Blair County PAGenWeb

Blair County Newspaper Articles

News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.

Items from the Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,

Saturday, December 3, 1864

LOCAL ITEMS.

A DASTARDLY OUTRAGE AND ROBBERY. - The residents of Sinking Valley, in Blair county, were thrown into a considerable state of terror and excitement during the week before last by the accounts of a glaring outrage perpetrated there, the particulars of which we are enabled to present our readers. They are as follows: An individual, the description of whose appearance we could not learn, came in the morning to the residence of Mr. John Crawford, in the valley, and desired to purchase some stock; but being told by the housekeeper that Mr. C. was away, and that she could not comply with his request, the man took his departure, satisfied, no doubt, that he had gleaned so much information. In the afternoon about 3 o'clock, the same person renewed his visit, and it was believed, from the continual barking of dogs upon the premises, that he had loitered about the dwelling from the time of his first appearance. This time, with bold effrontery, he made known his object, and demanded of the housekeeper a purse belonging to Mr. Crawford. The woman, surprised at the impudence of the audacious rascal, and thinking that by her own unaided power she could not eject him from the house, had recourse to strategy, and informed him she would go and get the purse, but at the same time intending to ring a bell upon the premises, and thereby alarm the neighbors, and obtain their assistance in capturing the villain. She thereupon started, but the wary rogue, suspecting treachery, immediately chased and caught her; she endeavored to her utmost to elude his grasp, and struggled vigorously to prevent him from tying her with a cord he had succeeded in obtaining. But all to no purpose; the inhuman scoundrel effectually tied her hands, and then cast her into a closet the door of which he closed and fastened upon her. He then went in search of the purse and other valuables in the rooms of the dwelling, having free scope and liberty to effect his nefarious intentions. He obtained the purse, which, fortunately, contained but an insignificant sum, and then struck for other quarters, leaving the housekeeper still confined in the close closet. From this confinement she was released by Mr. Crawford's daughter, who had returned from school. So tightly had the villain bound her wrists, that the marks were visible several days after the event.

ANOTHER ROBBERY. - During the same week and in the same Valley, the house of Mr. Smith Wilson was entered after night, and a trunk taken therefrom. The depredator conveyed the same to an adjoining field, where he opened it and extracted the sum of $300 in specie, as also other valuables, to the amount of $2500.

We have no room to comment upon these outrages, but we would caution the residents of the Valley, as also of all other places, to keep a strict and vigilant watch upon the actions of any suspicious individuals who might chance to come in their way. We have much to dread from rebel spies as well as robbers, who now prowl the country. Should the individual guilty of the above robberies be apprehended and arrested, we trust he will suffer punishment to the full extent of the law, and his example prove a significant warning to his brethren in crime. - Huntingdon Globe.

TERRIBLE DEATH OF U. J. JONES. - We are sorry to chronicle the sudden and terrible death of U. J. Jones, a life long member of the reportorial and editorial fraternity, and a practical printer, which occurred at Harrisburg on the evening of the 18th ult. It appears that he was on the track of the Northern Central Railroad, in the vicinity of the Depot, and was knocked down and run over by a passenger train which was backing over from the south side of the river. No one saw the occurrence, and his body was only discovered by the engineer, while oiling his engine, who stumbled over his feet, which protruded from under the cow-catcher. His body was much bruised, his arms broken, and a hole, similar to that made by a spike, was found in his forehead. He was taken to a room in the Depot, and an inquest held over him. The deceased was about forty-five years of age. For a number of years he was connected with his brother-in-law, O. A. Traugh, in the publication of the Hollidaysburg Standard, and was the author of that popular and valuable work entitled "Jones' History of the Juniata Valley." He also compiled and published the best descriptive hand-book of the route of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad that has ever been issued. For several years past he has been connected with the Harrisburg Patriot and Union as local editor, or been employed as a reporter in the House of Representatives. His productions always displayed a clear and brilliant intellect, and his services were ever in demand. He leaves a wife and four children.

[  History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley by Uriah James Jones. ]

THE CONCERT. - The Philharmonic concert, in the Lutheran church, on Thanksgiving evening, was all, and more, than we promised our readers it would be. It was the grandest entertainment of the kind ever given in this place, or in any other place outside of the cities, and it has only been excelled in the cities by reason of greater numbers in the society and more appropriate buildings in which to give the entertainment. There are just as good voices in the country as there are in the city, and equal musical talent, and all that is necessary to get up entertainments in the country which will equal those of the cities is a union of the voices and talent, and practice. This union and practice is the object of the Philharmonic society, and the benefit is seen and duly appreciated. The church was filled to repletion with a highly delighted audience. The expressions of satisfaction were many and flattering. We are pleased to announce that the society intend giving another concert on Monday evening, Dec, 22d, in aid of the "Soldiers' Monument Fund."

APOLOGY. - Unfortunately, our principal newspaper compositor, mistaking Thanksgiving day for the Fourth of July, took on a heavy load of brick, and having indulged too freely in tangle-leg tansey tea, was unable to carry the load and work for us at the same time. Being crowded with job work, we could not spare a hand from that department, and hence were forced to forego the issuing of a paper last week. We have, at other times, been somewhat inconvenienced by the effect of King Alcohol, on those upon whom we depended, but never before have we been forced thereby to miss the publication of our paper, and we shall try to avoid delays from the same cause hereafter.

DRAFT. - A supplementary draft for those townships in this country deficient on former quotas was made on the 22d ult., at the Provost Marshal's Office. The draft is for 100 per cent, in addition to the number required to make up for exemptions, &c.

LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
36 Required - 72 Drawn.

ALLEGHENY TP.
5 Required - 10 Drawn.

Ulias Selvage
Alexander Clark
James Owens
Thomas W. Simonton
Edward Fleck
George W. London
Albert Robeson
Moses Crum
John Glunt
William McGraw

JUNIATA TP.
6 Required - 12 Drawn.

James Freese
John Beegle
Isaac Cames
Jacob Mash
Frederick Wilt
James McIntosh
Philip Harnster
Frank McCoy
Thomas Butler
Able Davis
Michael Mover
James Wyent

SNYDER TP.
9 Required - 18 Drawn.

John Boyer
Henry Garland
E. W. Thompson
William McAteer
David Gales
Thomas Lago
Curtis Hart
James Ginter
James Dickson
John Stonebraker
Henry Burket
William Hunter
Valentine Rough
Jesse A. Corpin
John Rhinehart
Josiah Moore
Solomon Zerbe
Benjamin Crain

THROUGH TO LOCK HAVEN. - The Bald Eagle Valley Railroad, from Tyrone to Lock Haven, connecting the Pennsylvania Central and Philadelphia & Erie Railroads was opened through, from Bellefonte to Lock Haven, on Thursday last, and trains are now about to be run regularly over the route. This road is about seventy miles in length, and forms an important connection between different portions of the State, and between the East and West. One important consideration to this locality is that we are now as contiguous to the anthracite coal regions as the citizens of Harrisburg, and we shall hereafter be able to get this quality of coal at the same figure asked for it at that market, thereby saving the freight from that point to this, as well as the dealers per centage. We understand that it can now be delivered at Tyrone at the rate of $10 per ton - the Harrisburg price. We hope that a supply of the "black diamonds" from the anthracite regions may soon find their way over the new route, as $15 per ton is a little too steep.

ABUNDANT. - We learn from hunters, who have been in the woods hereabouts several times this fall, that deer have not been more numerous for several years, in fact, not since the location of this town. They are all in fine condition. Some of the heaviest we have ever heard of have been killed this season. Old hunters say that there are deer now in this locality which do not belong here, being larger and the bucks having different shaped antlers from those usually found on these mountains. It is supposed that they have came [sic] hither, either from New York State, or from the mountains of Virginia. Almost every train from the East brings hunters to the mountains, but we doubt whether all of them get sufficient venison to compensate them for their loss of time, railroad fare and destruction of shoe leather.

PETTY THIEVING. - Our town appears to be plentifully supplied, at this time, with petty thieves, who will appropriate anything, from a loaf of bread up to a quarter of beef. A week or two since, some scamp entered the chicken coop of Esquire Humes and appropriated about a dozen chickens. On Thanksgiving evening, the same, or another scamp, entered the cellar of Rev. Curry, while the family were at the Philharmonic Concert, and appropriated the largest portion of a quarter of beef which he had cut up and prepared for salting. In another case, a tub full of clothes were removed, without authority, from the back door of a resident of the North Ward. They have not yet been returned. It would be well for our citizens to put all things, which they wish to keep, under lock and key, otherwise they may not be on hand when wanted.

So fashionable has it become to wear furs that the ladies do not consider themselves dressed unless they can top off with a set of "Fitch" or "Sable." We like the fashion. It looks comfortable on a cold day, and is certainly conducive to health. With high-heeled and thick soled shoes (the most sensible ladies' fashion ever adopted) and a set of furs, a lady looks like a woman on the streets. By the way, Dan Laughman has just received the finest and largest assortment of furs ever brought to the town, embracing capes, collars, wrist furs, muffs, &c., for ladies and misses. Just call at his store, next door to the Post office, and view his stock. He will sell you a set at the right figure.

THE COMING FAIR. - Wednesday, 8th day of December, has been fixed upon for the opening of the Fair in aid of St. John's (Catholic) Church, of this place, and the unparalleled success the ladies engaged in the enterprise have met with in securing valuable and beautiful articles for exhibition and sale, leads us to believe that there will be nothing wanting to render the Fair a really delightful and attractive entertainment. It will be much greater in display and more elaborate in attraction than the last one, and we expect will meet with the encouragement it deserves.

PROV'T MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 17th DIS'T PA.
Hollidaysburg, Nov. 18th, 1864.

Notice is hereby given that from this day forward, the 13th Section of the Enrollment Act will be rigidly enforced. Any person drafted and wishing to put in a substitute, must do so on or before the day fixed for his appearance.

The privilege of putting in a substitute expires with that day, and if on hearing his claim for exemption he is held to be liable, he cannot escape personal service.

A. M. LLOYD.
Capt. and Prov't Marshal 17th Dis't Pa.

The Return Judges met at the Court House last Friday, and counted the soldier vote cast at the Presidential election. The result was as follows: - Lincoln, 465; McClellan, 190. - Total army vote, 655. The aggregate vote of the county stands:

Lincoln, 3,292
McClellan, 2,687

Lincoln's majority, 606

THANK YOU, JAKE. - Our hugely-proportioned "Deitcher freund," Jake Holtzman, has our most unqualified thanks for a pair of large and delicious fresh fish, samples of the kind he keeps constantly for sale at his fish, oyster, vegetable and variety depot, Annie street, below the Post Office. May the generous donor's ample shadow never grow less. A few more scaley tricks like that will find us at any time willing to be victimized.

The office of the treasurer of Huntingdon county was burglariously entered one night recently, and the safe charged with powder and blown open. Court being in session, the burglars doubtless expected to make a large haul of greenbacks, but they realized only some fifteen or twenty dollars for their time and trouble.

THANKSGIVING. - The day was generally observed by our citizens in the suspension of business of all kinds and the opening of several of the churches for services appropriate to the occasion.

List of Letters remaining uncalled for in P. O. Altoona, Pa., Dec. 1st 1864.

If not called for within one month they will be [sent] to the Dead Letter Office: one cent due on each letter.

G. W. PATTON, Postmaster.

MARRIED.

Married Nov. 29th, at the new parsonage, by the Rev. R. M. Wallace, of Altoona, Mr. Joseph M. Hutchison to Miss Sarah Lafferty, all of Logan Township, Blair Co., Pa.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Saturday, December 3, 1864, page 3