West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-10-16
THE CATHOLIC PRIEST
AZ Warrington Drank Embalming Fluid
for MinePl Water and Died from
the Effects.

and the same fatal error came nearly cost.
ing the lives OF three others.
As the details OF the horrible tragedy al
Warrington conc to light. which caused
the death OF one the most beloved mem.
bers OF the Catholic clergy in this state. a
net OF fearful responsibility Is gradually
woven and the blame OF this horrible affair
may rest upon other shoulders besides the
manufacturers OF the deadly auid. which
was shipped contrary to law without being
labeled poison
The verified story of the affair IL as
follows: John Hopkins. OF Cameron. a
friend OF the late iamented priest. had adj.
vtscd his invalid friend TO Try the benefits
OF the Webster mineral water. aud agreed
to order box TO be divided between him.
self and Rev. Pendergast This he did.
The mineral water aud box OF embaln,.
Ing huid became mixed In shipment. The
box OF embalming fluid was billed to a
Morgantown undertaken. the mineral water
TO Hopkins A box was taken from the
way freight at Warrington. and the con
ductor o. X. d the box. which, according TO
the bill 81 lading, was addressed TO
Hopkins II contained the deadly poison.
This brings the crime down TO two guilty
sources, perhaps three. The shippers OF
the fluid violated the law In not labelling
the poison as such.
The wrong box was delivered to the
agent at Warrington. because Of negligence
OF some one in checking the box. which
did not agree with the mineral water Label.
When the box was called for II was dis.
covered that the 'tag. which had been
tackled securely on with four tacks was
missing.
The question has arisen In the minds OF
the authorities. how could any competent
railroad man o. X. a package on his bill OF
iading without seeing that the name on the
package agreed with the name of the con.
signce upon the bill OF lading7
BUT THIS BOX DID MOI. EVEN HAVE
LABEL. IT HAD BEEN REMOVED.
Why and by whom
This Is a mystery which the authorities
will settle bye and bye No ground will
be left uncovered to learn the true cause
OF the death OF Father Pendergast.
Fred Root. the Warrington manager OF
John Hopkins teams. called at the depot
and asked for the package OF mineral
water, as instructed. lie expected to open
the box and remove half OF the contents,
taking the balance to the rectory for the
reverend Father. The agent parieyed
about delivering the boz. having discovered
that II had no label. lie weighed the box
and II agreed within pound OF the weight
billed OF the mineral water. They shook
the box. IL contained fluid.
Under the final protest OF Agent tones
the box was opened. The two.quart bottles
looked like mineral water. But there was
no indication whatever upon the bottles ms
to the contents. Agent again protested
against tho bottles being removed, but
finally agreed
They were taken TO the rectory and dc.
livcred 10 Miss Mangar. the housekeeper.
She took them back into the kitchen and
announced &c Rev. Father Pendergast that
the mineral water had arrived. Having
been III so long he was DESTROYS OF trying
the water and called for some
long. narrow glass OF the fluid was
handed to the invalid and he quaaed a
portion OF II.
MY. that water is nasty. II burns: my.
how II burns"
lie handed the glass back to the house.
keeper, who tasted II barely.
Yes II does burn It's fearful stua'. She
spat IL out
In the meantime the glass was removed
to the kitchen and the colored servant
took a swallow OF II. He found that the
deadly stuff nearly burned out his throat.
YET THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE
REAL MINERAL WATER WHICH HAD
BEEN ORDERED FOR THEM.
AZ this juncture Father Delcsux. who
teaches in Warrington. came into the
house. Where is the mineral wster2
Give me some of IT,"
The housekeper had found Father Fender.
CAST very III and sent for a physician.
Meanwhile Father Deieaux had gone TO
the kitchen and swallowed a large portion
OF the nuid--neariy glass OF H. lie i'm
mediately discovered that he had taken
poison. began in heroic way 10 relieve
himself not knowing that Pendergast was
writing IN agony.
THUS -FOUR PERSONS HAD DRUNK
THE DREGS or DEATH ON ACCOUNT
OF NEGLIGENCE or PARTIES CRIMI.
NALLY LIABLE.
The balance OF the story Is known One
doctor. then another then another. came
TO the bedside Of the poisoned man All
that was possible was done 10 save him
His weak condition and the elapse Of time
before an snOdote was administered made
IL impossible 70 save him
Father Dcleaux drank glass OF milk
and swallowed several raw eggs, which
acted as an emetic. and he vomited 30 the
poislon. The colored servant did the
same at the Fathers suggestion
IL Is sad story and one which should
make people more careful hereafter. Tho
manufacturers Of the fluid should be pun.
ished TO the fullest extent Of the law.
II Is not known when the burial will
occur AZ present the remains Of the
reverend man arc lying At the rcctory In
Warrington. Az that town Is mourning
Bishop DOnahuc Of this diocese. IL IN the
south. having been at Louisville attending
the Golden Jubilee OF a high dignitary OF
the church. Al messages have failed to
reach him. The funeral will not occur
until he RETURNS
The inquest was held yesterday. and by
force Of law the box OF mineral water.
which had been mysteriousiy returned
from Morgantown or somewhere. was de.
iivered into the hands Of tho authorities
The action Of some railroad officials IN
answering questions about the return Of
the mssent box Of water caused much un.
favorable comment