Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-15
P0RTER'S SEARCH CROWNED
WITH SUCCESS
IDENTIFICATION is COMPLETE
Body In Good State of Preservation,
Considering the Time Which Has
Elapsed Since Its
lnterment
BY Associated Press.

conducted for the body of Paul Jones
has been crowned with success by the
discovery of the body and it's identif-
cation today by the highest French
medical experts as unquestionably that
of the famous American admiral who
founded the American navy.
Amba assador Porter cabled to WASH
ington tonight announcing the success
full results Of his long and difficult
search. The body is in a good state
Of preservation, considering that the
interment took place over 100 years
ago.
The circumstances leading to the
final discovery of the body are partic-
ularly 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 workmen has been
engaged night and day tunneling and
cross-tunneling the old st. Louis ceme-
terry. This constituted huge opera
ton, embracing nearly a block covered
with buildings and requiring a system
of subterranean mining.
Many Caskets Found
Hundreds of wooden caskets were
found, but not until Wednesday was
unearthed four leaden caskets which
gave promise of containing the body of
designating the names of the deceased.
The fourth showed superior solidity of
workmanship. No plate was found
on this casket, and 1t is supposed it
was removed when another coffin was
superimposed on it. The leaden coffin
Porter. Col. Bailey Blanchard, second
secretary of thes American embassy,
and Engineer weis, who has been di-
recting the excavation. The body was
found to be wen preserved, owing to
its being immersed in alcohol. 1t was
straw and hay. Those present were
Immediately struck by the resemblance
of the head to that on the medallions
and bust Of the admiral.
AS was anticipated, no uniform, dec
grafton or sword were 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.
Examined by Scientists
The coffin was taken to the medical
school where Doctors Captain and
Papilau, the distinguished professors
of the school of anthropology, recog-
nized authorities on such investiga-
tions, were charged with making a
thorough examination for the purpose
of Identification. To facilitate the
work the ambassador furnished them
busts by Houdon and authentic descrip-
tions of color of the admiral's hair
and the height and measurements of
his body. After the most minute ex-
animation the following facts were
fully substantiated:
Length of the body, feet inches.
The admiraps height, size and shape
of the head agree with several peculiar
tiles identical with the head Of the ad
miral. Hair, dark brown, the same as
the admiraPs; in places slightly
gray, indicating person of his age, |
40 years. The hair is long, reaching
below his shoulders, and is combed
back and gathered in a clasp at the
back of the neck. The face is clean
shaven, all corresponding exactly with
the admiral.
Body Carefully Packed
The linen is in good condition. One
article bears an initial either ~" or an |
inverted "P." The body was carefully |
packed. The limbs were wrapped in
tinfoil, presumably for sea transporta-
ton, as indicated in a letter of the
admiraPs nearest friend and a pail
bearer at his funeral, Colonel Black
burn, who said:
"FIis body was put in a leaden coffin,
SO that in case the United States,
which he had so essentially served,
should claim his remains. they might
be more easily removed"
plete in every particular.
Care has been taken to keep the
body in its present state of preserva-
ton. 1t will be placed in a handsome
casket and deposited in the receiving
vault of the American church in the