Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-15
DIR. G. HoPPEL INCINERATED.
A Hitch in the Proceedings starts the
Burning Too sOOn-The Expense.
From TIE Noto York Tribune.

From ne N6t0 York Irt0hHe.
DR.. Charles Hoppel. who died at his
home, No. % West Fifty-eighth street,
last Friday Of heart disease, was a prom
inent advocate of cremation, and long
before his death expressed a wish that
his body might be disposed Of in that
manner. His death was sudden and I'M
expected. and whether his views upon the
subject were maintained up 10 his dying
hour could not be known, but in accord
ance with the Oft-repeated expression or
his desire, his body was taken on
Monday to tue crematory at Ian
caster. Penn. DR.. George II. Jacoby,
Prof Bruce and j. l.. Prime, Of this city,
went to witness the incineraton at the
request Of Or. HoppePs family. The
body arrived at the crematory at p. m,
Being delayed at the depot AT Lancaster
Tor an hour, during which time the coffin
rem aimed upon the freight platform IN the
sun. The furnace was ready for the re-
ceptiOn OF the body. 1t had been started
at a. m, and by noon the thermometer
indicated over 1000 deg. Fahrenheit, and
when the body arrived it had reached
, 300 deg. Under the arrangements which
nave heretofore existed at the crematory
it took a much longer time to get up the
required heat, but a steam blower having
been attached tO the furnace, the proper
degree Of heat VIII be furnished in about
eight hours.
The body of DR.. HOppel was placed upon
a heavy iron frame, shaped in the form OF
Hat CRATE, which stood upon rollers upon
a platform about the height of the door OF
the retOrt. An the rings and shirt studs
were then removed, and the clothing was
arranged as If there was to be burial
The body was then covered with heavy
white shr bud of cotton that had been
stepped in alum to make it partly fire.
proof. The heavy iron door Of the retort
was opened and the platform upon which
the body rested was pushed in front OF the
opening. A small wire which ran through
the Tetcrt was then attached TO the iron
crate. and was wound around a roller by
means Of crank, and the body was slow
| " drawn into the retort.
After the feet of the doctor had got in
side the wire cnught in the opening, and
despite the efforts of the attendant the
body could not be drawn any further into
the furnace. While seeking for some
nther means to move the corpse the alum
sheet caught fire and the flames were
speedily communicated to the clothing
upon the body, and before it could be re-
moved into the TetOrt the flesh was al
ready burning and the OdOr filed the room
to the great disgust of Dr.. HOppe's
ceedings. The body finally being in the
retort, the doors were closed and shut out
the hiss of the steaming flesh. The steam
blower hummed in the chimney and the
intense heat was kept up for an hour and
a half, when the furnace-tender looked
through peep hole in the retort and pro-
nnunced the incarceration complete. A
glance at the body showed that it
appeared exactly AS 1t did when it
was put into the furnace. The
heat had made no apparent change.
There were the perfect outlines of the
body under the white cloth extending stiff
and solid. When the furnace door was
opened. however, and a draft OF cool air
struck the form within, 1t seemed to melt
away as if by magic. and a few handouts
OF dust was all that remained of DR.. Hop
pe's body.
DR.. HOppel weighed about 165 pounds
the ashes weighed 3 pounds. After the
| furnace cooled they were taken out, and
| they will be sent to DIR. HOppePs family.
The ashes will be placed in an urn and
| deposited in a vault at WOodawn
| Cemetery. The cost of incineration was
| $25, and the incidental expenses OF the
| funeral bring the total amount to $48.