The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-25
STEEL LINED TOMB
FOR SAGE'S BODY.
Unusual Precautions to
Prevent Interference
WithFinanCier' Grave
ELECTRIC ALARM

NEW YORK, July 24.-EXtraordinary
precautions have been taken that the
body Of Russell Sage shall not be dis
turbed ia its last resting place. 1t will
be committed tomorrow to a steel
walled grave in lakewood Cemetery in
Troy, y Y The cost Of this protec-
ton alone win be $1,000 and the coffin
itself, which is of heavy metal inclosed
by selected mahogany. represents an
expenditure Of another $1,000.
The fear that-the body might in some
way be stolen. was that of A T.
Stewart. has Influenced the family TO
resort 10 every measure to guarantee
that the tomb be not despoiled.
The contrivance is equipped with
electrical alarm signals and it is not at
. all improbable that a guard Will be as
signed TO keep watch at night The
steel grave looks as If it were solid
fngot 1t viii weigh three tons and is
OF carefully tempered metal. 1t is strong
enough 10 resist repeated charges of
dynamite and is so fashioned that it
would be impossible to open il by any
ordinary means.
This burglar proof grave is seven
feet eleven inches wide, forty-two
inches wide and thirty-two inches in
depth. II is equipped with electrical
appliances in such a way that it viii
be impossible for any one 10 tamper
with II without communicating an
alarm 70 the keeper Of the cemetery.
After services in Far Rockaway the
body OF Mr.. Sage was placed in a spe-
cial car this afternoon and brought to
this city, where it was taken to the
Sage home in Fifth avenue. The casket
was placed in the front parlor and was
so arranged that the friends Of the fam
3ly who called might have q last look
at the face Of the dead financier. Mrs.
Sage accompanied the body to the city.
- -s---1 r. Fnr h. or-s,1
tomorrow afternoon provide for the re-
moval Of the casket from the Fifth ave
nue. house about 8 q. m. to the Grand
Central station. Two special cars will
be attached 10 the Saratoga special,
which leaves this city at 9:45 o'clock.
Brief services will be held at the grave
IN Troy this afternoon.
The Herald today says preparations
for contesting the will OF Russell Sage
1n the event Of its provisions not being
A. -isfactory 10 them already have been
Hnsde by relatives of the financier.
'Nephews and grandnephews and others
more remote are said 10 be considering
steps for legal proceedings.
NJ Sage had several brothers and
sisters. none Of whom is living so far
as can be sscertained. but various kins-
men who bear his name and who are
scattered about the country are looking
10 see If their family trees might not
bear apples OF gold.
Most Of the relatives were not on es-
pecially good terms with Mr.. Sage. He
had on more than one occasion given
financial aid 70 them. but their ideas of
life did not conform TO his strict bust
ness code. Some Of the heirs have re
tanned counsel to look after their in
terests. and Senator Bracket of Sara
tcga has been consulted
i am counsel for some Of the heirs
OF Mr.. Sage" said Mr.. Bracket yes
terday. y canont tell whether there
will be z contest. ] DO not know but
what he made his viii largely in my
clients favor. I do not even know he
has made any viii at all In either of
these contingencies. Of course, there
viii be no contest"
There have been persistent reports
since the death of Mr.. Sage that he had
made extensive provisions for some
philanthropic enterprises Among in
stitutions which he had helped mate
rally in his lifetime is the Tuskegee
Institute. II is believed in some quar-
tiers that educational work has been
well looked after in the will