Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-01
IN A CREMATORY.
The Destruction of the Human Body BY
v lncinerstiOn.

lncineratiOn.
The following description OF the Gro
nation OF a body at the Fresh Pond Gre
natory, Long Island, will be Of interest 10
hose who are unaCQuainted with that
mode Of disposlng Of mortal remains. as
well as 70 the many who are becoming con.
verts 10 cremation ideas.
The cIemato.y is brick building, one
stfry in height, and is divided into two
IONS The iron doors OF the retOrt opens
INTO the reception.room, where seats are
arranged for the convenience Of spectators.
In niche in the wall OF this room stands
glass u:u which contains the ashes of
sheep incinerated as an experiment in the
retOrt. The other room Is occupied
mainly by the great furnace, which glowed
with tervent heat on this occasion. \
glimpse could be had OF the interior OF the
retort through glass bulls.eyes set IN tho
iron door. The interior OF the retort
glowed with a beautiful rose color. BE
side the furnace, suspended from the cell.
ing, was q shallow-rib0od Norway iron
erlb, which resembled the lower portion
u coffin cut in two through It's side
diameter. Immediately beneath this crib.
rs it hung suspended In the air. was table
with casters under its four legs. Into the
.op Of this table were set rollers which re-
yolved at touch.
The BODY was brought into the crema-
tory inclosed in coffin case. After the com.
pauy had gazed upon the face of the dead
the attendant lowered the crib 10 the floor
beside the coffin. Two strips of muslin
resembling bed sheet cut in two length
wise were saturated in barrel containing
alum water and spread o9er the crib. Then
The body was lifted from the coffin and
placed Ia the crib aud wrapped in Its
winding sheet of muslin. The crib was
Iolsted up AID placed upon the movable
ole. II was then taken TO the front oil
nc furnace, distance Of about twenty
Get Two stout attendants wheeled the
able into position before the door OF the
retort. which WAS opened by means OF
20 .iesvy weights arranged much in the
anne way az those by which man II
nanged There was a good deal of un
,creWing of iron nuts, aud then the door
opened. glowing as If with Unsuitable de
IRE.
There was nothing repulsiye about The
exhibition, however. In fact, the feeling
produced on those present seemed one OF
we at the transcendant beauty and awful
-randeur Of the 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
No billowy flames. no cracking SOUND.
hut the ardent heat of the ire itself, sol
md roseaie To the eye, vet terrible In iti
lsvouring earnestness The door was left
open Just long enough 10 permit two mer
to seize long iron rods with woodeD han
lles and 10 enable them TO thrust the Grill
with iis eheeied burden into the seven
timcs heated chamber. Then The door was
covered and closed with clang, and rhcr'
vas more screwing Ut nuts aud Tightening
ni bolts
The process of destruction was begun
The two glass bull eyc>. which bad here
toforc glarcd With tigeriSh hcrcencss, nov
began 10 grow din and pale. clouded a
lhcy were Nv the gases arising from tlr
iccomposing body, and these eyes woul,
remain clouded 10y the vapor OF death unit
the incineratou was complete. when the
would begin Ia burn ardentlY again a
though looking for another feast.
Tie attendant said that about two hour
would be required to REFUGE tue body I
Ishcs. There remain only few handful
pure pearly ashes. equivalent in weigh
lo about 4 per cent OF the original. Thes
r. dropped into the chamber below am
zee drawn thence into an urn of terri
Gotta. marble, alabaster, OF other suits5l