Wayne, Michigan, are guarding
the vault in which the body of the late
President Mckinley lies. 1t is to the
effect that the guard on duty on top Of
tho vault fired q shot at ono man who re-
fused to heed his challango, that the shot
was diverted by another man, who ap.
peared from another direction, and that
an effort was made to stab the guard.
Military regulations prevented either
tho officers or tho mon 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 to be quoted at the
camp tonight. He will make full re-
port to his superiOrs at once.
STATEMENT OF GUARD.
Reliable authorities made tho follow
ing statement:
Private Doprend was on guard duty on
top of tho vault at o point commanding
tho entrance below and the approach
from the rear. Shortly before 7.30 he
saw what lie took to be the face of man
pooring from bohind n tree about forty
feet from his post. IIe watched it for
tho man hurry to tree 10 feet nearer.
He challenged the man to halt, but this
was not needed and tho follow approached
nearer.
Doprend lcvolcd his gun and aimed to
shoot for effect, but jnst at that instant
another man who camo towards him from
tho opposite sido caught the gun, threw
it up and the bullet was spont in tho mir.
This same man struck Deprend OH tho
right sido Of the abdomen with knife
or other sharp weapon, cutting an "L"
cash in his Overcoat an inch and q half
long each way and a smaller one in his
blouse. Tho flesh was not broken, but
was bruised under tho cuts in tho cloth
ing.
Deprond in tho struggle fell and rolled
down tho side Of the vault. Lieutenant
Ashbridge, officer of the day, was in
front of tho vault and rushed to the top
on hearing tho shot, but tho mon mado
good their escape. All members of the
company on hearing tho shot hurried to
the vault, and besides searching the
cemetery the guard was increased.
WOULD LIKE TO BLOW UP VAULT.
Deprend is a recruit enlisted in Now
York about four months ago. Ho is
said to DO an excellent soldier and to
says tho man who attacked him was
masked, but that tho first one he saw
was not masked IIo says the latter
carried a white package in his right
hand and something that glittored in his
lelt. Since tho incident stories have
boon told in camp Of some incondiary
conversations overheard in the crowds
one to-day, alleging that some stranger
said
"Lots Of people would like to 500 this
whole thing blown up"
There are seventy soldiers ut tho come
tory, twenty of whom are constantly on
guard duty about the vault and camp.
LIKE a POLISHED WEAPON.
Tho first man, tho guard says, carried
a small white package in his right hand
and something that glistencd like pol
ishcd weapon in the othor The second
his face. Lieutenant Ashbridgo was or
duty less than a hundred feet away in
front of the vault and is said to have
reached the top within five seconds after
ho heard tho shot, but when ho arrived
the guard was at the foot of the slope il
which the vault is built, whore he rolled
after the assault, and tho supposed prowl
lead. Others of the company were at
tracted by the report of tho rifle, bu
reached the scene too late to be Of any
| assistance except to participate in the
pursuit and the search made of tho ccme
| terry and in increasing the guard for th'
| night.
Stories regarding the incident whel
with tho Jail delivery that occurred abou
tho same timo.
While there seems to be no doubt tha
at least two prowlors attempted to reacl
tho vault, there is much difference o
opinion as to the object of the intrudcrs
who evidently made good their escape
as tho cemetery has been searched Owe
| in vain.
It's all Fake.
The press dispatches of Monday throw
a different light on Sundays dispatche
about ghouls trying to route the senti
mol on guard at the Mckinley vault. Fol
lowing is tho substance of Mondays dis
patches:
Tho most common belief is that tin
scntincl was overwrought by tho loncli
ness of his position, that his nerves wcr
ovcrtaxcd and that Imagination contri
butcd some Of the details related il
good faith. Tho post was regarded b,
all as particularly isolated and deprcss
ing to the man guarding it at night ant
it is understood that moro sentinols viii
be stationed at the point III the future.
THINKS SENTINEL WAS DECEIVED.
| Capt. Biddlc authorized this statement
81 think the sentinel deceived himsel
on tho occurrence. | do not think al
actual attack, as related by him, occur
rcd. When daylight camo there was NJ
evidence found of a struggle"
Sergeant Cook, who was reported tt
have heard remarks Sunday Afternoon
among visitors, explained to-day that III
has no suspicion that any of these mel
would have any interest in or would
sympathizc with any act of violence.
Blue Ridge Railroad Chartered.