The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-02
Body Of tEe Late Emperor Max
fEstfifan.

! The following is an account OF The Ger
emony of the delivery of the body Of the
late Archduke Ferdinand Naximiian, o
Austria, to Admiral Tegethoff. by the
mayor of Vera Cruz, appointed by the
government. aud in accordance with tn,
instructions as TO the manner in which
the ceremony was to be perf.rmcl:
VERA CRUz. Nov. p, 1867.
To TIRE E';iors Of 0.e JoaraH # Commerce:
The body reached this city on the 25'i
at ) z NJ {, undcra strong escort of caval-
ry; the con mander OF the escort havine
IN his charge sealed pare ]. containin-
the key of the coffin, which be was in
structed to place in the hande Of the may
or of the city The body was conducted
and deposited in !he parish church. where
were in waiting the mayor. members OF
the city council. members of the board
Of health and charity, and the principal
federal and local authorities The church
was then ordered to be cleared by the po
Fee Of the multitude. and sentries placed
af the doors to prevent any one from el.
'ering The admiral was then satisfied
that everything was ready for the dcliv
cry. II shortly appeared with his staff
all. dressed III citizens clothes and in deer
| mourning. The operation en- commenced
of opening lar.e deal case, which wa
found to contain another case Of zinc
Enclosed was found beautiful rosewood
coffin on the top Of which was large
and beautiful carved cross, all the work oi
Mexican artizans. The mayor then broke
the seals Of the parcel containing tho key.
and presentec it to the person in charge
If opening the coffin The key wa OF
gold as also the hinges Of the lids The
lid Of the eni.in raised, the body was ex-
posed to view in It's fall length The
corpse was dressed ia a full sait of black
aud the hands in kid gloves. The face
was perfect and although of an ashy
brown color, common to all cmhalmed
bodies a few months after the operation Of
cubalmine has been performed, was easily
rec"gnizablc The coffin WAS lined
through with velvet. and the body wei
cushioned in to prevent any movement, so
that the head hands. etc. were evidently
in the same position in which they had
been placed originally The admiral WIS
then called upon to- say whether he recog-
nizcd in the brdy the archduke Of Aus
tria and whether he would receive it as
such. Replying in the affirmative, the
coffin was again closed and the key ten
,lered to HIN.
IN official record was then drawn up in
lriplicile. Witnessed by three no1aries.
Zone copy Tor The Mexican government
one for he admiral, and one to be depo.-
tied in The archives of the city, which
was si=ned by ihe admiral and his staff,
the mayor aud all the authorities, mem-
bers OF the city council etc. etc
All then retirel ir the church, with
the doors well gu Led by Mexican
guard If in santry. until the next morning.
when it was quietly embarked without any
military bonors. and taken on board the
Austrian irigate Novara (the same which
brought him to this country.) and she
proceeded to sea Immediately.
The coffin WAS furnished at the expense
# the Mexican government, and all the
expenses Of transporting the body 10 Vera
Cruz have been betrayed by it also.