The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-16

SINGULAR TESTAMENT DIRECTING IT'S ADop-
TON.

SINGULAR TESTAMENT DIRECTING IT'S ADop-
TON.
One of the wealthiest persons in New
York. after reading our suggestion in the
Manufacturer and builder that the most
useful thing to be done with dead bodies of
men and animals, is to make gas of them
and use the remainder for fertilizing pur-
poses, given in our last November number,
has made the following codicl to a tesla
ment drawn up long ago, and bequeathing
all the profits to useful purposes. The cod.
Gil reads thus:
''Not wishing that my body, after death.
shall add to the injury produced by poison
Gus ctlluvia diiIusel from cemeteries among
their surroundings, direct that the una
voidable dissolution of my remains into
gaseous and earthly matters. shall be hast
encd by cremation, instead of being retarded
by burial, thus utilizing its material direct
ly for the vegetable kingdom, to which we
all must once furnish food and at the same
time guarding myself againt the awful pos
siblity of resurrection in Il closed and
buried coffin. The aneents, in burning the
bodies of their dead, supposed that the so.
called soul of spirit assembled to heaven with
the flames. Chemistry has taught Us in our
century that something more real ascends.
namely, different gases, especially divers
carbon compounds, which may at once be
utilized, and that the remaining ashes may
be kept separate, and prevented from being
mixed with those of the fuel by the details
described in this will, namely | direct that
my remains, after manifesting the only sure
sign of death, grcenisl discOloration of the
abdomen, may be submitted to an autopsy
by some professors of the medical depart.
ment of the University of New York, lift they
think that it may be useful for the progress
of science. My remains shall then be in
iacted with petroleum, cresilc alcohol, or
its disnfecling equivalents, be laid in n me-
talc (ron) coffin. rs small as practicable,
and burial service held at my residence,
presided over bys the Rev Dior
or any other enlightened clergyman.
Immediately after the close of said service.
the hoarsc, conveying the coffin with my
remains, shall proceed to the Manhattan
Gas Works, where the lid shall be removed,
and with due solcmnty be placed in one
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 case
Gus ingredients may be driven of, partially
condensed, passed through the purifiers
while the nitrogcnzed compounds will be
collected as ammonia as usual, and the
hydro carbons add their share to the duty
of Illuminating the city, The tlIt shall
then be opened so us to admit air to the
heated matter, in order To burn rs much as
possible of the carbon remaining into car
bonic acid escaping. If any pectabe
party or association expresses desire TO
preserve my ashes, they shall be placed in
an urn, or other substantial vessel, and de-
lvercd to the same. Ii NJ such desire is
expressed, direct that my ashes shall be
delivered to the Central Park Commissions
ers, to be used as fcrtilizing material on onc
of the hower-beds near the music stand, in
the Central Park. The president, vice
president, and secretary of the New York
Liberal Club are herewith appointed as ex-
ecutors to see that this part of my will be
duly fulfilled.