Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-07
BURIALS AT SEA.
Opinions ofShipmasters as to the Expediency
OF Preserving Bodies on Shipboard.
New York SIM

New York Sun
The recent burial at sea of a homeward
bound passenger on one Of the large
ocean steamers has given rise to some
discussion whether it would not be Prac
ticable for the big steamers, amply sup
piled with ice as they always are, to carry
to land persons who die on the voyage
instead of committing them to the bosom
of the deep. Among the "old salts" who
frequent the maritime exchange, however,
there does not seem to be any difference
of opinion. They are very clearly of
opinion that burial at sea of those who
die there, except under certain rare con-
ditions, is the proper and, indeed, only
practicable thing to do.
Capt. Taylor, an old retired master,
now ship broker, said: II only remem-
Der, IN all my experience, of one instance
IN which dead body was carried at sea
for any length of time. That was on
board the United States steamer Penob-
scot during the war. Our doctor was kill
ed off Wilmington. They put his body
Ia cask and filed the cask with whisky.
That preserved the body in good condi-
ton for three weeks, and until we could
deliver it to his friends at home A dead
body requires a great deal of ice to keep
1t IN good condition for any length of
time. Sailing vessels never have enough
ice for such use, and indeed they general
ly have none at all. Even the big steam
ers rarely have any more than is necessary
for the preservation of the food neces-
sary for their passengers. They must
keep large quantities OF fresh provisions,
and ice melts away very fast. 1t would
not be fair to expect them to always have
on hand such an excess as would enable
them to preserve the bodies of persons
who might die aboard. They might have
to carry and waste hundreds of tons
of Ice before one ton would be called
for to be used in that way. don't know
that there is any question of superstition
among the common sailors compelling
the speedy putting overheard of dead
bodies. If there is anything of the sort [
have never encountered it."
Capt. Garrick, who has been first officer
and master for thirty years, said:
Il have never seen body buried at sea
IN less than eight-and generally it is
twelye-hours after death. That is deem
ed long enough to show proper feeling
of respect for the dead, and then it is ad-
visable to get rid of the body as soon as
possible. I do not know that there is any
| superstition about it, even in the minds
of the most ignorant common sailors.
An Intelligent recognition of necessity
conp9ls burial at sea. The thing has got
to be done, and that's all there is about
1T. Preservation of the health of the
living is of more Importance than the
keeping of the dead. And as know
from experience, the presence of dead
body aboard casts damp over the pas
sengers; affects them much more than it
does the crew. Passengers prefer that
| the burial shall take place as soon as pro-
priety will permit, and surely there is no
form more impressive or solemn upon the
sea than that of committing the dead to
the keeping of the fathomless deep, when
it is properly done, as it almost always
is, IN presence of the passengers. [ re-
call that once, while was in command of
of one Of the steamships of the Anchor
line, on our westward way, gen
tleman died suddenly. He had no friends
or relatives abroad to be consulted, so,
after the lapse of the customary time, in
the exercise of my own Judgment [ caus
him to be buried in the ocean. Next a
very old lady died. Her son, daughter-in
law, and family of grandchildren were
abroad. Age and sea sickness combined
| h14iOd lC1. w Z "cI5 b1ltD Dub bLG6S udyS
from New York, and I was prepared to do
whatever the family desired, to either
bury her at sea or bring her ashore, AS
they might decide, as I think most cap
tains would if circumstances happened to
be such as to leave them at liberty to
consult the wishes of the survivors.
consulted the son, and he said to bury
her at sea, which we did. do not see
why there should be any prejudice
against burial at sea. Surely, God, who
we are told takes note of the sparrow's
fall, will no more lose sight of those who
sleep their long last slumber in the
| oceans bed than if they were housed be-
meath granite and marble monuments on
land.''
Eyes, it would be practicable for steam
ers and all passenger-carrying vessels,
indeed, to carry a supply of spirits suf-
ticient to preserve dead body until port
was reached, but don't see that there
would be any particular good in 1t. Ger
talnly there would not be in a majority
Of instances, anyway"