The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-10-11
Nnntertainment Of Napoleon at
St Helene in 1910.

Every thing being prepared for
the important operation, at half an
hour after midnight of the i4th-
10Th Of October, the twenty.fifih
anniversary Of the arrival Of Ma.
poieon Bonaporte at St. Henlena
the first blow was struck which
was to open the grave where he
had slumbered the sleep of death
30 long. Even the workmen who
were engaged in digging ont the
earth seemed to be impressed with
awe at the extraordinary work
they were performing. All was
husiied as death. Not q sound
was heard save now and then the
word of command necessary to di.
rect the labors as the work pro.
ceeded. The waning moon occa.
sionally threw her pale light upon
the scene below, but again che
would he obscured by dark clouds.
and the rain fell in torrents. No
light would then DO visible but the
glimmer of the numerous lanterns
used by the workmen, and the sol.
itsry watch, FIRE which was burn.
ing near the tent, thus giving the
sceno the appearance of bivouac
&C; yet mono moved all remained
as it were chained to the spot Ohe
aged Bertrand, Gourgand, and
others, French, together with the
appointed officials on tina part of
England, exposed to, but regard.
less of the inclelnency of the
weather, anxiously watching the
work as it slowly proceeded.--
There was much difficulty occa.
stoned by the mass of cement and
masonry obstructing the approach
to the slab that covered the coffin.
The coffin was then lifted out of
the tomb by means of shears, and
deposited on the ground on the
left side OF the grave, whence il
MRS carefully borne by twelve
men Of the Royal Artillery to a
tent erected for its reception, when
the service Leuee du corps was
performed.
The outer mahogany coffin hay.
ing been removed, the inner ones
wero carefully placed within the
lead ancoffin contained in the sar.
cophagus sent from France, and
the lids Of the old leaden and the
second mahogany coffin were cut
through, and SO opened. The old
tin coffin, the last cover which
shrouded the remains, became
thus exposed to. view, and at one
O'Clock Q,is excellency, the govern.
or and staff having arrived in the
mean time from Plantation House)
this was also cut through, when
the satin covering over the body
appeared, which the surgeon Cf
the Belle Poule" gently raised,
and thus displayed the body of the
emperor. 1t was in excellent con-
dition, and seemed to have been
almost miraculously preserved {;
there was an appearance OF mould
all over the body and habilimcnts,
bnt his features, nearly unaltered,
were Immediately recognized by
bis old friends and followers.-
The hands, which DR.. Guillard
touched, (and he was the only per.
son who touched the corpse,j were
perfect and firm as mummy.n
he said, and the appearance Of the
whole body was that of one who
had lately been inferred. The
eyes were fallen, and the bridge
OF the nose little sunk but the |
lower part Of the face, remarka.
BILE t r it's great breadth and ful
ness, was perfect. His epauletts
and the several stars and orders
on his breast were furnished; his
Jacket-boots covered with mildew.
which, when DR.. Guillard slightly
rubbed, came off, and the leather
underneath was perfectly black
and sound. His cooked hat lay
across bis thighs, and the silver
vase with the imperial eagle,
which contains his heart, stood i'm
the hollow above the ankles, but
had assumed a bronze hue.
The body remained exposed to
view from two to three minutes,
when IL was sprinkled by tho sur
geon with some chemical compo-
sition, and the old tin, as well as
the old and new leaden coffins,
were carefully soldered mp by NJ. |
Leroux, a French plumber, who
attended for that purpose. The
sarcopaagus was then closed and
locked, and the key delivered by
Captain Alexander to Count Cha.
bot, with the remark that, as he
and the witnesses sent out from |
France had been enabled 10 satis-
fly themselves that the body of the |
late emperor was really deposited |
in the sarcophagus now before
them he had nv ordar nf h;e NV