Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-04-26

everyday affair with us. Since 1885,
when five bodies were incinerated at
Fresh Pond, L. l., over 900 crema-
tions have taken place there, and of
these the Germans claim at least 600.
From 1881 the 1894 the crematious in
America number almost 5000, and
to-day there are in this country six
teen incorporated cremation societies,
with crematories at Fresh Pond, l.. 1. +,
at Detroit, at Roxbury, Mass, at ST.
Louis, at Los Angeles, at San Fran
cisco, at La Crosse, at Baltimore, at
Pittsburgh, at Troy, at Waterville,
N. Y, at Germantown, at Buffalo,
and at Cincinnati.
Cremation as practiced by the an
clients was literally a burning OF the
body, after being placed on a pyre of
wood or other combustible materials
Cremation of the present day is really
an incineration, and not burning of
the body in an ordinary sense Of the
word burning, but reduction of the
body in a spacious closed retort,
under the influence of superheated
oxygen, which at very high tenn
perature unites chemically with the
carbonaceous elements of the body,
with no fame contact whatever, like
the snow in the genial warmth Of the
sunshine,
Process OF Cremation.
The funeral cortege arrives at the
chapel, where the services are held.
The body is placed on the catafalque,
which is surrounded by an ornamen-
tai brass railing. After the services
are completed the catafalque, with
the body, descends by means of an
elevator to the crematory below.
Before the coffin has entirely dis.
appeared from view black pail ID
drawn over the railing. After the
body has reached the crematory, the
coffin, without disturbing the body,
is placed ON a light traveller, which
rests on the top Of long carriage OF
table with wheels that fit to a track
leading to the retort.
The coffin Is then covered or en-
veloped with a white cloth that has
been saturated in a solution of alum.
This Is done 10 prevent any part OF
the coffin igniting while 1t Is being
placed in the retort. The retort door
is opened, and the coffin, with the
body, is then moved into it by means
of the traveller and table. The table
10 withdrawn, the door Is closed and
frightened. 80 that no air can entel
the retort or none of the gases 60
cape. All is done quickly and In
harmony with the solemnity of thu
occasion. The process Of distillatior
begins First, the gases of tie wood
of the coffin crumble, and finally tn,
body.
In about three hours the coffin Il
reduced to charcoal aud the body Il
white ashes When the ashes are 70
moved from the retort the charcoal
ia separated from the ashes, and TIT
ashes are then placed In a temporar!
receptacle until final disposition o
the remains is determined on b,
the relatives of the deceased.
One curious inconsistency has de
veloped In the agitation for crema
tion of the dead. A host of grea
men and women have declared them
selves. unequivocally in its favor, bu
at death few have left directions 70
incineration. Among those who wer
outspoken In their views were Georg
william Curtis anu Prof. Josep
Leidy. OF these only the last-name
was at his own request incinerated
the services taking place May 5, 1891
Rules Governing the Operation.
The rules governing cremation ar