Evening star., 1897-08-16
A STATESMAN CREMATED
His Casket Draped With the American
Colors.
Services Over the Remains of Pom
kwanE Sob, Former Minister
to This Country.

The body of Pom Kwang Sob, the for
mer Corean minister to this country who
died last Friday. was cremated yesterday
according to the expressed wish of the
deceased, and his ashes placed in the keep
ing of the present minister, Chin Pom Ye.
Later they may be returned to Corea.
At 3.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
body was taken from his 14th street resi-
dence, where it had lain in state, and con-
veyed to Lees crematory, followed by a
long line of carriages containing personal
friends and prominent members of the
Blavatsky branch of the Theosophical So
ciety, of which Mr.. Son was a member.
The brief and simple funeral services were
conducted by George NJ. Coffin, president
of the society. The ca3ket was draped
with silk American flag, and on it had
also been placed the robes of state worn
by Mr.. Sob during his official career here.
At either end of the coffin were crosses
OF white and pink roses. which had been
sent by Prince Min and Mr.. PAX.
Among those admitted to the chapel were
Prince Min, Prince Evi Wha, the second
son of the present King of Corea, in full
court uniforms, Mr.. PAX, Mr.. Suah, a num-
Der of Corean students and a number OF
the members of the Theosophical Society.
Among the members of the Theosophcal
Society who delivered eulogies were Ralph
l. Lerch and Col r. E. Whitman, U. s. A.
The latter delivered touching eulogy, in
which he spoke of the splendid qualities of
the dead statesman. He touched on the
mysteries of death, and compared life to
tent easily blown from its moorings.
AT the conclusion of the ceremonies, for
which there is no regular form, prepara-
ticns We're made for the cremation. The
casket was carried into the room adjoining
the crematorium.- The metal handles and
fixings were removed from the casket and
it was wrapped in an alum sheet. The
spectators then stepped to the doors of the
a ha lyaf acfv mad
to the retort, in which the heat was in
tense, the temperature running to about
$500 degrees. In two hours the retort was
allowed to COOL and it was found that per-
feet incineration had taken place.
The Corcan Minister Was Absent,
The allegation has been published that
Cim Pom Ye, the Corean minister, gave
the memory Of Pom KwaEg Sob grievous
insult by refusing to attend the funeral
ceremony. 1t was added that not only
yves there shown marked disrespect to
Mr.. Soh's memory, but the royal family
of Corea itself was included in the alleged
insult by the action of the minister, as
two royal princes of Corea were visiting
with Mr.. Sob at the time Of his death and
were present at the funeral.
Two days before the death of Mr.. Son.
it is stated in connection with the story,
Minister Ye called at his residence, but
Mr.. Sob refused to see him. and ne went
away enraged. Notwithstanding this
buff, it is stated, the court etiquette Of
Corea made it imperative that Minister
Ye should attend the funeral of the dead
statesman. The publication predicts that
the so-called insult will be considered a
grievous offense by the Corean govern
ment, and may result in the speedy recall
of Minister Ye.
A Star reporter who inquired at the Co.
rean legation this afternoon whether the
absence of Minister Ye from the funeral
was intended as an insult to the memory
of the deceased, received this reply from
the secretary of the legation.
"Tne minister did not attend the funeral.
He stated that he would remain at home
because of Illness"