The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-04-21
FRENCH MEDICAL EXPERTS
MAKE A THOROUGH Ex.
ANIMATION.
REMAINS WILL BE PRESERVED
HERDS BODY WILL BE HELD
AWAITING ACTION OF UNI
TED STATES.

Paris. April 1e. - The remarkable
search which Ambassador Porter has
conducted for the body Of John Paul
Jones has been crowned with success
by the discovery Of the body II of
it's identification yesterday by the
highest French medical experts as un-
~questionably that of the famous Rcvo-
%lutionary admiral who founded the
American navy Ambassador Porter
cabled to Washington last night, an
nouncing the successful result of his
long and difficult search. The body is
in a good state Of preservation con
sidering that the interment took place
Owe 100 years ago.
The circumstances leading to the
final discovery of the body are partic-
ularly interesting. Gen. Porter has
conducted the search for the last five
years, and when congress recently
took no action upon the presidents
recommendation that provision be
made for the expenses incident to the
search, the ambassador continued the
extensive labors at his own expense.
Like Subterranean Mining.
A large force of workmen has been
engaged night and day tunneling and
~cross-tunneling the old ST. Louis Gem
etery. This constituted a huge opera
ton, embracing nearly a block Gov
ered with buildings and requiring a
system of subterranean mining.
Hundreds of wooden baskets were
found on Wednesday. Four leaden
caskets were unearthed which gave
promise of containing the body of the
admiral. Three of them bore plates
designating the lame of the de
ceased. The fourth showed superior
solidity Of workmanship. No plate
was found on this caSket and it is
supposed it was removed when an
other coffin vas superimposed on it.
The leaden coffin was opened in the
presence of Gen. Porter, Col. Baily-
Blanchard, the second secretary of
the American embassy. and Engineer
Weis, who had been directing the ex-
cavation.
Resemblance to Busts.
The body was found to be well pre-
served owing to its being immersed in
alcohol. 1t was wrapped in a sheet,
with a packing of straw and hay
Those present We're Immediately
struck by the resemblance OF the head
to that on the medallions and busts Of
the admiral. AS was anticipated. no
uniform, decoration or sword were
found, as all such articles had been &C
counted for after burial.
The coffin was taken to the medical
school, where Doctors Captain and
Papillaut, distinguished professors OF
the school OF an%thropology and recog-
nized authorities on such investiga-
tions, were charged with mailing a
thorough examination for the purpose
of Identification. To facilitate this the
| ambassador furnished them with the
portraits and medallions, two busts by
Houdil and authentic descriptions of
the color of the admiral's hair and the
height and measurement of his body
Identification Is Complete.
The doctors had no difficulty in es-
tablishing beyond doubt the identity
of the body as that of John Paul
Jones.
Care has been taken to keep the
body in it's present state Of preserva-
ton. 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 ambas-
sador can learn learn the opinion of
the government concerning the most
appropriate means of transporting it
to the United States and giving a fit
ting sepulchre to the body Of the il
| lustrious sailor whose place Of burial
had SO long been unknown.