Burned And Urned

When the body of Baron De Palm arrived 011 yesterday, and was taken in oourso to the crematory, the good people of Washington held up their hands in horror, for it now seemed certain that there would be a consummation of the pagan rites of which they had heard so much: A delegation of narrow-minded citizens cilied poli some teading lawyers, with a view to have the proceedings stopped, bui learned that there was no legal authority for such interference, and consequently the purpose of the projectors would be cárried out. , So, at an early hour this morning, Dr. LeMoyne, Col. Olcoft, Dr. Newton, Dr. Otterson, of the Boaïd of Health of tjueen's county, New York; Dr. Folsom, of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts; Dr. Ásgate, of Pittsburgh; Aug. Buckhorst, undertaker and embalmer, New York Theosophical Society; M. D. Evans, Philadelphia; many prominent people from different cities of the country, and representatives of the Chicago, New Yorfc and provincial newspapers, proceeded up the stoep grade of Gallows hiïl to the crernatory. Heire the Baron lay in the receptionroom, tucked up nicely in an iron coflinsháped crib. His living weight was 170 pounds, but the embalming procesa, whereby the stomach and entrails had been removed, together with the ravages of decoinposition which had taken place since death, had reduced him to ninetytwo pounds. His face was exposed, and was of a gray, brownish color, as if he had lain for years in the crypts of Egypt. His whiskers were white, and worn under i the chin and extreme edges of the cheeks, j af ter the fashion of the plain old philosopher, Horace Greeley, and on top of his head were little tufts of white hair. The scientific gentlemen and members of the press then removed their hats, while Col. Olcott proceeded to decórate the body with immortelles, pea blossoms, myrtle, primrosesand evergreen emblema of immortality, as prescribed by the society of which deceased was a memksr. The body was also enriched with fragrant spices, myrrh and frankincense, after which the retort door was opened. Here a discussion arose between LeMoyne and Col. Olcott about the way the Baron should be put in, the former insisting that it would cremate better with the toes toward the retort door, while the latter wanted him put in feet foremost. LeMoyne'a plan was finally adopted, and the body was removed into tbe furnace-room and slipped into the retort. At this moment there was a strong, ofi'ensive smell of burning meat and spices from the body, but it was over soon, and the fireman shiit the retort door and stirred the fire vigorously. The latter was a strictly honest fellow, for at midnight last night, when he and a couple of representatives sat alone in the crematory, he refused a !$100 bill and fare to Pittsburgh to put the Baron in and burn him up before morning, which could easily be done in half an hour. After the body was placed in the retort, by looking through a small peep-hole a dull mist was observed similar to that seen over water at early sunrise, but there was no smell whatever; and the evergreens, flowers and myrtle lying on the iron crib had apparently not been disturbed by the ravages of fire. After the lapse of an hour the remains assucned the shape of the charred huil of a miniature steamboat. The head had disappeared, but the ribs remained erect, standing up prominently from the keel or backbone, but every now and then one would drop off and fall crumbling into the crib. " It is beautiful!" said Col. Olcott, alluding, no doubt, to the man inside. At 11 o'clock, LeMoyne, Olcott, Folsom, Otterson and other medical men went into the furnace-room, and, taking a long pieee of iron, gave the Baron's crib a smart punch, and instantly what bones had up till that time been erect toppled over, aud the whole structure of the man lay a heap of ashes on the floor of the retort. Two hours and a half were occupied in bringing about this complete incineration, and the Baron was now pronounced done - or, in other words, completely cremated. Foilowing is the official report of Col. Oloott : Body inserted at 8:27. At 8:45 o'clock vapor cleared aTvay ; body aeen plainly againat the brilliant red background of the retort. A flue-mouth was white hot and seemed like a radiant crown floating ovei the old niau'a head. The iorm of every sprig of evergreen waa seen; the pointed branches arching, and turned toward the center. The sheet enfo)ds the corpne, the alum experiment being a perfect succesa in preaorving elementa of decency in covering bodies. At 9 o'clook and 15 minutes the sheet was charred at the head and stood up black and ragged. A remarkable effect is to be noticed. The left hand is raised, and points upward, seeming to indícate that the dead man had ascended from the consuming remains. At 9 o'clock and 25 minutes Dr. Otterson teuted the draft through the eye-hole with a bit of paper. It had been suggested that there was not enough oxygen. It was iound that there was a draft, and the left arm was soen to f all again. A glorious rose-colored light about the remains, and a sort of faint mist and falnt aromatic odor stealiüg through the vent-hole. At 10 o'clock and 25 minutes crib red-hot ; body surrounded by a golden-tinged mist.