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PUBLIC VAULT
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- Built with funds provided by Congress in 1832.
- Used for the temporary storage of remains until final arrangements could be made.
- Used until the 1930s, the remains of over 3,000 individuals were held in the vault.
- The remains of Presidents Benjamin Harrison, Zachary Taylor and John Quincy Adams were held in the vault.
- The remains of First Ladies Dollie Madison and Louisa Adams were held in the vault.
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William M. Crane
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b. 1784 - d. 18 Mar 1846
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51 yrs
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R37 S97-98
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- At the time of his death, Commodore Crane was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography.
- He committed suicide in his office by cutting his throat.
- After praising Capt. McDonough of the Guerrier, Adm. Wilkes has the following to say of Capt. Crane (p. 64):
…but the United States' Capn. Crane was, I regret to say, the reverse, and one could not well be on board or alongside of her without hearing oaths and imprecations. The Capt. Himself set the sample and a more foul mouthed officer could not be found. He obtained the Sobriquet of Billy the Bilger. He was about the usual height, broad and corpulent, awkward and very unwieldy in his person, his face full and broad and rubicund all over giving him the appearance of a dissipated man. He was firm and tyrannical and both officers and men I think despised him. His discipline, through the lash and vulgar abuse to his officers, kept them in awe of him. … He was a great leader, and one of ready wit, and described as very entertaining.
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