The Van Buren press., 1900-11-24
A Terrible Fate,

John Merrill has been drowned
IN Webber Creek was the an.
nouncement brought from Arkloe bv
q special messenger Monday morning.
For time there were good many who
refused to believe that this sad report
was true, but later when the body was
brought to Van Buren, they were com
pelled, though unwilling, to acknowl-
edge that the report was only too true.
Inc only witnesses to the tragedy and
they could hardly be called witnesses,
for owing to the inky darkness they did
not see the brave officer in his struggles
IN the angry waters. were Constable
Martin and Deputy Constable Michael.
The three had started out in the beating
rain Sunday evening to make an arrest
near Uniontown, they feeling that on
such night they would find their man,
who had been scouting at his home.
The party reached the Arkloe crossing
ON Webber Creek short time before
~ o clock. Ordinarily Webber creek
does not amount to ,nach and the cross
ing at this point is shallow, but with
rain as that of Sunday evening it is
quickly transformed into furious
mountain torrent that sweeps everything
before it.
Deputy Constable Michael, who was
perhaps better acquainted with the ma.
ture OF the stream than the other two
ofhcers, advised against making the at
tempt to cross in the inky darkness that
prevailed. The other two, especially
our Chief of Police were inclined to
make the attempt and rode in They
rode in only few feet when their horses
scented the danger and refused to 90
further and the two returned to the
bank. After further consultation they
decided to make another attempt to ford
the swollen stream, John Merrill slightly
in the lead. When ont about thirty
feet Mr.. Martin saw the horse ridden
by his companion plunge forward into
deep water and that moment his own
horse went into deep water with his
forefeet and then whirled and made for
the bank. This was the last seen or
heard of John Merrill until his body was
found next morning cold in death some
three hundred yards below the ford.
The two officers feared for the worst
and yet hoped that their companion
might have reached the other shore in
safety, but to their shouting and the
firing of their pistols no answer came,
and with the dawn of day they took up
their search for the remains which they
then hoped and yet feared to find. The
body was found about sunrise prone on
the face, with the heavy storm coat the
officer was wearing washed over his
head. The heavy rubber boots were
gone and his companions suppose that
when he found his horse had lost his
footing he began to divest himself of
these impediments, but was carried to
his doom before he could divest himself
of the heavy storm coat,
There was bruised place on the face
that some thought had perhaps been
caused by the horse kicking him in the
struggle, but those who found the body
say it was caused by rock on which
the face was lying.
Tuesday afternoon the remains were
removed from his late residence TO the
First NJ. E. church, where impressive
funeral services were held by Rev. j.
B. Stevenson and from there they were
taken to Fairview cemetery for their
last rest
To those who are left to mourn the
loss of husband, father and brother
the thought that he has gone to brigh.
ter and better world should be "a balm
to soothe the grievous wound,
For three years John Merrill has filled
the Office OF Chief Of Police Of Van
Buren and has made courageous and
painstaking officer. His entire life has
been spent here and the immense con
course at his funeral attested to the
kindly feeling our people had toward
him.