The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-01
Guard Deprend Insists on the Correct
ness Of His story and Finds
One OmciaI Adhercnt.
LARGER NUMBER OF sENTRIEs
POSTED TO PREVENT 4 RECUR-
RENEE OF THE INCIDENT.
Sergeant Cook Explains the COnversa-
tiOn He Heard sunday Afternoon
All Is Quiet Again.

CANION, ~, sept. JU.-1ne OnlCeTS ana
men of Company G, of the Fourteenth
United States Infantry, on duty at West
lawn Cemetery guarding the resting place
of President Mckinley, worked diligently
to-day investigating the strange story in
which Private Deprend, who was on duty
at the top of the vault on Sunday night,
figured so prominently.
The same reticence imposed by military
regulations which prevented the officers
and men making detailed statements con-
cerning the incidents last night was opera
tive to-day The representative of the AS
sociated Press saw all of the commissioned
officers. several noncommssioned officers
and a number of privates and CLEANED the
following:
All of the commissioned officers and the
members Of the company in general accept
ed fully the story related by Private De-
prend last night, and really believed that
the prowlers were about the vault with no
good purpose To-day only one of the COM
missioned officers adhered to the belief that
an attempt had been made upon the senti-
mel for ghouIish purposes. He said:
1T was the real thing. 1t was prompted
by the pure cussedness Of some people. who
thought to bring reproach upon the Nation
the dead President"
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 circumstances. With
the captain and others he went over the
details of the whole affair at least dozen
times, and. it is said, never varied in
matter of Importance. Particular inquiry
r. eoI,r fafx- hn fn0a
and 1t is said that it is established beyond
all reasonable doubt that he had not been
drinking, and that he was in his normal
condition.
The most common belief is that the senti-
mel was overwrought by the loneliness of
his position. that his nerves were over
taxed, and that imagination contributed
some of the details related in good faith.
The post is regarded by all as particularly
isolated and depressing to the man guard
ing it at 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 manner in which
the incident had been described in the
morning reports, saying that they gave
full and complete statement of facts so
far reNealeO last nlSnI lie was Jully
convinced last night of the truth of the
story as related, but after investigation
entertained doubts not of the sincerity of
Private Deprend. but of the correctness of
the conclusions. Captain Biddle authorized
this statement:
.I think the sentinel deceived himself
on the occurrence. L do not think an
actual attack, as related by him, occurred.
When daylight came there was no evil
dence found of a struggle.
The matter has been reported in full TO
General Otis, at Chicago. commanding the
department to which the guard is at
tached. Whether there will be a formal
inquiry into the matter remains for Cen
eraI Otis to determine. Officers at the
cemetery expressed the hope that mas
much as no actual harm had been done
that no formal action would be taken.
Sergeant Cook. who was reported TO have
heard remarks on Sunday afternoon among
visitors. further explained as follows:
II was on duty at the guard tent near
the vault Sunday afternoon. There were
three funerals at the cemetery and many
people passing all the time Three men
representative-looking men. such as come
by the scores every day-spoke 10 me. One
asked how long the SenIlnelS IN front OF
the vault gates were kept on duty, and l
told him half an hour at a time. He said
he had read that they were kept there two
hours and thought that was hard service.
/ told him that at first they were kept there
two hours. but that the time had been
shortened He asked if there were other
guards. l told him there were several on
the hill over the vault and at other places.
The second man said he did not see the
of all this fuss: that no one would try
To do any harm now. The third man said
he was mistaken; that there were lots of
people who would like TO see the whole
thing blown up. No; l had not then. nor
have now. any suspicion that any of these
men would have any interest in or would
sympathize with any act of violence 1
think they were speaking OF the disposition
of other classes who might be prompted
To such acts"
The usual guard and patrol was on duty
to-day. Last night. after the story of Pri-
vate Deprend. the force was increased by
the addition Of ten men Lieutenant Ware
arrived from Fort Wayne, Mich. to-day
and relieved Lieutenant Avery. who went
back q the fort.