Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-01
The Casualty
List
By MURIEL BLAIR

IL was slack evening In the ONCE,
l remember, and group of us were
sitting chatting around the reporters
table farthest from Dunning, the night
editor, who had looked around rather
frowningly once or twice, as II the
conversation disturbed him.
Broad's tiancee was 10 arrive that
evening on the 10 10 from Washinton,
and Broad, who had been celebrating
In honor of the event, was telling US
all the details of their recent quarrel
and reconciliation. She had gone down
To the capital 10 visit sister anu
they had parted without saying good
by for some cause fiimsy enough, but
yely serious In the minds Of two low
ers. Then she had written forgiving
him, and so--that evening they would
be united again. That was all, Dut
Broad was telling II with a whole
wealth of detail.
"Dunning is Washington man,
too" said Broad fiourishing his hands
expressively. "But he doesn't care
"Sh-h!" said someone; and just then
a boy entered with a late edition OF
the Planet" wet from the press, and
handed Ii to Dunning. We saw him
glance at II, then suddenly rivet his
attention on the staring black letters
chat covered one-third of the front
page. He looked round and his eye
searched our ranks.
"Mr. Broad" he said sharply, and
then, changing his mind, left his seat
and hurried toward us. Mr.. Broad.
| want you to go out to Crayiield IN
stantly. The 10 10 from Washington
has been wrecked outside the station.
Hurry, and Telephone all the news.
And say, try 10 get list Of the dead.
"My God" said Broad. and sank
down into his sent. lie buried his
face in his hands and his shoulders
shook con0usivcly. So.nehody cN-
planned the situation In Il faw WORKS
and Cummings face took Oh an VA-
preston of intense synpathy l:e
placed one arm about BrOad's s.oGs-
ders and drew him TO his feet.
TOO bad, old man. he said. "But
4
get to Crayfield as soon as possible.
SO perhaps 1t would he the kindesi
thing to let you cover the assignment.
You had better take taxi from the
office and you ought To he there III
three quarters of an hour"
YES. I'll co. cried Broad, pulling
himself together. III go at once and
telephone you all particulars. You'll
have good story, no matter-what
happens"
AS he was nearing the door, Dun
ming called after him:
Don't forget TO telephone list
"A full list OF casualties" he said.
That's the main part, i think
Therell be many halfcrazy people in
town tonight until they know. The
Planet says that fourteen were killed
But it may be exaggerated" And he
went back to his seat, while Broad
disappeared through the doorway.
1t was Dunning's custom To throw
the papers upon the floor, when he had
glanced over them, but on this occa
sion he folded the PLANET" carefully
and laid it away in his desk. This
act seemed strangely significant to all
If us.
"Do you think her name is in the
Planets list?' asked Kemp. the new
est reporter. Good Lord II IL were
would he have let Broad go there Oh
an assignment"
We did not like to think about the
subject.
Three-quarters Of an hour elapsed
Cunning sat stiffly at his desk, writing
indefatigably, CHANGING over fiimsies
and casting copy aside. His face was
blanched; the situation seemed 10 have
affected him as much as any of US
The telephone rang. Cunning took up
the receiver and held it TO his ear for
q moment. Then he called TO Inc.
Its Broad" he said. He's calling
and says he has good story"
took up the receiver and at the first
sound knew that his fiancee was safe
"How is she?" | called. Fine" an
swered Broads voice. / thought there
was the suspicion of a sob in it. "Are
you ready? The Planet story was
incorrect. Now, then" / began taking
down the story, while Dunning looked
over my shoulder.
1.-The 10 train from Washington
TO New York was ditched on the far
side of Crayfield at 10 o." | wrote
"A broken rail is believed TO have
been the cause of the accident. The
engine and the first three cars plunged
down an embunkment; the remaining
cars left the rails, but did not over
turn. The passengers all escaped ex.
cept one unidentified man who"
Suddenly Cunning pitched over and
fell to the ground. He had tainted
Kemp ran to raise him, and, temporar
lily diverted from the telephone by the
occurrence, found myself glanclng al
the copy of the PLANET" In Dunning'
half-Opened drawer of his desk. On
the page facing me read, among the
list of the dead:
Mrs. George Dunning Of Washing
ton"