Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-17

'Ehe Corpse OF ~ New York CrOsEs
TO be Converted into Light and
Flowers.

Ehe Corpse OF ~ New York Cr0sEs
40 be Converted into Light ams
Flowers.
One OF the wealthist persons III New
: York has made the following eodieil tc
a testament drawn up long ago, and
bequeathing Ell the profits to public
useful purposes. The codicil reads
thus
"Not wishing that my BODY, after
death, shall add tothe injury produced
by poisonous efhuvia diff'used from
cemeteries among their surroundings,
direct that the unavoidable dissoll-
ton of Fay remains into gaseous ard
earthly matters shall be fastened by
cremation, instead OF being retarded
by burial thus utilizing lis material
directly for the vegetable kingdom, to
which we all must once furnish food.
and at the same time guarding myself
| against the awful possibility of resUr-
! rec5ion in q closed and buried coffin
1.-The ancient, in burning the bodies
of their dead, supposed that the So
called soul or spirit assembled to
heaven with the flames. Chemistry
has Taught us in our century that
something more real ascends, namely,
different gases. especially divers car
ton compounds, which may ct once be
untitled, and that the remaining
ashes may be kept separate, aud pre-
vented from being mixed with those of
the fuel by the details prescribed in
this viii, namely:
Il direct shat nv remains, after
manifeating the only sure sign of
death, ercenish discoloration of the
abdomen, may be submitted to an
autopsy by some professors Of the
medical department of the University
OF New YORK, ii they think that il may
be useful for tie progress Of science.
My remains shall be injected with pc
tFoicum, cresilic alcohol, or its diairfect-
jag equivalent, be laid in metallic
(r0n) coffin, as small as practicable,
and q burial service held at my resi-
dencc, presided over by the Rev. Dr.
-. or -, Or any other enlightened
clergyman. Immediately after the
close of said service, the hearse, con-
veying the coffin with my remains,
shall proceed to the Manhattan Gas
Works, where the lid shall beremoved,
and with due solemnity be placed in
o:e of the retorts, and the same closed
for the space of three Or four hours,
the usual heat applied, SO that all the
moisture and gaseous ingredients may
be driven off, partially condensed,
passed through the purifiers, while
the nitrogenized compounds will be
collected as ammonia as usual, and the
hydrocarbons add their share to the
dniy Of Illuminating the city.
The retort shall then be opened so
rs to admit air to the heated matter,
III order to burn as much as possible
Of the carbon remaining into carbonic
escaping. If any respectable party or
association expresses desire to pre-
serve my ashes, they shall be placed
in an urn, or other substantial vessel.
and delivered to the same If no
such desire is expire sed, I direct that
my ashes be delivered to the Central
Park Commissioners, to be used us fer
tilizing material on one of the flower
beds near the music stand, in Central
Park.
1.-The President, Vice-President and
Secretary of the New York Liberal
Club are herewith appointed as execu-
tors to see that this part of my will be
duly fulfilled"