Ambassador Porter to the Secretary of State.
April 14, 1905 .
My six years’ search for remains Paul Jones has resulted in success. Having explored the old St. Louis cemetery, where admiral was buried in leaden coffin, and where I had verified the facts that all the dead remained entirely undisturbed, I found only four coffins of lead. The first three bore plates giving names and dates of burial, the fourth was in solidity of construction and workmanship much superior to the others. Like them was similar in shape to mummy coffins, widening from feet to shoulders with small round top to fix head, like all coffins of that period. No plate could be found; one may have been put on outer wooden coffin, few vestiges of which are left. Another corpse had been buried immediately on top. Appearances indicate that in digging that grave wooden coffin had been partly stripped off. Plate may then have been carried away. On opening coffin body fortunately found quite well preserved, coffin having been filled with alcohol, but which had evaporated, and body carefully packed in straw. As I predicted in a former report, coffin contained neither uniform, sword, nor decorations. It was discovered in one of the spots where I expected to find it. I took it to the School of Medicine, where Doctors Capitan and Papillault, the distinguished professors of the School of Anthropology, well known for their large experience in such matters, were charged with removing the body from the coffin and making minute examination for purposes of identification. They were furnished with medallions, portraits, Houdon’s two busts, authentic measurements, description of color of hair, and all the mass of information [Page 419] which had been collected regarding Paul Jones’s appearance. The following facts were fully substantiated: Length of body, 5 feet 7 inches, Paul Jones’s exact height; head in size and shape identical with head of Paul Jones, hair on head and body dark brown, same as that of Paul Jones, in places slightly gray, indicating person of his age, 45 years; high forehead, hair long, combed back, reaching below his shoulders gathered in a clasp at back of neck, curled in two rolls on temples; face clean shaven, corresponding exactly with descriptions, portraits, and busts of the admiral. Buried in shirt and wrapped in sheet; linen in good condition, bearing a small initial worked with thread, either a “J” or, if read upside down, a “P.” Coffin very solid. Body carefully preserved and packed. Limbs wrapped with tin foil, evidently for purpose of sea transportation a long distance, as indicated in an authentic letter of his particular friend and pall bearer, Colonel Blackden, which says: “His body was put into a leaden coffin on the 20th that in case the United States, which he had so essentially served and with so much honor, should claim his remains they might be more easily removed.” Autopsy showed distinct proofs of disease of which admiral is known to have died. Identification complete in every particular. Detailed reports of all facts duly certified by participants and witnesses will go by mail. Will have remains put in suitable casket and deposited in receiving vault of American Church ’till decision reached as to most appropriate means of transportation to America.