The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-21

Death of . Well Known Drum
mer at Hotel Kennon In GoIdsboro.
.rhe Anti-Fireworks Ordinace.

Correspondence OF The Messenger
Goldsboro. December Il.
A well known travelling man was
found dead In his room at Hotel Ken
non yesterday morning. Major w d.
NcCracken. representing the Roger
Wheel Company. OF Cincinnati. Ohio.
reached the city Saturday night. On
alighting from h cars he went d.
rectly to he Hotel Kennon. and. address
ing Mr.. A. j. Cooke. b . manager
Familiarity. said: Give me a nice. com
a fire started" Later. he came in the
office and remarked: My room Is yet
chilly and I'll do my writing here"
Near IL o'clock he went 10 his room.
having been put on the call list for 6
o'clock a. m. as he proposed taking
the 7:10 train for Raleigh.
The porter attending the call list
Sunday morning failing to arouse Mr..
McCracken, reported the fact u then
gained to the room through the
tranSom.
Near the stove hay the liteless body
Of this veteran of the road, in a nude
state. From the surroundings it seems
that he had finished his writing after
he returned TO his room. there being
two letters o. a table in h rocm-one
addressed to his wifeand prepared for
a bath. and having undressed. he sat
down neal the stove to dress his feet.
there being some evidence of a pairing
If coUns or bunions. Arising. he fell
towards b window. lace d~ownwards.
striking the windowsill, bruiSing his
forehead and rose in h tall.
The bath tub was half filled with wa
ter and towels had been placed onven
iently YEAR. also. beside the tub he had
placed his slippers.
DR.. NJ. E. Robinson was immediate
ly called and. later. DIR. Thos. Hill, the
coroner. and it was agreed that Mr..
McCracken had died from apoplexy.
Among his effects RAJ very hand
some gold ring. diamond studded, artiS-
tically engraved, with Masonic en-
blemS. indicating he was a thirty-Sec-
ond degree Mason.
The hotel management communicated
by telegraph with his firm. advising OF
the death and asking Tor disposition of
the remains.
In the meantime his body was taken
to the Goldsboro undertaking estab-
lishment and embalmed.
MIR. McCracken was about 60 years
Of age. He had visited here quite 4
number Of times and was favorably
known by many of our people. His
letter to his wife was one Of affection
and held out the hope that he would
be alt home ON Thursday next. little
dreaming hat his remain would
reach there at an earlier day.
His remains left here today for his
home. Cincinnati. accompanied by MIR.
w. D. Hackney. of Winston, who
knew him quite we'll and held him in
high esteem.
Little Clifford. youngest son of Mr..
n Mrs. D. E. Sellars. passed away
during the hours of last night at n
home Of h parents On William street.
There r fourteen prisoners in the
county jail-thirteen negroes and one
white The county home has twenty
inmates.
The little folks. some OF them, think
of p~etitioning the board Of aldermen 10
rescind the ordinance forbidding the
firing of f1re-crackers Christmas.
Now. children. we advise you. don't.
n board are men of nerve and back
bone and they made this enactment af-
ter eriou thought and study and are
firm in the opinion that they did a wise
thing in this matter n hundreds VI
our citizens are right with them. 1
| had a talk with the mayor this morn
ing and he lends no encouragement
| that would bid the children hope their
| petition would be granted. Beside the
board is flow confronted with the fence
in the big ditch problem and are more
inclined to pass more stringent laws
than they are to repeal existing laws
that they believe are for the public
good.
What Happened to Jones" Tuesday
night. Go and see. The attraction
is a good one.
Our city is sadly in need Of a good
public library. reading room and gym
naSiuan. Places Of vice are always in
plenty. but the door of wholesome in
fiuence where mind and body can be
developed is closed to the young men
of the city.