The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-08
A SONS INGRATITODE.
Unhappy Results Of an Uufllial Deed
Two Deaths and an Incendiary Follow
sne Questionable Transaction.

TOWNSEND, Pa, Feb. 7.-Iu the days
OFFS age coaohing this village was on the
old State road, and was an important coach
station, known as The Corners. - In 1870
Cyrus Miller came here and put up large
tavern, which made It's owner rich. Miller
was one Of three men who came to this
place together, the other two being John
carpenter. Miller also erected saw mil
near the village, snd made Merritt his saw.
yer. They weressingularly intimate, and
for over forty years they spent
every evening, except Sunday, togetb.
er. Dorr is . widower, his wife and
ing OF propeller on Lake Erie in 1889.
With the decay OF stage coaching, owing to
the building Of railroads, the business OF
the Miller tavern only consisted OF limited
Local trade. The mill also ceased to be
profitable years ago, but the owner kept 1t
running and 1t
NEVER KNEW DAY OF REST.
Merritt had grown gray as the sawyer and
no other person had ever sawed foot Of
lumber in the mill. Two years ago old Mr..
Miller retired from business owing to fail
Ing health and decided his tavern and mill to
his onlysou. William. The small amount
onbusiness, he,COrners brought did not
satisfy the younger Miller and be decided
to sell the property and 20 elsewhere. This
was strongly opposed by his father, who
said that he had but one wish, to die In the
old tavern, which he had never
changed il any respect and which
is one Of the few typical stage coach tav.
ems remaining In the country. On Mon
day OF last week, however, the son con-
cuded sale Of the tavern and mill TO Geo.
Henderson,, aud when old Mr.. Miller was
told that the tavern must be vacated by
March list, be was Frustrated with q ner-
vous shock, and died on Thursday, aged
70. His Old friend, Lewis Dorr, who was
five years his senior, had occupied one
room in the tuvern,he had built since 1910,
and had never slept in any other. Friday
morning his dead body was discovered ly-
ing under the turnpike bridge across Tru.
mans creek with his face buried In the
water. The bridge was undergoing re.
pairs and narrow walk Of planks was the
only means by which foot passenger could
cross It..
IT WAS SUPPOSED
that Door, while brooding over the death
OF his friend, had forgotten the condition
OF the bridge and fallen through, although
many believed that he had suicided. Sat.
urday night last the cry Of fire was raised
in this place for the first time In Its histo.
ry, and It was found that the old Miller saw
mill was in flames. 1t was soon consumed
with It's contents. Sunday morning Sawyer
Merritt called on the new owner OF the mill
and handed him paper which contained .
statement that the mill had been run ut
loss for more than ten years, and that the
loss by the fire was 1925, with no insur.
ance. The old sawyer then asked the own.
er II 1t was true that be paid young Miller
$500 for the pro perty. and was answered In
the affirmative. Then here Is 500 to
make good your loss, - said Merritt, hand.
ing over that amount. Upon being asked
for all explanation the sawyer said he had
helped build line mill forty-four years ago
and had never missed days work 10 1t
from the time its wheel started. The sale
OF the property had resulted In the death Of
HIS TWO LIFELONG FRIENDS
and be knew that Henderson, intended
putting one OF his own men In the mill.
II KNEW said Merritt, 'that II | saw
another man in the mill would not live for
a week, and so set fire to 1t and want to
pay you for it, Miller and Dorr were
buried Sunday afternoon, side by side, In
the village graveyard. On Monday Merritt
left The Corners, and will spend the re.
maindsr Of his days with his married
daughter near Buffalo. From the day he
came here in ls40 he had never been out of
the village. Before he went away young
Miller refunded to him the 500 he had
paid just for the privilege Of burning the
old mill.