Evening Journal

TOMB GUARD WAS ATTACKED.

Soldiers at McKinley's Grave Tell Thrilling Story.

When Guard Called Halt to One Man and Raised Gun, Second Man Stabbed Him.

Canton, O., Sept. 30.—A strange story came from Westlawn Cemetery last night, where a company of regulars from Fort Wayne, Mich., are now guarding the vault in which the body of the late President McKinley lies.

It is to the effect that the guard on duty on the top of the vault fired a shot at one man who refused to heed his challenge, that the shot was diverted by another man, who appeared from another direction, and that an effort was made to stab the guard.

Military regulations prevent either the officers or the men of the post from being quoted on any matter connected with their service, and for this reason Captain Biddle, who is in command, was obliged to decline to be quoted at the camp. He will make a full report to his superiors at once.

Reliable authorities made the following statement.

Private Deprend was on guard duty on top of the vault at a point commanding the entrance below, and the men appeared from the rear. Shortly before 7:30 he saw what he took to be the face of a man peering from behind a tree about 40 feet from his post. He watched it for 20 minutes, he says, and at 7:45 saw the man hurry to a tree 10 feet nearer.

He challenged the man to halt, but this was not heeded, and the fellow approached nearer. Deprend leveled his gun and aimed to shoot for effect, but just at that instant another man, who came toward him from the opposite side, caught the gun, threw it up, and the bullet was spent in the air.

This same man struck Deprend on the right side of the abdomen with a knife or other sharp weapon, cutting an "L" gash in his overcoat an inch and a half long each way and a smaller one in his blouse. The flesh was not broken but was bruised under the cuts in the clothing. Deprend in the struggle fell and rolled down the side of the vault.

Lieutenant Ashbridge, officer of the day, was in front of the vault, and rushed to the top on hearing the shot but the men made good their escape.

All members of the company on hearing the shot hurried to the vault, and besides searching the cemetery the guard was increased.

Deprend is a recruit enlisted in New York four months ago. He is said to be an excellent soldier and to have a fine record with his officers. He says that the man who attacked him was masked, but that the first one he saw was not masked. He says that the latter carried a white package in his right hand and something that glittered in his left.

Since the incident stories have been told in camp of some incendiary conversations overheard in the crowds that have visited the cemetery, including one yesterday, alleging that some stranger said: "Lots of people would like to see this whole thing blown up."

There are 70 soldiers at the cemetery, 20 of whom are constantly on guard duty about the vault and camp.