The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-07-14
INDIANA FUNERAL TALES.
The BiEEest Coffin Ever Made and
Queer BuriaIs Recalled by
Undertaken,

The recent meeting of the Undertake.
ers Association of Indiana led to a dis
cussion of the proposed manufacture
Of burial caskets out of glass. an. it
was decided almost unanimously that
If the project proved feasible it would
result in good both to the undertake
ers and to the people who need their
services. for prices could We made uni
form and decorations or expensive
trimmings would be useless. 1t was
said, reports the New York Sun, that
such caskets would be alright and
that bodies could be preserved indefi-
: rite!y. Another advantage would be
at they could be viewed without
. ..enir@ the coffin. It is said that these
baskets are TO be cast much the same
as plate glass and hat mods corre-
spending to all the various sizes will be
made for their Manufacture.
As an incident to the discussion sew
eral stories with reference to the sizes
of collins and to the ideas of persons
regarding burial were told, and it was
said that some of the largest collins
ever made were for Indiana people. For
instance, the supposed largest coffin
ever made was for John Hanson Craig,
the Hendricks county giant who trav-
eled with a number of shows and was
widely advertised as the largest man
in the world. The inside measurements
of his coffin were seven feet four inches
in width and two feet two inches in
depth. He was carried to his grave in
a twohorse wagon, because the hearse
would not admit the coffin, and it re-
quired eight men to carry the remains
from the wagon to the grave. Mrs. Ida
Crecraft, of Russiaville, was another
for whom the coffin had 70 be specially
made. 1t measured six feet six inches
in length and was IS inches wide and
so inches deep. Mrs. Craig. wife Of
the Hendricks county giant. required
a coffin of nearly the same dimensions
as Mrs. Crecraft, and it is said that
it took nearly 40 yards of goods to
make her shroud.
Gozzel Foster, who lived and died in
Warren county, had a desire for a fine
coffin and mad one made as nearly Like
President Garfie!G's as possible. II was
made by a Springfield (O9 manufacture
er. and the cost was $500. Foster was
CO years Of age when he died. and the
contract for the coffin was let two
years before. 1t is said that he took
a decided aversion to women when a
young 4 and for more than 40 years
he occupied Il room in the old home
stead and 10 woman was ever permit
ted to enter it.. Just before his death
he engaged every vehicle in the town
and country around and had n notice
published in the local papers inviting
al! the people to his funeral and prom
Using 4 free ride. \ special invitation
was sent to every woman in the town
to attend the funeral and see how a
man who had lived without women al,
his life could be buried.
In sharp contrast with Fosters prep
arations FOR his funeral were those of
William Decker. whose coffin was made
in this state. though he lived at Niles.
Mich. The coffin was ordered some
years before his death and was painted
a bright vermillion. and is said TO be
the only red coffin that was ever made
in the state. On the name-plate was
engraved this inscription. which was
duplicated later on the heaGstone of
his grave: Here lies the body of Will
liam Decker. who always paid 100 cents
on the dollar"
Jesse W. Knox, who died at his home
near Amboy, had primitive ideas re-
garding burial, and these were carried
out to the letter. He directed that 4
straight box should be made out OF
two-inch oak. Govetailed together, and
dressed. lie had two inches of sawdust
placed in the bottom, and uponthis his
remains were placed. He was able to
afford an expensive funeral. and his
relatives protested against his direc-
tons. but he refused to recall them,
ard said that he wanted to avoid all
needless show.
James DewEerst, n farmer of Craw-
ford county. went to L~eavenworth one
day and seemed TO be attracted by the
collins which the undertaken was dis
paying. He priced one and then an
other. and finally got the undertaken
TO fix n lower price if he would take
two. He left without making the pur-
chase. but a Cay or two after drove up
to the undertaker's and got two cof-
fins. one for himself and one for his
wife. paying $50 each He declared that
he had got 4 bargain. and the collins
are cow in his house ready for the oc-
casion as soon as it comes.
Two collins have been made in this
for persons who wanted to be
buried in reclining positions. Another
instance which was noted was the or
der of a physician who wanted a glove
fitting casket and had it made accord
ing to actual measurements of his
body.
New Naval formation.
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