NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, November 18, 1879, Blair County, PA

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Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, November 18, 1879

ADDITIONAL LOCAL NEWS.
Foot Crushed in the "Deadwoods."

  A Pittsburgh division freight brakeman named William Hamill rode on his 
train, which arrived in this city about half past 9 o'clock last night, to a 
point in the yard nearly opposite the Logan House, when he jumped to the 
ground for the purpose of mounting a westward bound train to ride to 
Seventeenth street, to the residence of Mrs. Grant, with whom he boarded.  
He succeeded in getting up between two cars, and in some manner that he 
cannot account for Hamill got his right foot fastened between the 
"deadwoods."  The cars suddenly jarred together and the foot below the ankle 
was badly mashed.  He was removed to the office of the company's physicians 
and his wounds were dressed.  He expressed a desire to be sent to his home 
at Pittsburgh on Pittsburgh express, and arrangements were made therefor.

A Railroad to be Sold.

  The Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek railroad will be sold at the 
Merchants' Exchange, in Philadelphia, at public sale, by James A. Freeman & 
Co., on December 13, by order of George Taber, trustee under the mortgage 
given the company.  This road connects the Pennsylvania railroad at Tyrone 
with the Philadelphia and Erie railroad in Northumberland county, and is 86 
miles long, partially constructed.

Dennis Meehan on His Travels.

  Dennis Meehan, who could not tell where his residence was or could give no 
reasonable excuse for wandering aimlessly about the streets, was picked up 
by Officer Fettinger at Eighth avenue and Twelfth street.  He said he was 
from Pittsburgh and was going to Philadelphia, "in Delaware county."  He had 
a new shoe in a package and an old one on one foot and a new one on the 
other.  He was given a place to sleep in the lock-up.

Injured in the Wheel Foundry.

  Albert Young, of Sixth avenue and Twenty-first street, while at work in 
the wheel foundry yesterday had the end of the third finger on his left hand 
badly crushed and split by a wheel falling on it.  It was found necessary by 
the company's physicians to amputate the finger above the second joint.  A 
man named Augustus Krier, employed in the same department, had one hand 
considerably lacerated by the machinery.

STATE NOTES.

  The Board of Pardons will convene to-day, when the case of Andrew Tracey, 
the McKean county murderer, will be heard.
  Three hounds killed for Ellis P. Wood, West Bradford, Chester county, 
twenty-five out of twenty-eight fine sheep the other night.
  Albert Yorkers, Andrew H. Brubaker, Edward Johnston, Lewis Kehlen, Richard 
Steen, William Smith and John Lynch, were sentenced to 9 months each in the 
county jail at Carlisle, last week, under the Rhoads tramp law.

CITY AND COUNTRY.

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE.
Three Tramps Attempt to Commit Murder and Robbery.

  Last Friday afternoon three tramps appeared at the residence of George and 
Henry Dillinger, who live in what is called Poverty Hollow, a secluded 
retreat, about two and one-half miles south of Springfield Mines.  The 
family consists of the brothers, George and Henry, and their sister, all 
elderly people, George being a cripple.  On entering the house they demanded 
something to eat, which was given them, when they took their departure.  
About 6 o'clock the same evening they made their appearance again, and one 
of the nomads on entering the house demanded "your money or your life" of 
George Dillinger.  "You can't have either," replied the brave old man.  With 
this the tramp whipped out a revolver and fired, the shot striking George 
Dillinger in the forehead, and glancing passed around the head to a position 
behind the ear.  A general free fight ensured.  Dillinger did not know that 
he was shot, and made determined battle against the villains.  His sister 
was knocked down, but managed to make her escape from the house, and 
proceeded to ring the bell, used to call the farm laborers to their meals, 
vigorously, after which she turned a large and ferocious dog into the house.  
He seized one of the tramps by the throat and would have made short work of 
him but for the interposition of his two comrades, who managed to beat off 
the animal with clubs.  Having freed their fellow companion from the 
clutches of the dog the scoundrels took their departure from the premises 
without having accomplished the object of their mission - the lives or the 
money of the inmates.  The wound produced in George Dillinger's head is an 
ugly but not a dangerous one.  It bled profusely, and with the wounds made 
on the would-be robbers and murderers gave the room in which the conflict 
took place a frightful appearance.  Henry Dillinger, we believe, was absent 
while the robbers attacked his brother and sister.  The Dillingers had sold 
some cattle and farm products a few days previously, and it is supposed that 
this spoil was the object of the tramps' visitation and desperate measures 
against the household.  Had another brother, Casper, happened around about 
this time the villains would not have escaped so easily, as he is reckoned a 
very Samson among the Piney creek inhabitants.  It is a pity the scoundrels 
escaped.  The affair created the greatest excitement in the southern end of 
the county.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

  Since writing the foregoing our Martinsburg correspondent furnishes us 
with the following graphic account of the fight: On last Friday afternoon 
while George and Henry Dillinger were out looking after some work on the 
farm two German tramps entered the house and demanded something to eat.  The 
sister, Kate, being all alone took in the situation and without turning a 
word hastily prepared a lunch, of which they ate heartily and left the house 
in peace.  Just about dark, while Henry and Kate were in the kitchen, George 
being in the sitting room, the door suddenly opened and in stepped the 
guests of the previous hour and without any ceremony grabbed Henry by the 
arm and demanded his money or his life.  In the struggle Henry was about to 
free himself, when one of the men adjusted a pair of brass knuckles and by 
several severe strokes succeeded in putting a quietus to Henry's aspirations 
to continue the fight.  While this tussle was going on George emerged from 
the room, but scarcely was he out until the other fellow plunged for him and 
the two clinched.  In this tussle George rather got the better of the tramp, 
then the first fellow drew a revolver, but before he could use it Kate came 
to the rescue and knocked it out of his hands to the floor, when both 
parties endeavored to seize it, the tramps being successful.  Simultaneously 
with the knocking of the revolver to the floor Kate received a blow across 
the forehead with a club by one of the tramps, so that in a few moments her 
eye was as black as night.  By this time the blood was flowing profusely 
from the wounds in Henry's face and head over his breast, down his person 
and into his boots.  George broke loose and set out with a view of getting 
an ax.  Kate not discovering his intention made an exit through a window and 
rang the bell at a terrible rate.  This alarmed the tramps and they beat a 
hasty retreat.  The attention of the family was then turned toward Henry in 
fixing up and dressing his wounds, so that chase was not made and the tramps 
escaped.  These may have had a large and very ferocious dog, but strange to 
say he could not be found until the next morning.  Had he been there there 
would have been two dead Dutchmen or a dead dog.  These tramps are over 
medium height, of stout build and of dark complexion, one of them being 
somewhat heavier than the other.  One has dark hair, the other being nearer 
a sandy color.  The larger one wore dark clothes, the smaller a gray coat, 
both wearing caps and both having beards.  This has not been the first 
attempt of this kind in the Cove, and as there appears to be a harbor for 
these vicious fellows somewhere in this place it would not be out of place 
if the folks in the country were to arm themselves with good, trusty 
shooting-irons, and when any [fellow] enters their door asking for bread to 
[give] them the contents of a double-barreled shotgun; especially should 
this be the case when the men are in the fields at work.  These boys had 
plenty of shooting-irons in the house, but they were all up stairs and they 
could not get at them.

FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG.

  On Saturday evening Mrs. Henry Glass received a severe injury by falling 
on the pavement opposite the Continental Hotel.  The bricks are uneven and 
the pavement is in a most dangerous condition.  There is talk that damages 
will be asked in this case.
  Messrs. Brady, Jackson and Tate, three of Altoona's brag rifle shootists, 
had a little contest in Dell Delight on Saturday evening with McKnight and 
Reed of this place.  Johnny Reed surprised the veteran centre-poppers by 
taking first prize; Tate came in second and gobbled the little turkey hen.
  Twelve years to day Roaring run water was introduced into this town.  
Since that time over one hundred thousand dollars in water tax and rent have 
been assessed and collected.  The water works cost about sixty-three 
thousand dollars, and a debt of some thirty thousand dollars still confronts 
the tax payers, and the inquiry is asked "why is this thus?"

ANOTHER UNGRATEFUL TRAMP.

  On Tuesday last a tramp was discovered sleeping in Mr. Archy McFadden's 
barn, near Frankstown.  He was taken to the house by Mr. McFadden and given 
supper and also breakfast in the morning.  As he appeared anxious to work 
Mr. McFadden hired him to husk corn, which he did for two days and then 
refused to work any more, saying he had rheumatism in his leg.  Mrs. 
McFadden made him bandages and gave him liniment, which he pretended did him 
much good.  On Sunday night after the family had retired he left, taking 
with him Mrs. McFadden's dress and an overcoat.  This mean tramp is a 
German, who speaks very broken English, and is dark complexioned.

E. W. LEWIS PLAYS LAWYER.

  Some three weeks ago two boys, one white and the other colored, was [sic] 
put into jail for building a fire in the carriage house of J. I. 
Brotherline, Esq., where they had made their bed for a night's lodging.  E. 
W. Lewis, one of the Lewis brothers, now in jail, interviewed the white boy 
and learned his father's residence was in New York.  Lewis wrote to the 
boy's father and informed him that his son was in jail for arson, and if a 
postal order was sent to him immediately he would have the boy released and 
sent home, stating he was a lawyer and gave his postoffice box No. 78.  The 
boy's father sent the letters to Father Keib, of St. Michael's Church, who 
discovered the Attorney Lewis had his office in room No. 10 of Blair county 
jail, and postoffice box No. 78 belonged to and received all matter directed 
to that institution.

FROM SINKING VALLEY.

  Jordan Crawford lost four fine hogs recently.  An overdose of dry salt did 
the business; at least that is the supposition.
  Mr. George Bridenbaugh lost five head of cattle thusly: He had husked a 
field of topped corn and afterward turned the cattle in and they ate too 
freely of the husk and burst.
  John F. Fleck's latest arrival is a boy, while that of Aaron Fleck's is a 
girl.  This is rather an inflected item, but both are bouncing lads and both 
dads are happy, to say the least.
  In order to keep pace with the upper end the lower end of our valley has 
not been idle.  Warren Crawford is now fully warranted to be called "pa."  
We have forgotten the gender of the newcomer, but that does not make Warren 
any the less a proud dad.

FROM WILLIAMSBURG.

  W. A. McCormick has built a wharf at his boat house.
  Mr. Samuel Isenberg, of Bennington, who has been sick for some time, was 
visiting his home here on Sunday.
  Rev. W. W. Dunmire was so unfortunate as to get a piece of flint in his 
eye.  Dr. T. H. White was very successful in extracting it.

FROM HUNTINGDON.

  Jesse Goodman's new brick house is under roof.
  Henry & Co. have had one of their new cars repainted and lettered.
  A child of Jacob Eckard died of diphtheria on Friday night and was buried 
in the cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
  Robert Rohn, who has been vegetating out in Colorado for ten years, 
arrived home on Saturday.  He looks well.
  Rev. Hicks, of Florida, occupied the pulpit of the First Methodist 
Episcopal Church on Sunday evening.  He is an able preacher.
  On Sunday evening a lamp exploded at the residence of William March, 
setting fire to the carpet of the room and somewhat damaging the woodwork of 
the room.
  A young man named Nail, and a Miss Harvey, of Smithfield, eloped on 
Saturday evening for more congenial climes.  The father of the runaway miss 
vows vengeance on Nail.
  The formal opening of the new school house did not come off on Saturday, 
as was announced, on account of the seats not arriving.  School opened on 
Monday morning, and a grand time will be had at the school house on 
Saturday.

CITY AND COUNTRY.
Things Briefly Told.

  Mr. John Lesh, the umbrella man, it is said will be a candidate for the 
Mayoralty nomination on the Greenback ticket.
  At each corner of the Opera House balcony there has been placed a gas 
light, inclosed by a globe of red, white and blue glass.
  A letter addressed to "Miss Maggie McQuead, Tyrone," is held at the 
postoffice for postage, and also one with no address or destination.
  Mr. Gideon Calderwood, an old citizen of Tyrone and for many years sexton 
of the Methodist church, died on Saturday.  He was over 70 years of age.  
His funeral took place yesterday.
  The estimable wife of D. S. Brumbaugh, Esq., of Roaring Springs, has been 
quite ill for some days past.  We are glad to know the crisis of her illness 
is past.  Mr. Brumbaugh was hereaways yesterday.
  Mr. Joseph Ramsay, Jr., who for a long time successfully superintended the 
Bell's Gap railroad, and who recently resigned to take a similar position on 
the Pittsburgh, New Castle and Lake Erie road, has accepted the office of 
Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Southern railroad.
  Hon. Samuel McCamant, Colonel R. C. Galbraith, W. Fiske Conrad and 
'Squires Riddle and Hicks, the physical extremes of the Tyrone part of the 
Blair county bar, cleaved the atmosphere of this city yesterday.  All were 
in the best of health and spirits.
  Messrs. S. McCamant & Co., of Tyrone, will complete their contract for 
building thirty-six double two-story houses in Johnstown about the 1st of 
December.  Their contract for building eight houses at Bennington has been 
increased to ten, and these will also be completed by the beginning of next 
month.
  Thomas Davis, a young man of Newton Hamilton, was found ensconced in a 
rustic chair at the "Green corner" on Saturday night.  Thomas was 
considerably under the weather owing to frequent doses of the inebriating 
cup.  He was locked up by the police and yesterday morning the Mayor allowed 
him to depart on the payment of $1.76, all the money that could be raised.
  Alderman Blake is endeavoring to increase the Greenback vote on the East 
Side.  It was rather unkind in the Alderman not to inform the Tribune - a 
reporter of which lives on the same "side" -sooner of the circumstance; but 
is none the less a fact that the Alderman is now a "pa" for the fifth time 
in his life, and besides is the father of another son.  The happy event 
occurred as long ago as Friday.

Mr. Christ. Hauser Reported Shot Dead.

  A ridiculous report was in some manner extensively circulated yesterday 
morning that a son of Mr. Christ. Hauser, the well-known proprietor of the 
Sixth ward flouring mills, had returned after a long absence in the West 
and, proceeding to the mill, had shot and instantly killed his father.  The 
rumor was doubted in a good many quarters, and after considerable inquiry 
along the way, which failed to confirm any of the statements, a Tribune 
reporter reached Mr. Hauser's place of business.  He was very pleasantly 
greeted by the genial "Christ.," who sat contentedly and comfortably in his 
office, where was also seated, in company with one or two other mill 
employes engaged in conversation, the son who was supposed to have done the 
bloody business and committed the "murder most foul."  In the conversation 
that ensued Mr. Hauser expressed his utter inability to understand how such 
rumors should have been put forth, as there was not the slightest foundation 
for them.  The son who was reported as the assailant had not arrived at home 
yesterday.  He had come from Iowa at least five weeks ago and had been 
employed in the mill ever since.  Mr. Hauser had four sons, he said, in his 
employ, and the fifth worked for the railroad company in the glue room at 
the lower shops.  As far as any shooting or any difficulty was concerned he 
had no knowledge of either.

Councilman Owens Will be a Mayoralty Candidate.

  Mr. D. G. Owens, the well-known druggist and Councilman of the Sixth ward, 
has changed his mind in reference to the Democratic nomination for Mayor and 
will be a candidate before the city convention.  It was recently announced 
that Mr. Owens would not be a candidate except under certain contingencies.  
Since that time there has been considerable pressure brought to bear upon 
him, and he has received assurances from his friends in different parts of 
the city that his name would be strongly supported in the convention.  Mr. 
Owens would without doubt be an "available" candidate, as he has not been 
mixed up in the fight of the factions.  He would make a competent official 
should he be elected.

One Way of Living Without Work.

  About a week ago a young man who said his name was George Miller and that 
he was a freight conductor on the middle division appeared at the boarding 
house of Mrs. Thomas, Ninth street and Chestnut avenue, and offered to pay 
for a month's boarding in advance.  Mrs. Thomas thought it would be all 
right, and did not require the deposit.  Since yesterday afternoon Miller 
and $11 belonging to a boarder at Mrs. Thomas' have been missing.  The 
boarder has been anxiously inquiring for Miller, and has come to the 
conclusion that the latter, who was a man of smooth speech and ingratiating 
ways, is a fraud.

Struck by Lightning - Incendiarism.

  The barn of Joseph Boggs, three miles north of Indiana, was struck by 
lightning during a storm on Saturday and totally consumed.  A large amount 
of grain and hay were also destroyed.  The loss will amount to $2,000, on 
which there was an insurance of $1,500.  Not less than twenty barns have 
been burned in Indiana county during the past three months, with a total 
loss of $30,000.  In nearly every instance the fires were caused by 
incendiaries.