Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-04-27
PAUL JONES' BODY FOUND.
Successful Termination Of a Remark
able Search at Paris.

able search at PARIS
PARIS The remarkable search
which Ambassador Porter has con
Quoted for the body Of John Paul
Jones has been crowned with success
by the discovery OF the body and its
Identification by the highest French
medical experts as unquestionably
that of the famous American admiral
who founded the American navy.
Ambassador Porter cabled to Wash
ington announcing the successful re-
suits of his long and difficult search.
The body is in a good state of preser-
walton, considering that the inter
ment took place over 100 years ago.
The circumstances leading to the
final discovery OF the body are par
ticularly interesting. General Porter
has conducted the search for the last
five years and when congress recently
took no action upon the presidents
recommendation for the expenses in
cident to the search the ambassador
continued the extensive labors at his
own expense. A large force of work
men has been engaged night and day
tunneling and cross-tunneling the old
st. Louis cemetery. This constituted
a huge operation. embracing nearly
block covered with buildings and re-
During a system of subterranean min
ing.
hundreds of wooden caskets were
found, but not until Wednesday were
o., bioI
gave promise of containing the body
of the admiral Three of them bore
plates designating the names Of the
deceased. The fourth showed superior
solidity of workmanship. No plate was
found on this caskct and it is sup
posed it was removed when another
coffin was superimposed on it. The
leaden coffin was opened in the pres
ence of Ambassador Porter Colonel
Bailey Blanchard, the second secre-
tary of the American embassy, and
Engineer Weis, who has been direct
ing the excavation. The body was
found to be well preserved owing to
its being immersed in alcohol. 1t was
wrapped in sheet with a packing
of straw and hay. Those present were
Immediately struck by the resem-
blance of the head to that on the
medallions and busts of the admiral.
AS was anticipated. no uniform, de-
coration or sword was found as all
such articles had been accounted for
after the burial
The coffin is shaped like a mummy
coffin, which collins were common at
that period, widening from the feet
to the shoulders, with round top
fitting over the head
The coffin was taken to the medical
school where directors Captain and
Pilillau, distinguished professors of
the school of anthropology and recog
niZed authorities on such investiga-
tions, were charged with making a
thorough examination for the purpose
of Identification. To facilitate this,
the ambassador furnished them with
portraits and medallions two busts
by Houdil and authentic descriptions
of the color of the admiral's hair and
height and measurement of his body,
After the most minute examination
these facts were fully substantiatCd:
Length Of the body, five feet seven
inches; the admiral's exact height
Size and shape of the head agree
with several peculiarities identical
with the head of the admiral Hair,
dark brown, the same as the admir-
ais; in places slightly gray. indicat-
ing a person of his age, As years.
The hair is long, reaching below the
shoulders, and is combed back and
gathered in clasp at the back of the
neck