Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-30
SIX MONTHS OF CREMATION.
Work OF the Lancaster Crematory-
Facts and Figures.
From ne FdiIadeIDhia Press.

From the PdaadelDhiG Press.
LANCASTER, May 24.-The Lancaster
crematorium has now been in active ope-
ration for six months, having been for
mally dedicated on Nov. %, 1884. and has
up to date incinerated the bodies of seven
teen persons. Although the Lancaster
crematory is the only one at present open
TO the general public in the country, lie
Moyne furnace being restricted to the uses
of the inhabitants Of Washington county.
the managers are very much encouraged
by the number of crematIons they have
thus far performed it being largely in eX-
cess of their expectations, while the fu-
ture promises n steady increase. They
are also greatly encouraged by the class
of persons who declared themselves fa-
vorabIe TO the new method and by the in
terest that's manifesting itselfthroughout
the country. OF the subjects cremated
up to date, they have all been persons
above the average Ia Intelligence, the ma
jOrity being scientists, who have decided
on this method of disposng Of their re-
mains, not from q sentimental, but from
scientific reason.
From the persons thus far cremated in
this city the system appears to be more
popular with the Germans than persons
OF any other nationality. Eight of the
II cremated were natives of Germany.
while two others were of German extrac-
ton. The German influence is also per-
ceptible In the correspondence received
by the Lancaster society in relation TO
the subject. Letters of inquiry have been
received from most of the States of the
Union, and scarcely day passes without
some correspondence on the matter. New
York city has now in course OF erection
orematOrium, which is to be a handsome
and elaborate structure, while others are
projected at Baltimore, Cincinnati, st.
Louis, Buffalo, Chicago and Denver,
in all of which places cremation
societies are in existence. The Secre-
tary of a cremation society just or
ganized at Davenport, Iowa, in announc-
inc the fact to the Lancaster society also
states that they have in contemplation the
early erection of a furnace. Many of the
small towns in Iowa have cremation so
ceties who will shortly erect crematOries.
California and Colorado follow Iowa in
the interest manifested, the correspond
ence from those States being extensive.
A society has also been in existence for
some time in New Orleans, and il is prob
able that furnace will shortly be erected
there. Philadelphia's cremation society
has abandoned the idea Of erecting fur
mace for the present and made arranger
ments to use the furnace in this city.
Ii is noticeable fact that thus far no
person dying in Lancaster has been Gre
mated. Several have died whO favored
the method and left requests TO be Gre
mated, but their desires were disregarded
by their heirs. The society did not engage
IN the enterprise as a business venture,
and the price of cremation was placed
low with special view to popularizIng
fhs. tnefifufnrr no ~
TONS title Of the Funeral Reform Asse-
ciation," but the price defrays all eX-
penses and leaves a reasOnabl profit, and
the furnace may, if the present rate of
cremation continues, pay a fair interest
on the invested capital of $1,000.
The furnace has worked very satisfac-
torily. II has attained a temperature, by
actual test, of $500 degrees Fahrenheit,a and
has cremated two bodies within eight con-
secutive hours, without being in the least
affected by the intense heat, and to-day IL
is as solid as when erected. DR.. l.. Nj.
Davis, the President and active spirit of
the Lancaster society, is now in CORE
spondence with persons DESTROYS Of hav-
Ing bodies incnerated. and il is probable
a number OF cremations viii take place
in the near future. IL is, of course, neces-
sary for the management to exercise the
utmost precaution in the cremation Of
bodies. IheY VIII not Cremate any SUD
Jet unless they receive positive 9ssur-
ance that the person has died a natural
death.
A curious fact in connection with Gre
nation Is the amount OF ashes received
from a body and the disposition made o;
them. The two largest bodies. cremated
In this city weighed POO pounds each. the
ashes weighing pounds ounces and
pounds ~ ounces, respectively. The
largest percentage OF ashes thus tar re-
ceiyed was from a body weighing $50
pounds. and whose ashes weighed
pounds and IL ounces. Various disp0si-
ton has been made Of the ashes. IN some
instances the remains being buried. in
some retained IN the family, and In others
sent 90 Europe. Tae ashes OF one subject
were placed In 2 marble urn and depOs-
tied Ia n Masonic lodge room. while those
or another, N iss Clancy, the actress, were
divided. part being buried by the side Of
her sister, IN Baltimore, and the rest by
her mothers SIDE IN Maine. The Lam
caster society have two acres ~ land con.
nected with the building. which they are
now boautifying, and which may In cour,e
of time be arranged for tue reception OF
the ashes OF those cromatc1.
KNOW rnYsELF. by reaning the 'sci.
snce af Life" the best medical work ever
Published. for young and middie-aged men.