The morning times., 1896-05-03

tomb and removed the snow, which COM
pleteiy filled the inside, When the bodies
were exposed TO view 1T was seen that
decay had made such strides during the
preceding summer that the features were
! destroyed. From the known order in
which The bodies lay and from the de-
scriptton i had obtained concerning their
clothing, and the position of their legs
, and arms, they were easily identified
beyond the possibility of doubt.
THE bodies were frozen to the rocks
beneath, but were removed without acci-
dent of any kind. AS each body was
taken from the tomb il was marked by at
taching n strip of leather bearing the
name, then wrapped in felt and ma rked
OH the outside in The same manner.
AFTER all had been taken from the tomb
the stones which originally covered it
were piled up about the cross in the form
OF a pyramid to the height OF eight feet,
and the bodies were taken to Mat Way.
The limbs were so bent that it became
difficult to arrange the bodies on sleds
for transportation. Before night, how
ever, it was accomplished, and all the
preparations were made for starting south
, at daylight
THE JOURNEY HOMEWARD.
Considerable progress was made on the
journey homeward between March, 1888.
when the bodies were taken from the tomb,
and the spring of the same year, when the
progress south had TO be abandoned on ac-
count OF the approach of warm weather.
Lieut.. Harber says:
ION the 14th of A pr.l Mr.. scheutze and
held consultation with DR.. Kapeilo. the
chief government surgeon and DR.. Grlbon-
offski as to the best manner of keeping the
bodies in their frozen condition during the
summer, and also as TO how and when the
limbs should be Strengthened.
1T was finally decided, in consequence Of
the rapidly approaching warm weather and
the difficulty of freezing the bodies solid
after STRENGTHENING the limbs, it would be
best not TO straighten them until The cold
weather of next year set in, and that the
bodies should be buried as they We're, some
ten or twelve feet in the ground, having
first prepared a box for their reception and
protection. In doing so they would be
kept free from the ravages of mice and
would keep far better than if placed in
any ice house to be found in the city.
"On November 6 worknen commenced
opening the large grave in which the bodies
lay during the summer, The earth in the
lower part was frozen hard and was with
difficulty removed. The following day the
grave was opened and the bodies taken to
the hospital. Capt. De Long and Mr.. Col
morning We're in suitable condition for
Strengthening their limbs.
-Four assistants, under the direction of
the medical inspector, DR.. KapellO. re-
moved the felt wrapping and ali of the
clothing save the suit nearest the body.
The legs and arms were then made straight
and the bodies were completely wrapped
in white linen.
LAS each was completed a strip of liner
bearing the name was sewed upon the
breast for identification, and the body was
taken to cold room and frozen. The ap-
pearance of the bodies was mummy-like.
LOOKS OF THE BODIES.
1.-THE skin was black and adhered closely to
the bones of the head, hands and feet. So
far as we could observe, no change had taken
place since they had been taken from the
tomb. The work of Strengthening was COM
pleted on November l /. All of the bodies
were wrapped in felt and sewed therein.
.'They were then packed in caskets. mat
tresses being placed beneath and over each
BODY and about the head. All spaces were
filled with felt and wood fiber. The tin
| covers OF the lining were then soldered in
place, the casket closed and banded with
| iron. Two months later, when the caskets
were opened in Orenburg. after Journey
| in sleds over rough roads of 5000 miles,
| it was found that not body had turned or
otherwise changed its position. Not an ac-
| cident Of any kind had happened TO them"
The remainder of Lieut.. Harher's report
| is devoted to an account of the trip back TO
| America. after the bodies had been re-
| moved from the second temporary grave IN
| the fall of 1888.