Evening star., 1901-09-30
ANARCHISTS AT TOMB
Attempt to Wreck Vault Where
McKinley's Remains Lay.
TEE SENTRY ON DUTY ATTACKED
He Tries to Shoot One Of the
Miscreants, but Fails.
STRUCK BY A CONFEDERATE

CANTON. Ohio. September 3o.-Private
De Prend, who was doing guard duty be-
side the vault in which the body OF Presi-
dent Mckinley rests. was mysteriously at
tackled last night by two men. Captain
Biddle. in command of the company of reg
ulars, thinks an attempt was made TO blow
the vault to pieces, one of the men car
ried a white package. While one OF the
strangers engaged the attention Of the SEN
tinel the other struck him over the head
and also attempted to stab him.
1t was nearly o'clock when Guard De
Prend saw a prowler in the rear OF the
vault behind tree and in a shadow. Upon
being challenged by the soldier the man re-
mained motionless behind a tree. He was
then about forty feet from the soldier De
Prend advanced, made a second challenge
and brought his gun ready to fire. The
man In the meantime had lodged away to a
second tree about ten feet distant from the
first. The soldier renewed his challenge
and fired, but he did so a hard blow was
given the gun and his aim missed.
Attempted TO Stab sentry.
A second man had stealthily ccme up to
the soldier and dealt the blow. At the
same time man number two struck the
soldier with a heavy instrument In the
back and attempted 10 stab him. A cash
A-chopS0 ahO kNO fpilS odCh
way was cut through the clothing. includ-
ing the overcoat. and a small scratch was
made on De -Prend's body. The blow was
so hard that De Prend was knocked down
small hill and was unable TO gain HE
feet before the men disappeared in the
darkness. Lieut.. Ashbridge, who was off,
Ger OF the day, as soon as he heard the
challenge and shot rushed to the assist
ance Of the guard. He was followed by
other soldiers.
The sentinel attacked. however. was in
the rear of the vault on a hill and before
the relief force could climb the hill the
men had escaped. A hunt was made for
the prowlers, but no trace could he found
of them. The vault Is but a short dis
tance from the west edge OF tn. ~r-ne;erv
and the men evidently escaped from thers
into the fields anu WOODS nea--ly.
The man who lodged about the trees.
De Prend says, carried q shining weapon
white in the other. He says he could recog-
nize the man IL ever seen again. The man
who attacked him was masked
That Captain Biddle believes an attempt
was made to blow the vault 10 pieces Is
shown by the fact that he put on an ex-
ira guard around the vault and in various
portions of the cemetery the balance Of
the night. All the men of the company,
seventy-fv in number, were ordered TO be
ready TO turn out on the first alarm
sounded
Family Discredits the Story.
Friends of the family of the late Pres
ident Mckinley emphatically discredit the
belief in the idea that the shot reported
fired by Guard De Prend at Westlawn Gem
etery last night was on account of any at
tempt to desecrate the tomb. They do not
attempt to explain the strange story of the
guards or account for the firing OF the shot
WHICH cemetery officials and other residents
near by say they heard, and they do not
believe that two men would undertake to
make an attack on the vault with seventy
soldiers on guard near at hand.
1t is believed that the military authorities
will make q thorough investigation of the
stories told by the soldiers on guard Sum
day night. There are unconfirmed rumors
that the shot was fired on account of an
accidental fall, and also that II was the re-
suit of personal differences The officers in
charge early instructed soldiers not TO talk
of the affair.
The statements of the guard made SUM-
day night could not be obtained until the
officers had secured their reports from
them and while the officers declined to te
quoted they were made with their knowl-
edge and In their presence.
None of the officers would express an
opinion as to what the object of the in
truders may have been, and they also in
structed the men not to discuss the oc-
currence with outsiders.
The few persons who succeeded in gain
Ing admission to the cemetery We're direct
ed to the officers for all information, and
guards were told not to talk OF the incident
among themselves while outsiders were
present. This is said to be in accordance
with military regulations.