Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-12-29

Der II, from Kansas City to Chica-
go. His suit case, evidently unmO-
Tested, was in his room. His key
ring with the keys to his trunks was
found but no checks, no bill of lad
ing, not even check for his person
al trunk could be found. And Meth
er in his suit case nor in his pockets
were found letters, cards, pictures
or the account book which his
friends knew he always carried.
Not a word in any letter TO his par
ents or to his fiancee, Miss Emily
Cronin, land he wrote almost daily
intlmated any depression that could
lead to so rash an act. All rumOrs
contrary are atrociously false; Meth
er did he use a fictitious name In
any form. The above facts were
given me by the young mans father
who went Immediately to Chicago
upon receipt of the telegram from
undertaken Rolston. Mr.. Basford
wired his son Fred, In Milwaukee,
also Harry and L. P, who are at
tending dental college In Chicago.
ALI met the stricken father upon
his arrival in the city, and no gen.
tleman, no personal friend could
have extended more courtesy or as
sistance than did Mr.. Rolston in
whose parlors lay the body of the
dead son and brother.
Distressing as are these facts, the
sorrow-stricken family prefer to
have them known. And though
present evidences point to a self in
fiicted death, neither they nor any
who knew Archie Basford can be
persuaded that the bright, CHEEKY,
ever hopeful, sunny-hearted boy
could accountably guide the hand
that sent his soul into the pr
ence of his Maker before His own
wise decree summoned it. In the
vagaries of delirium of fast coming
disease he did it-nOt at ALL Archie
was never known to carry a con-
cealed weapon. There was no sign
on either the revolver which sped
the fatal bullet, or its cover, by
which its purchase could be traced.
Entrance TO and egress from the
room could easily have been made
by way of fire escape. There was
no necessity whatever for Archie
disposing of his musical instruments
or any of his property. Every eff
fort is being made to trace the
trunks and to learn from the mem
bers of his disbanded company Ar
chie's state of health when they
parted, in Oklahoma just a few days
before the fatal ending of his life in
Chicago. But alas nothing con re.
store the boy to the home be loved
so well, nor lift the pail of sorrow
from the hearts that so loved him.
.Our crosses are hewn from different trees,
But we all must have our Calvaries;
We may climb the height from d different
side
But we each go up to be crucifed;
AS we scale the steep. another may share
The dreadful load that our shoulders bear;
But the cOStl1eSt sorrow is all our own
For on the summit we bleed alone"
In August last Mr.. and Mrs. Bas-
ford, taking with them Miss Cronin
and Harry, went IN their auto to
meet Archie and his troupe at
Strawberry Point, Iowa. They
were with them several days. 1t
was happy time for all. They
left them at McGregor, seeing
Archie go away, looking so hand
some, brave and grand" The fond
parents, so proud of their son, the
yonng girls heart beating high in
hope of the roseate future that
seemed dawning for them. They
never saw Archie again. Only the
dear, mutilated dust came home III
the beautiful casket bearing his
name. And those beautiful days
are as sacred pictures now, hung in
memory's hall.
.For her love is sleeping the quiet sleep
That the Shephe1d gives to His wearied
sheep,
And the world is not what it used to be,
Ere the sunlight faded for him and me-"
The brothers did not see the body
until it was removed to the under
taking parlOrs. Only stranger lips
can testify and so undoubtedly, the
deplorable event will be one the
innumerable, unfathomable myst-
cries of the Great City, whose in
exorable maeletrom sucks in daily
so many fair young lives. We ask
tho usand questions. Why did not
the doctor advise him to go to
hosp ital or call a nurse? Why did
not Archie telephone his brothers of
his arrival in the citv9 How could
a dead body lie undiscovered in
lighted, heated room, IN reput-
able hotel, right In the heart of the
city for twenty-four hours or more9
We go round and round the terrible
event, and only the dread silence
answers. Archie was so true, so
loyal, so thoughtful of his mothers
welfare and of all who loved him,
with CHEEKY smile and a wave of
the hand for all he met-oh, he
would not aff1ict deliberately for
any cause, the dear hearts waiting