The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21
Discovery of the Remains of Paul
Jones in Paris
IN A LEADEN COFFIN.
The Excavations of the Old St. Louis
Cemetery IN Paris Brought to Light
casket- Containing Body
Identified as that of John
Paul Ioaan
Paul Jones'.

"A dispatch from Paris says the re-.
maFkable search which Ambassador
Porter has conducted for the body of
Paul Jones has been crowned with
success by the discovery of the hodv
and its Identification Thursday nv the
hlghest French medical experts az nm.
questionably that Of the famons
American admiral who founded the
American navy. Ambassador Porter
cabled to Washington Friday nioht
announcing the successful results of
his long and difficult search. The
body Is In good state OF preser yation.
considering that the internent toni
place one hundred years ago.
Ihe circumstances leading to the
1nal discovery Of the body are partio.
uiarly interesting. Gen. Porter has
conducted the search for the last five
years and when Congress recentlv
Took no action on the Presidents rae.
ommendation for the expenses Incl.
oeht TO the search the Ambassador
continued the extensive labors at his
own expese. A large force of work
men has been engaged night and dav
tunnellipg and cross tunnellinp the
old st. Louis Cemetery. This consti.
tuted huge operation embracing
nearly block, covered with buildings
and requiring system of subterran-
can mining.
Hundreds Of wooden caskets were
found, but not until Wednesday, wac
unearthed four leaden caskets which
gave promise OF containing the body of
the admiral. Three of them bore
plates designating the names of the
deceased. The fourth showed superior
soidlty or workmanship. No plate was
iound on this casket, and it is sup.
posed 1t was removed when another
collin was superimposed on it. The
teaden collin was opened In the pres
enca OF Gen. Porter, Col. Bailly- Blan.
cnard, the second secretary of the
American embassy, aud EnpIneer
Weis, who had been directing the ex-
cayatioa. The body was found to he,
we'll preserYed, owning to its having
been immerced In alcohol. 4 Was
wrapped In sheet with packing of
straw and hay. Those present were
Immediately struck by the resem.
blance Of the head to that of the me.
dallions and busts Of the admiral.
AS was anticipated no uniform deo.
Grafton or sword were found. az al,
such articles had been accounted for
after the burial. The coffin is shan.
ed like mummy cotfin which were
common at that period, widening
from the feet to the shoulders with =
round tt p fitting over the head.
The coffin was taken to the medical
school, where Drs. Captain and Papil.
laut, distinguished professors of the
school OF anthropology, and recognized
authorities on Sucn Investigations.
we're charged with making thorough
examination for the purpose of identi-
tion. To faci itate this the am.
nassador fu.nis led taem with ,or-
traits and medallions, two bust, by
| ioudln and authentic descriptions of
me color OF the admiral's hair, and
me height and measurement OF his
body. The Identification was pro.
nouncad complete in every particular.
Care has been taken to keep the
oody IN Its present state OF preserya.
zion. 1t will be placed in handsome
casket and deposited in the receiyi
vault OF the American Church on the
Avenue de L'Alma until the ambassa-
dor can learn the opinion Of the Gov.
ernmen6 concerning the most appro-
pirate means of transporting 1t to the
United States and giving fitting
sepulchre to the body of the illustri.
Gus sailor whose place of burial has 40
long remained mystery.