Received from Hartford, Conn., in a plain packing case, wrapped in many musty papers, the original death mask of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant now is in New Orleans, while the once famous sculptor who took it is living here in obsurity. The death mask was exhibited to a representative of The Times-Democrat by Attorney P. A. Lelong, Jr., who has it in his possession for his client, Karl Gerhardt, the artist who took it from the countenance of the famous General only a few hours after death had occurred at Mount McGregor, N.Y., July 23, 1885. The mask is a plaster cast, and in two sections, the outlines of the strong face of the famous soldier and statesman are clear and sharp, and a cast could be taken from it at any time.

Karl Gerhardt, the sculptor, is living in New Orleans, no longer heeding the uplifting call of art, but earning his living by hard work whenever it is obtainable. How the mask came here is of interest. Some time after it was taken the sculptor, Gerhardt, gave it to his friend, Walter Sanford of Hartford, Conn., with the understanding that he was to carry out certain obligations in connection with it. The obligations were not fully complied with, for some reason, and meanwhile Walter Sanford, who was a wealthy gentleman of Hartford, died. Through various vicissitudes of fortune Karl Gerhardt came to New Orleans, and a short time since sought the services of Attorney LeLong, and among other matters, placed in his hands was that of obtaining from the estate of Walter Sanford the famous mask. After some correspondence Attorney Lelong succeeded in having the mask shipped to him, and it now is in his office awaiting further disposition by its owner.

Karl Gerhardt is one of America's famous sculptors. He was born in Boston, Jan. 7, 1853; studied in Paris under the famous Falguieres, and was a contemporary of St. Gaudens and other famous sculptors of the time. Among famous works of Gerhardt are busts of U. S. Grant, Henry Ward Beecher and Samuel L. Clemens. He also designed and sculptured the beautiful statues of Nathan Hale and Israel Putnam which adorn the Connecticut State Capitol.

When it was known that Grant was dying many sculptors desired the honor of taking the death mask. Karl Gerhardt, with true American enterprise, in order to be on the ground, camped in a tent near where the famous statesman was slowly dying. When death came he was summoned to exercise his skill by taking in plaster the outlines of the great man's countenance in order that they might be hewn in enduring marble for the benefit of posterity.

Lying in the box in Attorney Lelong's office with the death mask are a number of copies of periodicals of the time, giving accounts of the death of Grant, and also some that contained descriptions of the unveiling ceremonies of the statues of Nathan Hale and Israel Putnam.

When Gerhardt was in the height of his fame he was much sought after by men of prominence and was in affluent circumstances. Like many others, however, he became enamored with mining stocks and lost all he had earned by investments in gold mining schemes which never produced the gold. He was an intimate friend of Samuel L. Clemens and also of St. Gaudens. With the loss of his money came other misfortunes, and today the sculptor who, it is said by some, bade fair to rival the great Powers, no longer brings beauty from marble, but is employed in an establishment uptown where none would ever imagine that the hands which work in commonplace pursuits had once the touch of a possible Michael Angelo. Sometimes, for his few friends, he will take a small piece of clay and mold it into a likeness or a form of beauty, but has not for many years done any work in the calling which once usurped his energies and ambition.

The illustration is from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper issued on August 1, 1885.  The caption reads "A GREAT LIFE ENDED. THE DEATH OF GENERAL U. S. GRANT -- THE SCULPTOR PREPAREING [sic] TO TAKE THE DEATH MASK.