The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-06-14
CURIOUS PHENOMENON.
A Body Found iu Perfect Condition Eight
Years After Burial.


In 1880 the Mexican man-oi-war
Mexico left San Francisco-having put
into this port for repairs-for cruise
along the coast of Lower California.
She was commanded by Captain Ascue-
rega. as true gentleman and as good
a sailor as ever trod deck, who is yet
we'll remembered here among the
Spanish residents. Added to his other
good qualities, he was IL kind COM
mander, and was the idol of his crew.
But whom the gods love die young.
Captain Ascuerega was only twenty
eight years old when he left here, and
about n month later he was killed by
a strange accident.
The Mexico was lying off Port San
Bartalome, from where little bay runs
in at ii distance of about thirty miles
south of the Cerros Islands. The
weather was warm and the captain was
enjoying his daily siesta on deck. when
the vessel gave a sudden lurch and
sent heavy gun out Of it's place back
ward on top of the unfortunate COM
mander. crushing him terribly. He
fingered for few hours. but never
spoke again. and at nightfall his soul
took its flight.
The next day the vessel put into the
little bay, and the remains of the be-
loved captain were borne ashore, fol-
lowed by the w-stricken crew. The
surroundings were we'll calculated to
inspire feelings of reverence and re-
g-ct. There were no signs of civiliza-
ton to be seen, except the vessel which
lay in the stream. The beach on which
the little procession landed was one of
sand, which stretched back in its dreary
waste to low chain of mountains on
which nothing grew but Il small shrub.
The nearest habitation to this lonely
spot is settlement of Chinese fisher
men, which is fourteen miles away to
the north.
A grave was dug in the sand several
hundred yards away from the beach,
and the last that was mortal of Captain
Ascuerega, wrapped up in shroud.
was laid therein. A wooden cross, with
his name inscribed thereon. was placed
deep in the sand to mark his last rest
ing place. A parting salute was fired
over the lonely grave. and his compan-
ions in life wended their way back TO
the ship. The anchor was weighed and
tho vessel was soon out on the ocean
heading for home. Captain Ascuerega
was unmarried. but he was the pride
and joy of his aged parents. who were
bowed with grief on learning of their
loss.
In Mexico the laws Go not permit tho
disinterment of u body until five years
after burial. In due time the circum-
stances of the death was nearly forgot
ton, but to passing vessels the grave Of
San Bartalome had become legend.
A short time ago the friends of Ascue-
rega determined to remove the remains
and have them placed in the family vault
in the City of Mexico, which place had
been his home. A vessel was chartered
for that purpose. and the grave was
visited for the first time in eight years.
| And now comes the remarkable part OF
the story.
The grave was opened, and instead
of finding the captains skeleton as the
seekers expected, they found perfect
form with the skin closely drawn to the
bone. The hair and teeth were found
in a perfect condition. although the
skin was drawn in such manner as
to render the features unrecognizable.
The shroud and clothes in which Ascue-
erega was buried had fallen into decay.
The shoes were still in place, but fell
off upon lifting up the body, and
the bones were found inside them.
The body was ''varnished' so as
to prevent decay in its removal, and
the remains were closed in hermetic-
ally sealed casket and taken to Mazat-
Ian. Here the strange occurrence was
reported, and the remains were exposed
to the view of medical men and others
who had curiosity enough to look upon
| them.
The cause assigned for this curious
phenomenon is that the atmosphere on
the beach is very dry and the ground
contains no moisture. francisco
Chronicle.