The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-08-31

and prepared them for burial. The
flreman's body was badly cut up, the
legs being severed from the body ard
one foot from q leg. One arm was miss
ing. The one with the cut on the head
and face we understood was the en-
gineer. On him we found gold watch
with the crystal broken and the hands
stopped at $3.50. He also had a dollar
bill, nickle, penny, couple of buttons,
collar button, two handkerchiefs and
train orders. I think the fireman was
stripped of his clothing when turned
over to me-"
The messages mentioned by the wit
nesses were sent by Conductor Miller
Of the north bound freight. One read
Look out for mud in Baltic cut" and
the other Look out for section men
and high water south of Chill"
A VICIOUS POLICY.
The Coshocton Age, Of a few days
ago, commenting on the actions Of the
Lake Erie trainmen Immediately fol-
lowing the recent wreck near that place,
says some very pertinent things that
apply to railroad corporations and
trainmen generally, and to which every
newspaper man will say amen. The
Age says:
The policy followed by trainmen at
the Wheeling & Lake Erie wreck Fri
day morning and during the day de-
serves nothing short of severest con-
demnation. 1t Is vicious and unwar-
anted, calculated to produce false
hood and in the end cause sorrow to
anxious ones patiently waiting fol-
some word that would tell them tina,
their friends were safe.
For some reason that does not ap'
pear on the surface the average rail-
road man takes upon himself great
secrecy should anything of Importance
occur. Wrapping himself in what
he invariably believes is an impene'
trable coat of dignity, bruskness ol
whatever other term he may apply tt
it and refuses point blank to say on'
word of truth or bunglingly denies tha
he knows anything of Importance. L
approached in the civil manner common
to a newspaper man and requested t.
answer a question or two he is prone
to mutter II don't know anything
about it," and move away. At times III
is even worse, and declares point blani
he will not say a word. This may bt
for information further trouble so far a:
that particular individual is concerned
and saves him a lie.
Take the case Of Conductor Berg. HI
was not known even by sight to any
Coshocton newspaper man until on'
discovered him moving around among
the workmen and giving orders. Hl'
identity was then established, and N
was known as the one man who coulc
tell the public the details Of the awfu
wreck. But Conductor Berg had NJ
intention Of talking. He denied with
out a blush that he ever had charge o
the train as it's conductor, and marched
away to some other part of the wreck
He knew he had been singled out as th'
man he was, and during the day KEEP
one eye open for men with questions.
Other trainmen did likewise, onl!
they did not try to conceal their iden
tity They could not talk, although
they knew all the facts, and wheI
newspaper men were not near freel!
discussed the situation.
The Age sincerely hopes the mel
were not under orders and compelled
to be guilty Of such conduct. 1t hopes
the Wheeling G. Lake Erie officials d.
not exact this thing from their EN-
ployes, for the system is as foolish al
it is unwarranted. The public will hav'
the news, and not even a railroad cor
poration can keep down the public.
shows anything but the spirit of broad
mindedness. 1t simply proves tina
some men have things to learn.
Had the wreck in question been on,
involving the honor, integrity or quail
fications of any employe and close Qfti
cial investigation was necessary to OBJ
tain the truth, there might have beei
some excuse for keeping back ever.
possible bit Of testimony. But 1t wa
not. The washout was there, caused
by a flood that no human power coul'
control. Two men were dead in the en-
gine, and the property loss amounted u
thousands Of dollars. Every man, wo
man and child in Coshocton who careC
to walk or ride that distance could SCI
1t. Why should the parties most in
terested refuse to give the names o
those who were beyond human aid
Why should they refuse to say on
word Of what had happened? If an,
living being can answer these ques
tions intelligently he has not beel
found.
But 1t seems to be the policy Of SOM
corporations, the majority perhaps, t.
shrink from public gaze, yet 1t is tina
same public which permits their yer!
existence. However, 1t only gives tn,
newspapers little more work and en-
tails perhaps some additional expense
The facts are always brought out Al