The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-28

Yesterday.
A reporter OF this paper learned yeste
Q day that proposition had been made
Mr.. Charles P. Hornbrook, proprietor {
Hornbrook's Park, to erect crematory
that park for the convenience not only
our city, but also OF all those from sbroa
who may choose to avail themselves Of
: Our people here have no intimate know
edge Of this ancient custom recently n
introduced, except through the conaictiD
newspaper accounts Of the experiment {
DR.. LeMoyne, OF Washington, Pa. w
do not doubt that the impressions Obtain
J ed in this way were more than ephemera
removed as we have been from any person
al observation what o crematory can do
| what II Is, and our readers will conse
quently be rather surprised that 30 .grea
q change in the manner OF disposing Q
the dead Is contemplated In our midst.
Taking a street car the reporter sool
found himself at the Park, which Is nov
clothed in vernal beauty, aud under thu
eye OF its new director, Is growing daily
more and more attractive. Mr.. Hornbrool
was found on the top OF the Mound &C
lively engaged in directing the move
ments OF several workmen who were va
riously employed In planting posts fol
swings, building seats for the comforto
the patrons OF the Park, and beauLifying
the Mound in many ways.
| After exchanging few commonplaces
We informed Mr.. II. Of the object Of our
visit, and told him OF the rumor We had
heard in regard to the scheme for ere.
matory on his property.
well, sir, / had visitor from Pitts
burgh some three weeks ago, who came
to see me In regard to this thing, and We
had long and business talk about the
matter. He had been directed to me by
some friends whom he was visiting AeaI
Bridgeport, and TO whom he had eonhded
his pet project. Alter taking an invento'
ry OF various places they had recommend
ed my park as the most eligible, and al
the same time the most attractive. When
he came TO me confess his proposition
rather staggered ME, as l had never
thought OF such chimerical idea, as il
then appeared to me, but after | had
thought over the matter it assumed bet
ter shape, and l am now rather in favor oi
the idea, and in my conversations with
the many persons attracted thither,
have found no less than twenty-five who
have expressed themselves decidedly in
favor OF the crematory, and even my wife
Is very much in favor OF it, said he as
his wife Joined US, .'are you net?"
"0h, yes; see nothing so very repug-
nant now in it, she replied, and as the
conversation progressed suggested other
points that had escaped her husbands
recollection.
Did the gentleman explain his plans to
you in detailP
Yes, sir; he said he contemplated the
erection of a beautiful and attractive
building with verandahs, and without the
building he would erect many seats for The
convenience OF those who may attend the
cremations. The interior wonld be fitted
up in manner at once attractive and ap
propriate, as there would be nothing Ie
pugnRnt to the sensibilities Of any person
In the construction Of the whole building
The retorts would be so arranged that In
cineration would result in little more
than an hour, the fronts OF these retcrts
would be Of mica, so the process
could be observed, il so desired. In fine
the whole building and appartments
would be msryels Of convenience and
scientific skill.
swell, Mr.. Hornbrook. will you allow
the park 10 be used for this purposeH
"Asl told you before, l was at frs
dazed by his proposition, and did mol
know what to do. told him it was my
impression that an act OF the Legislature
would be necessary to enable him to carry
out his project; but | have since been
authofitatively informed to the contrary
and so far as am concerned will throw nc
obstacles in the way Of its prosecution"
"Will the crematory be erected upon the
mound2"
"No sir; the gentleman before he leit
selected site that to him appeared much
more eligible, which will show you,
said he, moving TO the northern extremity
OF the mound and pointing out very pic
turesuue looking spot In clump OF tree
at the northwest boundary OF his grounds
and which is very beautiful and attractive
and at the same time readily accessible
from the National road by lane running
from It TO the place In question. "Tha
spot he selected, and If the crematory Il
built there is where it will be located. /
myself, wished him to erect 1t over here,
said he, indicating lovely nook on the
eastern side Of the Park, but less eligibl!
situated; but he is bent on his own selec
ton and / suppose there 1t will be. Bu
most any place here would make goot
situation, would 1t not, Mr.. Reporter|
We, like Moses on Pisgah, took an in
yentory OF the surrounding landscape
and the view unfolded to our gaze ol
every hand certainly cannot be surpasset
In the country.
Mr.. Hornbrook also said that the gen
; tleman was very much in earnest in tn
matter, was amply able 10 carry his plan
into execution and was an enthusiast
economist. He (the gentleman) though
that when the crematory was erected an
, In working order the repugnance oil Oh
people, which was artificial at best, woul
soon melt away, as there were no odoI
nor fumes..irom the retorts, nothing dtl
, agreeable nor repugnant about 1t, and
l body, instead OF being subjected TO tn
sickening and gradual process OF dissolt
/ tion, as IN the grave, would be reduced
! an hour. He would also furnish urns 10
the collection OF ashes OF the incineTate
ones.
Z These ufns WouIu uAve StAuiped upo
them the date ofIhe birth, death and Gre
: nation OF the person whose ashes the
held, besides place Tor photographs
: deceased. The gentleman, whose name
Martin, Is retired coal merchant
. Pittsburgh, Pa.
such Is an abstract Of the conversatio
we had with Mr.. Hornbrook, and in Il
. event the gentleman prosecutes his plaI
Wheeling will have the honor OF hayir
the second crematory in the Union.
u C1Rculr CouKr PRocKEDrSos.-In Il
!. Circuit Court, Judge Melvin presidin
d yesterday, the jury, in the case OF Rach
n Mckee vs.. VIM. d. johnson, trustee,
al, returned verdict in favor Of Il
. plaintiff, awarding her $500 damages.