A sad accident happened at Delphi about noon Tuesday, when Walter THEEL, a young man, 16 years of age, from Chicago, Ill., was accidently drowned in the dam near the station. THEEL, with another companion arrived on Monday evening from Philadelphia and registered at the Perkiomen Inn, with the intention of spending a few days in the country. On Tuesday morning both young men went out together, boating and swimming, when suddenly young THEEL was overtaken with cramps and started to sink, his companion went to his rescue but having tried his utmost to save him had to give him up or go down with him. He called for assistance, but in vain, as nobody heard his cries, finally he rowed to shore and ran to the Weldon House for help which quickly responded and the young man was brought to shore. Dr. MARKLEY who just happened to be around, pronounced him dead. The body was taken to the Weldon House and Coroner KING notified who arrived on the afternoon train. Undertaker SCHILLICH prepared the remains for shipment and the body was taken to Philadelphia on the evening train in charge of the young man who came along with him. The unfortunate was staying with his uncle, Dr. G.F. THEEL, 527 North 6th St., Philadelphia, his parents reside in Chicago, Ill.
Walter STEIN, aged 12, son of George STEIN, farmer, below the Black Bear, Berks County, bought a revolver from a schoolmate on Wednesday, and was shooting at the back of the barn. His mother, attracted by the shooting, started to investigate, and arrived on the scene just in time to see the boy fire his third shot, which passed through the body of a rat, struck his 4-year-old sister, Mamie, who was watching him, in the spine at the base of the brain. The child cannot live.
The Schuylkill Valley Veterinary Association held its annual meeting at Reading this week. Dr. Otto G. NOOCK, Reading urged the association to, agitate for additional legislation so that all stray dogs should be killed as a matter of protection to the public. He said all others should be muzzled as a precaution against the rabies. He told of two recent cases of rabies caused by milk from a cow which had been bitten by a dog.
While workmen were engaged in tearing up a portion of the street in front of the old HOPKINS house, built in 1688, at Chester, they dug up a small round iron shot of the grape variety. It is supposed to have been fired on the frigate Augusta, by the British in their bombardment in 1777, during the Revolution.
Ella SAYLOR, the hired girl of Oscar REINHARD, of Pennsburg, was entrusted with the care of the house and a child about two years of age, on Wednesday. In the absence of Mrs. REINHARD, the servant packed up her effects and deserted the child, leaving it entirely alone in the house.
William HOFFMAN, alias Henry ANGLE, of Devon, aged 16 years, was arrested at Lansdale, for the theft of four bicycles from racks at Norristown. Chester County officials want HOFFMAN for robberies along the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Mr. and Mrs. Amos KEFFER, of Reading, celebrated the fiftieth wedding anniversary on Wednesday. Their children and grand-children participated in the festivities. Mr. KEFFER is 74 ad his wife 73 years old.
Rev. E.J. HEILMAN, of the Wyndmoor Lutheran Church, this county, and the central figure in the sensational breach of promise suit brought against him by Miss Blanche Gertrude KECK, of Allentown for whom a verdict of $3000 was rendered, found himself on the rack before his fellow ministers and his church men, at the Lutheran Ministerum, in session at Lancaster, Pa. His case was a special order and his entanglements served to provoke a long discussion among the large assemblage of clergy and laymen. During the discussion it became evident that the body was far from satisfied with a private censure for Rev. HEILMAN by the Rev. Dr. M.C. HORINE, of Reading, the president of the ministerum. The matter was finally laid over temporarily, a proviso revaling that any member might bring it up at any time. It is said there prevails a sentiment that the alleged offending minister may again be called before a jury of ministers and laymen, and that possibly he may find himself without his ministerial credentials.
A cow of Durham breed, weighing 1600 pounds, will be sold by D.K. GRABER, at Lederachsville, next Tuesday. The animal was raised in Clearfield county, Ohio, is 8 years old, of a cherry-red color, measures 10 feet from the middle of the horns to the end of the back-bone and on account of its superiority was awarded first premium at four fairs last fall. The cow has a five day old calf by her side, resembling the mother.
The seven-year-old daughter, Martha, of David CRESSMAN, of Quakertown, was killed by an electric stroke on Thursday afternoon. A telephone wire hanging over an electric light wire was struck by lightning and the current was carried into the home of Mr. CRESSMAN. The unfortunate girl received the shock which caused her to lose her life.
Through an accident Warren NOLL, of Reading, lost his voice six months ago. During last week he was surprised to recover speech all of a sudden.
For a number of years Red Hill was the home of some rare musical talent, but development was lacking as organized opportunity to bring out the latent abilities of its citizens did not exist. Finally after much discussion it was determined to organize a band, and in December, 1900, a number of the young men and several older ones gathered together and formed what is now the well and favorably known Red Hill Band. The first director chosen was Eugene STYER and under him considerable progress was made. He was succeeded by Romanus MILLER. Soon after the election of Mr. MILLER, he moved out of town and Frederick EDDINGER was chosen as his successor. Mr. EDDINGER served till January 1, 1903 when the present director, David E. CROLL, of Pennsburg, was chosen. Under the direction of Mr. CROLL the band has made wonderful progress so that although organized but a few years ago it has come to be recognized as one of the leading musical organizations of the county, and not only is its fame confined to its immediate vicinity as it has filled engagements in various cities and towns within a cricuit of thirty miles. It is the aim of Mr. CROLL to make this one of the largest and best bands to be found outside of the largest cities. The band has an envious reputation for its fine appearance and for the excellent music rendered in parades. Its programs are made up of well know classical and popular selections so that they are able to cater to the taste of all who may desire their services. Twelve engagements have been filled so far this season and there are a number engagements booked for coming events. The service of the band is in constant demand and it well deserves the favorable comments so freely made in regard to its proficiency and the charming manner in which the selectirons are rendered.
Under a decree of the United States District Court the Lehigh Valley Tractio n system was sold at noon on Tuesday on the front steps of the Court House at Allentown. The Court had fixed the sum of $25,000 to qualify and decreed that the upset price should be $2,000,000 of which 10 per cent had to be paid down. After the conditions of sale were read Mr. HARRITY of Philadelphia offered $2,000,000. No other bids being made the property was knocked down to Mr. HARRITY. An hour later, at the same place, the Slatington line was sold to Mr. HARRITY for the upset price $275,000. Mr. HARRITY bought the properties on behalf of himself, Colonel Harry C. TREXLER and Geo. H. FRAZIER, representing the Reorganization Committee. Last Tuesday for the same people he bought the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley Line for $1,000,000. As was the case last week Mr. FRAZIER, who is in charge of Brown Bros., Philadelphia branch was ready with the certified checks to qualify with the down money.
While Frank H. FOX and Andrew T. GRATER, with their families, were returning from Norristown, on Tuesday evening, they met an automobile on the Skippack road near the home of Jacob SOUDER. The horses shied and upset the wagon. The wagon was somewhat broken but the occupants escaped with a few bruises.
Samuel BEAN, of Limerick, took his gun along while out watching his cows. In some unexplained manner the gun was accidentally discharged and Mr. BEAN wa seriously injured.
In walking over a slippery board walk on Thursday, Mrs. John LICK, an aged woman of near Niantic, slipped and fell. In trying to save herself she struck her wrist on the walk and dislocated it.
Jacob FRITZ, of Lebanon, died from a gunshot wound in the hip, inflicted at a shooting match at Avon. William GLOSS, who accidently shot him, is severely ill.
Contractor J.M. SMITH, of Perkiomenville, has finished his part of the work on the new county bridge across the Perkiomen at the East Greenville pumping station.
The Great Sun's Council, Improved Order of Red Men of Pennsylvania convened in the Court House at York day in its fifty-sixth annual session. The Past Sachem's degree was conferred upon 150. The report to be submitted to the Great Council by Thomas K. DONNELLE, Great Chief of Records, will show: Membership at end of last year, 61,053; admitted by adoption, 10,981; by card, 376; reinstated, 525. The losses are represented: By suspensions, 7950; expulsion, 43; withdrawals, 167; died, 587; other causes, 459. This makes the total membership 63,729, divided among 432 tribes a new increase for the last six months of 676 members. The delegate from Goshenhoppen tribe 392, of East Greenville, was Daniel K. DOTTERER.
A party of mischief doers have again proven to exist in the vicinity of Bally. On Tuesday night about 10.30, they were busy at and about the I.H. BECHTEL estate store, when they smashed the two large panes of glass in the front double door and then entered the garden and destroyed the entire crop of vegetables, such as tomatoes, beans, beets, cabbage. Dr. O.W. BERKY heard the nose going on and arose and struck a light, after which the miscreants fired several shots from a revolver. They did lots of damage all along the road between Bally and Clayton. The BECHTEL's estate and others have sufficient evidence that points to the guilty parties.
Rather than give up flogging, which he regards as essential to school boys proper discipline and training, teacher S. Slyde STAPLES of Bangor, Pa. has resigned to go into the railroad business.
The contract for building the new factory for the Tapestry Mills Company, of Philadelphia, at Sellersville, has been awarded to John McCLAY, of Philadelphia, for $22,700.
Henry HALL has withdrawn the suit at Norristown against Elizabeth LEHASKA, teacher, and the Cheltenham School Board, in which he had alleged the teacher cruelly treated his boy.
The trial of James WILSON, the self-confessed murderer, of John EBERTS, of Allentown, was brought to a sudden end on Friday last by WILSON's pleading guilty to murder in the second degree. The plea was made for him by his Attorney. WILSON was immediately called for sentence. Judge TREXLER imposed a sentence of twenty years in the Eastern Peniatentiary for shooting EBERT and ten years more for robbing a store, a total of thirty years. By good behavior WILSON can gain eleven years and eleven months, but the remainder will virtually mean a life sentence.
At a hearing before Judge SWARTZ, Harvey E. SLINGLUFF, of Centre Square, was adjudged insane. The young man became of age on April 29, 1905 and has always been of a low order of intelligence. The proceedings were instituted for the purpose of disposing of a balance due the young man in the hands of his guardian.
William B. STUMP, of North Heidelberg Berks county, has oat stalks in his field measuring 44 inches. This is exceptionally tall for this time of the year.
A very happy party assembled last Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Y. YODER, of near Plover. The party was composed of the following: Mr. and Mrs. Peter HENSINGER, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob HOLBON, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin YODER and son, Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Robert KURTZ and two children, Edwin and Marie and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel BEAN, Eli CLAUS and Miss Annie CLAUS, all of Allentown; Mr. and Mrs. Solomon MERKEL and Henry CLAUS, of Chestnut Hill; Mr. and Mrs. Henry HILLEGASS, of Plover; Mr. and Mrs. Charles YODER and two children, Verna and Roman, of near Treichlersville. They had a very fine time and enjoyed themselves very much from the old folks down to the children and when they had supper they all started for home at a late hour of the day.
E. Frank POTH, young son of the late millionaire brewer, F.A. POTH, was badly injured in an automobile accident at Norristown. Coming from Philadelphia to his summer residence at Jeffersonville, he was thrown out of the automobile by striking a deep rut at Bridgeport. POTH was picked up unconscious and is believed to be injured internally.
Lovine SCHAFFER, a truck farmer living at Limeport, claims to own the only trained fish in the world. It is a carp 24 inches long, weighing eight pounds. Mr. SCHAFFER caught it in a mill dam near his home two years ago, when it weighed six pounds. With two others he placed it in the spring in his yard. The fish which is called "John" seems to have intelligence approaching that of a dog. When called by Mr. SCHAFFER or any member of his family it comes to the surface near the shore to be petted. It eats bread from their hands and is fond of cake. To grab a piece of cake it will raise its body half way out of the water. It will not respond to the call of strangers, but is not afraid of them if a member of the family is present. Whenever called by Mr. SCHAEFFER his wife or the children it raises its back above the surface of the water to be petted but will stay up longer if fed than otherwise.
While driving near Hillegass on Monday morning, Joseph MOYER, of near Geryville, alighted from the wagon to adjust some part of the harness. During the time the alteration were made the horse suddenly started off at break-neck speed but on reaching Haring's Hotel he was secured, none the worse for the runaway.
In trying to hurry a fire made of green wood, Mrs. Aaron C. GRIFFITH, aged 25, of Neshaminy, Bucks County, seized an oil can and poured its contents on the smouldering embers. The oil caught fire and the can exploded. The burning oil was thrown over the woman and in a short time she was enveloped in flames. Her body was terribly burned and she survived but a short time.
The people of Leinbachs, Berks county, had an old fashioned barn raising frolic. A large swiss barn was erected on the farm of John O. FRITZ and more than one hundred of the neighbors had assembled to render assistance.
In plowing in one of his fields in Lower Alsace, Berks county, Augustus L. WETZEL found a tomahawk, a number of arrow heads and other Indian relics.
Two Pine Grove fishermen caught several trout under six inches in length and kept them. It cost them $48.56 cents to pay fines and costs.
Last Modified