The San Francisco call., 1897-01-18
CREMATION GETTING POPULAR.
The Prejudice Against Incineration
Disappearing.

| O1SappeaT1nEs
| Cremation, as a means of disposing OF
the bodies of the dead, when first tried in
New York State on December 4, 1885, at
tracted a great deal of attention, and
| there was also considerable discussion as
| to the relative merits OF the new method
as compared to the usual custom of un-
| derground burial. Many people were
superstitious regarding incineration.
People were at first loath to give consent
to this disposition of the bodies of their
| friends and relatives. Those who favored
the new method urged its adoption, Civ
ing as their reason for the change that II
was cleaner, cheaper, and did away with
| the necessity of elaborate funerals. 1t was
also urged that the inclneration of bodies
| of persons who had died from contagious
diseases would lessen the dangers OF con.
| tagion 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 incineration,
| says the New York Tribune.
| AS an aid to the adoption OF the new
| method, Endorsements were secured from
ministers and from others, in which they
say there was nothing unscriptural in dis
posing of the dead by means of fire, and
| advocating the method as more cleanly
| than burial.
The first incineration in New York
| State was at the New York Fresh Pond
| Cemetery, on Long Island, facing the
| Lutheran Cemetery, just north of Fresh
| Pond station, on the Long Island rail-
road. This was on December 4, 1885,
| Since that time, despite assertions by
some to the contrary, incineration has
grown in popularity, and it is said that
there is an increase of fifty incinerations
year. The number of cremations at
Fresh Pond up to the beginning of the
present year is given as 1881.
OF this number 1913 bodies were those OF
men, SO of boys, 496 of women and 73 were
| the bodies of girls. Thirty-fve dollars is
| charged for the incineration of body.
| This charge is only for the mere consum-
| ing of the body by means of heat, the
| body being placed in an alright com part
| ment of an immense furnace. Enough
ashes are left to fill small-sized urn. 1t
takes several hours to dispose of body,
| after which the ashes are 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 alcoves in the Nalls
| of the colum barium where the body has
been incinerated. By the request OF
friends endeavoring to carry out the Pc
culiar wishes of the departed the ashes
are often taken and thrown to the four
winds.
There is charge for the door which is
placed in front of the niche. The urns
may be bought for from SO 30 up to $45.
while the niche in the wall costs from $15
to S25, according to its location in the wall.
To the cost of the incineration, which is
$50, must be added the cost of the urn for
the ashes and the niche for the reception
OF the urn. When the body is borne to
the columbarium in carriages there is ex-
ira charge, according to the mum Der of car
riages brought into service. With this
method there is no necessity for the pur-
chase of burial lot, although many peo-
pie bury the ashes. The maximum cost
for incineration, including the purchase of
an urn, the leasing OF niche to receive
the urn, the door of the niche, and all ex-
penses, not including the hire of car
riages, does not exceed $125or $3.50 at most