Stoddart's Encyclopaedia Americana Volume 2; A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature, and Companion to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. (9th Ed.) and to All Other Encyclopaedias

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ...organization of its kind in the country, though from time to time the movement has provoked the formation of associations in other cities--notably in St. Louis and Indianapolis. Its members were instrumental in the formation of the United States Cremation Company, with the object of erecting in the vicinity of New York a crematory and columbarium of the most approved modem pattern. The contract for this building and apparatus was given out by the New York Society in 1884. It may be added that a number of portable crematories, upon the system devised by M. Ixiuis Creteur, of Brussels, were included in the outfit for the construction of the Panama Canal. At least this announcement was made in 1880, but the project seems to have been abandoned, as in 1882 the principal medical director of M. de Lesseps's company was found recommending the erection of permanent crematory furnaces along the line of the canal. A crematory has been erected in connection with the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, where the bodies from the dissectinjj-room are burned: provision has been made for a similar furnace in the newest of the London hospitals. In his pamphlet on cremation Dr. Le Moyne mentions two instances of incineration in America during the last century. The body of Henry Laurens, for some time president of the Continental Congress, was burned soon after his death at Charleston, S. C., Dec. 8, 17!)2, and that of Henry Berry (or Barry), of Marion county, in the same State, July 18. 1780. The pyre in the open air, such as that upon which Shelley's tody was burned, was resorted to in these cases. In July. 187," the remains of Dr. Charles F. Winslow were burned at Salt Lake City, in a furnace built for the occasion, and removed as soon as the incineration was ...