Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-06-13
IN HONOR OF CLINTON
Body of Vice President to Be
Reburied at Kingston.
.EXHUMED AT WASHINGTON.

Remains of New York's First Governor
Will lie Hereafter In His Home
Town - Body Well Preserved, Al
though Buried Many Years.
The body of George Clinton, twice
vice president of the United States and
first governor Of the Empire State. Of
which be was the executive for TWEEN
ty-one years. was recently exhuned at
the old Congregational cemetery In
Washington and transferred to the
United States Naval hospital in Wash
ington, where it now lies. awaiting re-
moval to the old Clinton home at
Kingston, N. 7. The body was found
to be in a most remarkable state Of
preservation in spite of the fact that
it had rested in the leaden coffin for
ninety-six years. The chemicals in the
soil had seemingly petrifed most of
the upper portions of the body and,
head, and even the cloth of the coat
and silk Of the long stockings seemed
to be as strong and substantial as when
new, says Washington correspondent
of the New York Tribune. The granite
monument which has so long marked
the grave in the old cemetery has been
taken down and started on its way to
Kingston. The coffin will follow with
In few days.
The elimination was witnessed by
Louis F. Ganet, a great-grandnephew
of Governor Clinton; Benjamin NJ.
Brink of Kingston, Chaplain r. r.
Hoes of the navy, Brigadier General
r. NJ O'Reilly, surgeon general of the
army, and Dr. Mascus Benjamin, one
of the leading officials of the Smithso-
MAN institution and president of the
society of the war of 1872.
After workmen had been engaged for
two weeks in removing the monument
and its foundation and an excavation
ten or twelve feet in depth had been
made no trace of the coffin had yet
been found. By the use OF a pole
driven in the earth as probe, exactly
after the method pursued by General
Horace Porter in seeking for the body,
of Paul Jones and after considerable.
exploration, the metal box was finally
struck at depth of nearly twenty
feet. The digging was then renewed
and finished and the leaden box
brought to light, 1t was Immediately
transferred to the Naval hospital
where DR.. O'Reilly presided at an au-
topsy. Measurements OF Governor Clin-
toms skull were taken. and minute.
examination of the entire body was
made. The upper portions OF the body
were found to be In a better state OF
preservation than the lower. but con-
eidering the fact that the body ha0
been In the coffin for nearly a century
all agreed that its lifelike appearance
was remarkable.
1t is the intention of Governor Clin-
toms descendants in New York and
New England to make the reburial the
great feature of Kingston's Memorial
day exercises. On that day the old
town will celebrate its two hundred
and fiftieth anniversary. and it will be-
a source of the greatest pride to ali the.
citizens to be able at the same time to.
pay fitting homage to the memory OF
their most distinguished townsman.
If present plans are carried out the
body Of Governor Clinton will be ac-
companied to the Union station In
Washington by an imposing military
escort. led by General Bell. chief OF
staff of the army La the procession
will be representatives Of patriotic Or
CARNATIONS companies Of marines and
soldiers from the various branches of
the service and large attendance of
government officials and private citi~
zens President Roosevelt has been in
vited to attend and if be cannot be.
present will send representative. The
body will be accompanied from Wash
ington by guard Of honor selected
from the patriotic societies and will
make the Journey from the capital to-
New York city by train The railroad
company has signiied Its desire to
transport the coffin IS well as the
monument 70 New York free of charge.
At New York The coffin will be trans
ferred 70 9 revenue cutter and will
probably be escorted up the Hudson
by several torpedo boats. The transfer
from the boat to shore and from shore.
to the CEN etery at Kingston will be
marked by appropriate exercises.