The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-07

the inquiry and appropriated the neces-
sary funds to carry 1t into effect
Mr. Gardiner at this point, told how
heartily the committee entered into the
inquiry, and of the examination of the
rnany vaults I'm search OF the remains of
the illustrious General Greene.
ONE REMAINED.
Finally" he said. after all the vaults
where tradition averred that the remains
were deposited had been critically and
carefully examined there remained but
one still TO be examined. the Jones vault
This had been left as the last TO search
in order 10 communicate with the repre-
sentatives Of the Jones family.
"On Monday morning, March 4, the
vault supposed to be the Jones vault was
opened. on the side of the vault near
est the wall were noticed the -rott1ng
fragments of coffin. Upon there being
ton, quite intact except some of the
smaller ribs. which clearly showed that
this body had never been disturbed.
'As the fragments OF the coffin were re-
moved from the remains by experienced
workmen they both exclaimed as to the
remarkably prominent conhguration OF
the remaining fragments OF the coffin and
looked for the plate. which was found
where IL should be, among the bones OF
the breast.
THE PLATE EXAMINED.
Upon examination OF the plate 17s6 the
date OF Gen Greene's decease was dis
covered. and besides these figures were
discovered the letters "reene, the final
termination of the word Greene, i'm prop
er position, and just preceding the let
ters ''reene" were discerned the letters
"aeI' of the word Nathaniel
Some of the bones crumbled on being
handled, but the larger bones and skull
and jaw bones were all preserved. They
were carefully placed In a box. Search
was made for the metal buttons. Three
were discovered. badly corroded; upon
one of which. however, could be traced
the form of an eagle which was the dis
tinguishing mark upon the buttons of a
major-general of the Continental army
OF the revolution.
"In no other vault and I'm no other ex-
amina ton OF the remains OF the many
examined were there other than wooden
buttons found which had originally been
covered with silk cloth or velvet.
Another peculiarly significant fact,
which cannot be overlooked was the dis
covery of fragments OF heavy white SILK
gloves. much discolored, ana containing
bones of the fingers
These gloves were such as general Of
fcers in the French army would have
worn, and were doubtless "A present from
Greene--in 17S4-5-as the marquis was ac-
customed TO make presents TO his brother
officers in the Revolutionary army
After still further descriptions, PROOFS
OF the genuineness of the remains Mr..
Gardner spoke of the final disposition of
the same as follows
NO DECISION YET.
mo decision has yet been reached as
10 where those honored remains shall
finally be deposited: whether under the
obelisk I'm Savannah under the equestrian
statue In Washington, or under the now
monument about TO be erected az the
state capitol of Greene's native state. In
our final determination the Society OF the
Cincinnati proposes to make no sugges-
ton. but to leave the subject wholly with
Mai Gen Greene's direct descendants.
after due consultation with the govern
ors Of the states of Rhode Island and
Georgia"
AT Intervals during the services patri-
otic airs were rendered by Mr.. f. w.
Streeter on the organ and Mr.. Bowen X.
church. cornet. The ushcrs for the Oc-
casion were Mr. Orray r. Mason, Mrs.
Fred s Dews. Miss Mollie Foster Miss
Mary Eddy, Miss Mary Anthony.
IL must be added that during the eX-
ercises OF the afternoon the announce
ment was made OF a pledge OF SlOO from
tho Kentish Guards OF East Greenwich.
of which Gen. Greene was once a mem-
ber. and gift Of $50 from the Nathaniel
Greene chapter d A. r., OF East Green
wich These gifts are pledged FOR the
Gen. Greene monument fund. which day
by day Is increasing In its proportions.