Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-27
SCI D|NCO[N'S FACE
Coffin Of the Great Emancipator
Opened and the Dead
Identified.
Features Of Martyr President
Easily Recognized by Men
Who Knew Him.
The Remains Well Preserved
and Are Now Embedded
In Cement.

| springfield, H., Sept. 2d.-For tH'
thirteenth time the body of Abraham
Lincoln was removed yesterday. Tit
casket containing the remains now lie!
imbedded in an iron cage within a sole
block of cement beneSth the monument
in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The caskt was opened and eighteen
persons were permitted to look upon the
| features of the great emancipation be-
fore the body was lowered to what is
now believed to be its last resting place
Governor Yates, who is out of the state
was represented on the board of trus-
tees of the National Lincoln Monument
by Acting Governor John j. Brenholt. OF
Alton.
Those who were permitted to look up
on the features of the dead were Adju-
tant General ]. N. Reece. Major E. s.
Johnson, custodian of the monument;
Joseph P. Lindley, Clinton L. Conkling,
George N. Black, secretary of the Ma
tional Lincoln Monument Association;
Acting Governor Brenholt, Captain j.
II. Freeman, NJ. O. Williamson, Colonel
j. S. Culver, the contractor who recon-
structed the monument; f. K. White
more. j. S. Mccullough, Jacob T;iomp-
son, Second Assistant superintendent of
Public Instruction: B. d. Monroe, as
sistant attorney general; Mrs. Alfred
Bayliss. AIRS. E. S. Johnson. and the two
plumbers who opened the casket.
The Identification of the remains was
positive. The features are said to have
been extremely pailid, and 1t is said
that this condition was due to a film
that has crept over the face. The beard
could be plainly seen and the chin was
prominent, while the hair had begun to
fall out. The head rest had decayed,
letting the head fall back.
The shirt front was well preserved. as
was also the black silk stock that Linz
coin wore about his neck. The rest of
the clothing had commenced to fall to
pieces.
1t is not known why yesterday was
selected for the transfer of the basket.
AS Governor Yates had not returned
from Ills vacation. his wishes in the
matter were not known. Acting Gov
ernor Brenholt decided that the removal
should take place yesterday, and he ac-
cordingly called meeting OF the monu-
ment board.
At Has yesterday morning the wood
en- box containing the casket was car
ried from the north side of the monu-
ment to Memorial Hall on the south
side Six laborers performed this duty.
An hour later, after Identification had
beed made, the casket was taken back
to the north side OF the monument and
then lowered to the vault beneath.
Workmen then began the task u Sc
curing the casket under the mass OF
ma sonry.
3 Newspaper men were excluded from
Hall when the casket was
opened and the greatest secrecy was
Even the glass in the single
door opening into the room was coyeres
with paper to guard against the intru-
sion of curious eyes. The two plumbers
who opened the metallic casket were
Leon p Hopkins, of Springfield, VINO
performed the same duty seventeen
years ago, and Charles L. Wiley, also OF
Springfield.
The following official report Of the
transfer was given to the public yester-
lay afternoon by Acting Governor
3renholt:
"At a meeting of the commissioners of
he Lincoln monument held this day, IN
pursuance of call by Acting Governor
3renholt, at the Memorial hall Of the
it was agreed that the cas-
let of Abraham Lincoln be opened for
Identification prior to placing the casket
=, no marina nank VAULT.
I'm the presence of several members
Il the Lincoln Guard of Honor the cas-
ret was opened and the remains viewed
" the persons present and fully. identi-
led. 1t was found that the remains We're
n good state of preservation. After
which the caslxet was resealed and con-
igned in our presence to the place pre-
Jared for the same in the monument.
cit was agreed that this statement be
,iven to the public thru the press. to-
,ether with the certificate of the Lin
oln Guard of Honor, which is sub
oined herewith.
"JoHN.J BRENHoLT. :.
Acting Governor.
en-. o. WILLIAMSON,
Treasurer.
"Jos. H. FREEMAN.
"Assistant State Superintendent"