Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-22
CHASING A RUMOR.
A HORRIBLE STORY ABOUT TWO LITTLE
CHILDREN FREEZING TO DEATH.
Said b Have Persisted From Cola, 01s CaliwslVs
Ran, Friday Nighl-An Investigation Shows
tho Story TO Be Falsa

Newspapers don't often publish the
details Of Investigations made by re-
porters into rumors and stories Of one
sort and another.
These researches. having for their OBJ
feet the running down OF reports Of one
sort aud another, are a matter OF daily
occurrence in newspaper Offices, and
are often in themselves very interest
Ing.
Sometimes they result in nothing
printable, although developing, per-
chance, little side-issues OF an enter
taining nature, but very often the news
Eatherer has his trouble for his pains,
his hopes Of a good item fast fading
from view as he pursues his enquiries
into the matter assigned him.
Once in a while, however, these
quests for news, although resulting IN
nothing tangible, so far as the original
Item is concerned, serve 70 we'll Illus
lrGta the work q reporter has TO per-
torn, and a case Of this SOFT occurred
yesterday.
RumOr-that irresponsible old Dame
had it .hat q terrible thing had oc-
CURED just east OF the city, out the
valley OF Caldwel's run. The story,
In brief, was that two little boys, re-
turning to their home from school Fri
day afternoon, lost their way, wander
ed about until exhausted, lay down In
the snow and were found yesterday
morning frozen 20 death and wrapped
In each others arms.
The matter had rather an extensive
circulation in that portion Of the city
around Twenty-ninth street, yesterday
afternoon, but did not make us way up
town until late In the evening. A re-
porter for the REGISTER got an linking
Of it, and started OUT 70 make an inveS-
tigatiOn. A gentleman employed at
the pOstohice had heard the report, and
gave his authority, another gentleman
living near the corner Of Jacob and
Thirtv-frst streets. The reporter went
70 the house, but the gentleman was
not at home. A lady residing ia the
same house said she knew as much OF
the report as any one else, and narrated
the details, 10 q most circumStantiai
manner, saying that the children were
the sons Of Mr.. Neece Smith, who re-
sides on the left fork Of CaldwelPs run,
about half a mile beyond the toll gate.
She said the boys were aged 6 and S
a OF age, respectively, that they
left home for school Friday morning,
the school house being about a mile
from their home, arrived there all
right, and started IN the afternoon Tor
the return trip. They never reached
home, and a search yesterday morning
had resulted In finding the dead bodies
OF the little fellows, clasped in each
others arms. The lady said she be-
lleved the story was true, as a neighbOr
OF the stricken family, a Mr.. King,
had told her the particulars. The
reporter asked other people about the
affair, and a summary Of all the
statements made indicated that the
sorry was true. 10 was then ten O'Clock
last night, but the ~newsgatherer went
ND TO the toll house, on the FalrmOnt
pike, and asked Mr.. Fisher about 10.
He bad not heard Of the story, and I'M
der this serious doubt, the reporter de-
termined 20 push on through the snow
TO Mr.. Smiths house, hall a mile
further on. It was a tough Iauut,
through the snow, over a rough road,
but the house was finally reached, and
Mr.. Smith was aroused after a cOntrO-
versy with a large aud savage dog.
Mr.. Smith was acquainted with the
story, and said there was no truth
in it, so far as ,,harm having come to
his children was concerned. He had
two little boys, aud they went to school,
but they got home safely Friday even
ing, and were all right Mr.. Smith
could not account for the origin Of the
story, as there was absolutely no
grounds for such areDOrt, whether con
corning his own family, or those Of his
n~eighbOrs, and after making the fullest
enquiry, the reporter returned to the
city, more than ever impressed with the
absolute truth OF the saying that Dame
RumOr is an utterly unreliable person
age, and that even her most plausible
statements are to be taken cum grdnO
sails.