The New York herald., 1876-12-06
Preparations for Burning the Remains
Of the Baron De Palm.
INCIDENTS OF THE FUNERAL JOURNEY
The Corpse Goes Astray-Horor Of
the Undertaken.
LIGHTING THE FURNACE FIRES.
INK TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


which bore tho body Of tho la,c Baron DC Palm and
the party Of crcmaiionsts and journalists arrived
the homo Of Dr. lie Moync, and at the cradle of
American cremation The trip was interesting and
lively in many respects. No topic OF convcr-
saton is conducive TO jollity as cremation,
gloomy may seem 10 some, and the charms with
which Mr.. Ocott, tho president OF the The
oso?hical Society aud his associates, knew
how this theme, enhanced the
pleasure ofthc journey. Mr. 0colt rendered crcma-
ton perfectly fascinating to every ono who heard him
cxpound beauties tho sleeping last night, and
this morning he explained that, alter all, cremation
only quicker process than inhumation IN giving
back tho earth immateral vcsure Of our spirits.
This dca Mr. Olcott Illustrated with wealth Of poetic
and antique lore which was enough TO convert
tho most stubborn lover Of graveyard flowers
and seeker alter Greenwood plots TO IN
vctcratc crcmattonist. One journalist, to be
sure, took up the cudgcs for cmbammcnt
IN preference to cremation; but he squclchcd
by MIR Olcott's telling ana forcibe arguments Two
old ladies' in the car, after listening silently to Mr..
Ocots explanations at once declared 10 the ERALDs
representative their intention Of resignug their beau
tiu plots In Greenwood and ordering that atcr their
death their bodies to be crematcd for tho sake OF
science and the public good Another journalist be-
came soon profound believer In cremation, until he
woke at pittsburg this morning and found that
HIS sealskin cap had been nchcd IRON his
head during tho night; undoubtedly the work
OF tho spirit of tho late Baron, which
will probably remain perturbcd until 1t in Mr..
Ocotts clay urn, and doubt res,lessly stalking
about in tho Mr.. Olcott carried this in
small wooden box, marked "Gass--Handle with care,n
and explained that II would hold about quart and
pint Of ashes; the last Of the baron.
THE LADIES LIKE cREMATioNP
osvhn untco ertad NV
last won by the idea which passed
across Sir. Olcosts fertile brain after break
fast Speaking OF tho many letters which
Dr. LIE Moyne had received from numerous
ladies' and gentlemen, and moro especially
from ladies, Mr.. Ocott said that tho fair sex would
naturally become tho ardent devotccs OF crcma
tion, for with thom the preservation Of their beauty
the supreme, was the last, thought OF their
livcs and they could not bear TO think OF their
beautiful forms having to be subjected to the hdeous
process OF slow putrefaotion. On the contrary, Mr.
Olcott thought that the idea OF fashionable young
lady seeing hcr mortal form, tue adora-
ton OF every young beau in tho ball room
reduced TO a fcw pounds Of nice, clean ashes.
could not be repugnant to her. but tho objection
mado to the absence OF flowers in tho crematory OBJ
seGuies. Mr. Olcott thought this was no objection at
all The ashes need not DO preserved urns, many
people thought but could bo strown under tho ground
the anccnts, he explained, had a beautiful custom
OF sowing Hover seed among the ashes, so that Tho
roses aud slies could blossom out IRON tho last
mains OF their friends ana kinsmcn.
AsTRAy.
This morning, at Pttsburg, thcre wasa diversion
the frantic an xcty OF Mr. Burkhors The undertaken
OF the Thcosophcal society," big. buriy, red-taccd
heavy mostached German, who thought no had lost
tho body Tho corpse was TO be transferred here 10
another .rain but alas, In tho critical moment tho
this adventure tho worthy Teuton scntcntiously
asked -'How can wo have q cremation without a
Nv Indf W0 nurf n IA I'M hafIy
TO have been here before us, and here was, and
nobody knows anything about u, ! asked the CON
ducl0r II he's got the corpse. says ho what do
you take mo fors DO you think I'm under
takcry' ask another man; nobody knows any
somebody had stolen our corpse SO as to turn
tins whole cremation business into ridicue But
found h'm a. las. 60. nim M now, and nov w III keep
mad at now Is only that In hunting about Tor tho
corpse lost my breakfast"
GOSSIP ABOUT LATE BARON.
Another interesting feature OF tho trip was the
nscences OF tho late Baron. as spicy related by
Mr. Olcoti The latter described the Baron In sirk-
ing He SAID there something OF the horse
about the Barons councnancc. IL was very elongated
down IRON the eyes, which were small, and hc had
grizzly sidc whiskers, which he brushed back, but
twisted again forward in spcarkc wisp. lie had
smi,ns H,s laugh Mr.. oIcott described as very
strange. IL drew up the deep, hcavy wrinkles which
corrugated his iabDy cheeks. aud made his little
eyes sink almost into nOthingncss. A visionary,
harmless and good-naturcd expression, but ever
restless and OF an intensely speculative temperament.
wonderu patent on hand which was to make his Ior-
tune. Colonel OIcott then related how Won Palm was
In pecuniary distress, asked him 10 lend him money,
and how received the hospitality of Colonel Ocotts
roof until fatal illness caused the Baron TO demand
his accord his removal 10 tho Roosevelt Hospi-
tai where he died. And thus the time pleasantly
wh,lcd away until near noon, whom the tram arrived
ARRIVAL or THE FUNERAL PARTY
By this time the representatives OF the leading New
York journals were fortified by artists from the Grapic
and othcr illustrated Journals and reporters of the
leading Philadelphia anu Pitisburg newspapers, form
:ng quite a large and convival party. The arrival of
the train at Washington. which Is about twenty-five
miles IRON Pittsours, on the CHARTERS Valley road,
greeted by croIu OF dirty boys aud rural okcls,
who almost stared their cycs out Tho rough, ruao
box was taken from the baggarc and
lit,cd into wocfuly shabby hearsc, which
ratified oil In almost tlmc To tho crematury.
STARTING RUMoR.
The main cause Of the asonisbmcnt which greeted
tho arrival OF the body, was an absurd rumor, which
baggage had taken hrc the way TO Ptisburg ana
that the body had already been roughly and unnrtsti
caliv crematcd by tho flames Washington Pa Is n
town 5000 Inhabitants which prcttiy nestles
among unduIatng hills and covered as II was by hard
snow, 1t presented quito a pleasing wintry aspect.
cHExAToRy.
The crematory IS situated The othor side OF what
is known here as GalIows Hill. The hill received tins
iron some executions which took place here IN
odcn tImca brIct hours dive brings you 70 the
ttlc brick shed, that IRON Us shape suggests large
cigar box The box contain The cofhn was deposited
In the reception room o. tho crematory, which has
already been described in tho columns Of the HERALD
The crcmator chief is old James Wolf, who prcsIdcs
over the furnace. Hc received tho box with a grim
gicc. soon a crowd Of idle spectators gathered
round lhe old had TO explain the workings OF
the iurnacc and over again. He had lighted the
rcs at O'Clock In the morning, and, peepng through
the little hole in tho iron LID, you could SEQ It's deep,
dull rcd glow. He explained that tho rctort must be
brought 10 white hoat before the incineraon OF the
body cosid begin The gaping crowd OF rural sight
hen squatted down upon the box
containing tho cofnn, whiIe they giggled
and cracked foul Jokes but through all
their noise could DO hoard she shr blowing OF air
into the furnace, which 10 done by means OF Ian
blower, 10 mako the irc still hotter The old man
planned that The heat was already 1900 Fahrenheit,
and he opened the furnace doors, you could see
OF whuc coke whose fierce glow seemed TO fairly
dazzle tho eye Colonel uicott, VINO had been received
Al tho depot by Mr.. Wells, The son-Inaw and repre-
sentative OF Dr. Lcmoyne and had repaired with him
10 the attcrs house. arrived later In the afternoon
and tho box unscrcwcd and the caskct opened.