Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-20
Alefanoria 6ax&tte
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRU'Y. 20.
Mrs, Pitman'S Dust.

Mrs. Pitman's Dust.
The retort of tho furnace in DR.. Lemoyne' s
cr,matory, at Washington, Pa., was opened
Monday, and the calcined remains Of Mrs. Ben
Pitman were Withdrawn. When weighed they
draw the scales at fraction over four pounds
and two OUNCES Their appearance generally
was that of clear white bone ash, as OF
thoroughly burned bone pulverized by heas,
weight, iutermingled with fakes resembling fish
scales, of an extremely light pearl color. Mixed
with the bone ash wero the hardly distinguish
able fbres and shreds Of the cashmere robe 10
which the body was wrapped, and OF the alum
soaked sheet with which it was covered, dis
| tinguishable by the difference of texture, and
what were also believed to be the petals OF the
flowers placed upon Mrs. Pitman's bosom; but
all these were reduced to 90 impalpable dust IN
handling the remains. which lay on the bottom
of the retort, distributed in almost exact pro-
portion to the quantity OF bones that 60 to make
up the human skeleton.
| Not single trace OF the flesh, ligaments or
| tissues was traceabIe in the cacined remains.
There were ten or twelve small pieces OF bone,
| varying in size from that OF pea to that OF
| hens egg, that were not reduced to the ash
| condition, evidently the remnants OF the larger
bones. These presented corrugated and por.
Gus appearance, as much that OF decay as CT To-
cineration, and we're two or three shades darker
than tho ash. They wero easily crumb!ed how
ever, by slight pressure, and resulted 10
granular substance, and retained gritty iorm
instead of the smoothuess of the ashy portions
of the residuum. There was not the slightest
odor 10 the ash or bones.
There were no ceremonies whatever attend
ant upon the withdrawal Of the remains from
the retort or atterward. They were securely
sealed up in glass urn and forwarded to Mr.
Pitman at Cincinnati by express.
Two gentlemen, one prominent lawyer IN
New York and another a wealthy cltizen OF
Baltimore, whose names DR.. Lemoyne refuses
to make public, and both of whom expect to
die shortly in the course OF nature. have co.
gagged that they be inclBeratcd. There has
been some idle talk about mob tearing down
the crematory, but am unable to trace it to
anything else than rumor set afoat by tho
students of Washington and Jefferson College
to create local sensation.-N 7. Herald.
FATAL FIsTIcUFFs.- fatal affray occurred
last night at the liquor saloon and cigar store,
No. 1873 Massachusetts, avenue, kept by George
Roswinkle, in which man named II. Bohlg
met his death, as the result OF blows struck by
tho proprietor of the saloon. Bohlig had been
10 the house since about o'clock 10 the after.
noon, playing dice aud cards with other meu.
and toward night became drunk and quarrel.
some Some dispute occurred as result ofthe
dice playing and Roswinklo ordered Bohlig. to
leave the saloon on account OF tho abusive Ian
guage be had been using. Bohlig refused to
20, and told Roswnkle he could not put bin
out, upon which the latter went around to the
front Of the counter and struck Bohig twice
with his cliuched fist, ooe blow beiog on the
check and the other on the left temple. The
man sank to the floor, and died within few
minutes. Roswinkle at once became aware OF
the terrible effect of bis violence, and with 9TH
ers who were in the saloon, endeavored to
restore consciousness. and DR.. Butter6eld was
sent for. but life was extinct before he arrived.
Roswinkle then sent message to police head
quarters and awaited tho arrival Of the officers.
A crowd soon gathered around the doors of the
saloon, which attracted the attention Of Oficsr
Fiscus and Mr.. Smith, of tho merchant police.
who, on entering the place, found tho dead
man lying on the floor and RosWnklo sitting
close by weeping and wriogiog his hands. He
was at once taken to the police station and tho
body of Bohliq removed under the direction OF
the coroner to Kreglo's Indianapolis Journal.