Blair County PAGenWeb

Blair County Newspaper Articles

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

Items from The Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,

Wednesday, August 4, 1880

HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS.
Funeral of Mrs. Lewis - Indecent Behavior. Personal and Other Points.

Prothonotary J. P. Stewart and Recorder Abram Lingafelt went to Bedford to attend the office holders' convention.

The ladies of the Methodist Church will hold an ice cream festival on Friday evening for the benefit of the church. All are invited to attend.

Mr. W. H. Baker has secured a very desirable situation in a mill at Providence, Rhode Island, and has left our town. Mr. Baker is a No. 1 iron roller.

We are under obligation to Mr. David Delozier, Chairman of Committee, for an invitation to a "Harvest Home" at Yellow Spring, on Saturday next, August 7.

There are nightly complains about the indecent behavior of young men who congregate on the Hollidaysburg end of the Gaysport bridge. All this could be avoided by the borough placing a lamp just inside the main railing. Gaysport has always done its duty in maintaining a light. Let Hollidaysburg do likewise.

It is the custom with many of our independent ladies to do their shopping in Altoona. An old Irish lady, who wants to follow the fashion, was at the depot yesterday, and while waiting for the train remarked that she was going over to Altoona to get her old man a pair of brogans and a "Bahmagillead" shirt for herself (she meant, of course, a balmoral).

FUNERAL OF MRS. LEWIS.

The funeral of Mrs. Harriet Lewis, which took place yesterday afternoon, although the rain was pouring down previous to and at the time of leaving the dwelling, the attendance was unusually large, thus showing the very high appreciation in which the deceased was held by the people among whom she lived. The funeral ceremonies were conducted by her pastor, Rev. H. F. King, assisted by Revs. D. L. Barron and J. B. Shaver. She was buried in the Lutheran cemetery.

CORRECTION.

It appears our church statistics in yesterday's TRIBUNE were not only incorrect in several particulars, but were not congenial to persons interested, for all of which we are truly sorry and promise to be more guarded in reporting in the future anything pertaining to church matters. The true statement of sermons preached should have been 1,522; prayer meetings attended, 964; and visits made, 5,861.

ROARING SPRING RIPPLES.
Patent for Fiber Paper - Stealing Wheat and Apples - Large Yield of Wheat.

Mr. Shoemaker is paying ninety cents a bushel for new wheat and one dollar and five cents for old, showing that the new crop has not reduced the price below what it was a year ago.

Charles Wilson, Esq., one of Taylor township's Enterprising farmers, has the best report yet on the largest yield of wheat. From 112 dozen he threshed 127 1/2 bushels of good, clean wheat. Who can beat it?

Mr. Wagg, the successor of Mr. E. C. Dixon as Superintendent and foreman of the paper mill of Messrs. Morrison, Bare & Cass, arrived yesterday and will at once assume his duties. Mr. Wagg is from Ohio.

On Saturday evening last a preliminary step was made to organize a Garfield Club. It was not generally known, but a considerable interest was manifested. A temporary organization was effected by electing Dr. A. S. Stayer President and W. F. Kyle Secretary. Fifty- one names were enrolled. Sheriff Bobb addressed the meeting. There was a committee appointed for general organization to report at the next meeting. It was agreed to call a meeting for Saturday evening, August 7, at 8 P. M.

ORCHARD THIEVING.

Some of our boys who have a strong propensity for fruit and who do not always consult the owners of fruit before appropriating it to their own use. [sic] One of their nocturnal maraudings came to grief not long since. Four boys undertook one night last week to steal from the orchard of D. M. Bare. Sentinels were on the ground, however, and several shots were fired and one of the boys captured. The others being known came forward and implored forgiveness and promised to desist from thieving in the future.

PATENT FIBER PAPER.

A. W. Anderson, of this place, has made an invention on paper for bank notes, checks and drafts. His invention consists in the fiber arranged in such a manner as to easily detect a forgery on it. This invention is a valuable one and will be of vast importance to the government and to bankers, as well as to others. Mr. Anderson, we have been informed, has been endeavoring to negotiate with the government through the Treasury Department for his patent. There are fair prospects for a sale to the government.

STEALING WHEAT.

A bold thief stole about twelve bushels of wheat from a farmer on Piney Creek. He took the farmer's sacks to carry the wheat away. He borrowed a cart and gears and took another farmer's horse to haul it. He concealed it for several days and then handed it to some mill and sold it. This outrage upon the public should not go unpunished. The parties interested should prosecute the matter, or the District Attorney should look after it.

PORTAGE PICKINGS.
Republicans Organizing for the Fray - Religious Meetings - Personal Notes.

Mr. E. W. Morrow and Miss Annie Carney, of your place, were visiting here on Sunday.

The Democracy of this place are endeavoring strenuously to organize a Hancock and English club. Hope they will succeed.

We are glad to note that Captain Mike Quartz, the gentlemanly conductor of the Johnstown express, is again able to resume his duties of "sticking" holes in pasteboard.

REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION.

On the 24th ultimo the Republicans of this place and vicinity met in the office of 'Squire Burgoon, a neat and commodious room in the rear of Mr. Westbrook's store building, at Sonman and organized a Garfield and Arthur Club for the Presidential campaign. The meeting was called to order by J. C. Noel and the following permanent officers were elected: President, F. J. Parrish; Vice President, Joseph Burgoon; Secretary, F. J. Burgoon; Treasurer, J. C. Noel; Corresponding Secretaries, D. H. Rankin, David Patrick. The following is the Campaign Committee: William Pringle, Jr., William Hall, William E. Hays, N. B. Westbrook, Morris George, J. P. McDonell, Robert Marlett, Phillip Hoffer, J. M. Burk, D. K. Wilhelm, Charles Cullen, James Gallagher, Charles Miller, M. F. Hammers, George W. Long. Mr. N. B. Westbrook was made Temporary Chairman of the committee. A neat and appropriate speech was made by William E. Hays, which was loudly applauded. Quite a number enrolled their names on the list when the meeting adjourned, with instructions to meet in Hopfer's Hall, at Portage, on Wednesday evening following, which announcement was promptly complied with. The meeting was very interesting. Additional names were added to the list, making a membership of about 75 or 80. Mr. Andrew Patrick, of your place, Superintendent of Baker's coal mines, at Kittanning Point, addressed the crowd with a brief but telling speech, mid tremendous applause. Charles Miller was selected as Chairman, on motion of J. M. Buck, which was put and carried. The meeting then adjourned, with instructions to meet alternately at Portage and Sonman every Wednesday evening. We're going to do it.

"Touching" the marriage announcement of John McCloskey; in our last letter, he grew very indignant over it. Being uttered from the lips of the gentleman himself, we thought the report to be a very correct one. Now he says not; wouldn't entertain such a thought for a single moment. Come, Mac, don't put on such a long, earnest looking face when you lead off in a subject of that kind. Serious, you know. Dy'eeyees moind that now?

FROM AFRICA.
Letter from Rev. James H. Deputie - His Religious Work - Laborers Wanted.

Most of our readers are acquainted with Rev. James H. Deputie, whose home was in this county before he engaged in missionary work in Africa, and the following letter will be read with interest. It was addressed to Miss Eliza J. McCormick, of this city, who has kindly placed it at our disposal. Mr. Deputie's chirography is as plain as the type in which this letter is printed:

MOUNT OLIVE, LIBERIA,
WEST AFRICA, June 3, 1880.

DEAR FRIEND: Thirty-six years have passed away since I first made your acquaintance in the Sabbath school of the old Presbyterian church of Hollidaysburg, and I am glad to receive a line from you, as your letter contains so much advice and encouragement in the work of toil and care around us. Your letter, under date of April 5, came safely to hand on Tuesday last and found us all well - a blessing we desire to be very thankful for. I have been very busy this year, also, and my epistolary correspondence has been somewhat neglected, although upwards of a hundred letters, foreign and domestic, have passed from under my pen since the ushering in of the present year. I was not at home when my sister Margaretta died. I was on my way to Cape Palmas to attend the session of our conference. She was dead over three weeks when I heard of it. We have no telegraph wire to carry news from one section of the country to the other, and we have to wait our opportunities. Margaretta was sick a long time, upwards of four years, but not confined to her bed. She was going about until the day of her death. She spoke of death as a welcome visitor that would remove her to a land of rest, where there would be no more pain, fever nor sorrow. Her husband takes her death very hard, indeed, and seems hard to become reconciled to his lot. She was doing a good missionary work. She had a very interesting school of native boys and girls that she was training for the Master's use. She has gone, and they are left to battle with the storms of life a while longer. One of the boys has recently embraced religion and united with the Presbyterian church at Grassdale. Mr. Goolsby is keeping up the interest of the school as best he can, but there is a void in the family that he cannot fill. The children also feel this very sensibly. It was Mr. Goolsby's intention to have visited America this year, but failed to get his crop of coffee gathered in time. His occupation is that of a farmer and he raised over fourteen hundred pounds of coffee this season. You will hardly see him if he does visit that country, as his relatives are in the State of Georgia, and he will want to hunt them up. However, as the season is so far spent, he may not get there this year.

My brother John's family are getting along finely. Mrs. Deputie is now employed as an assistant teacher at Grass Dale, for which the Board pays her a salary of two hundred dollars. Her mother is living with her and assists her in the care and responsibilities of the children. The oldest son, John M. Deputie, by name, embraced religion last week, and says if God spares his life he intends to take his father's place. My brother Robert is still at Monrovia, but the Board wants him to leave and take charge of a work among the heathen, and labor more directly in the native work. The church at Monrovia wants him to remain there. Dillon is now on his farm doing nothing for himself or his family. You would not believe him to be the same person. He does nothing for and has but very little to say to his own children. The latter is advantageous to them, as by this they may not know of his conduct. I am still here on the Mount Olive Mission station. We are not advancing as rapidly as we desire, but we are making use of advantages as best as we can. We are in need of a better system of day school teaching than we have been obliged to put up with for some time past. One hundred dollars a year for a competent teacher is not a very great inducement for a qualified teacher to leave home, and enter the educational department of the Mission work. The field in Africa is now ripe for the Missionary sickle. From the far interior the cry is coming send to us, "Send us God's word. Send us men to teach our children. Send us light." The government has this year increased the appropriations for the work of education among the heathen, and day schools have been opened in some places, but we have not met the demand by far. We want men and women to enter this field, to preach and teach those poor heathen people the way that leads to God. The children are anxious to come to us, but we are not able to take them and support them while they go to school. The native do not yet appreciate the cause of religion and education enough to let it cost them much. They believe in a free Gospel, literally understood.

At present our government has some trouble with the Vey tribe in the Cape Mount country. The natives have been fighting among themselves for several months past, to the detriment of trade and the farming interest. The government sent commissioners there a short time ago to try and settle the trouble, but it has broken out anew. The President is now up there trying to settle the difficulty peaceably, and if he fails to accomplish this they will go into fighting. This is very disagreeable to think upon. War is a bad thing in any country and more especially in one like this. We are in hope that peace may be restored without resorting to the use of arms. We have had almost a famine in this country this year. Breadstuff has been and is now very scarce. Flour is from seventeen to twenty dollars a barrel. Rice is fifty cents a gallon and potatoes, when they can be had, are one dollar a bushel. The rice crops have been failing for several years past, and this year the times have been very hard. In this section of the country the natives regard it as a judgment sent from God, because some of them would work on the Sabbath day. So they have agreed, among themselves, not to do any cutting of farms on Sundays, but if they do light work God will not regard it. We are trying to teach them the importance of refraining from all work, and give the day entire to God. Two white missionaries have recently come out to assist in the work. A young man by the name of Hollet will take charge of the seminary and the lady will be his assistant. Miss Sharpe came out last year and has opened a school among the Kroo tribe settled near Monrovia. The Rev. M. Bushnell died at Sierra Leone on his way to his work. Robert saw his family and went to Sinoe on the same steamer upon which they were sailing. Last month while I was in Monrovia on business a steamer stopped having five missionaries on board for the Gaboon mission.

And now I must draw near to a close, as I have nearly filled this sheet. I am always glad to hear from my old home, but it is very seldom any one writes to me except yourself. We have written to many of the friends in Altoona and Hollidaysburg, but they have not replied and we have become discouraged. Mrs. Ray did give us a great kindness in the gift of books, but she discontinued her labors of charity too soon. Remember me kindly to all the friends who have not forgotten me, and my desire to do all the good I can, not for this name or the other but my desire to glorify God, advance the interests of His kingdom and get home to heaven. Very respectfully yours, JAMES H. DEPUTIE.

Facts About Company D.

EDS. TRIBUNE: This morning an article appeared in the TRIBUNE which seemingly casts reflections on Captain John L. Piper, of Company D, of this city. As soon as the Captain is able to collect the company's property then his bond will be forwarded at once. He does not feel called upon to bond for property not in his possession! Heretofore no interest was taken in Company D by its members or by the citizens, but now it is getting on a sound basis, and in a short time will present as good financial, military and civil record as any company in the regiment. The officers are doing everything in their power to make the company a success, and have the hearty support of every member of the rolls. Thanking you for your valuable space, I am, truly yours, ONE OF THE COMPANY.

Died.

GARBER - July 28, near Roaring Spring, Susan, daughter of Joseph and Catharine Garber, aged 10 years, 11 months and 20 days.

"Dearest daughter, thou has left us,
Here thy loss we deeply feel,
But 'tis God that has bereft us,
He can all our sorrows heal"

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, August 4, 1880, page 3

CITY AND COUNTRY.

Things Briefly Told.

The public schools of Altoona will open on Monday, September 6th.

Letter held at the postoffice for postage - Scott Williams, Carrolltown, Pa.

Tyrone Methodists and Sunday school will picnic in Funk's Grove, Warriorsmark, to-day.

Philip Halton will shortly begin the erection of a new frame house on his lot, near Plack's tannery.

The Pennsylvania railroad depot building at Tyrone will be a handsome structure when completed.

J. H. Brown was yesterday qualified as Register and Recorder of Cambria county, vice J. G. Lake, deceased.

The Sixth ward Democratic club meets on every Friday night at Ninth avenue and Seventeenth street. It has a large membership.

It is rumored that the Lafferty watch will be chanced off next week, after pay day. This will be gratifying news to ticket holders.

Hon. Jacob M. Campbell, of Johnstown, was hereaways yesterday. It is possible that Mr. Campbell may be Cambria's choice for Congress.

Treasurer Rutledge was in the city yesterday. He has made a courteous and pleasant officer, and we are only sorry that his term expires so soon.

Jacob Burket, father of Dr. G. W. Burket, of Tyrone, was buried at Brookville last Wednesday. His aged was 91 years, 11 months and 29 days.

Alderman O'Toole yesterday had a raging family quarrel in the Fifth ward to settle. He took the sensible plan of sending all parties home to cool off.

The Mayor is engaged in making out the papers necessary to send the three children of James E. Mattingly, deceased, to a soldiers' orphan school.

The Mayor has not yet received the amendment to the street railway ordinance. But if it is approved the company will shortly begin to lay its tracks.

The Third ward Republicans held a meeting in the Opera House last night. They report the work in the ward to be progressing satisfactorily.

Baggage Master Dumphy has been off on the sick list for a number of days, but we are pleased to see him back again at his old post looking better.

The child of Mr. Pfieffer, who fell down a well on Monday at his residence on the Dry Gap road was a little girl named Katy. She was much better last evening.

The Ninth street man has completed his menagerie without the monkey. He looked at the Sun stock and decided not to take any as he wanted one with hair all over.

A boy named Hamilton was yesterday arrested by Officer Mock for jumping on freight trains in the yard. He was locked up for a few hours and then turned loose.

The Teachers' Institute for the Altoona school district will be held in the First ward school house, commencing on Tuesday, August 31st, and continuing for four days.

The Sinking Valley farmers will hold another harvest home celebration at the Brick Church on Saturday. A good time and plenty to eat will surely be among the features of the picnic.

Two drunken men had a very narrow escape from being run over by an engine in front of the Logan House about midnight yesterday. They were staggering down the track when a shifter came along.

It is noticed that the hair on many of the emigrants' heads stands straight up, perpendicular to the scalp. Depot men said it is occasioned by surprise at the condition of the new country they get into.

Mr. E. W. Heald, formerly of this city, but now of the Baldwin locomotive works, Philadelphia, is in the city on his annual vacation. Mr. H. is a very pleasant gentleman and has many friends in the mountain city.

The Misses Resler, from Ohio, for the past few days guests of Mr. David Johnson, Eighth avenue, were suddenly called home by the death of their brother-in-law, Professor George Keister, of the Theological Seminary, in Dayton, Ohio.

The Call may not be able to change its spots, but since there is a prospect of an abundance of water it can at least keep them clean. The result of the water loan election was a surprise to it. Of course it was all through its herculean efforts.

A sad tale could be unfolded in regard to a family which lived near Seventh avenue and Fourth street. In June the happy pair were married (both had been married before) and a day or two since family jars became so violent that the lady deserted the roof of her liege lord never to return.

The up town Hancock organ wants to know where the TRIBUNE stands politically. It ought not to make a fool of itself by asking such a question, when a few days ago it classed the TRIBUNE a stalwart among the stalwart of Republican journals, and quoted largely from its columns to prove it. Ain't you, too, for Garfield - on the sly?

The County Commissioners yesterday refused to pay the election officers of this city for holding the election for the water loan. On what ground they objected we are not informed, but presume they did not consider it an affair in which the whole county was interested, and therefore not entitled to pay; that it was a matter in which the city alone was most interested and it should foot the bill.

ANOTHER BABY.
A Young Girl Gives Birth to an Illegitimate Child Which is Thrown Into a Sink.

Yesterday an occurrence happened in this city which within a few months past has become all too common. A young girl named Mary Kimbal, gave birth to an illegitimate child, which she afterward threw down the well of an outhouse in the yard. The girl is a native of Cambria county and has been employed as a domestic in the city for some months past. On Monday she complained of feeling unwell and her condition, although not known, was suspected. She was asked in regard to it, but stoutly maintained that there was nothing in the matter with her, except that she was feeling the effects of the warm weather. The lady of the house gave her a glass of wine, and offered to send for a physician, but the latter she refused. At about 2 o'clock yesterday morning a gentleman living in the house was sitting in his room unable to sleep. While at the window he noticed the girl out in the yard carrying a bundle and a light. His suspicions were immediately aroused and he wakened the lady of the house. She went after the girl and asked what she had done. Mary thereupon confessed the whole story, and said that the child had been born dead. About 7 o'clock in the morning Alderman Rose was informed of the affair, and advised the parties to notify Coroner Humes. This was done. A jury of inquest was immediately called, consisting of the following gentlemen: H. Al. McGraw, James Powell, Charles Whittle, S. T. Wilson, _____ Glunt and _____ Miller. The body was fished out and an examination made of the remains by Dr. Christy. The doctor believed that it had been alive and drowned, as its lungs were inflated. It was a fully-developed male infant. The girl made a full confession of the affair and said that she had been taking medicine for six months to be relieved of her trouble. A verdict in accordance with the above facts was rendered and the body was then taken to the almshouse and buried. The mother is very ill and it is doubtful whether she will survive the terrible ordeal through which she has passed. When able to be moved she will be placed under arrest, but it will be a long time before it will be possible to serve the warrant. She had her clothes packed ready to leave but was taken ill. In the afternoon Howard Hagerty, a young man employed in the city, and according to the statement of the girl, the father of the child, was arrested and taken before Alderman Rose. The warrant charges him with attempting to procure an abortion by the administration of medicine. No evidence was taken, but the Alderman held him in the sum of $500 for his appearance at Court. Bail was furnished.

The Water Loan.

Now that it has been voted for, the manner of its expenditure is already causing a wrangle. Some want pipes laid with the money before there is water enough to supply them, while the more wise want first to secure the supply of water. The complaint has been the want of water, and we think this deficiency should first engage the attention of those having the matter in charge. From the residue of the loan and the water rents and taxes, after paying interest and ordinary expenses, there will be sufficient to put water pipe where it is most needed. All the taxpayers desire to see is a fair and judicious use made of the loan, such as will do away with the everlasting grown about no water when a month's dry spell ensues. Water pipes will be of no avail in this respect without there is a supply of water collected to put in them.

A Garfield and Arthur Club at Millville.

The Millville Garfield club met at the store of T. J. Armstrong, in Millville, yesterday evening and effected a permanent organization by the election of Mr. Carson as President and Mr. Brown Secretary. Over fifty persons were present at the organization, prominent among whom we noted Mr. Stains, E. S. Hall, Mr. Carswell and other solid workers in the party. The club starts off under very favorable auspices, and we have no doubt will be one of the largest and most efficient of the campaign. They have already secured a permanent place of meeting and will meet once a week until the campaign closes. J. D. Hicks, Esq., dropped in during the evening and made a short address.

Cruelty to Animals.

Yesterday Charles Hench, of Sinking Valley, had a hearing before Alderman Rose upon the charge of breaking a pig's legs while abusing it. The evidence was sufficient to bind him over for his appearance at court upon the charge of cruelty to animals, and he was required to furnish $200 bail. The case was one of a cross-suit between him and Jacob Meadville.

Into New Quarters.

Dr. S. M. Ross is fixing up an office on Twelfth street, just above Twelfth avenue, which he will occupy in the course of a few days. The doctor has been associated with Dr. Fay as railroad physician for a number of years past, but will now engage to practice on his own account. We wish him every success.

Newton Hamilton Camp Meeting.

Extensive preparations are being made for the camp meeting at Newton Hamilton, which begins on the 10th of this month. There will probably be a very considerable turnout of Altoona people present. Already about twenty-five families have engaged tents.

EIGHTH DISTRICT CENSUS.
Population, Number of Farms and Deaths During the Year.

The following official statement of the population of the counties in the Eighth census district, including the number of farms and the deaths in each county, has been received from Professor Howard Miller, of Elk Lick, Somerset county, the efficient Supervisor:

[Numbers on microfilmed page were blurry and are not guaranteed to be correct by the transcriber.]

POPULATION.*

Somerset county - 33,142 / 33,110
Greene county - 28,292 / 28,273
Fayette county - 58,804 / 58,842
Westmoreland county - 78,119 / 78,036
Bedford county - 39, 950 / 34,929
Blair county - 52,768 / 52,740
Indiana county - 38,460 / 40,527
Cambria county - 46,827 / 46,811

Total - 371,473 / 373,268

FARMS.**

Somerset county - 3,427 / 3,303
Greene county - 2,894 / 2,900
Fayette county - 3,244 / 3,231
Westmoreland county - 5,438 / 5,389
Bedford county - 3,328 / 3,240
Blair county - 1,612 / 1,530
Indiana county - 4,510 / 4,438
Cambria county - 2,453 / 2,487

Total, 26,906

DEATHS DURING THE YEAR.

Somerset county - 454
Greene county - 270
Fayette county - 720
Westmoreland county - 835
Bedford county - 286
Blair county - 55?7
Indiana county - 360
Cambria county - 611

Total, 4,193

For the purpose of affording our readers an opportunity of comparing the present population of the several counties above named, with the returns as made by the Census Enumerators ten years ago, we append the following:

POPULATION IN 1870.

Somerset county - 28,181
Greene county - 25,374
Fayette county - 41,780
Westmoreland county -58,160
Bedford county - 29,150
Blair county - 27,665
Indiana county - 35,952
Cambria county - 36,471

From the foregoing it will be observed that in the entire district under the supervision of Professor Miller there has been a gain in population of 78,740 within a period of ten years. The greatest increase is set down to the credit of Westmoreland, which gained 19,959. Blair county comes next, with 15,103; Bedford, 10,810; Cambria, fourth on the list, 10,356; Fayette, 7,114; Somerset, 4,961; Greene, 2,919; Indiana, 2,517.

Although Blair county contains a population of 5,939 over Cambria, yet the death rate in the latter exceeds that of the former by 54. In proportion to the number of inhabitants in Fayette and Westmoreland, the latter is far the healthier district, as in a difference in population of over 19,000 in favor of Westmoreland, the total of deaths in that county foots up 835, while Fayette shows 720.

Not one of the Enumerators failed to perform his work in a satisfactory manner, and General Walker, Chief of the Census Bureau, expresses himself as being well pleased with all concerned in preparing the enumeration. It will be some time yet before the tables containing all the vital statistics will be printed by the department, as the work will be tedious and laborious.

Explosion of an Engine Boiler.

Yesterday morning a locomotive engine exploded its boiler while standing near the Union Depot in Pittsburgh. Engineer Gregory and his fireman, who belong on one of the western roads, were in the cab at the time but miraculously escaped with a few scalds. Pieces of the boiler and engine were thrown for several squares around but no one was injured. The explosion is thought to have been caused by a bad crown sheet, but some engineers are of the opinion that the engine had been standing on a steep grade until the water, which was in ample supply, had settled to one end of the boiler, leaving a portion at the fire end bare. When the level track was reached the water came in contact with the heated portion and the sudden generation of steam caused the explosion. The flues were collapsed and broken and the ends flared like a lamp chimney.

Improving a House.

Frank Huss is making very extensive improvements to his house on Eleventh avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. He proposes to lower the building bodily about three feet, and now has Philip Halton engaged in deepening the cellar in proportion. To do this it is necessary to go down below the foundation of the cellar walls. A day or two since one of these walls tumbled in, but fortunately injured no one, although several persons were in the cellar at the time. When the building is lowered the front will be torn out of it, and the lower story will be made into a glass front store. It will make a good stand.

Meeting of the Eighth Ward Republicans.

The Republicans of the Eighth ward, and all others favorable to the election of Garfield and Arthur, are requested to meet in the Mountain City Band room, on Ninth street, near Eighth avenue, on Friday evening next, August 6, to make all necessary arrangements for the organization of the Eighth ward club. A full attendance of the signers of the roll is earnestly requested.

An Old Resident.

A few days since P. H. Burket, of Warriorsmark, found on his farm a turtle on which his son George, now of this city, had in 1861 cut his name and the date. The turtle has been seen several times since it was marked. It is still a good healthy specimen, about one-half larger than when marked nineteen years ago.

Arrested for Fighting.

Yesterday Chris. Wahl's brewer was arrested upon complaint of William Koch and taken before Alderman Blake for fighting. He will have a hearing to-day. The man had Koch arrested and taken before the Mayor a few days since on the same charge. The fuss grew out of a harmless piece of fun.

What Was in His Boot.

Our good farmer friend, Mr. J. S. Laird, of Logan township, is accustomed to wear a pretty good sized boot. A few days ago he drew on a pair that had not been used for some time. One of them pulled on rather hard, when he thought that particular member encased in it was somewhat swollen. After tramping around awhile he began to think there was something alive in it, and that the cat had brought home another snake and lodged it in his boot. He drew the boot off, when out popped a littler of young mice! He will shake his boot out hereafter before putting his foot in it.

Stopped Grading.

Commissioner Rockett has had to stop grading on Louden hill beyond Eighteenth street. One hundred dollars was appropriated for this purpose, of which sum he has spent $82.50. When the grading is finished the street will be passable for wagons. To-day he will put in two culverts on Sixteenth avenue ordered by Council, and also make the repairs ordered at Seventh avenue and Second street.

The Logan House Concerts.

Below will be found the programme prepared by the Logan House quartette under the leadership of Mr. Praetorious. Exercises will begin at 11:30 A. M.:

Overture - "Freischatz," Verdi
Selection - "Ernani," Giese
Waltz - "Werber," Lanner
Overture - "Fra Diavolo," Auber
Cello Solo - "La Rose," Spohr
Selection - Robert le Diable," Meyerbeer

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, August 4, 1880, page 4

_____

* Figures after / are the corrected figures from the Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990, compiled and edited by Richard L. Forstall, Department of Commerce, U. S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, March 1996. https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/PopulationofStatesand CountiesoftheUnitedStates1790-1990.pdf 

** Figures after / are the corrected figures from the 1880 Census: Volume 3. Report on the Productions of Agriculture. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1883/dec/vol-03- agriculture.html