Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-24
WHY NOT BE TRUTHFUL

1t would he difficult to estimate the
damage that has been done to Akron
by the intemperste and exaggerated
reports that have been sent by cores
pondents to papers in some Of the lead
ing cities Of the country.
In the excitement Of Wednesday
night, when every one was at the high
est nervous tension, there was some
excuse for inaccuracy hut what shall
be said of the correspondents who
yesterday resorted to deliberate pre-
varlcation at Akron's expense for the
gain Of filling space?
A two column article In the Chicago
Evening Post, of Thursday evening, Is
fair sample of the prevailing ex,
aggeration.
This paper informs it's readers that
| further rioting was expected as the
| rioters had broken into an East Akron
hardware store and had stolen dyna
mite with which to blow up the troops.
| At 2:15, the dispatch adds, feeling IL
running high and leader of the un
ruly element would probably cause
further depredations,'
Some passages meriting attention
are:
Chief of Police Harrison became a
raving maniac, 1t is said, and fed from
the city in buggy about daylight
this morning. He was seen driving
south at breakneck speed.
AT 10 o'clock this morning 1t was re-
ported that portion of the mob had
marched to East Akron, broken into q
hardware store and stolen quantity
of ammunition and dynamite, to
gether with all the guns In the place
aud that 1t was their intention t
charge on the troops at the first de
monstration. Many members of tn,
mob OF last night are still paradin,
the streets, although there is now Ii,
organization.
The mob was led in person by Theo
dore Mas father of the uegro's vic
tim. II was early In the evening whel
the mob first began to form, but n,
one anticipated such bloody, riotou
time as ensned toward midnight n,
one seemed 10 possess courage enough
to lead the proposed attack upon tn
city Jail. but finally It was suggeste,
; thar the father of the little Mas cir
be seen he readily consented to com
mand the nssaulting column.
There was a furious rush for tn
county Jail, and then the crowd swep
across the street and forced open tn
doors of the county courthouse. Tn
old structure was soon packed hy tn
mob, which by this time was frantii
over its successive disappontmentS
Every room was searched except thos
in the treasury department. \ star
was made TO tear Oft the iron door
of the treasury, but cooler heads dc
clded against II, and then the thouS
ands of men and boys rushed back t
the city prison, crying for the bloo
OF Peck.
The automobile police patrol WACO
5 was run into the canal and the hosp
> IA. city amhulances called for wer
stopped in the streets.
In the destruction of the city ha
the city lost all records OF the cler
and city engineer. City Enginee
Payne said the loss in his departmer
was fully 100000. Other propert
losses will foot up quite as much"
The Democrat publishes these g,
I tracts simply as an illustration of II
l prevailing style Of exaegeration
q This dispatch, and others, were sci
S at time when the correspondents we
e knew of their inaccuracies
v II is 10 be hoped that for the futu
d the correspondents will moderate Il
S. tone of their dispatches. 1t is enous
@ to tell the truth without adding ther
to the flights OF imagination.
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