NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, December 16, 1879, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Tuesday, December 16, 1879 A Heavy Sentence for Poisoning. NEW YORK, December 15. - Joseph and Mary Valhmer, who have been on trial for the past week, in the general sessions of court, for attempting to poison Charles E. Blair, a merchant of Chatham Four Corners, New York, were convicted this afternoon of administering poison to him with intent to kill. Joseph was sentenced to State Prison for twelve years and Mary to the Penitentiary for the same period. Murdered in the Coal Regions. MAHANOY CITY, Pa., December 15. - Yesterday morning during an altercation Daniel O'Connell struck John Hackett knocking him over a stove and breaking his neck. O'Connell delivered himself up and is now in prison awaiting the inquest. Bank President in Trouble. SCRANTON, Pa., December 15. - W. W. Winton, President of the Second National Bank, his son, A. Hewington, his son in law, Thomas Livey, and his brother-in-law, Isaac Dean, were arrested here to-day, charged with maliciously conspiring to defraud the bank of $185,000, on oath of George S. Goodale, receiver. They gave bail in the sum of $80,000. Died From His Injuries. READING, Pa., December 15. - Jefferson Epler, the engineer who was caught in the belting at Kerper's tannery several days ago, died from his injuries this afternoon. Off to Philadelphia. Last night the members of the Grand Army Posts started to Philadelphia to take part in the General Grant festivities. The Altoona Post No. 62, under the command of Mr. William Few, Post Commander, first marched through the city headed by a drum corps of 8 pieces, about 80 strong. They with the Hollidaysburg post, twenty- three in number, with Post Commander Harry Miller, took two special cars which were attached to the Philadelphia express. The Pittsburgh post, two hundred and fifty strong, went through on the Atlantic express. The turn out in Philadelphia bids fair to exceed anything which occurred during Centennial times. Chanced Off. Albert Kuhn, who resides at the corner of Fifth avenue and Twelfth street was some time since driving a nail in his house when a piece of it split off and struck him in the eye. It almost blinded him and he has been growing worse. Since then the other eye has become affected, and his physician has advised him to go to Philadelphia hospital to have it treated. Being poor he chanced off a fresh milk cow to raise the means. Chances sold readily and yesterday the lucky number drew the prize. One of the Big Ones. Sheriff Robert P. Barker, of Lock Haven, Clinton county, is six feet and eight inches high. He and his deputy, J. W. Morgan, were in the city yesterday, returning home from taking a pair of criminals to the Western Penitentiary. The Sheriff, when he gets hold of a man, keeps him, and if he tries to run, the officer has a pair of legs which would make a long journey seem short. The Diphtheria. The diphtheria in Altoona seems to be mostly confined to the vicinity of Ninth avenue and Eighth street. In the family of Mrs. Ginter, from which a child was buried last week, three more members have been taken down. The disease, it is stated, was brought by individuals coming from Petersburg, and is in a very malignant form. Cold weather, which brings a consolidation of the mud, will likely check it. Altoona's Widest Man. Eli Green, our champion fat man, is still gaining flesh slowly. He now weighs 336 1/2 pounds, an increase of one and a half pounds since his recent visit to Harrisburg with the Altoona firemen. He works in the upper round house. On Sunday night while walking home out Sixteenth street, he slipped on the execrably bad pavement, and fell, laming his left leg badly. In Another Scrape. That troublesome one legged man with which the police had so much trouble last week, was again arrested last night. He went into the Globe Hotel and the proprietor put him out when he poked his cane through two of the glasses. His name is Quinn and he was gathered in. He wants to go to Pittsburgh, and the city could well afford to send him there. Sudden Death. Mrs. Elizabeth Kummacher, a well-known resident of Conemaugh, fell dead in her chair on Sunday. The funeral will take place today at 10:30 o'clock. FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG. Fred D. Young can justly claim to be the boss turkey farmer. His flock numbers over one hundred and fifty. Conductor Dent's morning train was delayed one hour by reason of a defect in one of the engine's flues yesterday. Philip Walker is making preparations for a big feast on Christmas. His coop already contains two hundred turkeys, besides chickens without number. The heavy crane used for hoisting cinder at furnace No. 1 fell yesterday morning. A workman named Pickle made a narrow escape from being crushed to death. Joseph Baldrige, Esq., clerk to the County Commissioners, accompanied by thirty assessment books, went to Altoona yesterday in obedience to a summons to appear before United States Commissioner Stone in the Lloyd assignee suit. Mr. S. P. McFadden received by Monday's mail a box containing some of the productions of the "Lone Star State" sent by his son Mr. E. E. McFadden. These specimens consisted of mistletoe and the rattles from a monster rattlesnake. From a letter received yesterday from Mr. Frank Patterson, who is at present stopping at the St. Cloud Hotel, Philadelphia, we have the pleasing intelligence that B. M. Johnston, Esq., is much better, and was able to take a short car ride to Cape May and back. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. Janitor Westover is experimenting on spontaneous combustion. He saturated some cotton rags with a liquid finish used by painters to draw out the grain on wood. After wiping the dust from the benches in the Lutheran Church he threw the rags down, and while attending to some other duty his olfactory nerve scented fire. Going to the rags they were found to be burning at a lively rate. Mr. Westover has since made experiments and can at any time produce spontaneous combustion in twenty minutes time with the same material. Letter List. ALTOONA, Pa., December 15. - Following is the official list of letters remaining uncalled for in the Altoona postoffice December 5, 1879. If not called for within four weeks they will be sent to the dead letter office. To obtain any of these letters personal application should be made, giving date of list: LADIES. Aiken, Mrs. Mary 3 cents due Kelley, Miss Rosie Black, Miss Ellie Leidy, Miss Rachel Donahue, Miss Maggie Miller, Mrs. Emma Bradley, Miss Maggie McNellis, Mrs. Mary Brock, Miss Rose Morris, Miss Rettie Carney, Miss Annie McGinley, Mrs. Jas. Davis, Mrs. Lizzie Nugent, Miss Ethel Davis, Annie Mary Phillips, Miss Bridget 2 Davis, Mrs. Sabina Renner, Mollie Eicholtz, Miss Eliza Rutter, Mrs. Margaret A. Eicholtz, Mrs. Annie Singer, Miss Barbara Hopkins, Miss Mamie Taylor, Mrs. Alice Heller, Miss Kate Watson, Ms. Margaret Hartman, Mrs. Jane Zimmerman, Mrs. Sue Kirk, Miss Samanda M. GENTLEMEN. Brown, Jno. Little, Chas. Bingaman, Harry McCann, Lawrence Booker, A. Miller, E. E. Campbell, Chas. Mercer, Wm. Davis, Jacob Morgan, W. N. B. Farber, Samuel Meredith, A. Ferguson, Peter Pratt, Smith Fox, Harry J. Ray, Wm. Fink, Jacob R. Stonebraker, W. W. Farrell, P. Smith, W. B. Ginsler, Jno. 10 cents due Smith, Jno. Spangler Glasgow, R. F. Sturts, Sam'l. A. Lawrence, W. H. Smith, John A. Lowery, Thos. Winz., Jno. Lowery, Robert T. B. PATTON, Postmaster. CITY AND COUNTRY. Things Briefly Told. Jacob Hight, from Harrisburg, is still at the White Hall Hotel, purchasing horses. Harry Brenneman, son of Jacob Brenneman, of Tipton, is 14 years old, and weighs 201 pounds. At the sale of the Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek railroad in Philadelphia, Saturday, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company became the purchaser for the sum of $50,000. William Irwin, engineer on the Pittsburgh division, won the mustang pony at the shooting match on Saturday, his string being an inch and a sixteenth. Letters addressed to "G. W. Turner & Ross, Boston, Mass.," and "James H. McGraw, Hollidaysburg, Pa.," are held at the postoffice for postage. Mr. M. V. Boyer, clerk in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's store house, has started a grocery store on Thirteenth street and Eighth avenue. Mr. Peter McTammany, an old Altoonan, paid us a visit yesterday. He has been a resident of Louisville, Kentucky, for the past nine years, but likely will take up his abode with us again. William Lord was the name of the brakeman who was thrown from a freight train between Gallitzin and Cresson on Saturday, by the giving way of the brake-rod mentioned in yesterday's Tribune. His home is at New Florence. Nevin Sheaffer, a freight brakeman on the middle division, fell from his train near Manayunk yesterday morning, and received some severe cuts about the mouth. His home is in Mount Union, where he was subsequently taken. Miss Katie Ryder, daughter of Mr. M. G. Ryder, of this city, left on the Johnstown express yesterday morning for Syracuse, N.Y., on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Sarah Bachtel, formerly of this city. Her many friends hereabouts wish her a pleasant journey and a safe return. On Saturday "Yank" Sailley, the grocer, presented to his salesman F. A. Musser a handsome token of esteem in the shape of a China moustache cup and saucer. To his driver John Ehringer he also gave a handsome plain cup and saucer. He left last night for Philadelphia to lay in a large stock of goods. Josiah Wissinger about two weeks ago while burying a lady at Oak Ridge Cemetery, on reservoir hill, received a slight stroke of paralysis. He desires to return thanks for assistance received, to Harry McDowell, storekeeper, who took him home in his carriage; and to Mr. Barto, a machinist, who helped him afterwards. Mr. Wissinger is improving and we may hope to see him shortly fill his position as ably as of old. There were 181 cars of lumber and 158 cars of miscellaneous freight shipped over the Tyrone and Clearfield road for the week ending December 6. For the same time 34,347 tons of coal were moved, being an increase of 7,659 tons over the same time last year. The total amount of coal shipped to the above date for 1879 is 1,492,983 tons, being an increase of 273,709 tons over the corresponding period of 1878. Recorder Greevy will give his decision in the suit against Mr. Drew, to recover possession of the Maitland house, this afternoon. Col. Theodore Burchfield, of the Fifth regiment, will be a member of Gen. Hartranft's staff to-morrow, in Philadelphia. Mrs. Fred Killinger, of Blair Furnace, has been ill for some days past. We wish her a speedy recovery. Simon Replogle, Esq., formerly of Altoona, but now a Justice of the Peace of Woodbury, Bedford county, was in the city yesterday. On Sunday morning Mr. P. M. Johnson, an employe on the Pennsylvania railroad, near the middle division round house, picked up a wild duck which had probably been drawn down by the glare from an engine headlight. Lieutenant J. R. Langdon, a batteryman in the United States army, who has lately been in Burlington, Iowa, was in the city yesterday. He is on his way to report at Fortress Monroe. Oak Ridge cemetery of Altoona, since it has been opened a few months since, has had seventy interments. It is being fixed up and has had a new fence, with fine gates for pedestrians and carriages, erected. Captain McLean, of this city, who is aid de camp on Gen. Beaver's staff, will be a member of the staff of Col. G. W. Brown, who will be commander of the G.A.R. division in Philadelphia's parade to-day. Harry Gardner, late of the Logantown grist mill, has taken the place of miller at the Mountain City mills, made vacant by the late change in the firm there. It will still be operated by Messrs. Christ. Houser & Sons, at Eighth avenue and Sixteenth street. The members of the Mountain City Band are canvassing among their friends for means to buy their B flat cornet player a new instrument. Howard Elliott will be its custodian. When any of them call on their friends they are worth of substantial encouragement. William Sullivan, Edward Sullivan, William Garrecht and Amos Shettlecoup were all brought up before Alderman Rose for the larceny of pigeons mentioned some days since. They were given a severe reprimand, and upon promising better behavior in the future were discharged upon payment of costs. A few days since the Tribune mentioned that Albert Kuhn's cow would be chanced off to pay his expenses to Philadelphia, where he was going to have his eyes treated. There were 150 chances sold; the fortunate one was bought by Mr. John Tinker, of Altoona. Mr. Kuhn has already started. The quantity of coal and coke carried over the Pennsylvania railroad for the last week of November was 155,727 tons, of which 128,420 tons were coal and 37,307 tons of coke. The total tonnage for the year thus far has been 5,563,782 tons, of which 44,356,225 tons were coal and 1,207,557 tons of coke. A Surprise Party. On Saturday night the young friends of David Peight, who lives in one of the suburbs called Collinsville, gave him a surprise party. It was in honor of his birthday. David lives with his father Jacob Peight; he very warmly welcomed his friends who turned out to the number of twenty-three. They were served with refreshments, and in this latter respect did not forget the printer, as a fine large cake on the sanctum table testified. Mr. Peight was the recipient of a number of handsome presents. General Grant in Altoona. The greatest hero of his age passed through Altoona in a Pullman palace car yesterday morning, and was welcomed to the city by about four hundred of the city's population. He came on a train of four cars, the last being a Pullman palace car, which arrived at about 10 o'clock. All hands were locked back of the iron fence, and the General appeared on the back platform just before the train started, where he was introduced by Adjutant General Latta, who said, "Citizens of Altoona, allow me to have the pleasure of introducing you to General Ulysses S. Grant." The General lifted his hat and bowed, and then turned to speak to some friends on the platform. He was dressed in a waterproof coat, tightly buttoned up, and a moment after pulled the inevitable cigar out of his pocket and began to smoke. He looks rather grayer than when last here, just before he sailed for Europe, and a trifle stouter. A Tribune reporter entered the car, and shook hands with the General, but had only time to say "Good morning," as the train moved away. As the cars pulled out of the depot there were several hearty cheers given for the greatest military hero of his age. He was accompanied by Senator Emery, of the 20th Congressional district of Pa.; Congressman W. B. Roberts, Capt. Harvey Williams, a veteran of the United States Army; Lieut. Col. Fred Grant, son of the General; Mr. Gatchell, and Mrs. Grant, beside a number of others. In about ten minutes they were off for Harrisburg. Honoring His Birthday. Mrs. Riley, widow of ex Chief of Police Riley, lives on Eighth avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. On Saturday night she invited in a very agreeable circle of the friends of her son Clay, and succeeded in completely surprising him. After supper he accompanied some of his companions down the street, and when he came back found them all awaiting him in the house. The evening was pleasantly spent in social amusements. Among other things a very fine repast was discussed by all. The young gentleman, in whose honor it was held, received a number of handsome birthday presents. Among them were a gold lined silver cup, smoking set, gold pen and holder, a beautiful bound book, and a number of other useful and ornamental mementoes. A Driving Accident. Yesterday morning Messrs. Miles Rager and C. D. Beegle went out driving through the country and met with quite an accident on their return. They were in a hurry and attempted to pass a team in the road. This frightened the front horse and he jumped right over against the other horse, forcing him against a post at the roadside. Mr. Beegle took a dive into the mud, while Mr. Rager held on to the lines and was dragged through the mud, ruining a new suit of clothes. The wagon was slightly broken, but the men escaped injury. Frightened at the Locomotive. Charles Taylor's team, in charge of a boy, met with its Waterloo at the Ninth street railroad crossing yesterday afternoon. The boy was standing waiting to cross the trace when an engine blew off steam. This frightened the horse, which tore away from the boy standing at his head and dashed up Ninth avenue. The wagon was considerably broken.