The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-13
John Paul Jones Body
Positively Identified
Eminent French Scientists Describe Methods
and Results Which Leave No Doubt Re-
garding Body of Famous Admiral.

NEW YORK, July 13.-Gen. Horace
Porter took no possible chance in the
identification of the body of Admiral
John Paul Jones
Three of the most noted experts in
antnropological research were charged
by General Porter to examine the body
and draw up a report He realized that
the question % the authenticity of the
body would b. raised, and was deter
mined that no mistake should be made
The three scientists to whom was In
trusted the task of Identification We're
DR.. George Herve, who has devoted his
whole life to the anthropologicai
sciences; Dr. Louis Captain, who stands
one of the French authorities on
palaeothenogl-aph and DR.. George Papil-
lult, of the Prlris Anthropologicai School,
and recognized authority in this
branch Of science.
The next number Of the Independent.
which will be printed today, contains
the statement Of these distinguished
scientists, telling why they are certain
the body now being brought to this
country on the big cruiser Brooklyn is
that of the famous sailor
SLaaame of Experts.
These statements in part follow:
Dr. Louis Captain says:
When the lead coffin was opened l
found the body packed around with
straw and hay, and thoroughly soaked
in an alcoholic liquid. An oriice. now
closed in the upper part of the coffin
had evidently been used for introduce
ton of this liquid, which had escaped at
d much later period through a break In
the coffin
ssTF,a body uhoce color wac a orayfsn
brown, presents still a remarkable sup
p1entus of the teguments- The skin.
hair, muscles, every part, in a word, is
in a wonderful state Of preservation
II Immediately proceeded to an anato-
ARCHAEOLOGICAL examination 10 discover
If the viscera showed any traces OF the
diseases which Admiral Jones was
known to have suffered from during his
life II is an established fact that he
long had a bad cough before falling into
the decline which carried him off, and
which produced a very noticeable swell
ing of the lower limbs and pulmonary
hydropsy.
Autopsy After 1I3 Years.
so on April 13 last I made the
autopsy. the first time. perhaps. that
such a thing had been done 113 years
after death
Professor Cornil, who fills with SO
much distinction the chair Of PATHOLOGY
cal anatomy in our Paris medical school.
examined the viscera. We found the
heart normal, the liver scarcely affect
ed, and the lungs, to which particular
attention was given, showing unques-
tionable evidence of a cured attack of
broncho-p We concluded.
therefore, that the body before us had
suffered from serious pulmonary COM
plications- It is known that such was
the case with Paul Jones.
.'An examination of the kidneys made
it possible for Professor CornH TO form
ulate what we We're sure would be the
case the diagnosis of chronic intiamma-
ton of these organs, frequently accom-
panied by the swelling Of the lower limbs
especially. and other related phenomena
all of which Jones was known to be
subjected to.
Here was a fresh and curious proof
of various pathological troubles CORE
spending exactly to the different morbid
diseases from which he suffered through
life These facts Joined with those fur
nished from other sources offer another
frrefutable argument in favor of our
contention that the body which we ex-
amined can be none other than that or
John Paul Jones.
DR.. PapiHauIt gives in his statement
a detailed and somewhat technical de-