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Show A CREMATOR CREMATED. At the cremation of Dr. F.J. LeMoyne, the American apostle of the process of incineration, at Washington, Pa. [Pennsylvania], there was a marked absence of the vulgar curiosity which characterized the cremation of Baron De Palm, and no manifestation whatever of the reportorial inquisitiveness which gave offense when the body of Mrs. Bean Pitman was reduced to ashes. The express wish of the friends that all the proceedings should be quiet and unostentatious was respected, and even to the conduct of services over the body of the late residence of the venerable champion of cremation. The relatives and a number of citizens of Washington assembled at nine o'clock in the morning. To the Rev. Dr. Brownson and Rev. George B. Hays a special invitation to be present was extended and these divines conducted services. The exercises consisted in reading a few selections of Scripture, and prayer by Dr. Hays. When those exercises had been concluded the remains were placed in a plain rosewood casket and were removed to the hearse by Dr. Frank LeMoyne, Johus LeMoyne, N. Harding, Chas. Harding, Mr. Prondfit, and William Wills. Carriages were then taken by the family and friends, and the small cortege finally wended its way to Gallows Hill. Here the body was removed from the hearse to the catafalque, when Dr. Hays took a position on the steps leading into the building and said "We have now brought our deceased friend to the place of his choice, and here we leave him." He then announced the request of the relatives that all should proceed back to the village, and pronounced the benediction. The pallbearers mentioned above, Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Wills, Miss Fannie Wills, Misses Sophie and Annie Harding, and Miss Kate LeMoyne, remained in the building, while the friends who came in the procession, and a number of people who had previously gathered about the cemetery, started back to town. At 10:30 o'clock the body was removed from the coffin, placed upon the iron crib, and was quickly thrust into the retort, and the door closed. A volume of smoke was instantly rushed from the chimney, and the odor of burning flesh was distinctly perceived by those outside of the crematory. There was no odor to those inside. The furnace had not been heated to near the degree attained at the DePalm and Pitman cremations, and the process of incineration was slow. It was about six hours before the consumption of the remains was completed, but at half past 4 nothing was left in the retort except the scattered piles of ashes. The furnace was then sealed, and will be left to cool until Friday this evening, when the ashes will be removed. The post mortem examination before cremation disclosed the fact that the brain of Dr. LeMoyne weighed forty-three ounces, or six ounces and a half less than the average man, and one less than the average woman. His will was read to-day, in which it was provided that the heirs to his property must enter into an agreement to have their bodies cremated before inheriting their respective shares. The amount of the estate is placed at $300,000. |