Professor David B. BRUNNER, instructor in penmanship in the Boys' High School, of Reading, died on Sunday, aged 68 years. In addition to being a prominent educator, he was an author, historian and mineralogist. From 1888 to 1892 he represented his district in Congress. In early life he was County Superintendent of Public Schools.
Menno RAUCH, who lives near Clayton, Berks county, received injuries, which proved fatal, on the trolley line at the eastern end of the Hamilton street bridge at Allentown on Saturday afternoon. RAUCH went to Allentown that morning to attend to some business, but instead of doing so got under the influence of liquor. He was at the Terminal station walking about the platform, but did not attract much attention. At about ten minutes to 1 o'clock he went to the end of the bridge opposite the Trexler House, and leaned on the iron railing when a large double truck car bound for the car barn at Rittersville came along. The motorman hailed to the man to get across the track and rang the car bell vigorously. RAUCH was caught between the railing and the car. He was badly squeezed and rolled along to an opening in the railing where a number of iron pailings have been taken away. He fell through the opening and landed on the opposite side. When picked up he was unconscious. He was taken to the Trexler House, the ambulance sent for and conveyed to the hospital. The physicians at the institution found but one wound about one-half an inch long upon his nose. The man, however, was badly squeezed and was hurt internally. He died at six o'clock the same evening. RAUCH is about fifty years of age and was well dressed. He is survived by a wife and child. A Bechtelsville undertaker removed his remains to his home the next day. An inquest was held on Monday afternoon.
Wallace FREED, son of Henry FREED, of Lansdale, died Saturday from the effects of an operation performed on his nose in a Philadelphia hospital. His nose was fractured several years ago. Blood poisoning set in from which he failed to recover.
The funeral on Sunday of Squire Isaac JOHNSON at Skippack was one of the largest held in that township for many years. It is estimated that over seven hundred persons viewed the remains and the funeral cortege extended from the house to the place of interment, about a mile distant. Services were conducted at the house by Rev. H.K. WISIMER and Jacob B. MENSCH and at the Lower Skippack Mennonite meeting house by Revs. Amos K. BEAN and Warren BEAN. Interment was made in the meeting house burial ground.
Dr. J. Franklin MERKLE, one of Perkasie's leading physicians, died on Thursday night, death being caused by an attack of Bright's disease from which the doctor had been confined to his bed for the last two months. Dr. MERKLE has been a resident of Perkasie for about two years, coming from Boyertown.
Timothy ROSSTRAN, 35 years old, a flagman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Louis C. QUAGESER, 30 years old, a brakeman on the Reading, were killed at Norristown on Saturday morning. QUAGESER fell from his train at Franklin Avenue Station, while ROSSTRAN was run over by a shifting engine in the freight yard at Mill Street Station. Both men leave families.
Mrs. James LAUBACH, of Egypt, Lehigh county, was terribly burned while assisting her son in butchering. Her dress became ignited from a fire beneath a large kettle and she was soon enveloped in flames. She died the following day.
Charles DRUMHELLER, of East Greenville, was on Saturday married to Miss Irene HEINLY, of East Greenville, at the parsonage of Rev. WARMKESSEL, at Reading. The groom is in the employ of butcher W.O. BIELER, of East Greenville, and the bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.K. HEINLY, of the same borough.
Henry R. BREY, a carpenter of Green Lane, was painfully injured on Monday evening, while he and a number of other workmen were returning home on a lever truck from the upper ice house, known as "The Klondike," of the John C. HANCOCK Ice Company, at Green Lane. At about 5.30 o'clock, when it was already dark, the men started on their truck for Green Lane, and they had hardly gone thirty yards when they ran into a hickory branch which lay on the track. They were all thrown off the truck, but escaped injury except Mr. BREY. He was thrown in front of the truck and his chest was crushed. When he was able to get up he found that his lungs did not expand as readily as before. By a special effort he forced his chest to a normal position. He soon thereafter began to get severe pains. He was taken to his home on the truck and Dr. H.F. SCHOLL was summoned who upon examination found the sternum or chest bone split. The man was placed in as comfortable a position as possible and the fracture reduced. He suffered excruciating pain for several days. Mr. BREY is the father of our towsman William BREY.
William H. SIEGFRIED, of Hillegass, one of the proprietors of the Perkiomen Paper Mill, at that place had a narrow escape from being fatally injured on Saturday forenoon. He was applying some dressing to a belt when a set screw on a shafting caught his coat and drew him on the shaft, which was making seventy-five revolutions a minute. He called for help and luckily several other workmen were within two feet to the lever to throw of the power and heard his calls. As soon as the power was off the workmen went to the assistance of Mr. SIEGFRIED. They found him fastened on the shaft with one arm twisted under a belt on a pulley and his head and hands badly lacerated. In order to remove him from this perilous position the belting had to be cut as well as the major portion of his clothing. He was carried into the house and Dr. John G. HERSH summoned. He found two large scalp wounds, three fingers of his left hand badly mutilated, and his limbs severely bruised. The wounds required several stitches to draw the parts together. Mr. SIEGFRIED was required to stay in bed for his limbs were so painfully bruised that he was unable to move them for several days. The supposition is that these were injured by coming in contact with the woodwork above and below the shaft when he was whirled around it so rapidly. Had not the other workmen been so close to throw off the power so quickly Mr. SIEGFRIED would undoubtedly have been killed. Mr. SIEGFRIED is a brother-in-law to Dr. C.Q. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg, who also is a member of the Perkiomen Paper Company.
What he characterizes as only the beginning of wholesale arrests for illegal voting was made at Allentown, on Wednesday, by District Attorney E.J. LICHTENWALNER, when he had four men taken in custody. The men arrested are: William DIEFENDERFER, Thomas MOYER, Charles WAHL and James CRAMPS, all of Allentown. District Attorney LICHTENWALNER, who is a Democrat, was a staunch supporter of Edward HARVEY, the Democratic candidate, who was defeated in the contest for Judge at the November election by more than 16 majority. LICHTENWALNER now charges that the Republicans resorted to fraud to defeat HARVEY, and that those who voted illegally will be prosecuted. The arrests caused a political sensation, and many party leaders are anxiously awaiting the District Attorney's next move in what promises to be one of Lehigh county's most sensational scandals.
The Schwenksville Fire Company is making alterations to the building known as Bromer's Button Hole Factory, and they expect to use that building for their fire house. Charles WHITMAN has the contract to do the work. They expect to have same ready for occupancy by next week. It is their intention to put another story on the building next year.
Eugene FLUCK, the sixteen-year-old son of Frank L. FLUCK, President of the Perkiomen National Bank, of East Greenville, left for parts unknown on Tuesday forenoon. The lad was a student at Perkiomen Seminary and as usual he took his lunch with him that morning. Instead of going to school he left his lunch in the yard at Milton KERN's place, and came to Pennsburg at about 9 o'clock. He spent some time at the American House and there he showed a friend that he was not without money, for he pulled a roll of notes and gold out of his pocket. He displayed a $20 gold piece, a $20 note and other notes of smaller denomination. When the 10.31 train hove in sight he got on. He purchased a ticket from the conductor, for Collegeville and that is the last trace of him. On Sunday he told some of his associates that the next day he was going West. To others he said he was going to Collegeville, to enter Ursinus College. The young boy had no reason for leaving his home, for he always had been accorded the best treatment and virtually had everything he wanted. Master FLUCK has been the Town and Country newspaper carrier in East Greenville, for the past three years. Only two weeks ago he was succeeded by Elwood MESCHTER. Mr. FLUCK's parents are very much worried by the strange actions of their son.
A two horse team ran away for D.K. GRABER, of Pennsburg, on Tuesday forenoon near Geryville. Mr. and Mrs. GRABER were on their way to Bethlehem to attend the sale of Liveryman William ADAMS, and when a short distance beyond Geryville the pole in the wagon in some manner became loose on one side and fell down, causing the horses to runaway. They soon tore themselves from the wagon and continued on the road until caught by a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. GRABER were, luckily, not thrown out of the wagon. After securing the horses, they loaned another wagon and continued on their journey with one horse. The broken wagon and other horse were sent home.
The application of the first woman who ever asked for admission to the Lehigh county bar was refused by Judge TREXLER on Wednesday. The applicant was Miss Gienna DOUST, of Allentown, a graduate of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. She is a daughter of Charles E. DOUST, and desires to hang out her shingle in that city. Upon inquiry Judge TREXLER learned that the young woman had passed the Pennsylvania State Board examination, as required by the new rules, but that she had not practiced law in Michigan three years, as is required. Lawyer DOUST was not in court at the time to press her claim, but she says she is confident of being eventually admitted to the Lehigh bar.
The neighbors and friends spent Tuesday evening with Miss Susan W. KRIEBEL, at the residence of Mrs. Henry KRAUSS, near East Greenville. A very pleasant and social evening was spent. Those present were: Susan KRIEBEL, Rebecca RATCLIFF, Minnie FUNK, Lydia LESCHER, Susanna SCHULTZ, Ella BIELER, Bella BIELER, Anetta SCHULTZ, Amos SCHULTZ, Christian DELONG, Oliver BIELER, Howard BIELER, Francis STAUFFER, Frank KEMP and Harvey SCHULTZ.
The employees of the Sultzberger, Oppenheimer Cigar Factory of Pennsburg, this week inaugurated a noteworthy system of charity, towards their fellow workman Hiram WINGERT, of Pennsburg, who has been on the sick list for some time. A petition was prepared and signed by the major portion of the ninety-five employees of the factory, showing their willingness to contribute 10 cents a week for the December month, toward a fund which will be given Mr. WINGERT.
Samuel RACE (picture), of Telford, is considered the champion corn husker in that vicinity, when age is taken into consideration. Mr. RACE is eighty-four years of age, but his age does not interfere with him doing a full day's work. He is considered one of the most active aged men in that section of the county. His eyesight and hearing are good and he at this advanced age is not compelled to wear glasses. Several weeks ago he husked fifty shocks of corn in one day; in fact more than some younger men, who worked with him, husked that day. He was born in Hatfield township, in 1819, but for the past thirty-two years he has resided in Telford. He is a veteran of the Revolutionary War and he has many incidents to relate to his friends. He is the father of thirteen children, six of whom or now living. Mr. RACE attributes his longevity to being moderate in all things.
Henry WHITMAN, of Schwenksville, had the misfortune of breaking his leg on Friday morning while returning from witnessing the Firemen's Parade at Norristown the day before. Mr. WHITMAN and Samuel GARGES, of Schwenksville attended the parade and they missed the last train to their home from Collegeville, so they started to walk. This was slow work for Mr. WHITMAN who was under the influence of liquor. At about ten o'clock they came to Rahns Station and here WHITMAN refused to further accompany Mr. GARGES. After Mr. GARGES found that WHITMAN would not go with him he left him at the station and he soon fell asleep. Mr. GARGES being perfectly sober continued his journey home and arrived there shortly before midnight. It appears that after Mr. WHITMAN had slept for a few hours he resumed his journey home on the railroad. A short distance below Gratersford is a railroad bridge from which he fell into the meadow about 28 feet below. He called for help and John CHRISTMAN who lives close by heard his cries and opened the window, but hearing no more he again retired. At about five o'clock the next morning Henry ESPENSHIP who lives opposite heard a noise and he investigated and found Mr. WHITMAN, with his leg fractured and his hands and feet frozen from the intense cold. Dr. MARKLEY was summoned who removed him to his home at Schwenksville and reduced his fracture. Both bones in the leg above the ankle were fractured and his other leg was badly sprained. He is about 62 years old.
Jacob WAGNER and Howard SACKS, farmers of Frederick township, got into a quarrel several days ago and came to blows. SACKS was struck several times in the face. He had his assailant arrested. The hearing took place on Tuesday morning before Magistrate LENHARDT, of Norristown. The case was settled and the men left the office together, being apparently again good friends.
The Press League of Bucks and Montgomery counties will hold its annual meeting at the Shuler House, Pottstown, on January 23, when an address will be delivered by Editor Albrecht KNEULE, of the Norristown Register. The League comprises nearly all the newspaper men in the two counties.
Harry BREY, of East Greenville, an assistant to Plumber Victor STECKEL, of Pennsburg, by his bravery and cool head saved the new home, of Mrs. Emma SCHWARTZ, on Seminary street, Pennsburg, from possible destruction by fire, on Saturday afternoon. Siezing a blazing plumbers gasoline furnace, he threw it out of doors, and thereby preventing an explosion of the gasoline tank in the house. Mr. BREY had placed the furnace in the unfinished portion of the house and was attending to some plumbing in the next room. When he re-entered the room where the furnace was he encountered a volume of flame that roared from the furnace to the ceiling. Shouting an alarm to the other workmen, he grasped the blazing furnace at its base, and sent it crashing out of the door. In a few moments more, the flames would have been virtually beyond control, for the cover on the gasoline receptacle was melted from its fastenings and in an instant the tank would have exploded. It is said that explosions of these gasoline furnaces are very dangerous.
John F. CROUTHAMEL, of Telford, on Monday had his left arm severely lacerated by a circular saw. He is an employe in J.B. WOLF's planing mill at Telford and was adjusting a screw near the saw when his arm was caught by the rapidly revolving saw. The member was badly lacerated. Dr. Norman RAHN, of Souderton, was called who gave him medical attendance. Mr. CROUTHAMEL has been in the employ of Mr. WOLF for ten years and has never before met with an accident in the mill.
While John B. GRUBER and Daniel FRY were breaking lime stones in the OBERHOLTZER's stone quarry, near Hill Church, a keg of powder was let run in between the stones in a crack and when it was discharged it hurled out 1500 hundred bushels of lime stones. This was a monstrous large shot.
The horse driven by Harry HEANEY, of Salfordville, tore loose from the sheds at the Old Goshenhoppen church, near Woxall, where he was tied while he was attending choir practice in the church. The animal wandered about the woods at the church and by the time he was found he had demolished the top of the wagon.
Nath. B. KEELY, of East Greenville, has been appointed District Agent for the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Philadelphia. His territory comprises the upper end of the Perkiomen Valley.
Nearly frozen to death from cold and exposure, Charles WILLIAMS, aged 11 years was found unconscious in a box car at the Linfield station of the Reading Railway by Allen LIGHTCAP. The latter was engaged in hauling flour for George DENGLER, a Linfield baker, and towards evening he entered the car to unload it. Huddled up in one corner and almost covered by the bags of flour, he saw a small object that looked like a bundle of rags. He picked it up and was started to find that it was a small boy. LIGHTCAP carried the unconscious form into the station and he and the station agent succeeded in restoring him to consciousness. The boy said he lived in Pittsburg, and he had made his way east on freight and coal trains, but he had no recollection of having entered the car that was billed to Linfield. Young WILLIAMS was taken to the hotel and given a meal, and he ate ravenously showing that he had been without food for many days. He told a small group that gathered about him that he frequently sold papers on his journey from Pittsburg and bought food with the proceeds. He could not tell anything about his family and appeared to be dazed by the experience through which he had gone while imprisoned in the car. 'Squire CHRISTMAN has taken charge of the little fellow, and has written to the chief of police of Pittsburg in order to learn something of his family. The boy is apparently intelligent, and the 'Squire hopes to learn more of his history when he has fully recovered from the exposure and hunger to which he was subject. He will be placed in a home with some of the neighboring farmers in the event of the 'Squire being unable to locate any relatives of the boy.
Benjamin T. KEYSER, proprietor of the Windsor House at Norristown, met with a serious accident on Monday afternoon, when he fell into the elevator shaft at his hotel. He was in the act of taking the elevator to go upstairs and unlocking the door guarding the vehicle stepped into the opening and fell to the cellar, the elevator at the time being up at the fifth floor. Mr. KEYSER knew nothing of it and supposed that the carriage was at its usual place. When he fell he struck the cement floor of the cellar with a dull thud and was rendered unconscious. When help arrived it was found that he could not walk. He was assisted to his room and Dr. DRAKE was summoned. An examination showed that three ribs were broken and that he had been seriously bruised and cut about the body.
Phares LEIDY, a Souderton cigarmaker has instituted suit against the Lehigh Valley Traction Company to recover damages for personal injuries received by a trolley car upsetting at Hatfield, on Thanksgiving Day 1902. LEIDY was pinned beneath the car which fell on his head. His eyesight is impaired and his bodily injuries were so severe that he lost months of work, and besides is affected permanently. He claims $10,000 damages.
The printing office of the Hamburg Item, of Berks county, W.O. HEINLY, proprietor, was burned at midnight, Friday, entailing a loss of between $4,500 and $5,000. Nothing remains but the side walls. The building was of frame forty by fifty feet and three stories. How the fire originated is a mystery. It was first discovered in the eastern end on the second floor. The flames spread rapidly. The Union Fire Company responded promptly and worked until 5 o'clock before the flames were subdued. All of the machinery, stock and fixtures were destroyed or ruined. The first and second floors of the building were used by Mr. HEINLY in the publication of the Item, a weekly newspaper, and the job printing business while the third floor was used as a clubroom. The property is insured for about $3,500 in the following companies: Hartford, Farmers' Mutual, Kutztown; Boyertown Fire Insurance Company and the Farmers' of Lehigh. Mr. HEINLY occupied the building for thirteen years. The structure will be rebuilt as quickly as possible.
A woman on a trolley car will open a satchel and take out a purse, close the satchel and open the purse, take out a dime and close the purse, open the satchel and put in the purse, close the satchel and lock both ends. Then she will give the conductor a dime, and he will then give her a nickel back. Then she will open the satchel and take out the purse, close the satchel, open the purse, put in the nickel and close the purse, open the satchel and put in the purse, close the satchel and lock up both ends. Then she will feel to see if her hair is all right. This is a woman.
William ROBERTSON, gardener to J.W. PEPPER, at the latter's country seat, "Fair Acres," Jenkintown has a hen that likes wool to sleep on. When the other chickens seek their nightly roost this particular cackler perches herself on the back of one of the sheep in their pen and it doesn't make any difference to her which one it is so it's a sheep. The hen has been doing this now for a couple of years.
Isaac ECKERT, a race horse owner of Reading, and his driver A.B. CUMMINGS received $5,000 from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as damages for injuries to a number of race horses sent to Readville, Mass., in June, 1902. In the load was March Gale and Comet. The case was tried at Reading last week. They sought to obtain $10,000 damages. Mr. ECKERT is the President of the Farmers' National Bank, of Reading.
A.L. REICHENBACH, of Allentown, treasurer of the State Firemens' Association tendered his resignation to take effect as soon as the committee sees fit to choose his successor. He reports that the association has a balance of $3517.49 on hand without a single debt.
The barn of butcher Jonathan BICKEL, of Emaus, was burned to the ground Thursday night. The barn is directly opposite SICHER's hotel and was discovered on fire at about 10.30. The Emaus fire laddies responded promptly and, realizing the hopelessness of fighting a fire fed with highly inflammable materials and fanned by a high wind, confined most of their attention to the protection of surrounding property. Two horses, one belonging to Mr. BICKEL, the other to George WEIDNER, several wagons and a quantity of hay and straw were burned. Mr. BICKEL's horse was an especially good roadster and in its younger days on several occasions won the Lehigh county race at the Allentown Fair. The origin of the fire is mysterious but in view of the robberies on Thursday night it is believed to have been the work of incendiaries who wished to create excitement and take advantage of it. This they might have done as nearly the entire population of the town was at the scene of the fire.
There is a tradition that partridges can never be tamed; but the maker of that tradition did not consult with Henry GERHARD, of Hereford, or they would have know better. He tamed two partridges a year ago, and since that time one of them has been in the habit of making the kitchen its home, roaming at will in the barnyard and nearby fields by day, but always returning by dusk to roost on a picture frame in the kitchen.
Thomas FRYER, of Pottstown, was before Magistrate LENHARDT, at Norristown on Monday forenoon on the charge of larceny. He was arrested Sunday by Detective O'CONNOR and was charged with stealing pig iron from the cars of the Reading Railway at Pottstown. FRYER was taken to Norristown and was committed to jail in default of $1000 bail for a further hearing.
J.O. HENDRICKS, of Allentown, formerly of the Woxall Hotel, was charged by Pure Food Detective Robert M. SIMMERS, with selling adulterated blackberry brandy. At the hearing he admitted that he sold the goods but says he did not know that the goods were not pure. He was fined $50, but refused to pay his fine and entered bail for the sum of $300 for trial at the January term of criminal court.
The aged mother of State Senator Arthur G. DEWALT, of Allentown, fell at the latter's home in that city Monday night and broke her arm. While the doctor was dressing the fracture the bedding accidentally caught fire, and only after a great deal of difficulty were the flames extinguished.
Descending the cellar stairs at the home of her son at Jenkintown with a jar in her hands, Mrs. Thomas H. MacCORKLE fell headlong, and the shattered jar terribly gashed her face. Forty stitches were necessary to sew together the lacerated features.
Amos H. FEGER, of Reading, aged 74 year, the first manufacturer of washboards in that city, has not eaten a breakfast for 30 years, never drank coffe or intoxicants, always sleeps in a cold room, and claims he never swore.
A.L. OBERHOLTZER, proprietor of the Powder Valley Roller Mills, will retire from the milling business. Oswin STAHL will be his successor at the Power Valley Mills.
Last Modified