Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-15
PEACE TO HIS ASIiESi
Gathering Together tHc Bones and
Aches of Baron de Palm.

Together tHe Bones and
Aches OF Baron de Palm.
A dispatch from Washington,
Pennsylvania, says:
"When Colonel 0lcott aud DR..
link, health officer of Queen coun-
ty, opened the lid Of the retort this
morning at ten o'clock, all they saw
was trail of snow white fragments
of bone, mingled with o scattering
of ashes. This was all that had re-
manned of the corpse with its wind
ing sheet, its aromatic spices, ever
green boughs and a sprinkling of
fragrant flowers. Nc preparation
had been made for taking out the
ashes, which were far inside the
retort, and SO a rude board was
roughly nailed to pole, and this
was used to rake them ont ; then
followed a sight still more revolving
to the reverent heart. The bones
and ashes were shoveled upon the
catafalque, during which delicate
operation a small quantity was
spilled on the floor. This was feel
ingly described by DR.. link, who
came away sickened by the specta-
Gle, and says that the cremation of
the dead is undoubtedly brutalizing.
He had not found in the whole town
any one who was willing to be Gre
mated except old DR.. LeMoyne, but
thought that the community had
been disgusted by the sickening
performance, Through an over
sight the carbolized potter's clay,
with which the corpse had been
stuffed in the embalming, had not
/ been removed, and Of course, was
2. mingled with the sacred dust.
I The iron crib being taken out
| the largest osseous fragments
t were first removed, then the
= Jumps of clay were put by them
e selves, and finally the finer particles
!, of clay and incinerated ashes were
# gathered together, They were all
d wrapped up in pieces of paper and
S carried in a large market basket tC
d DR.. LeMoyne's house. The attend.
Il ant, Wolf, who carried it, looked
y as though he was bringing home
y market provisions. The sorting
,e process was again gone over, al
o kinds Of curious persons, ever
d ladies, coming in to look at ant
d examine the bones. Finally tht
IS portions of clear bones and bonc
n ash were wrapped by Colonel Oh
rs colt in piece of white silk, anC
q. the residuum was enclosed in {
g paper parcel, and in this way wa
returned the remains of the lat,
lie Baron, by the afternoon train t.
g Pittsburg, and thence to New
le York, though Colonel 0lcott think
N that such of the fragments of bon
le (some of which were quite large
a. as retained their structure, were S,
a. brittle as to readily yield to tn
Is pressure of the fingers. DR.. Zinl
a is of the opinion that some of tn
,h bones are too solid for that Th
be weight of the ashes and bones wa
rs nearly five pounds.
or "Some Of the smaller fragment
if of the femur, scapule, parietal ant
ne other bones seem only white, deli
rs cate little shells, ard their cellula
m structure seems as dainty and beau
}" tiful as lacework. Colonel 0lcot
| says that the bones and ashes Wi
,e. be sprinkled with perfumed water
he and thus be- reduced to a snow
re white powder, some of which wi
he be deposited in the Hindoo urr
nd while the other will be strewn i
ne the plot purchased for the Baro
ed in the Lutheran cemetery, mingle
W, with flower seeds, so that flower
cir can spring through the turf whic
all covers Baron Palms dust"