Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-12-11
4 LOOK AT mAXIMTLIAN'S BODY-ITS
sUREENDER To ADMIRAL TEGEE-

STREENDE To ADMfRAL TEts EE-
HOFF
! From the New York Tribune's correspondent
MEXICO, November 10, 1850.
The body OF the Emperor Maximilian
will be sent il a few days, under a strong
escort, TO Vera Cruz, their to be formally
I delivered TO Admiral TegethOff. On the
Sth inst, that officer, accompanied by
eight or ten official or personal friends,
including DR.. Basch, the Emperor's ply
sician, who was permitted by the gov
erDment 70 make a formal examination
OF the condition Of the body before its
departure. Persons vino were present
give the following account o. it:
The body is neatly dressed ia black, all
the clothes, even the gloves, being OF the
! EmperOr's own wardrobe, except the
patent leather shoes. It is. encased next
2 the skin in several bandages, one of them
being Of gutta percha, as a preservstive
against the effects Of damp. The brain,
heart and iHtestines have been carefully
! EN- med and placed in their proper
4 places inside the body. The head alone
: is exposed to view. The face appears
very emaciated, an effect, doubtless, pro-
! duced partly by the Emperor's long
/ sickness prior to his execution, and
/ partly by thenprocess Of embalmment.
/ The end Of the lose, which has begun to
decay, has been so skillfully replaced
with wax that it appears perfectly
natural. The artificial eyes, which are
/ open, are OF a somewhat darker shade
than the EmperOT's. The peculiar beard
and long mustaches are vel preserved,
except that along the edges Of the upper
lip the hair was shorter than he was ac-
customed to wear it, and looks rubbed
and worn The hair on The back of the
head is almost wholly wanting, the re
suit of the thefts OF il which are known
to have taken place at QIeretaro. The
lower lip is thin and apparently decsyed,
or shTuUsen IN the process Of embalm-
meut. The Emperor had the full pro-
jecting lower liz, the "poCket mouth "
which the Hausburgs inherit, with the
county Cf Tyrol, from their sucestress,
Meg Pocket mouth, who brought that
territory into their family. The retreat
ing chin and projecting upper front teeth
are very natural. One Of t1e latter, on
the left side Of the face, is broken, but is
believed TO have been so in the Empe-
ror's lifetime. The rest are IN good pres
ervation. The hair Of the head being
drawn bsck, contrary to the Emperor
custom, the forehead appears more bald
than c did in his lifetime. The skull is
perfect, except the portion taken out 10
extract the brain ia embalming. This
fragment has been retaiusd-thst is,
stolen by one Of the Mexican physicians
who supCrinteudsa the enbalming st
Oueretaro-sO the EmperOr's physician
declared st the recent examinstlon-and
its place has been supplied with wood.
The ears being covered by the padding
placed 10 secure the body In its colin,
are not visible.
Opinions I'm the AdmiraIs party were
very varied as 20 the preservation of the
likeness. Some recognized it at once,
while others thought that, but for their
previously knowing that they were to
see tine EmperOris remains, they would
have been at first unable to distinguish
them, except those Of tall, spare man,
of Maximilian' 's hight and ge neral proper !
tions. The body lay on its back, the face |
wholly without expression, and turned |
upward, the arms, hands aud feet lying /
In a straight, natural position, and the |
vsrnish applied to the face and to |
the hair, gave both a much darker tint |
than the natural one, especially to the !
face. The disturbing ilfluence Of
that position Of the body, and the change |
Of complexion gradually disappearing |
from their minds, most OF the party |
finally recognized the preservation Of the |
likeness, as far, perhaps, as was practi- |
cable in embslming. The body has only |
slight aromatic Odor, and is very care !
fully secured from motion or damage |
from other causes, in a massive coffin or /
rather sarcOphagUs. This is made inter |
naIly Of eedrO or ligat mahogany, and /
externally of grdHddalO, the most pre- /
eious of Mexican timber, not unlike, |
though more beautiful than the finest /
mahogany used in veneering; the gran
ddHlD is sometimes seen III Europe and |
the United States in ornaments to flutes |
and other musical instruments. The feet 1
Of the sarcOphagus are also Of grand
dHlO, and elsb0rately ard tasteiully 1
carved. It's entire exterior is /
beautifully polished, and the whole is
ia simple and excellent taste. The lid is I
removable; at the end toward the En- |
perOr's head 1t Is made t3 fit securely |
into the body Of the sareophagus, and /
at the other it is secured by 3 strong lock, /
neatly fitted into the lower end OF the |
sareOpbagUs, the keyhole being almost
entirely concealed by the projecting cor
nice. The sarcophagus lay in the center
of the chapel OF the hospital of San
Addres, on 8 slightly elevated platform,
covered with black cloth The head was
IN the NAEECLADh loMaIu tie uAEn dlthT.
Except in the absence Of lighted tapers
and the ceremonial which the Roman
Church observes to its dead, the Empe-
roTis remains seemed to be treated with
all possible respect. Gen, Vasquez
aud one Of the Mexican physicisns
intrusted with the re-emoslming here
attended, on the part of the Government,
the examination made on the Sth inst.
Admiral TegethOfi was much and visibIy
affected at the sight Of the remains Of bis
former commander ia the Austrian
army. He and his party were treated by
Gen. NssgueZ, throughout the examins-
tion, which lasted nearly s.n hour, with
the utmost courtesy and consideration.
For conveyance to the coast, the sarco-
phagus containing the E.mperOr's re-
mains will be placed in a strong box,
lined and covered with zinc. There an
other inspection will prectde the formal
delivery The body was surrendered by
this Government on a request made in q
letter addressed to it as the Government
OF Mexico, by Mr.. de Beust, as Minister
OF the Imperial house, not as Minister Of
Foreign Affairs Of Austria.
Lieut.. Col. Weyde, Russian officer,
has invented an apparatus for throwing