The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-07
S. S. MERRILL.
Stories Told of the Lately Deceased Man
ager of the Milwaukee & st. Paul Rail-
way Illustrating His characteristics.

Stories Told of the Lately Deceased Man
ager of the Milwaukee & st. Paul Rail-
way Illustrating His Characteristics.
Some ten or twelve years ago there
was employed in Mr.. Merrill's office .
clerk in whom complete confidence was
reposed. He was intrusted with many
of the corporations secrets and given
the handling of funds in large amounts.
Unfortunately, the young man COM
menced sowing his wild oats, found his
salary insufficient to support his ex-
travagance, and frequently distracted
small amounts from the railway cona-
pany's funds to meet the deficiency.
These amounts gradually increased in
size until the yoang man, realizing the
position he was in, made one grand
haul and left for parts unknown. His
departure led to discovery of all his
populations. The inform alton was COM
municated to Mr.. Merrill, who, after a
moments reflection, sent for the COM
| pany's special agent, and ordered that
official to institute search for the alb
sent clerk.
Follow him." said Mr.. Merrill, .'to
China if necessary, and bring him back
Keep this matter quiet and spare no
expense in bringing the young man
back to this Office. y
| The few other persons who knew of
the ENLIGHTENMENT were enjoined to strict
secrecy, and very few ever learned of
| the facts. ANY inquiry which might be
| 1n Sc Oh
sense was met by the reply that he was
taking his summer vacation, but just
where was not known.
In the meantime diligent hunt for
the young man was in progress. He
was traced to Detroit, and from there
through Canada to the Atlantic coast.
where he sailed for Europe just twelve
hours in advance of the special agents
arrival. Authorities on the other side
| of the Atlantic were cabled, and the
young mans arrest ordered. This was
successfully accomplished, the clerk
was returned to America and trans
| ferred to the custody of the railway COM
pany's agent. To that official a full
| confession was made, and, finding him.
self completely in the company's power,
the young man calmly contemplated hi:
fate, expecting nothing less than STATE
| prison sentence.
He was quietly taken before Mr.. Mer
rill, who, to his complete surprise, APP
| preached him pleasantly, took him
back again | see. Sorry you staid so
long, as we needed you. Had a good
time, though, hope. Now, c.,
| your desk is just as you left it. No one
has disturbed Il paper, and you can get
to work at once. Here, look over these
accounts, and see that they are properly
| checked
| The young man, dumbfounded at the
reception, as in fact was the special
agent, burst into tears, and could not
fully realize the situation, until Mr..
Merrill again broke in with: Come,
what are you doing therep Get into
that chair as quick as you can and
check those accounts. And, by the
way, | don't want to ever hear word
| regarding certain events of recent date,
which you perhaps know of"
The young man did 90 to work. be-
gan new life attended to his duties
as he never had before, advanced him
self in rank as a railway employee, made
good to the company the amount he
had stolen, and several years later left
the company with as good letter of
| recommendation as any man ever re-
ceived. He to-day occupies promi-
nent position with one of the leading
railways of the country, and for it thanks
his old employer, S. S. Merrill.
Manager Merrill's regard for faithful
l., ~, foI
lowing incident: A colored boy, who
had some time previous served as por-
ter on Mr. Merrill's private car. and
who had rendered excellent service in
that capacity, was accidentally killed.
Upon learning of the accident Mr. Mer-
rill Immediately gave orders that every
necessary arrangement for the funeral
service and burial of the young man be
made, his own purse contributing to that
purpose. The day of the funeral
CHANGED to be an unusually busy one at
the General Managers office, and from
early morning the place was fairly
besieged with callers DESTROYS of making
contracts for rail, ties, spikes and
other supplies, representatives of vari-
Gus corporations, and individuals having
personal matters to attend to. Mr.. Mer-
rill disposed of them as fast as he could,
but as the day moved on into the after
noon there was yet more than half
dozen in waiting. Ascertaining the
wants of each, he granted an audience
to those with whom meeting could not
be conveniently postponed, and then,
glancing into the waiting-room, he said:
Gentlemen, you must excuse me to-day.
Ihave not time to consider your cases this
afternoon, as | must attend funeral
And in the midst of the Lowry but
honest-hearted people who were present
at the faithful porter's funeral was Man
ager S. S. Merrill
The purse of Mr.. Merrill has scores of
times been quietly opened to the relief
of poor and needy persons, and it will
never be known what amount he has
distributed in this quiet manne-. Sew
eral years ago a subscription paper was
circulated in the Milwaukee & St. Paul
general offices to raise a few hundred
dollars for the relief of deserving per-
son. 1t CHANGED that Mr.. Merrill was
out of the city at the time, and before
he had returned the required amount
had been raised and turned over to the
person for whom it was intended. A
short time after that Mr.. Merrill heard
of the transaction, and Immediately
summoned the person who had circu-
lated the subscription paper.
How much did you put me down
for?" inquired Mr.. Merrill, drawing his
locket-book Nothing! Do you mean
70 say that you permitted that list to be
closed without my name on it2 Now
never let that thing occur again, if you
wish to be friendly with me. and the
circulator readily saw that Mr.. Merrill
fo1t irivrod thaf bo hod NOT baa,, nov