The New York herald., 1876-07-17
CREMATION.

THE BODY or AN AGED AND RESPECTED
PLANTER BURNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS
last REQUEsT-CURIoUs REASON ASSIGNED
FOR THE DEsIRE-DEscRIPTIoN OF THE
SCENE.
MARION s. c., July II, 1876.
The progressive spirit of the age has again been Illus
trated in an event which occurred here to Gay, and
which can never be obliterated from the minds o
those whose privilege 1t was to witness it. For the
first time in the nineteenth century the evenu and
iliustrous history OF South Carolina has of
tual cremation occurred.
CIRCUMSTANCES.
The following is bricf recapitulaton of the circum
stances attending this -On Sunday the 9th inst,
Mr. Henry Berry, aged eighy-two venerable, re-
spected aud refined citizen of Marion county departed
this lfe The deceased was a successful farmer, hav-
Ing been one OF the most extensive planters the
State, at ono timc during his career hav-
Ing been possessor OF 10000 acres Of land,
and in addition an independent fortune At the time
OF his death his cotton plantation alone contained
several thousand of the fertile land in tho
State.
Prior to his death he had requested that his body
might DO burned
THE REASONS ASSIGNED
for this strange desire folows-About twenty.
four years ago two relatives OF his died. After having
been buried several years the surviving relatives de-
sired 10 have the remains dsntcrrcd be removed To
spot located in adjacent section la accordance
with this desire the bodies dlsnerred and during
the removal the coffin lids became detached and the
bodies were exposed TO tbs public gaze. Having been
buried "A long time they were OF course, III
fearful state OF decomposition Mr.. Berry
was present on this OCCASION and, witnessing the
scene, made solemn declaration that his remains
should not be subject to similar fate He aftcrward
frequently alluded to the condition OF the bodies and
repeated his declaration made ut the OF the
moval Very hte confidence was placed IN his state
ment at the time, but that was fixed determination
the following Will show Tho deceased has several
surviving sons, all men OF advanced age Several
months ago he held conversation with them, stating
that after his death he desired not TO be buried but
that his body should bc
CONSUMED pY FIRE.
and enolncd upon thea that they should participate
III the proceedings. Naturally the shocked
at this declaration and used every available means
dissuade him from his intention Argument was
useless, and entertaining doubts in reference TO the
faithful execution OF his desire, he entered INTO con-
tract with two Of his employees, allowing them Two
mules and $500 il they would superintond the crema-
ton proceedings The parties accepted the propo-
ston. About two months ago he made will. whon
he very explicitly states that lf hs allow
his body 10 be burned and do not participate in the
matter that 1t would be under penalty OF dlsinhert-
During his life ho selected Two pine trees ad-
joining his iarm which should be on the occasion
and also designated the spot where II should take
place.
THE CREMATION
According to arrangements the cremation took place
at eight O'Clock this morning Carriages, bugges and
vehicles Of every description active demand TO
convey spectators 10 the scene ana AT the appointed
time an Immense crowd was IN attendance The trees
designated by tho deceased down, and all the
necessary arrangements having been perfected the
body was laid on platform surrounded by an en-
closure about twenty feet IN height Alter appropriate
services, hold by a Baptist divine the combustbl les
ignitcd and hours all that remained
OF the deceased was ashes.
SENTIMENT.
During tho process "A variety OF opinions cx-
pressed by those attendance the prevailing impress
sion being that II was outrage the sens,Oes of
tho people and that 1t should have been prevented by
the authorities