The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-02-04

there were no railroads, no bridges,
no roads, everything had been washed
away by the awful flood and the val
leys were q sea of water. All, those
reporters ! They were brave and they
passed through the horrible scene OF
the disaster in boats, on horseback, on
foot, some of them crossing rivers In
baskets slung on rope, wet, hungry.
They suffered from exposure, they
suffered from the stencil and poison OF
thousands of decaying bodies, they
made no complaint, but remained at
their posts as did the celebrated "Six
hundred" but to "do and die if need
be. it was due 10 them. this noble
band of brave fellows, that the entire
country, and even the entire world,
was aroused to the extent of the aw-
full misfortune, which in a single
day had made a hell of a paradise,
and it was due to them that sympathy
and help was brought to the wretched
people who had lost their ali.
The generous donors deserved
credit, it is true, but
not more than the re-
po-ters who with no hope of fame. or
anything but their loyal duty stood
at their posts and in the face of death
and disease and deprivatiOns untold
sent forth their messages to a
listening world. God bless them, God
forever bless them even though they
have in so many instances paid the
penalty of their exposure and hard
work. 4 recent statement says that
out of the thirty newspaper men who
were In Johnstown out two escaped
without serious illness and several
have died from the effect of the work
done there.
The New York Independent refer
ring to the death of one of these brave
boys says:
Jennings Crute was the first man
from Philadelphia to reach the place.
His reports of its condition were mas
terpieces of description SIM
pie, terse, without a word of attempt
ed fine writing. The powerful black
strokes of his picture were drawn IN
the presence of death itself, for q
waiting people, dumb with horror, to
look upon.
The exposure. the severe work and
the malignant poison of the air were
too much for his strength; but he
would not give up. One reporter at
ter another was ordered home on
turlough, i'll; but Crute remained.
81 knew l had my death-blow," ht
said afterwards, "but there was 81
much to do there"
After his return home he had
brief rest, and rallied, going back Il
work. He was assigned to report al
encampment at Mount Gertner, ant
with the hand of death upon him
rose before day to march with the
troops instead of following leisurely
with other reporters, because he knew
that he could describe most accurately
the thing which he had actually seen
He was brought home to die; bu
| in the weeks that passed before the
end, he fought death inch by inch
plsnning with indomitab'e energ,
work for the future. Even when m
was actually dying he made his nurs
dress him and wheel him into the sun
shine "to gain strength so he could G
| to the office next week"
The weak girlish-loOking body Is a
rest now, under the clay; but he is a
work somewhere, eager, strong, hope
full, with the Chief whom he truste
and served 50 faithfully here.
The ambition of this man and o
his class may seem petty TO you, to g
the first news for bis paper, to tell &
the world in strong exact words
anonyme usIy, too; for the reporte
has no name nor credit.
The favorite heroes of the world ar
still the gallant crusader or soldier
yet to my commonplace, moder
mind, this weak lad, who never spar
ed himself, who was Jealous and faith
full unto death to the obscure work I
which he had pledged himself, is tn
hero we need to-day.
There was room, to in that obscur
work for great triumphs. de close
the doors into which, as openings Int
hell' thousands of children had bee
iured to the ruin of bodv and soul
and he gave his life at last in tn
work of bringing help to Johnstown.
There are thousands of other ambit
ious lads, poor, frieddless and alone Ii
our cities. Itseems to me, too, tina
it is time we understood the work {
the class to which he belonged, an
recognize its wide and often heroi
service.
| Safa Investment