Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-07
Grapes Casket Containing
Remains Of Paul Jones.
Vast Crowds Attend Ceremony
Of Transferring the Remains
To Admiral Sigshee by Ambassador Porter.
Taken 10 CherhOurg.

lomatic representatives of many for.
| elgn governments and civil and naval
officials of the United States, the body
| of Admiral John Paul Jones was to.
day, formally delivered to the United
States government. The ceremony was
one combining impressive dignity with
military and naval pOmp in which the
| soldiers and sailors of France and the
| sailors of America united in rendering
honors to the illustrious founder of the
American navy.
The occasion was unique and proba-
bly, without parallel, as the funeral was
that Of "A Revolutionary hero whose
body had lain neglected in a foreign
grave for over 100 years.
Seldom has an event awakened such
widespread interest in the French cap
ital. Dense thrOngS packed the Champs
Elysees and other principal thorough
fares to witness the imposing cortege
which, for the elabOrateness of it's mil :
itary feature, equalled the martial dis
play on the occasion of the visit Of
King Alfonso.
The ceremony of delivering the body
was held in the American church on the
Avenue De L'Alma at $3.50 o'clock in the
afternoon. The interior of this gothic
edifice was beautifully decorated with
plants and flowers. At the foot of the
chancel rested the casket wound in an
American flag and literally buried in
masses of floral emblems. The French
government had taken charge Of the ar
raEgements and Hussars of the Foreign
Office. wearing impressive silver chains,
acted as ushers.
At the right of the altar sat Ambassa-
dor Mccormick, Senior Special Ambas-
sador Porter, Junior Special Ambassa-
| dor LOOMS. United States Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge. Rear Admiral Sigs-
bee and other officers of the American
| squadron. Across the aisle sat Premier
Rouvier with other members of his cabi-
net. practically the entire diplomatic
corps and officers Of the army and navy.
The members of the diplomatic corps
were in full uniform, making a brilliant
| appearance. Scores of American sailors
| in the naves on either side Of the altar
| gave fitting background 10 the impos-
| ing scene.
After brief religious services General
| Porter, wearing evening dress according
W Tire L ltIlCIl CuStOHl, WIFI tut Ieu SASH
| of the Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honor across his breast. advanced along
side the casket and formally delivered
the body to Mr. LOOMS as the repre-
| sentative of the United States govern
ment who accepted it in the name of the
| government and commissioned Admiral
| Sigsbee to transport it to the United
| Sta .es.
AS the supplied choir took up my
| Country 'Tis of Thee" the entire assem-
| blage rose and joined in the strains of
the patriotic hymn. Eight brawny
| sailors from THE Brooklyn then stepped
| forward and raising the casket to their
| shoulders, bore it slowly from the
| church to the waiting gun carriage.
| This was draped with the national color
and was drawn by six black horses. The
casket was covered with flags and flow
ers and took the place of the unlim-
bered gun.
The cortege was now formed and pro-
ceeded along the Avenue De L'Alma, the
Champs Elysees. across the ElanCer
bridge to the Esplanade Des Invalides
Republican Guards lined each side Of the
avenues. holding back the dense throngs
while all the converging streets were
closed by barriers to prevent a crush.
Heading the procession came a
squadron Of Cuirassiers in glittnring
helmets and breast plates, stretching
from curb to curb, with a division of
infantry under General Frey. After
them rumbled the gun caisson bearin,,
the flower laden coffin with guards of
American sailors on either side. Back
of the coffin was a long line Of distir-
guished officials headed by Ambassa-
dor Mccormick. Special Ambassadors
Porter and Loomis. Premier Rouvier
and his cabinet. the foreign ambassa-
doris and French generals and admir-
ais. ali walking according to the French
custom.
The appearance of the detachment
of 500 American sailors and marines
was the signal for expressions of en-
thusiasm all along the line. Another
French division composed of infantry,
cavalry and artillery, closed the cor
tege.
Arriving at the Esplanade Des In
valides an imposing picture was pre-
scented. The French government had
erected a large pavilion in which to
deposit the coffin. The pavilion was
richly hung with crimson velvet, with
martial emblems anG battle axes, en-
twined flags and a row Of brass field
pieces along the front. Nearby rose the
gilded dome of the tomb of Napoleon.
The casket was deposited in the GEN.
ter of the pavilion while the cortege
passed, rendering military honors. Lat
er 1t was borne to the Invalides rail-
road STATEN and placed in a funeral
car. where. guarded by French and
american sailors, it started for Cher
nourg at 10 o'clock tonight.
The unusual sight Of large
detachment Of marines swinging
through the central thoroughfares