Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1905 — Says Landis Started Search For Paul Jones Body. [ARTICLE]

Says Landis Started Search For Paul Jones Body.

The Washington correspondent of the Indianapolis Star says that to Representative Charles B. Landis of Indiana belongs the credit of taking the first step that led to finding and removing to this country for final interment the body of John Paul Jones, Ameri - ca’s great naval hero. The part which Mr. Landis took in this enterprise is creditable not only to himself but to the State of Indiana. The facts, which are not known to the general public,are as fol lows: Some time after tbe SpauishAtnerican war it occurred to Mr. Laudis that this Nation should erect a mouument somewhere to John Paul Jones. As a preliminary step he started to search for something that would tell him where Jones was buried, but he could only establish the fact that the burial place was in Paris. He could find nothing that would throw any light on the exact loca tion. He then wrote to John K. Gowdy, his old-time friend, telling the Consul General at Paris of his intention and the obstacles be had encountered and asking Capt. Gowdy to investigate and locate the burial place. Upon this Cap*. Gowdy started a search, but it proved vain, as far as he was con eerned. and he wrote Mr. Landis that ihe burial place was absolute ly unknown. However, he got Ambassador Porter interested, and the result is history. While too much credit can not be given to Mr. Porter there is “glory enough’’ also for Mr. Landis and Indiana for their part in the undertaking.