Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-10-30
CREMATION IN GOTHAM.
The Extent of It's Adoption-Statis-
tics OF the First Years Work
The Opposition Upon Relig-
fous and Sentimental


Col. Henry LaUens, of South Caro-
lima, whose body was formerly burned
in accordance with his directions, il
1894. From that time until the build
ing of the lie Moyne cremalory in
Washington, Pa, there are records OF
the burning Of eight persons, the most
notable incarceration of the list being
that of the body of DIR. Charles +.
Winslow at Salt Lake City in 1876. The
New York Cremation society, which
was organized and Incorporated in
March. 1881, had for its original object
| the dissemination of correct knowledge
respecting the disposal of the dead by
| incineration. 1t was IN outgrowth OF
the popular discussion of the subject.
which began in 1874, and enlisted the
cooperation of such men as Courtlandt
Palmer, Rev. John d. Bengliss of the
United States navy, Felix Adler, and
James B. Brown. AT the time the So
ciety was organized there were only
four crematories in eXistence--one at
Milan, one at Padua, one at Gotha,
and one at Washington. Pa. Tho total
number of incinerations in these four
crematories did not exceed 100, of which
$50 had been at Milan. The growth of
the movement since then is evidence
that, Notwithstanding opposition, the
arguments used by the theoretic Gre
mationistS of 1874 have found as wide
favor here as those of the earlier advo-
Gates of the practice in the old world.
In Europe to-day there are more than
dozen crematories-Copenhagen,
Paris, Florence, Rome. Dresden, Brus-
sells, and some smaller cities having
societies which have put theory into
practice. In this country there are
active cremation societies in Newark,
Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadel-
phia, San Francisco and Los Angeles,
but as yet onl y four crematories for
public use have been buil.-those at
Fresh Pond EAST New York;. Buffalo.
Lancaster, Pa, and Washington, Pa.
The cost of properly-bult crematorv
is considerable, that at Fresh Pond.
East New York, having cost more than
$4,000, and as i'll small cities the num-
Der of persons ready to embark in the
movement is never large, it has been
no easy matter to find money for what
must for years be an unproductive in
vestment.
Although the real work OF the New
York cremators began on Dec. 4, 1885,
when the body of Eugene Lieyre, a
German, was burned, experiments in
burning animals began in September.
~ IS
December sixty-one persons have been
cremated at Fresh Pond; nine of the
number were women, and the ages va
ried from 9 months to 81 years. There
were 30 Germans, q Americans, Eng
lishmen, l Scotchman, l freshman, I
Swiss, 6 Frenchmen, / Austrian. and l
hungarian. During the first month
that the crematory was open 10 the
public there We're cremations, during
the second month 6, the third month Z,
the fourth month IL, the fifth month 9,
the sixth month TO- the seventh (Au-
gust month 6. The method adopted
at Fresh Pond, as already frequently
described, is to place the body in re-
tort, which is then heated to Il white
heat, running up to $500 degrees. Ac-
tual flame does not touch the BODY.
which gradually gives off its combusti-
bic parts in the shape of gases that burn
upon reaching the fire The agent of
the society in this city recently said to
the writer: 1--WE have as vet met with
no criticism which need cause us anx-
tety. The objections now urged more
and more family against the new prac-
tice are the old ones brought forward
before we began. They are (iirst) that
in cases where death has resulted from
poison all trace of the agent is re-
moved; (secondD that cremation is
and barbarian (third)
that it will be imposs bic TO dispose OF
all the dead by cremation; fourth)
that the practice is Incompatible with
a belief in the resurrection. The first
objection is the only one to which we
feel called upon to answer 1t is true
that traces OF poison will be DESTROYED.
but the argument is not against crema-
lion, but in favor of careful autopsy be- |
tore cremation in any doubtful case.
All non-volatile mineral poisons such |
rs arsenic, however, would remain in
he ashes, and would be more readily |
detected than in the dead body itself. |
We cremate no BODY without the repu- |
ar permit of the board of health, and |
II addition the certificate OF death from
reputable physician. Those who
iold that cremation is irreligous have
surely never realized that it is simply
ioing in two hours by fire what ma
ure does in the course of years by de-
composition. One is quick combustion,
he other slow.
"Ihe more constantly a crematory is
n use the cheaper is the process, and
'aris upon sanitary and economic |
grounds, has just finished four cremato-
les in the Pere la Chaise cemetery for
he burning of all paupers' bodies The
urnaces-constructed upon plans of
VI. M. Barrett and Formice-have the
appearance of very elegant, ovens; they
'ost 500 The system of incinera-
ion is that adopted at Milan, and the
barge for persons who wish 10 pay is Is
rancs. Sculptors and art-workers are
Ilready engaged upon designs for urns
n marble, bronze, silver, zinc or lead,
which can be taken away by the friends
# the dead person or placed in vaults,
which the city of Paris is to erect for
he purpose.
''The charge of S25 made for inciner-
ting body at Fresh Pond does not. of
curse, cover the expense we are now
t; when two cremations are made one
fter another. the cost is reduced one
bird, and with several cremat ons a
lay the work would be self sustaining.
Dur directors and stockholders are con.