Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-06-05
ST. HELENA TO PARIS
THE REMOVAL OF NAPOLEON'S BODY
TO ITS LAST RESTING PLACE.


1 TO ITS LAST RESTING PLACE
Wonderful Preservation Through Ni:.c-
teen Years Inferment-Spectators Moved
t, Tears-lmpressive Ceremonies mt tho
Church Of the Invalides.
The grave in the valley of Napoleon,
On ST. Helena, as the place had come to
be called, was surrounded by an iron
railing set in heavy stone curb. Over
the grave was a covering Of 9 inch stone
which admitted to vault IL feet deep,
8 feet long and feet inches broad and
was apparently filled with earth, but
digging down some seven feet n layer CT
Roman cement was found. This broken
laid bare layer of rough hewn stone 10
inches thick and fastened together by
from clamps. 1t took = hours to remove
this layer. The stone up, the slab form
ing the lid of the interior sarcophagUs
was exposed, inclosed in border of Ro-
man cement strongly attached to the
walls Of the vault. So stoutly had ali
these various coverings been sealed with
cement and bourd by iron bands that / {
!
hours TO reach the coffin.
1.-THE outermCst coffin was slightly in
jured, says an eyewitness. "Then came
one of lead, which was in good condition
and inclosed two othcrs-onc of tin and
one of wood The last coffin was lined
inside with white satin, which. having
become detached by the effect Of time.
had fallen upon the body and enveloped
it like winding sheet and had become
slightly attached to it.
at is difficult to describe with what
anxiety and cRotion those who were
present waited For ne moment which
was to expose to them al that was left
Of the Emperor Napoleon. No;with
standing the singular state of preserva-
ton of the tomb and cofTins, we could
scarcely hope TO find anything hut some
misshapen remains Of the least perish
able part Of the costume to evidence the
identity of the body. But when Dr..
Guillard raised the sheet OF satin, an in
Gescribable feeling CT surprise and afTcc-
ton was expressed by the spectators,
many of whom burst into tears. The
emperor himself was before their eyes.
The features Of the face, though changed.
were perfect ly recognized; the hands OK
tremely beautiful; his well known cos
tune had suffered bat little, and tn
colors were easily distinguished. Tie at
titude Itself Was iull of ease, ans, but ioT.
the fragments OF satin lining which Gov
cred, as with fine gauze, several parts Of
the uniform, We might have believed
We still saw Napoleon lying Oh his bed
of state.
The climax of tho pageant in Paris
was the temple of tho Invalijlcs. Tho
spacious church was draped i'll the most
magnificent and lavish fashion and
adorned with perfect bawilGcr1neut Of
imperial emblcms. The light was shut
out by hangings of violet velvet; tripods
blazing with colored flames, ard thou
sands upon thousands of waxc,i candles
IL brilliant candelabra lighted me tcr.>-
pie. Under the dome, in the place Of tho
altar, stood the catafaloue which was
to receive the coffin.
It was 3 O'Clock III the afternoon when
tie archbishop of Paris. preceded by
splendid cross bearer, and followed by
IS incense boys and long rows cf white
cd priests, left the church to meet the
procession. They retained soon. Fol
lowing them Was the Prince de Joinvilic
and a select few from TIE graId cortC%a
without III their MIDST Napoleon 5 co,-
fin.
The king descended from his throne
and advanced 70 meet the ccrtesc.
.'s5ire," said tEo Prince de Joirvillc, Il
precent to you the body CT Napoleon,
which, in accordance with your con-
mauds, ] have brought bac!> 20 France. y
Il receive 1t III tic na,i:o OF Frarce,"
replied Locis Philippe.
Such at least is what the "Nouitcur''
cilirlns was said The Prince dc join
vile gives IL different version: 1T az
pears that little speech which l was 20
have delivered when I IncS my father,
and also tie answer lie was to give Lie,
had been drawn up III council, only ito
authorities had omitted 70 INFORM Inc
concerning it. SO when l arrived sim
ply saluted with my sword, aud ti:e,.
stood aside l saw indeed that this silent
salute, followed by retreat, had thrown
something cut. but my father, after a
mCment's 5 hesitatiCn, i,lIr0vise& sn,E,c
appropriate scHltlte, tLil Tue IJs'It-
was afterwari arraGsed in the 'Moni-
teur. ~
Beside tie king stood 81 officer. bear
ing cushion. On Il lay the sword OF
Austerlitz Marshal Soult handed it to
the king, who, turning to Bertrand,
said:
General, I commission you to place
the emperor's glorious sword on the
bier
And Bertrand, trembling with emo
tion, laid the sword rcverently on his
IDOLS coffin. The great audience watch
ed the scene in deepest silence. The only
sound which broke the stiffness was the
half stified sobs of the gray haired sol
diers of the mvalides, who stood i'll
places of honor near the catafalque.
The king and the procession returned
to their palaces, and then followed y
majestic funeral mass.-Ida NJ. Tarbeu
In Mcclure S Magazine.
NOT APPRECIATED.