Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-17
CREMATION FIGURES.
Strong Arguments Presented by Ad-
yOcates of Incineration.
THE BEST FOOD TO GIVE HORSES
A Suggestion That Ducks Be Used Instead
Of Carrier Pigeons.
DRINKING AIR IN ITS LIQUID FORM
lwRrrTKS FOR THE DIsPAroH.I

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.i
The advocates of cremation have in their
favor some strong arguments. They say
the mandate that 'dust shall return to
dust" is irrevocable, and its fulfillment is
inevitable; that we can in no way prevent
1t; we may obstruct or we may assist, and
reason dictates the latter course. Since the
longer the process is delayed the greater is
the danger to the health of the living, Gre
nation is q benefcent institution. Its
growth in Europe has been surprising, and
in Italy there are large numbers of crema.
tories, and In this country the prejudice
against the movement is decreasing.
1t is only IL years since the formation Of
the New York Cremation Society, the first
institution of the kind in the United
States, and rot until the year 1885 was the
first operative creamatory established, yet
there are now in various parts of the States
nearly score of these incinerators in moro
or less continuous service. The number Of
cremations which have been conducted
each year in one of these temples in Buffalo
gives a fair idea of the progress which the
sentiment in favor of this method is max
ing. During 1886 eight bodies were inciner-
ated, and in each successive year to the end
of 1891 the numbers were, respectively, II,
16. %, 80 and 81. In this temple everything
possible has been done to mitigate the sad
ness of the last ritual The temple is built
of dark brown sandstone, and its square
tower and deep slanting roof are covered
with ivy and surrounded by sloping lawns.
The chancel and nave are artistically carved
and decorated and the windows are of rich
stained glass. The incineration takes place
privately after the funeral service, and the
ashes are delivered to the undertaken to be
disposed OF as the family may direct, or
they may be left at the crematory.
A society formed after the organization OF
the pioneer society has reduced TO ashes
The process carried out at one OF their
principal temples is follows: The fur
mace is of friedrich throughout and sepa-
rated into two distinct but similar compart-
ments. The body is placed in a chamber di-
rectly above that in which the fuel Is con-
sumed- The bottoms of the retorts ara
solid, but the sides and ends are pierced
the furnace has direct access to the body,
while the flames are not permitted to APP
proach 1t. The heat of the retort soon lib
crates everything volatile in the body, and
these emanatiOns are conducted through
another highly heated chamber, and thus
rendered OdOrleSs and absolutely innOcuOuS
before they pass to the chimney which
forms their means OF egress to the air. The
time taken up in reducing a body to ashes
depends somewhat upon the size and condi-
tion OF the person when alive. In this fur
mace 1t is about two hours; in many others
it is a little over an hour. The fuel used is
coal, and in five or six hours from tho start
ing OF the fires q temperature of from 2,0OOs
to 2,5O0o Fahrenheit can be obtained.