The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-13
OF
MASSILLON ITEM
They Were Filled With Trou.
: bic and Some Gas.
TO BLOW UP THE PLANT.
Attempt Was Mado In Thst Direction
(. canton Man, who Was Editor.
? Tells tho story ofthe :
Affair.

The News-D Democrat, Friday. an
nounced the suspension of the Massil-
ion Item The last days of the paper
seem to have been filed with trouble.
The Independent tells the story as fol-
lows:
A daily newspaper published In this
city for several years past by General"
3. .. Coxey, suspended publication OH
Thursday evening" Louis ]. Blake,
editor of the paper. stated Friday morn
ing that the suspension was in no wise
iue to the fact that an attempt was
made to blow up the plant with gas last
Monday night. When the office boy ar
rived at the printing office, which is
located in the ancient Doxsee building
at the corner of Factory and Charles
streets, Tuesday morning, he noticed a
strong odor of gas in the press and
composing rooms, which are combined.
An examination showed that every gas
jet in the place was open and that fire
was burning in one of, the stoves. An
open window and door, which created
a draft, prevented an explosion. 1t was
found that the Factory street cellar
door and the door leading from the cell
lar to the press room had been forced
open. The bars which held the door
leading from the press room to the hall
had been wrenched out of place, show
ing that it was through this door that
the doer of the damage had made his
escape. The outside door of the hail
was net locked.
The man who did the mischief" re-
marked Mr.. Blake. today. doubtless
got into the room from the cellar. He
probably first lighted the fire. then
turned on the gas at every available
point and left through the main en-
trance on Charles street. in his haste
forgetting to close the cellar door
through which he had entered. An
open window on the opposite side Of
the room created a draft through tho
room and forced the gas out almost as
soon as II entered. But for this mo-
ment OF forgetfYllness on the part. Gt
our enemy. the building and contents
would now be in ashes. We found the
ges Jet nearest the stove in which the
fire was burning, twisted so as to be on
direct line with the open door of the
stove. The person who didiit all was
perfectly familiar with all the ins and
outs of the place. We have our sus-
picions and there .Dmay be develop
ments. For reasons Of our own, all the
facts In connection with this matter
have been hitherto carefully suppress
ed, A few weeks ago our building was
entered in a similar manner, and O
press so damaged that 1t could not bf
used for severn. days" t.
The paper which has just suspended
came into existence in 1897. In the be
ginning II was the enterprise of CO.
operative company Of unemployed
printers. who leased the plant which
Mr.. Coxey had acquired In the days o.
the erstwhlle sound money. The ven
ture, however. did not prove success
and the company welcomed Mr., Coxey',
proposition to assume control of tn,
paper. The plant consists Of two cyiin
der presses. a jobber, a folding machin'
and quantities of type, originally repre-
senting an investment Of more thai
s5, 900. eE