Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-04-19
TO BRING THE BODY HOME
John Paul Jones Is to Rest in the
National Cemetery.
REMAINS IDENTIFIED.
Ambassador Porter's Long Search IN
Paris Is Rewarded-Body Is
Well Preserved.

Well Preserved.
Washington, D. c., April ia war
ship will be sent to France to convey the
body of John Paul Jones to this country,
where it will be buried in the National
cemetery at Washington.
Ambassador Porter's dispatch announc..
ing the finding Of the body of John Paul
Jones reached the state department. last
night. 1t was Of considerable length, III
the state department code, and will not
be deciphered until late today. Enough
Of it, however, was deciphered last nlght
to confirm the press reports of the finding
Of the body.
Recovery of the Body.
Paris, April 15.-The circumstances
leading to the discovery of the remains
of John Paul Jones are particularly IN
teresting. Gen. Porter has directed the
search for the last five years, and when
Congress recently took no action on the
Presidents recommendation for the ex-
penses incident to the search the am
bassador continued the extensive labors
at his own expense.
Tunnel Into Old Cemetery.
A large force of workmen has been en-
gagged night and day tunneling and cross
tunneling the old st. Louis cemetery.
This constituted a huge operation, en-
bracing nearly block covered with
buildings and requiring a system Of sub
terranean mining.
Hundreds of wooden caskets were
found, but not until Wednesday were I'M
earthed 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 solidity Of
workmanship. No plate was found on
moved when another coffin was superim-
posed on it.
Body Well Preserved.
The Ieaden coffin was opened in the
presence of Gen. Porter, Col. Baily
blanchard, the second secretary Of the
American embassy, and Engineer Weis,
who has been directing the excavation.
The body was found to be well pre-
served, owing to it's having been i'm
sheet with packing Of straw and hay.
Those present were Immediately struck
by the resemblance Of the head to that
On the medallions and busts Of the adj
mlral. AS was expected no uniform,
decoration or sword were found, as all
such articles had been accounted for
after the burial.
examination py Experts
The coffin is shaped like a mummy
coffin. widening from the feet to the
shoulders, with round top fitting over
the head. 1t was taken to the medical
school, where Drs. Captain and Papil-
laut, distinguished professors of the
school of anthropOlogy and recognized
authorities on such investigations, were
charged with making a thorough exam
ination for the purpose Of Identification.
70 bo n fin.
nished them with portraits and medal
lions, two busts by Houdil and authentic
descriptions of the color of the admiral's
hair and the height and measurement Of
his body.
Surgeons Furnish Proof
After the most minute examination the
following facts were fully substantiated:
Length of the body, feet inches, the
Size and shape Of the head agree with
several peculiarities of the head Of the
admiral.
miraIs; in places slightly gray, indicating
a person Of his age, 40 years. The hair is
long, reaching below the shoulders, and
Is cOmbed back and gathered in clasp at
the back of the neck.
The face is clean shaven, corresponding
exactly with the descriptions, portraits and
buStS of the admiral
The linen is in good condition. One arti-
Gle bears an initial, either ~ or an in
verted .'P."
Body Carefully Packed.
The body was carefully packed. The
limbs were wrapped i'll tinfoil, presuma-
bly, for sea transportation, as Indicated in
a letter Of the admiraPs nearest friend
and a pallbearer at his funeral, Col.
Blackden, who said:
His 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"
Identification Is Complete.
Finding that all the internal organs
were singularly well preserved, the doc
tors made an autopsy which showed dis
tinct proofs Of the disease from which the
admiral is known to have died. The iden-
every particular.
Care has been taken to keep the body
in its present state Of preservation. 1t
will be placed in a handsome casket and
deposited in the receiving vault of the
American church on the Avenue de
L'Alma until the ambassador can learn
the opinion Of the government concerning
the most appropriate means of transport
ing it to the United States and giving a
fitting sepulchre to the body Of the illus
trious sailor whose place Of burial had so
long remained a mystery.
Americas First Naval Hero.
Paul Jones CHS real name was John
Paul. was of Scotch birth, but he made
his home in Virginia when II years old.
He entered the revolutionary navy as
lieutenant on December %, 1915. In
command Of the sloop Providence and
later of the Alfred, he captured many
British merchantmen along the coast
from Cape Breton to the Barbados.
In November, 1777, Jones sailed for
Europe On the Ranger, harassed the
coasting trade of Scotland, attacked the
town of Whitehaven. His crew plum
dered the house Of Lord Selkirk, but
Jones bought the silver plate and re-
stored it to Lord Selkirk.
In Great Battle.
After capturing the British sloop
Drake and taking it to Brest. Jones