The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-11
TRuE--777F'
by Vance "s . Pubno Ledger
All on Account of q Bunch
of Keys

w the Lake Shore railroad wreck.
near Ashtabula. Ohio. on December
81, 1876, was published the name Of
John Weyler was near the head Of the
list.
Many Of the bodies were so charred
and muulated that il was impossible
10 recognize them. and the Identified
ton was made through articles OF
clothing and jewelry found near the
dead men and women.
Weyler was an old soldier who had
been unable 10 work for some time
because of physical infrmities-
His family was poor and the fact
that he was unable 10 help them de-
pressed him very much.
He mourned over the fact that he
was q hindrance rather than g help
and more than once expressed the
wish that his wife and children might
be rid Of such g burden.
II was known that he intended go
ing on this particular train, although
his family were unaware Of his des-
tnation.
4 reputable Rochester physician tes-
tilted that he had met Weyler On the
train that morning.
In addition TO this bunch Of keys
belonging TO the man was found at the
scene Of the wreck. Mrs. Weyler
identified them as having belonged 10
her husband
II further proof were needed il was
furnished when il was found that one
Of the keys fitted the front door Of his
house, another opened g chest in his
room and the third one proved 10 be
the key with which he was in the
habit of winding the kitchen clock ev-
cry night
Naturally q suit for damages was
Instituted against the railroad
The funds TO do this were furnished
by kind friends Of the family who felt
that the poor woman deserved dam
ages Of some kind.
Naturally, also, there was some
question regarding the Identification
Of the body.
This, however, gave promise Of be
ing q long-drawn-out controversy, and
officials Of the corporation offered to
settle the claim Of the widow for
$4,000.
Her lawyers advised her 10 stick out
for 5000 on the ground that the
amount was small enough for the loss
of a husband.
She followed their advice and this
caused the railroad officials 10 make
second and more thorough iDyesEga-
ton.
There was nothing new 10 be
cleaned from the scene Of the wreck,
so the detectives who were put on the
case began TO interview anyone who
might have been acquainted with Mr..
Weyler.
One Of these was General Martin
dale, under whom the old soldier had
served during the war.
The officer said that he had not seen
Weyler for more than q year, but that
the last time he met him the old man
had expressed q wish TO 20 into
soldiers home where he would no
longer be care upon the members
Of his family, who were having q
hard struggle TO exist
ThereUpon General Martindale had
given him q letter authorizing his ad-
mission into a soldiers home in Wis
consin.
There was no time limit to the or
der.
With this as a clew the investiga-
tors went TO Wisconsin.
They located the home and found
therein an old man who answered the
description Of John Weyler
He was in a sort Of dazed condition.
but il was found from the records that
he had arrived there on the last day
Of the year-the very day Of the train
wreck-and had been admitted into
the institution
When questioned he said he had a
wife and children in Rochester.
The man was John Weyler.
The mystery Of the keys that fitted
the front door. the chest and the clock,
were easily explained
Weyler said he had lost his keys in
the street only few days before, and
they must have been picked up by
the man who was killed on the train.
He said that he had boarded the
train himself, but had left il ar Buff
falo, and had made the rest Of his
journey the best he knew how
Thus was a great mystery cleared
up, and in its clearing ii was brought
out that the wife and the other wit
nesses had testified in the best of good
faith.
They honestly believed that he had
been killed in the wreck, and the truth
might never have been disclosed If il
had not been for the interview with
General Martindale and his recolec-
ton of the fact that he had given the