The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-03-01
RUMORED ROTTENNESS
VI
In the Management Of the West
lawn Cemetery.
The Story Said to Have Been Told by
Ex-SextOn Acrher.
A Matter That Needs Investigating at
All Events.
Water Works Superintendent ObligeT
interviewed.
THE Democrat Man Starts Out on An In
terviewing Tour But is Unable
To Give Much Concern
ing the Matter

true. places SOMEBODY III very udLi"S
Tue rumor ran like this: Some time
last summer a barber named Charles
schmidt died, and permit was issued
nv the officers of the cemetery assocla.
tion for the interment OF the BODY IL
West Lawn, lot In the new portion
being chosen as the spot.
The location of the lot was soon
found. and the sexton, Isaac Archer
commenced to dig the grave. When
fonr feet below the surface OF the earth
his pick struck what he supposed was
A large boulder. Upon closer lnspec-
ton It was ascertained that the obstruc-
tion was the water works pipe which
supplies water from Meyers Lake.
The sexton reported this to the super
intendent, Clark Tonner, and asked
him what course to pursue. Inc su,
perintendent replied that he should cut
right through the pipe and put IN the
rough box. This was done, a quantlty
of earth being thrown into the pipe Oh
either side. The interment occurred
at the appointed time, and the broken
pipe was unnoticed.
Several months later some repairs
were needed on the dam from which the
water supply at present is taken, and 1t
was thought prudent to use water from
the lake while repairs were in progress
The water was turned on and was used
for several days while the dam now
uspd was being overhauled This wa
ter. which is regarded as pure spring
water, passed into the pipe at the lake,
down to the cemetery through Mr..
Schmidt's grave, and then out through
the nine at the other end of the pump
inc station where it was forced into the
cify mains. Thus it will be seen that
the city was supplied with water that
has trickled through the putrid bodies
lying silently in the city OF the dead IN
the western part OF this town,
This story is said to have been told
by Mr.. Archer, the sexton, who several
months ago severed his connection
with the association.
This morning DAILY DEMOCRAT
renorter started out to investigate
these rumors. He found upon inquiry
at various places that such a thing as
the burial of Schmidt and the cutting
of the supply pipe were facts.
A West End grocer was seen by the
reporter. He said that he had heard of
the matter among the first, and had in
timated that it had better be in
vestipated. He said that he had learned
that other bodies had been buried along
with that of Smith, and that it might
he that water would again be supplied
ia city consumers through the pipe
rnnninp the water over the dead and
decomposing bodies.
The reporter then sought after Isaac
Archer. the ex-seXton, but he was no.
where to be found A trip to his home
and to the haunts which he frequents
failed to find him.
Mr.. Knobb, the present sexton, was
seen He declared that there was no
trntb in the report He says that a
hrother of Schmidt, in company
with several other gentlemen, had
visited the cemetery on Monday
for the purpose of satisfying themselves
as to the rumors. The grave OF Schmidt
was opened, and no water was found. -,
Knobb says the reports were circulated
by Archer to vent his spite at his re-
noyal as sexton. The investigation
was satisfactory to the gentlemen men
toned above.
Mr., Paul Field, Secretary of the
Water Works, said: eyes, | have heard
Of the matter, but you can say that
there is no truth in the report that
water has been taken from that pipe
Why. it has been disconnected for a
GREAT while. 1t is absurd to think that
Water could be supplied by that pipe
after it had been cut. No water has
been drawn from Meyers lake
for a great length of time, and
we can use no water from that pipe.
The lake and pumping station are not
connected. The water supplied is as
pure as spring water.
WHAT sUPT. OHLIGER SAYS.
4 DEMOCRAT reporter called on SUI
nerintendent Ohliger at the Water
(Vnyks Office this Afternoon to find out
what there is in the matter.
He said "We have not been using
anv water from the lake since the pipe
'yas % renaired. over two years ago
Wien WI the cemetery was enlarged it
covered part of the ground that was
underlaids with pipe; The cemetery
authorities had no right TO sell lots SO
close to the pipe. | Thought at the
time that they were burying too close
to the pipes, although there have
hpen no pipes broken as was trst
renorted with the exception OF the pipe
that I took up last fall. The pipe is
witr;fed sewer pipe, and where the
io;nt was it was wrapped several times
with gunny dipped in hot aSphaltnm
there nv making it indestructible. The
making of the Joint cost more than the
pipe itself; .,,o,..or oivos al, sides to
+ba AFFAIR When it is considered that
Movers Lake is forty feet above the
iavsl of the ground in front OF the
court House, one can easily see, that
ven were there break in
a nine. the great pressure would force
water from the pipe, and not draw 1t
in. Thus even were there no direct
cutoff, it would be impossible Tor t0r-
eign matter to enter the pipes, save by
Hentering at the reservoir,
LATER DEVELOPMENTS.
The publication in last nights DEM
ocpAr as to the runors concerning the
olleoed mismanagementi in the affairs
Of West Lawn cemetery has created a
r,onnine sensation, and the matter is
fhe talk of the city today.
There were but little developments
of a newer nature today. A DEMO
q GRAFT reporter learned that the water
,royks hoard had called secret meet.
ING last night to consider the matter.
Mr., clark Tonner was asked to be