The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-10-07
CREMATION.
The Process by Which BODY IL Reduced
TO Ashes in Modern Cremntory.

The act of cremating a body is simple
one, and takes but little time, from forty
five minutes to one hour and half After
this comes wait of from five to seven hours
for the retort to cool, after which the ashes
are swept up with wire broom, carefully
weighed and placed in an urn. The remains
are first brought into reception room, re-
moved from the coffin and covered from
head to foot with winding sheet soaked in
alum water. This is done to prevent them
taking fire before they are fairly in the re-
tort. They are then put in what is called
the crib" o coffin-shaped box made of
iron bars or ribs, which are about four
inches apart. The "crib is placed on an
iron table, which is on oastors and the sur
face of which is about one inch higher than
the bottom line of the door of the retort.
The table bearing the "crib," containing
the remains, is pushed quickly to the door
of the retort, which is opened by an attend
ant, and then with long iron forks the
crib" containing the body to be cremat-
ed, is pushed quickly within the retort, the
table withdrawn, the door instantly closed
and the process of cremation begins.
The most interesting part of crematory
is the retort, within which the bodies IRE
consumed, not by fire as very often suppos-
ed, but by hot air. The retort in the Lam
caster furnace is nine feet long and 24x36
inches inside measurement. 1t is construct
ed of fire brick sixteen inches in thickness,
which are porous and through which the
| gasses escape. On test the interior of the
| retort has been found to reach white heat
equal to $500 degrees Farenheit. This ex.
lraordinary degree of heat is obtained from
equal parts of coke and coal placed in the
| ire-box directly beneath The most scien.
tfic means have been employed in the mat.
| ter of drafts, and in this one particular lies
the success or failure of furnace. DIR.
Davis originated the ideas used in the Lam
caster furnace, and although they have
worked very satisfactorily it was at best an
| experiment, and he now sees how they
could be greatly improved. The drafts go
| around the retort, strike counter currents
and go back again, and on q correct princi-
around the retort, producing the great heat
needed. After the body has been placed in
the retort and the action begins no outline
of ii can be distinguished. There is n slight
odor about of burning flesh, but it amounts
to SO little that not one person in ten would
notice it. The clothing, winding sheet,
flesh, etc., are all entirely consumed, while
the ashes made by the bones drop through
the franc work called the crib into the bot
tom of the retort from where they are OBJ
tanned. A curious fnct in connection with
cremation is the amount of ashes received
them. The two largest bodies cremated in
Lancaster weighed 900 pounds each, the
ashes weighing four pounds eight ounces
and five pounds four and half ounces re-
spectively. The largest percentage of ashes
| thus far received WINS from body weighing
| 1870 pounds, and whose ashes weighed five
pounds and eleven ounces, the weight of
the ashes of course depending on the size
of the bones of the subject Various dis
position has been made of the ashes in
some instances the remains being buried
in some retained in the family, and in 9TH
srs sent to Europe. The nshes of one sub
ject were placed in marble urn and de-
posted in Masonic lodge room, while
those of another Miss Clancy, the actress
who was cremated, were divided, part be-
ing buried by tho side of her sister in Bolt,
wore, and the rest by her mothers side &c
Maine.