Blair County Newspaper Articles
News, obituaries, birth, mariage and death notices, by date
Items from The Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,
Tuesday, December 30, 1879
Disorderly Conduct.
Thomas Duke was last night arrested at his residence on Eighth avenue, between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets, charged by his wife with assault and battery. She appeared before Alderman Blake and stated that he beat and abused her. He went home yesterday in an intoxicated condition and behaved badly. He gave bail for his appearance at 2 o'clock to-day.
In Mourning.
Concordia Hall will be draped in mourning for thirty days, in honor of the late George Koelle, who was killed on the railroad. The Concordia intended to have a ball on Christmas eve, as has been their custom, but they postponed it on account of his decease, he being a life member. They met and had a treat for the members and their families.
Lively Runaway.
Michael G. Rider's horse yesterday ran off and demolished his buggy. He had been to the funeral of Mr. Halton, and the horse was left in charge of a boy from whom he broke away. A collision with a lamp post tore the top off the wagon.
Another Reverend Pounded.
Last night Rev. S. W. Duffield had the fortune to be thoroughly pounded by a party of conspirators out of his own church, the Second Presbyterian, but he took all with becoming meekness, and in fact seemed to enjoy it. At the time the attack was precipitated he was away from home, and some friends also lured his wife away for a short time. When they returned they found the residence, on Eighth avenue near Twelfth street, filled in every corner. On the table was a stack of good things, while high over all jumped and clattered a fine lively turkey, which was perambulating around on his own hook. The presents consisted largely of groceries, among them a stout bag of flour of obese dimensions. The whole first floor was filled with people, who passed the pleasantest kind of an evening. Among them was Dr. J. M. Gemmill, an old resident of Altoona, and who was very glad to see so many of his former friends and acquaintances. The doctor intends spending several days in the city.
Sickened With Green Tea.
The family of Mr. Lance L. Hammers, who resides on Ninth avenue, were made very sick on Sunday by drinking some tea which had evidently been colored with some poisonous substance. It had been purchased the night before and some of it used next morning for the first time. Shortly after taking it Mr. Hammers, his wife and hired girl were all taken very sick. Vomiting relieved all of them but the girl who had taken considerable of the beverage. A physician was called in and she is now also much better. Adulterating in tea is a common practice, although it is generally done with harmless materials.
A Laborer Killed on the Track.
The body of a man was found yesterday morning on the Pennsylvania railroad, about two miles west of Johnstown. It is supposed to be that of John M. Shrum, who recently moved to Johnstown. On Saturday he spent the day with his family in Centreville, and on Sunday evening he walked to Florence and spent the night there. The supposition is that he boarded a freight train early in the morning and when it reached the point where his body was found he jumped off, but failed to clear the rail and was ground up. The remains were boxed and will to-day be interred at Centreville.
The New Year's Walking Match.
The walking match to be held on New Year's day in the Altoona bazar, will begin at twelve o'clock and continue ten hours. There will be four or five entries and three prizes. The first will be twenty five dollars and a gold-headed cane; the second will be a silver hunting case watch and a purse. A third will also be given. The track will be 34 laps to the mile. The audience will all be in the centre of the track, and no one need cross it. The room is being nicely painted and papered, and at the conclusion of the match will be used for a shooting gallery.
The Vigilant Ball.
The Vigilant Fire Company's ball on New Year's eve will be one of the finest that has been gotten up in this city. The Altoona City Band will play during the grand march. Professor Jule Neff's orchestra will furnish the music for the dancing and the supper will be prepared by two gentlemen from the Logan House and will be one of the best ever set out on such an occasion, and in the usual style of the Logan House suppers.
An Aged Pedestrian.
Mr. Fitzharris, the father of the proprietor of the St. Lawrence Hotel, is quite a walkist considering his age. On Christmas day he walked over to Hollidaysburg in about two hours. Mr. Fitzharris is over 84 years of age, yet hale and hearty as some of his younger competitors on the sawdust.
A Card of Thanks.
Kind Lady Patrons: As the old year is about to say farewell, I cannot permit it to depart without a token of my appreciation to you for your patronage....
MISS ANNIE M. JONES, Dressmaker
No. 1115 Eleventh street, Altoona.
FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG.
Foreman Henry and his gang are laying a double track from Hollidaysburg to the bluff. Over one thousand feet has been completed.
The Hon. A. McAllister, of Royer, has purchased for the sum of $9,000 cash the old Samuel Dean homestead, near Williamsburg.
Jim Stehley, the superintendent of Law's Spruce Creek branch store, was the recipient of a ten pound Christmas gift. It is a young counter jumper.
Justice Fleischer had a Tartar before him yesterday in the person of a Mrs. Bowers, of Gaysport, who was arrested on a warrant issued on oath of a neighbor for threats. The prisoner defied both law and justice, and let her angry passions so control her as to cause her to pit [spit?] at the honorable court.
HIT WITH A BILLY.
Barny Glenn, a Pittsburgh boiler maker, employed by the Cambria Iron Company, was struck on the back of the head with a slung-shot or billy, on Saturday night, near the corner of Allegheny and Walnut streets. He charges a man named Pat. Keys with making the assault.
A PRANK OF THE BOYS.
On Christmas day a number of our young friend made up their minds to have a good time, and they had it. Among the number was that practical joker, Will Woods, a blacksmith in the Gaysport foundry; Tom Rooney, an employe of the same institution; and our typo friend Harry Hopkins, at present employed on the Altoona Call. They entered the gallery of Mr. Ed. F. White to have their handsome countenances placed on a piece of tin. A young gentleman, a stranger to them, was waiting to have his picture taken also. Our young friend Woods stepped up to him and says: "Well, hayback, who are you?" He very meekly replied, "I'm John Webber from the Loop." "Well, hayback," said Wood, "you've got to have your 'snoot' taken with ours or else stack your duds and take a thrashing." "I will" said Webber. Mr. White being ready they all took their places, and Rooney, who did not want Webber in the picture, said to him, "You slip out when Woods ain't looking, for you don't want your picture taken." Webber replied, "I have to or take a licking." The fellow was so frightened that he shook all over. The pictures taken they all took one and left the place and their country friend. They thought they would keep them all to themselves, but in the evening Webber went to the German Catholic festival, and being anxious to find out who our young friends were he showed the picture to nearly every person in the room, and the parties have had to run a gauntlet of questions every day since. They enjoy it and say they would not part with the picture for any money.
FROM ROARING SPRINGS.
Diphtheria still rages in the neighborhood of Claysburg. Two children of James Dodson died last week of the disease.
A NEW FURNACE.
George W. Smith, Esq., of Pittsburgh, proprietor of the Lower Maria forge and Sarah furnace properties, proposes to erect a new furnace on the Lower Marie forge property, near Rollman furnace. John McGraw, Esq., is the manager of this valuable property. He will push this enterprise with energy, and ere long the ground will be broken for the new enterprise.
ROARING SPRING'S FUTURE.
Houses are scarce here and renters are plenty. Landlords are raising their rents. Roaring Spring has taken an impetus in the way of improvement. The panic threw a damper over the place that is now dispelled. We have no hesitancy in saying that Roaring Spring is the coming place in the southern end of the county. With a paper mill, grist mill, foundry, spoke mill, and three furnaces on its border, and with the ore mines within a short distance, will make Roaring Spring a business centre. There is an excellent water supply here for a city, and we have no doubt that in the near future we will have a city on a small scale.
FROM HUNTINGDON.
This evening Nicholas Decker and wife will celebrate their golden wedding.
J. R. Carmon, who has been in Colorado, and other western States, has returned home, very much benefited by his western trip.
One day last week a man named Fine was arrested for stealing a sack of flour from a store in town, and is at present in jail.
On Friday evening a gang of rowdies assembled in Skeese's restaurant and indulged in a free fight. The next day they appeared before Burgesses Lewis and Gwin and were fined $3.30 for their pugilistic entertainment.
The furnace at Tyrone Forges has been torn down, and a new one will be erected. A deficiency in the construction of the furnace caused a defect in the gas-making department. All of the employes, but the gas makers, have been suspended.
AN ALTOONA MYSTERY.
On Wednesday evening a woman got off Atlantic express at this place, and it was soon discovered that she was in an "interesting condition," and Huntingdon's public benefactor, Arthur McMurtrie, escorted the woman to the Farmers Hotel, but the proprietor refused to let her stay there and she was sent to a house up near Gravel Point where she shortly afterward gave birth to a child. At present the affair is shrouded in mystery, but it has been discovered that the woman hails from Altoona.
Married.
FORMER - DETWILER - On December 25, at the Lutheran parsonage, Williamsburg, Pa., by Rev. J. M. Rice, Benjamin F. Former, of Mines, and M. Jane Detwiler, of Clover Creek.
STOUFFER - DOUGHERTY - At the residence of the bride's parents, December 25, by Rev. Fred. Rogerson, Mr. Calvin Stouffer, formerly of Huntingdon, and Miss Frances Dougherty, of Ironsville, Blair county, Pa.
CITY AND COUNTRY.
Things Briefly Told.
Conductor Hoke, of the Pittsburgh division, is an expert organ manipulator.
On New Year's morning the famous "Little Tiger" will be fired off in Lloyd's grove, to celebrate the birth of the New Year.
Professor C. E. Compton, the new professor at the business college, arrived last evening and will assume his position to-day.
John B. Stehle's brewery has a large new picture of Gambrinus on it. It was a Christmas gift and shows forth on Third avenue.
Professor Davis, of the commercial college, has just returned from a visit to his old home, Williamsport.
Confer's bear will be served up in roasts to-day. The champion steer killers will officiate.
Mr. Westcott, now employed in the car record office, will be transferred to a clerkship, on January 2, to the New York division P.R.R., under Superintendent McCrea.
Peter Kerns, employed in the machine shops, had his hand injured yesterday, by accidentally striking it against a scraper. He may lose the use of one finger.
In traveling through the streets a large number of new houses are seen in the course of erection. This is especially noticeable in the Eighth ward.
On Sunday morning a freight engine collided with the rear end of a western freight train a short distance below the Viaduct, and mashed a cabin car and the engine. No one was injured and the track was soon cleared.
Depot Master Wilson has possessed himself of his favorite weather indicator - a goose bone. If you want to know what sort of weather is in store for the next three months call on Charles.
The wife of the proprietor of the West End Hotel, on Ninth avenue and Twentieth street, was last week presented with a valuable set of furs and a muff, by P. S. Fisher, of Johnstown.
For bear steaks and roasts call at Confer's on Eleventh avenue to- day. There will be a grand roast dinner at the Logan House, on Wednesday, to which all lovers of roasted bear-meat should go. Also other game.
Miss Addie Saulsberg was the fortunate holder of number 32 which drew the pretty doll, so much admired at Curtis' 99 cent store. The doll upon which chances were given with the sale of Whitman's candy.
The report that Henry Miller, whose family resides in Hollidaysburg, had been killed on the Little Miami railroad in Ohio, turns out to be incorrect. It is true he met with an accident, but beyond being badly used up, he expects to be himself in a short time.
It is not correct that Eli Green will enter the New Year's day walking match. However, he challenges any man weighing over 400 pounds to contest for the "Blair county fat weight championship walking belt." Running to be debarred.
Sam Easton, colored, and a white man engaged in a contest of the "manly" on Tenth avenue near Seventeenth street, yesterday morning. Easton got the better of the representative of "dem white trash," but had the little finger of his right hand broken in the melee.
An Altoona firm, says the Huntingdon News, will erect a steam saw mill on land leased from Short, Steward & Co., situated about one mile and a half from Franklinville. The lumber manufactured will be shipped by rail from Spruce Creek station. The capacity of the mill will be from 5,000 to 8,000 feet a day. The names of the Altoona parties are not given.
The Silver Greys.
A meeting of the Silver Grey's Social Club was held last evening in Cherry's furniture warerooms, on Twelfth street. Every member was present with two exceptions. The meeting was called to order by Robert Alexander, and the minutes were read and approved. Of the applicants for membership seven were present and two not present who were elected with the seven. They now constitute a body of twenty members. A discussion took place upon the requisite age for new members - sixty years. A motion was made that members be admitted at fifty years of age and older, but it was voted down and still stands at sixty years. A pleasant discussion upon a variety of subjects took place, all with the best of feeling. Previous to adjournment the Secretary offered a proposition, that the society meet again on the 31st. inst., for the purpose of holding an oyster supper. The proposition was unanimously accepted, and the meeting will be held at Nixdorf's, at 6:30 o'clock. It was decided to keep this custom up annually hereafter. A motion was made that they meet at the Secretary's, Mr. Fettinger's, store at 6 o'clock and proceed to the saloon in a body. The supper will be on the free and easy plan, each man buying what he wishes. They then adjourned to meet as above.
Accident at the Edgar Thomson Steel Works.
Sunday afternoon all the trusses of the converting mill of the Edgar Thomson Steel works gave way, and the roof fell to the ground, carrying with it some 12 or 15 men. As is customary, the works stop for some two or three weeks during the holidays for repairs, and it was proposed during the present idleness of the mill to have a new set of trusses placed in the converting department, as those in present use were not strong enough to bear up the iron roof and support four cranes and other machinery. The Keystone Bridge Company had the contract of replacing the old roof with new trusses of about four times the weight and strength of the former ones. They have been working the past week and had one of the trusses swung upon the walls and were preparing to take down the old one, when the entire roof 90 x 90 feet came down, smashing the cranes and other machinery in the mill. Gus. William and William Robinson, of Pittsburgh, were badly if not fatally injured; John Goul, J. J. Cassidy, James Blair, William Fetz, William Johnson, Harris and one man whose name could not be ascertained were severely though not seriously hurt. This is the second time the roof of this department has fallen.
Locomotive Building in the Railway Shops.
There were built at the railway shops in this city the past year fifty consolidated (Modoc) locomotives, known as class I. Also, two narrow gauge locomotives, class E, for the Danville and Richmond railroad, making in all 52 engines, or an average of one for every week of the year. Besides the new work, about 175 locomotives have been overhauled and repaired, independent of the ordinary small repairs not requiring the engine to be taken to the erecting shop. The work on all these engines is first class, everything entered into their composition being thoroughly tested before put in its place in the locomotive. The machines made at the shops in this city stand an immense sight of wear and tear, and perform an amount of work unequalled by the locomotives of other manufacturers. The "Modoc" is the most perfect freight engine now in use in the world, and the large number constructed this year is evidence that the company is fully convinced of their superiority over all other patterns, as well as the economical principle entering into their use.
Fatal Railroad Accident.
John H. Mitchell, who resides in Millville, a suburb of this city, was instantly killed about 5 o'clock yesterday morning at Blairsville Intersection. He was employed on a freight train as flagman, and was making his regular trip west. At the Intersection there were some cars to be shifted out of the train. While it was backing in on the siding, Mitchell, who was standing on the rear car, either fell or was jolted off. He fell on the track, was run over and the life crushed out of him. His remains were brought over yesterday afternoon on the mail train and conveyed to his parents' residence, Chestnut avenue and Thirty-second street. The remains were very badly mangled. Deceased was 23 years old, and has been on the road about five years. He was the only support of his aged parents, and built them a good house, and was paying for it out of his own earnings. He was to be married soon. He was a sober and industrious man.
John Halton's Funeral.
Yesterday afternoon the mortal remains of John Halton, Sr., were consigned to their last resting place. Funeral services were held at the Catholic church, high requiem mass being celebrated. Rev. Father Sheedy preached the funeral sermon. The funeral was very large, in fact one of the most numerously attended in Altoona for a long time. The statement in yesterday's TRIBUNE in regard to Mr. Halton's early life was not entirely correct.
Badly Bitten.
A few days since a child in the family of Samuel K. Orr, who lives on Fifth avenue near First street, was badly bitten by a dog. The mother was away at the time, and when she came back found several bites on the face and back.
Attempt at Burglary.
On Sunday night some fellow attempted to enter the dwelling of Mrs. E. Ormes, on Tenth avenue and Nineteenth street. A young man in the house was awakened by the noise at the front door and ran down stairs to investigate, when the fellow hastily departed.
Notice.
About fifty chances on the elegant wax wreath made by Mrs. B. I. Friese, yet remained to be taken. The drawing will positively take place on Saturday if the numbers are disposed of or not.
Two Brothers Drowned.
BETHLEHEM, Pa., December 29. - Two brothers, Larry and Thomas Zimmerman, aged 9 and 10 respectively, were drowned this morning while playing on the ice.
MINE EXPLOSION.
TWO MEN KILLED AT IRWIN'S STATION YESTERDAY.
The Paintertown Mines the Scene of the Explosion - Many Seriously Injured.
Probably Caused by Striking Miners, Etc.
PITTSBURGH, December 29. - This morning an explosion of fire damp occurred at the Paintertown mines of the Penn Gas Coal Company, near Irwin's Station, Pennsylvania Railroad, which resulted in the death of two men, and the injury of another, which may result fatally. The explosion occurred about 4 o'clock, at which time very few men were in the mines. Samuel Kistler and Michael Kessler were instantly killed, and Cyrus Foy seriously burned. Kistler leaves a wife, and Kessler, the other victim of the explosion, a wife and four children. If the explosion had occurred half an hour later some sixty or seventy miners would have been at work, and the loss of life would have been appalling, owing to the situation of the working entries where the fire ignited. The cause of the explosion is enshrouded in mystery, as the mines have heretofore been considered perfectly safe. This is the first accident of the kind which has ever occurred there, and the presumption is that it was caused by design. The presumption is strengthened by the fact that the miners engaged at the Paintertown mines have persistently refused to take part in any of the strikes which have occurred, and threats are alleged to have been made against them for their adhesion to their employers. The explosion could have been designedly caused by reversing a trap or draft door, and thus shutting off air from the working entries. Sad as the results of the accident are, it would have been more deplorable if the other miners had been at work.
Terrible Fate of a Suicide.
LACKAWAXEN, December 28. - William J. Lattin, a middle-aged man, residing near Daggett's Mills, left his home several weeks ago, vowing that he would hang himself. He had frequently made such threats and nothing was thought of the matter. A day or two ago some boys roaming through an unfrequented part of the forest near Daggett's Mills discovered the upper portion of a man's body hanging by a clothes line to a tree. The body had evidently been hanging there for several days and the entire lower portion of the body had been eaten away by wild animals. The boys who made this frightful discovery at once obtained assistant; the body was taken down and identified as that of Mr. Lattin. The body was interred, and the Coroner's jury decided that Mr. Lattin had committed suicide.
STATE NOTES.
Mrs. Williams, of Houtzdale, lost her life last week, by lighting a fire with coal oil.
"Ketner Sal" is a female hermit, living near Bernville, Berks county, who is 75 years of age.
Morris Smith, of Harrisburg, suicided Friday evening, by taking an ounce of laudanum. He had been indulging strong drink to excess of late.
Mrs. Peggy Craig, daughter of General Craig, of Revolutionary fame, lives at New Alexandria, Westmoreland county. She has in her possession a "rattlesnake" flag that was carried through the war for independence by the Independent Battalion of Westmoreland county.