NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, February 5, 1878, Blair County, PA

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Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday February 5, 1878

CITY AND COUNTRY.

A Runaway.

  About 9 o'clock yesterday morning a horse belonging to a man named Stehle, 
attached to a sleigh on Eighth avenue, became frightened and ran away.  On 
reaching Fifteenth street the horse, after rearing and kicking for a while, 
managed to break away from the sleigh, taking the shafts with him.  Nobody 
hurt.

The Way to Do It.

  Messrs. John Stebley and Gust Klemmert, of the East Side, took a sled load 
of quite young boys and girls on a pleasure trip to the county capital 
yesterday afternoon.  The young folks appeared to enjoy the kindness hugely.  
They returned in the evening all safe, and as full of youthful mirth as when 
they started.

R.R.M.C.A. Election.

  At a meeting of the members of the Railroad Men's Christian Association, 
held last evening, the following persons were elected to serve as the 
Executive Committee: Harry Stewart, William Burbank, T. B. Patton, William 
Green, William Alloway, H. J. Ackerman, John Housom, Simon Hawk, George F. 
Dieterich, Joseph D. Barker, C. S. Nicodemus, W. A. Adams.

Political Points.

  Alderman Poffenberger did not get away on his down-country trip on Friday 
night.  He took a nap and overslept himself.  By the way, the Alderman wants 
it understood that he is not going to run independently, and at the same 
time would like those delinquents who are in arrears to his office for costs 
and various other little matters to walk in and square up before the end of 
his term.
  The City Executive Committee of the Greenback-Labor party meets at the 
Council chamber this evening.

Little Laura McGlathery's Condition.

  Laura McGlathery, the little daughter of Allen McGlathery, jr., who was 
seriously hurt on Saturday by falling from a chair, the sharp support of the 
back of which ran into her thigh and inflicted an ugly gash, has since been 
resting with some degree of ease.  Dr. Allen said yesterday that there was 
slight signs of erysipelas about the wound, but he did not think she was in 
danger, although she was a little feverish.  It is to be hoped the little 
sufferer may speedily recover.

Republicans in Council.

  A meeting of the Republican City Executive Committee was held in the 
arbitration room of Alexander's office, on Eleventh avenue, on Saturday 
evening last.  John R. Frazier occupied the chair.  There was a very full 
attendance, and some important business was transacted.  Vacancies on the 
ticket were filled as follows: Judge of Election, First ward, H. C. Dern; 
Assessor, Second ward, M. V. Orner; Assessor, Third ward, C. E. Applebaugh; 
Council, Fourth ward, H. B. Kendig.  A vacancy yet remains for Council in 
the Third ward to be filled.  The councilmanic vacancy in the Fourth ward is 
caused by the declination of Allen McGlathery, sr., and that in the Third 
ward by the declination of Michael Clabaugh.  A poll committee of two from 
each ward was appointed, and the committee then adjourned to meet on 
Saturday night next at the same place.

Waifs Caught on the Run.

  Surprise parties appear to be popular as testimonials of regard.  Miss 
Lena McCormick, of Seventh avenue an Ninth street, on last Friday was 
eighteen years old, and a number of young friends visited her.
  The Altoona Iron Company's rolling mill is now running double turn.
  A brakeman named Daniel Weight had the thumb and two fingers of his right 
hand mashed yesterday while coupling cars in the company's yard.
  The Huntingdon Board of Health report the number of small-pox and 
varioloid cases, up to the 3d inst., at 11, and one death, Mrs. Kelly.  
There was also one death in the out hospital at Shirleysburg - John Coffee.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4

THE CITY FATHERS.

Last Night's Procedings - A Movement to Reduce the Mayor's Salary Postponed 
- The Pest House Question.

  The regular monthly meeting of City Council was held at the chamber lest 
evening.  Mr. Sink occupied the chair.  There were present Messres. Ake, 
Casanova, Cessos, Cunningham, Decker, Detwiler, Flanagan, Lotz, McGill, 
Reifsnyder and Sink, president.  After the roll had been called Secretary 
McNevin read the minutes of the last meeting.
  A communication from citizens of the Eight ward asking for a board walk on 
Seventh street, between Fourth and Seventh avenues, was received and 
referred to the proper committee.
  The Good Will Fire Company presented a petition asking for the use of the 
Council chamber in which to hold a fair for two weeks from the 11th inst.  
The request was granted.
  Also, a communication from the Junior Order of American Mechanics asking 
to be allowed the use of the chamber for a supper on the 22nd inst.  For the 
benefit of the order.
  Mr. Reifsnyder here said he thought this business ought to stop, and that 
the hall should not be given to any parties free.
  The president said there was a rule on the books against granting the use 
of the chamber to any except the fire companies and political parties.
  A couple of other communications of the same sort were received, and then 
the whole batch was filed.
  The holder of Altoona Improvement Bond No. 49, for $500, has lost it, and 
wanted to know what was to be done about it.  The matter went to the Finance 
Committee.
  The report of the Fire department Board was received and filed.
  The Mayor reported moneys received to the amount of $33.75, and the City 
Treasurer reported $1,149.77.
  Reports of committees were then asked for.  Quite a number had nothing to 
report.  The secretary read the report of the Committee on Lamps, setting 
forth that there are forty one lamps in the city to be lighted at the city's 
expense, and explaining their condition.
  Orders were directed to be drawn for the following bills: Mayor and police 
officers (salaries), $205.50; men on commissioners' pay-roll, $62.25; Jas. 
Turner, $27.61; John McNevin (two month salary), $41.66; A. Ake, $25; Dern & 
Pitcairn, $67.50; King & Irwin, $67.50; Globe Publishing Company, $5.65; R. 
D. Wood & Co., $13.77; King & Irwin, $5; John S. Bowman, $27.75; Harry Slep, 
$7; John A. Baer and others, $126.
   On motion of Mr. Casanave, and after much discussion, the Finance 
Committee was directed to select some parties to undertake, at a commission 
of not more than ten per cent., the collection of claims due the city.
  Mr. Couch, at Sixth avenue and Seventh street, was ordered to have the 
board walks, etc., on his property repaired at once.
  Mr. Flanagan moved that an order be granted to Olmus & Sink for $15 on 
their giving an indemnity bond.  Adopted.
  William Kelly, of Seventh avenue and Seventh street, was ordered to have 
his board walk repaired in ten days.
  Some talk here ensued upon the subject of the damages to parties for the 
opening of Fourth avenue, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and Mr. 
Flanagan moved finally that the City Solicitor be instructed to ask the 
court to appoint assessors for the purpose of determining the amount of 
damages due the aggrieved parties.  This was agreed to.
  A communication was received from the City Solicitor on the opening of 
Seventh avenue, below Fourth street, and it was decreed that the Street 
Commissioner, in conjunction with the Chief Engineer, should attend to the 
matter and have it opened.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4

THE REDUCTION OF THE MAYOR'S SALARY.

  Mr. Cessna here got upon the floor and made a speech favoring a general 
retrenchment in the expenses of the city. He thought that the salary of the 
incoming Mayor, whoever he may be, should be pulled down to the limit of $50 
per month, and that it must be done at once - before the election takes 
place.
  There was a long pause when this bomb was exploded, and no one seemed 
anxious to second the motion.  Finally Mr. Casanave, "in order to get the 
matter before Council and have an expression from that body," said he would 
second the motion.
  "Are you ready for the question?" asked the President.
  Mr. Flanagan was not ready for the question.  He agreed with the idea of 
Mr. Cessna that expenses should be reduced, but didn't see the use of 
hurrying about it.  Council had a month yet in which to act.
  This point was disputed, and it was soon decided that "if 'twere done when 
'tis done 'twere well 'twere done quickly."  The new Council could not 
reduce the fixed salary.
  Mr. Cessna said he was opposed to low wages as much as any one, as he knew 
how it was himself; but for the sake of the city and the tax payers he 
thought the salary should come down.
  Mr. Detwiler opposed the reduction, and said he thought $65 a month was 
little enough.
   Mr. Decker wanted to know if the next Council could raise the salary if 
it were reduced.
  The chair said it could not be done, as the salary was fixed for the term 
by the outgoing Council.  Whatever it was made now at that it must remain.
  The secretary read a corroboration of the chairman's remarks from the new 
Constitution.
  The question was then put before the house and two votes were cast for 
reduction and three against.  The rest of the Councilmen dodged the issue.
  Mr. Cessna then, this not being a very satisfactory proceeding, withdrew 
his motion to decrease the salary.

THE PEST HOUSE.

  The Mayor made a statement from the Directors of the Poor, who, he said, 
wished to fix up the "pest house" to be ready for a small-pox emergency.  
The directors, he said, with the city's permission, would do this in order 
that persons who had no other care, and who could not be taken to the poor-
house, could be sent there.
  Mr. Detwiler opposed the movement, and thought it looked like a scheme to 
bring township paupers under the care of the city.  He would not for vote 
for permission to be given.
  Mr. Taylor didn't think the pest house ought to be so near the "reservoy," 
and said he would not vote for the idea.  He thought the city could fix up 
its own hospital and take care of its own sick without consulting the 
Director of the Poor.
  Considerable discussion pro and con resulted, and then Mr. Flanagan 
introduced a resolution reciting that, if the Directors of the Poor receive 
none into the pest-house but citizens of Altoona, and send all tramps and 
strangers to the poor house, as before, permission might be given them to go 
ahead and make it ready.  This was agreed to.
  Mr. Cessna then moved that, when Council adjourn, it be to meet on Monday 
evening next, to consider the reduction of the Mayor's salary and whatever 
other business might come before the meeting (which latter is, if we are not 
mistaken, a most unparlimentary proceeding).
  Council then adjourned.

COURT PROCEEDINGS.

  The second week of the regular session of court began yesterday morning. 
The first case tried was Jacob Kinsil vs. Daniel R. Ramey, et al.  This was 
an action of ejectment, to recover possession of 154 acres of land, more or 
less, situated in Logan township, near this city, and purchased on the 
property of the plaintiff at an assignee's sale in August, 1868.  It was 
held that defendant did not really own the property at the time of the 
proceedings in bankruptcy which ended with the assignees sale; that he 
occupied the position of an heir at law until the death of his mother in May 
1876, and that his right was not impaired by the above mentioned sale.  The 
trial of the case consumed the entire day and came to an end at 5 o'clock, 
when the jury under instructions from the court returned the following 
verdict:
  We find for the plaintiff the undivided one fourth of the undivided one 
fifth of the portion of the land described in the suit, which was conveyed 
by Magdalena Gripe to Jacob C. Kinsel by deed dated the 29th day of 
December, 1837, and read in evidence in this case, as well as the draft of 
same, herewith filed.  And we further find for the plaintiff the whole of 
the portion of the land described in the writ containing sixty-seven acres 
and seventy-two perches, as shown by a draft of William Reed dated 7th and 
8th of April, 1835, and herewith filed in this case as part of the evidence.
  William Wilson vs. D. & C. Moore.  This was an action of debt to recover 
balance due on an article of agreement.  The parties to the suit reside in 
this city.  The plaintiff alleged that on April 1, 1878, his son William M. 
Wilson entered the employ of defendants under an article of agreement in the 
capacity of a clerk or book-keeper, at a monthly salary of forty-five 
dollars; that in February, 1874, defendants told the young man that they had 
no more work for him in the store, and asked him to go to the mountain as a 
laborer; that he declined to do son, but said he was willing to carry out 
his contract, whereupon he was discharged, and this action was brought by 
his father to recover a balance of $129 wages due, with interest from April, 
1874.  Court adjourned until nine o'clock this morning after the first 
witness had been examined.
  Tyrone Mercantile Co. vs. Githens & Rexsamer.  Settled per paper filed.
  Jas. Moore vs. Jas. S. Bouser et al.  Defendant's confessed judgment in 
favor of plaintiff in the sum of $200.
  Benj Owen's heirs vs. Kittanning Coal Co.  Certified to special list.
  H. L. & J. S. Ake vs. Jos. Patterson et. al.  Certified to special court.
  Joshua Rhodes vs. Jno. Rentz and wife.  Continued at cost of defendants.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4

OFFICERS ELECTED.

   At a meeting of the Empire Hook and Ladder Company held last evening the 
following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year.  President, 
L. B. Pancake; Vice-President, Chas. Gern; Secretary, J. J. Gehrdes; 
Assistant Secretary, C. E. Gardner; Treasurer, B. Berkowitz; Trustees, G. A. 
Landis, D. A. Gilland, L. B. Pancake; Directors, P. T. Flynn, M. A. Condrin, 
Wm. Vaughn, J. H. Burley, W. W. Smith, Wm. Knepper; Representative of Board 
of Fire Department, W. W. Smith.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4

A PECULIAR CAUSE OF DEATH.

  In a post mortem examination on the remains of the late John Sagers, of 
Logantown, made by Dr. D. M. Graham, assisted by Drs. Ross and Adams, the 
heart was found to be enlarged to twice its normal size, while the 
pericardium or heart sac was filled with dropsical effusion to the amount of 
half a gallon.  The left lung was perfectly sound, while the right was 
solidified from compression by the enlarged and displaced heart sac, but 
free from any organic lesion.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4

HELD FOR POSTAGE.

  The following letters are held for postage at the Altoona office, and 
unless called for or properly stamped by this evening will be sent to the 
Dead Letter Office in Washington: Lawrence Hannigan, Williamsport, Pa.; Miss 
Lizzie P. Patterson, Williamsburg, Pa., and Cyrus Thompson, Sabbath Rock, 
Blair county, Pa.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, February 5, 1878, page 4