The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-08-28
REDUCED TO WHITE DUST
A Graphic Description of the Process OF
Cremation.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.


Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
The body of Orson s. Murray,
was taken from this city to the Gre
matorium at Lancaster, Pa, by the
son and immediate friends of the de-
ceased. A gentleman who was of the
party furnishes the following graphic
account of the process OF cremation:
Mr.. Platt, one of the officers of the
Lancaster Cremation society took
charge of the body on it's arrival. 1T
was Immediately conveyed to the Gre
matorium, where a large number Of
people of all ages and exc had con-
gregated to witness the operation.
After a short pause and conversation
in the reception room, the gentlemen
were led into the auditorium, which
was filled with visitors from the town.
The officers of both societies formed q
semi-circle in front of thefurnace, with
the son of the deceased in the center.
The view presented was novel and
striking. The small building, resem-
bling in many respects q country meet
ing house, built of pressed brick, was
too little for the purpose, and the
heat from the furnace was intense. In
front of thespectators werefourdoors,
opening into the reception, the prepar-
ing and the two retort rooms. Only
one retort was in position, however,
and the heavy iron door protecting
the opening to it was about to be re-
moved. A deathly silence prevailed.
A knock at the preparingroomdoor
was the signal to begin. The prepar-
ing table moved noiselessly into the
auditorium bearing its sacred burden,
covered with a heavy dark cloth, and
was wheeled into position in front of
the retort. The cloth was removed
and the corpse, enveloped in a large
white muslin sheet, soakedina alum wa
ter, lay there but for a moment. The
door ofthe retort swung open and the
rosy light of 1900 degrees ofheat filled
the auditorium. No fire or flame was
visible. Simply the incandescent light
thrown by the heat from the brick til
ing composing the retort was to be
seen, and it like unto the picture OF
the setting sun on a summe evening.
The iron cradle upon which lay the
body was rolled from the top of the
tablenoiselessly through the mouth of
the retort and it disappeared In the
light within. The door swung to and
all was over. no noise, no fire, no
color, nothing of an unpleasant nature
marred the operation. No dull sound
of the clod upon the coffin-lid sent a
shudder through the nerves OF the be-
holder.
The auditorium was gradually va
Gated, and no one remained but the
son of the deceased and the officers of
the two societies before mentioned. AZ
view of the process going on behind
that large iron door was to be taken.
Adelay of half an hour was necessary
before the gases being consumed with.
in the retort had sufficiently dispelled
themselves to admit Of it. Then a
small opening, two inches in diameter
was made by pressing a small knob
in the wall, and the incarceration was
to be seen. The cradle was plainly
visible, and there lay the body envel-
oped as before, in its white sheet, to
allappearances unscathed. One might
have supposed it was the habitation
of ahuman soul, so pure and heavenly
was the appearance. The ghost of the
gases seemed to have been dispelled,
asno odor of any kind could be detect
ed. That q dead body could be re-
solved into it's natural elements so
quickly and easily seemed strange when
one thought of the horrible processes
going on daily in the burying grounds.
Death had lost most of it's terror. 1t
seemed beautiful thus to pass away
from materiality into vapor.
The process was nearly ended, but
not entirely. The opening was closed
and the little party returned to town,
to return after dark. Leaving, d view
Of the building was again had, and ore
could hardly suppose that so impor-
tant an act had taken placein so mod
est a structure. No smoke stack or
anything Indicating it's use was visible.
The simple word crematorium, hewn
in q marble slab and placed above the
iron door, told the story.
AT 8 o'clock that night the partyre-
turned To thacrematnrinm and a conn
plete inspection Of the building was
made. Another view was had of the
interior of the retort, and now allwas
passive light. No gaseous flames we're
visible. The light of the full moon
could not have been milder Oh more
beautiful. The cradle with it's appar-
emit burden was completely visible,
and the body seemed to rest
there unframed by the heat or
the fire that had ragged beneath
the retort nearly "a hours. Aslight
breeze would have destroyedthis filmy
shell of alum and muslin tissue. But
none could reach it until the largeiron
door could be opened, which couldno
be done until morning. At Z a. m. this
was done, and a small heap of white
ashes was visible. These were care