The Republican journal., 1905-09-21
Death Of Fred A. SweetIand
1t Was a Sad Ending of Promising
Young Man. Though Among Strangers
They Were Christian People and he was
Cared for as one of Their Own.

They Were Christian People and he was
| Cared for as one of Their Own.
| A telegram was received in this city,
| August Goth, by George A. SWeetland, a
| High street, from Buchanan, Virginia, con-
tanning a description of young man,
about twenty years of age, who was lying
near death in that town, and in whose
| pocket was found the address used on the
| telegram, asking for information. The
description answered that of Mr. Sweet
lands son Fred, who had left Belfast and his
position with the Duplex Roller Bushing
| Company some months ago to seek his
| fortune in the West, and Mr.. Sweetland
Immediately answered the telegram, cert-
| flying to the boy s.identity. Later the same
day he received a second message from Mr.
| c. O. Cross of Buchanan, who reported TIE
condition of the boy as slightly improved,
! This was followed, the next day, by tele-
| gram from Mayor c. L. Wilson, announc-
! ing the death of Fred A. Sweetland and in
| quiring about the disposal of the body. The
! sorro wing father telegraphed directions for
| burying the remains, without knowing then
any of the circumstances connected with
his sons death. Later, letters began to ar
rive from Buchanan explaining the circum-
| stances connected with he sad affair. In
| der the date of August 2Sth Mr.. C. Q.
Cross wrote to Mr.. SWeetland that the
young man was found, Monday morning,
near the c, II 0. R. r. track on bank of
| hot ashes and cinders which were thrown
49, l.o.l
| with gas, and his back, hands and feet
were severely burned. While he had not
| reganed consciousness he was alive, and
was under the best Of care A description
of his clothes and the few articles found in
| his pockets followed. The only thing of
| Importance was card bearing the address
of his father, and that of a Mrs. Bertha
Tatum in Louisville, Kentucky. They had
| telegrapi1ed 10 that address, and Mrs.
Tatum had replied, forwarding his fathers
address, and identifying him as young
man who had been one of her bOarders.
Mr., Cross said that no expense should be
| spared in caring for the lad, and, that it
was their prayer that he might recover.
August Goth Mayor G. L. Wilson wrote,
telling Mr.. Sweetland that, although his
son had not regained consciousness, his
pulse was strong and his breathing i'm
proved, and assuring him that doctor
was giving him the best of attention. But
when this letter was received telegram
had brought the sad news of his death.
Sept 1St Mr.. Sweetland received letter
from Mrs. Tatum in Louisville, asking for
information regarding his son. She said
that he boarded with her while in Louisville,
and that he left, saying he was going back
home, and that she advised him to put her
address and that of his father in his pocket
in case of emergency. Evidently the young
| man took her advice and in doing so pre-
vented yet sadder eading to his life story.
Mrs. Tatum was anxious for Information
regarding him, as, although he was only
with her four weeks, she thought great
deal Of the boy
Sept. 9TH beautiful letter was received
from Mrs. ). R. Crouch of Buchanan Mrs,
Crouch wrote to his sorrowing family, as
she was with the boy in his last moments,
and had grieved a great deal over the sad
affair. She offered to write anything that
they wished to know, and tenderly ex-
pressed the great interest she felt concern
ing his history She closed by saving;
Rest assured that your boy is nicely laid
/ to rest. His grave was covered with lovely
tlowers, just as if it We're one of our own
| dear boys
| September 18th a long letter was received
| from Mr.. Cross, who entered more fully
into details regarding the affair, in which
| he played the part, assisted by other good
| people of the city, of the Good Samaritan
| Mr.. Cross said that the young man was
| found in an unconscious condition on pile
| of cinders which are thrown out of engines
| near the river, and it was supposed he had
| been overcome by the gas generated by the
| cinders. The cinders are not red hot but
| when the boys clothing, which was whole
| and in good condition, was removed, it was
found that his back, hands and feet were
I severely burned. He was thought to be
, working his way east on freight trains, and
! was seen with two or three other men the
! night previous. There were no marks to
| show that he had fallen off the train, or
had been hurt in any way, unless he had
| been drugged and fell asleep. 1t was
cold night with a heavy dew, and the night
telegraph operator thought that the young
| man had entered his office to get warm
during the evening. 1t is supposed that he
sought the cinder pile for the sake of the
| warmth and was overcome by the gas.
This is the substance of what Mr.. Cross
wrote. In conclusion he said:
"We felt so sorry for the boy that we took
| care of him. had two doctors, and nursed
| him the same as we would do for our own
| brother, but he did not recover, and died on
| Wednesday night at 11.55. | was with him
| to the last. How glad | would have been if
| the suit of clothes buried him in were for
| him to return home in, alive and we'll. We
all felt very sad that this dear boy did not
| recover. We did all we could, and he was
| buried in a nice coffin and taken to the
cemetery in hearse. We had services by
two ministers and | sang a solo, ssSome
| Mothers Child" His grave was covered
with flowers; in fact he was buried as a
| rich man would have been. We do not
know if he was Christian or not, but it
| toes seem that the Lord wanted him to fall
into the hands of some Christians"
| minute description of the boys person.
| al appearance, clothing and the few effects
found on him, followed. Mr. Cross said
| further:
81 have these things and will forward
them to you when you want them. We also
| had his picture taken, but it is not finished