New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-13
CRENATION GETS MORE POPULAR
TIE PREJUDICE AGAINST INCINERATlON
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THIS
METHOD

Cremation, as a means Of disposing Of the bodies
Of the dead when first tried in New-York State
on December T. 1885, attracted a great deal OF at
tenton, and there also considerable discus
sion as the relative merits OF the new method
compared to the usual custom OF underground
burial Many people were superstitious regard
ing Incarceration. People at first oath TO
give consent to this disposition OF the bodies OF
their friends and relatives Those who favored
the new method urged its adoption. giving
their reason for the change that 1t cleaner.
cheaper. and did away with the necessity for
elaborate funerals II also urged that the
ncineraton of bodies of persons who had died
from contagious diseases would lessen the dan
gers OF contagion and would be the safest way
in which to dispose of such bodies. on the other
hand the fear Of burial alive caused some
strongly to advocate Incarceration.
As an aid TO the adoption of the new method.
Endorsements were secured from ministers and
from others. in which they said there was moth
Ing unscriptural In dsposng of the dead by means
OF fire. and advocating the method more
clearly than burial
The first incineration In this State was at the
New-York Fresh Pond Crematory Long ISL
and facing the Lutheran Cemetery. just north
OF Fresh Pond Station, on the Long Island Rail-
road This December T. 1885. Since that
time despite assertions by the contrary.
Incarceration has grown in popularity. and ii l.
said that there is an increase IF fifty Incarceration
year The number Of cremations at Fresh Pond
as 1851. or this number 5lS bodies were those
OF men. 9s of boys. 1876 of women, and u were
the bodies of girls Thirty-fve dollars is charged
for the Incarceration OF a body. This charge is
only for the mere consuming Of the body by
means OF heat. the body being placed in an air
tight compartment of immense furnace.
Enough ashes left to fill small-sized urn
II takes several hours to dispose OF a body, after
which the ashes collected and placed in an
urn which has previously been purchased Often
the ashes are taken away by friends. and at
other times they are deposited in acOves in the
walls OF the coumbarium whore the body has
been incinerated. BY the request of friends
deavoring TO carry out the peculiar wishes OF the
departed the ashes are often taken and thrown
to the four winds
There is a charge for the door which Is placed
IN 'front.' or the niche. The urns may be bought
for from 81 q up to So. while the niche in the wall
costs from $l5 TO 49, according its location in
the wall To the cost OF the nciner ton which
is t35, must he added tho cost OF the urn for the
ashes and the niche for the reception of the urn
When the body Is borne tn, co,umbarium i'm
carriages there is extra charge. according TO the
number OF carriasss brought into service. With
inns method there Is no necessity for the pur.
chase OF a burial lot. although many people bury
tne. ashes. The maximum cost for incneration
lhcluding IN" purchase OF urn. the easing OF
niche to receive the urn, the door OF the niche
ana all expenses. not including the hire OF car
riages need not exceed sl25. or $50 at most.