Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-02
IN A ~cREMATORY.
The Destruction at the Human Body b,
Incarceration.

The following description Of the ere
nation of IA body at the Fresh Pond ere
matory. Long Island, will be of interest 10
hose who are u~nacquainted with that
mode OF disposIng Of mortal Temaias, as
well as TO the many who are becoming con
verts to cremation ideas.
Inc crcmatory is "a brick building. one
tory in height, aud is divided into two
rooms. The iron doors of the retort opens
INTO the rcception-rOom, where seats are
arranged for the convenience of spectators.
In a niche in the wall OF this room stands
4 glass u.n which contains the ashes of IA
sheep incinerated n an experiment in the
rctort. The other room is occupied
mainly by the great furnace, which glowed
with fervent heat on this occasion. A
glimpse could be had Of the interior of the
retort through glass bulls.eyes set in the
ron door. The interior of the retoTt
siowed with "A beautiful rose color. BE
,ide the furnace, suspended from the cell
ne, was IA shallow-ribbed Norway non
crb, which rcsembled the lower portion
II Il coffin cut i'm two through its side
liamelcr. Immediately beneath this crib.
is II hung suspended in the air, was Il table
with casters under its four legs. Into the
,op Of this table were set rollers which re
volved at a touch.
The body was brought into the crema-
tory inciosed inacoilin case. After the com
pany had gazed upon the face of the dead
lie attendant lowered the crib to the floor
reside the collin. Two strips of muslin
.csembiinga bed sheet cut IN W length.
wise were ,aturated IN "A barrel containing
alum water and spread over the crib. Then
the body was lIitcd from the collin and
placed in the crib and wrapped in It's
winding sheet OF muslin. The crib WAS
noisted up and placed upon the movable
tablc. 1t was then taken to the front OF
he furnace, a distance OF about twenty
.eet. Two stout attendants wheeled The
table into position before the door OF the
rctort, which Wa, opened by means OF
NO heavy weights arranged much III the
same way as those 10y which "A man Is
hanged. There was IA good deal Of I'M
,crcWing of iron nuts, and then the dooI
opened. glowing as II with Unsuitable dc
Ire.
There was nothing repulsive about the
exhibition, however. In fact, the feeling
Produced on those present seemed one OF
I'VE at the transccndant beauty and awful
-randeur of the > 900 degrees Fahrcnhe t..
40 billowy flames, he cracking sound.
Jut the ardent heat OF the lire ll>ell, soft
md roseate 10 the eye, Yet terrible IN It's
!cvouring earncStnc>s. The door was lett
IDpen jus: long enough to permit two men
o seize long IRON rods with wooden han
lies and to enable them 10 thrust the crib
With its sheeicd burden into the seven
INES heated chamber. Then Tie door was
covered and closed with n ciang, and thcrc
vas more screwius of nuts and tightening
If bolts.
The process Of destruction was begun.
rhe TIVE glass bull eyes. which had here
ttoforc glarcd with tig,r,,h iic~rcenesS. now
began TO grow dim and pale, cloudcd as
hey were by the eaN>cs arising from the
tecomposing body and these eyes would
remain cloudcd 10y the yaporo of death until
lie incarceration was cOmp.ete, when they
would begin to burn ardently again as
though looking for another feast.
The attendant said that about two hours
would be required 10 reduce the body &c
ashes. There remain only "a few handlulS
Il pure pearlv ashes. equivalent in weight
10 about / per cent OF the original. Thcst
are dropped into the chamber below and
arc drawn thence into an urn Ut terra
Gotta. marble alaba,tcr, or other suitable
Material.