The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-04-04


distinctly separated from the common
product of the mills, the parties who
bring the suit claim will be specifical-
ly identified as the article whose in
PRODUCTION caused them the damages
they aiiege, and indeed brought on
the catastrophe of tbs Rhees & Howell
mills.
Morgans says that it was only in
October, 1871, that Mr.. Rhees had f.
naliy completed all his preparations.
Even-then he was only able TO make
the final experiment upon small sur
face at the upper end of the mill dam,
on account of the deficiency OF help.
1t would not yet do to take the hands
into the secret. Rhees, in fact, wanted
to get possession of ali the stock first,
and then, turning his factory into
cooperative union, take all hands into
business partnership with him at the
same time that he shared with them
the new secret. The operatives had
already suspicious of something, and
were only kept from murmurs of dis
satisfaction by hints which Rhees
threw out of his intentions toward
them. In one night, therefore, Rhees
and Morgans, using model OF the
landing machinery, brought to the
shore enough of the fabric to make
200 yards of flannel. This was loaded
into country wagons, hired for the
purpose, delivered at the mill, and
stored in an unused room, all under
cover of darkness. By the Goth of
December Rhees and Morgans; work
ing at odd times, had submitted this
to the chemical and dressing processes
necessary, had prepared it tor market,
and on that date, says Morgans, for
the first time, large consignment of
the "Rhees fabric" was made to their
New Y ork agents, along with other
goods shipped them as usual.
Rhees, following up his plan, had
been actively negotiating with the
several holders for the purchase of
their shares of stock in the mill. On
she 18th of January 1872, at 10 o'clock
in the morning, Rhees came into the
mill Office, looking considerably dis
turbed. Morgans asked him what
was the matter. He replied that his
child, an infant less than year old
was very much complaining. 1t had
seemed to be threatened with Group; !;
but in the night had had a sudden at
tack of fever with decided crimson
eruption, and he had sent for the doc
tor, fearing it was scarletina. But
that is not. the chief BOTHER" said
Rhees 3" see this" And he opened
medical journal published in Louis
vile, and pointed Morgans to an arti-
Gle in it on a new disease just dag
nosed there. 1t was styled in the ar
ticle " Mycelloidal Dermestitus," was
said to be peculiar eruption, attend
ed with great irritation of the skin,
running an uncertain course, eompli-
Gated with cerebral symptoms, more
or less marked, and terminating vari-
ously. Cases were mentioned in
which. the eruption lasted weeks, and
then disappeared as suddenly as it
came: others in which the attack was
as violent and the resultas Immediate
ly fatal as in malignant erysipelas.-
| The disease was said to be caused by
| wearing red flannel.
"I don't believe it, Mofgans," said
| Mfr. Rhees. g. But even if it is not So,
and such thing gets abroad, it will
ruin our business. If people suspect
that there is such thing as poisonous
red flannel in the market, they will
decline to buy any flannel.
| Morgans said not word, but going
to drawer in his desk, produced a
scrap book, opened it and pointed his
employer to long column of news
paper clippings, enumerating cases of
Fsickness and death from wearing red
flannel.
I &C You see, there none of them
older than 49," said Morgans.
GOOD God, Morgansw cried Mr..
Rhees. What do you mean ?"
"Didn't we sell piece of that fan
mel to Jones & Rhe1nhardt, in Louis
vile? Itell you that's our flannel,
the Rhees tabric-that's poisoning
all these folks"
:. 1t is not-it cannot be-" cried Mr..
Rhees in great agitation. Every part
of the process, all the articles used in
ii are perfectly innocuous."
"Then it's the fungus that does it, !"
persisted Morgans. "Ive watched
these things some time, and / know
its our flannel"
Morgans says Mr.. Rhees stood like
man thunderstruck, He faltered,
staggered and could not speak. At
this instant a servant came running to
him from the house, and told him the
| doctor had come and wanted toT see
him at once-the baby was very ill.
Morgans," said Mr.. Rhees, as he
went out the door making a painful
effort to control his agitation, tele-
graph at once to our factors to stop
selling these goods peremptorily, and
no matter at what cost"
Morgans did as he was bidden and
| in the course of half an hour Mr..
Rhees returned 10 the office, looking,
80 the foreman said, like man con-
| demned to death.
Morgans," he asked, "where did
that piece of flannel come from | sent
for yesterday ?"
at was the Rhees fabric; thought
you wanted it for some of your ex-
periments. Good God! Mr.. Rhees,
you didn't put that around your childs
neck, did you? ?"
"What else /" said the unhappy man,
forcing himself to be calm, st and the
child is dying, and the doctor pro-
nounces the disease to be-O God! I
am punished! I am punished!' and
to Morgans great distress Mr.. Rhees
| broke into a great weeping.
AT this moment a telegraph boy ar
rived with q dispatch, which Mr..
Rhees read and then handed to Nor
gaRs, controlling himself and becom-
effort that was more frightful to wit
message said that the orders arresting
the sale of the consignment of the
Rhees fabric had COME too late. The
goods had been sold on. very satisfae-
tory terms to another house, which
had already reported, that they were
to be made up into uniforms for Gen
eral Herrera's army.
"You see, Morgans,' said Mr.. Rhees,
the fire l kindled has gone beyond
my own house." As he spoke the
doctor came in and laid his hand on
Mr.. Rhees's shoulder.
Your child is dead" said he; GO
comfort your wife,"
81 am going-to make reparation
to her and TO ALL" answered Mr..
Rhees, walking out of the Office.
After much search his body was
found, two days later, in the deepest
mart Of the mil dam Hhn stock hnld-