NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, December 8, 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, Monday, December 8, 1879 Death of a Prominent Man. William Darlington, Esq., of West Chester, a director of the Altoona Gas Company, died very suddenly at his home on Saturday. He was walking through the Court House, on his way to attend a case in court. As he mounted the steps he felt faint and sat down on a settee and immediately expired. The cause of his death was a stroke of apoplexy. The deceased was a prominent lawyer of his native county, aged about 76 years, and the possessor of a very large fortune, acquired by his own labor. But a few weeks ago he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, and his children and many friends were present. For some weeks past he had been looking badly, and frequently expressed a desire to die as he did. Numbers of our citizens were well acquainted with him. STATE NOTES. Messrs. Wood and Childs, the enterprising lumbermen of Jersey Shore, have shipped during the past summer and fall fifty-five boat loads of lumber which figure up to a total of four and a half million feet. John Steinmetz, of Lebanon county, lived with his wife sixty-four years and never asked for a divorce. They were separated by death, he dying recently at the age of 88 years. Pluro-pneumonia has broken out on the premises of John Holmes, Colerain township, and four cows belonging to him and his farmer, Nelson Bunting, have died. Three of the animals were condemned by Dr. Raynor, State agent, and they will be paid for by the State. About thirty years ago J. F. Hartranft, C. Z. Weiser and A. B. Longaker started together for Marshall college, then at Mercersburg, Franklin county. The first has since been governor of this state, the second is a distinguished doctor of divinity of the Reformed church, and is now present of the peace commission, and the third has been president judge of Lehigh county. FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG. Rev. J. A. DeMoyer preached a sermon on "Lying" on Sunday afternoon in the Methodist Church. The Wolf that caused such a commotion in Law's store came very near carrying away one of the lambs. J. Frank Snyder, attorney-at-law, of Clearfield, was visiting friends in this place on Saturday. The tin merchants expect to do a big business on Monday and Tuesday. Jim Stewart's tin wedding is to come off on Tuesday night. It will be a big affair. News has been received in this place from Mr. Jacob Weidensal, of Omaha, formerly of Hollidaysburg, that he is the father of a bouncing girl baby. His many friends send congratulations. Quite an explosion occurred at Frank Proctor's green-house on Friday morning. The stove was filled with gas from a soft-coal fire, and having no place for escape forced the top of the stove off. The top struck the ceiling and fell to the floor. Frank was greatly excited, and it was some time before he returned into the room. FROM TYRONE. A candy manufactory it is said, will be among the new enterprises of Tyrone next spring. Dan Harris, the "Budd Doble" of Tyrone, has had the hair on his famous little pacer cut "snapper." The introduction of horns, placed by members of the Sheridan Band, in the Presbyterian Sabbath school is a success. The whistle stolen from the city steam flour mill, which has been idle for some time, has been recovered. A new road will shortly be opened to the Union cemetery to take the place of the old one, which besides being much out of repair has always been dangerous on account of two very short and steep hills near the entrance. The jury has already been appointed to locate the new road, and from an interview with one of them we learn that it will follow the same route as at present until just above the residence of Mr. P. Flynn, when it will take a southwesterly direction across Waring's nursery to the northwestern part of the ground, to which point the entrance will be removed. This change will give the road an easy grade all the way from the foot of the ridge at Hill street to the entrance, and avoid all the dangers of the old road. THE CAVE. This spring lies at the base of a high bluff that forms the end of the ridge. At the other end of this ridge, about a mile distant, there is a cave, the extent of which is not known, the opening being too small to admit a grown person, hence it remains unexplored. This cave not long ago received the name of the "Maiden's Chasm" which cognomen was bestowed upon it by some lady guests at the Ward House. THE PYRAMID. About three hundred yards directly north east of the point first named and north of the town, stands in all its majesty a cone-shaped hill, an almost solid mass of limestone rock, that may be justly termed one of nature's most perfect pyramids. On the north side of this hill there is a narrow jutting of rock, the end of which is known as the "Maiden's Leap." It is said of it that when this soil was the domain of the nomadic savages an Indian maid, disappointed in love, came here and from this rock leaped into eternity. Hence its name. In this instance the distance from life to eternity was about fifty feet. These things interest us now as often as we have looked upon them; therefore, when strangers come to our town and ask what there is of interest to see, tell them that they too may be interested. MEAT FOR OUR COUNCIL. If our Council intend to wait until the Commissioners see fit to urge the bridge company to hurry along the bridge to be put over the creek at Juniata street it would certainly be to their credit to put up some sort of guard to prevent men and horses from going over the abutment into the creek. For six long months now this trap has been set, and although no one has yet been hurt some very narrow escapes have been made. Our trade with Sinking Valley has been seriously affected by this tardiness, and it is now about time to find out on whom the responsibility for the delay rests. It would seem that no special time was specified in the contract with the bridge company as to when the bridge should be completed, but that it is option with them to build it now or wait until next fall. This is certainly wrong, and clearly shows that there is bad management somewhere. Gentlemen, this needs your attention and that at once. Our prosperity and our trade with the valley depend upon your prompt action. Don't let us have to speak of this again, but put up a substantial guard and thereby keep off any suits for damages against the borough, and then find out the cause of the delay in getting the bridge. NATURE'S FREAKS. Directly back of the residence of Mr. S. S. Blair, Superintendent of the Tyrone division, Pennsylvania railroad, and opposite a point equi-distant from the planing mills of Beyer, Guyer & Co., and those of McCamant & Co., can be found one of the many natural and interesting freaks of nature for which this section is noted. The arch spring and the natural bridge and the cave, which have never yet been thoroughly explored, are wonders that have been visited by thousands and astonishment expressed that they had never heard of them before. But the natural bridge and the cave are eight miles from here, while at home, within the borough limits, only ten minutes' walk from the railroad depot, there is an exhibition of the caprice of nature that extends equal in point of interest with those at Arch Spring, and that it is not as widely known is due entirely to its being under estimated by our citizens. It is the "sinking spring" we refer to. We have all seen many bubbling and other ordinary springs, but here we have one just the reverse, and instead of putting forth water it swallows it up. A little mountain stream, starting away up on the Alleghenies, and furnishing the water supply for the town, from a point about half a mile above the sinking spring, and at an elevation of nearly one hundred feet above the town, giving it sufficient head to force its purest of waters through the net-work of pipes without artificial aid, and then flows on over little falls and rapids, splashing and lashing its waters into foam and wrestling with the rocks in its way until finally it plunges with madness into the spring and is engulfed. The most remarkable feature about it lies in the fact that while the entire volume of water is here swallowed up - except after very heavy rains and consequent unusual rise, when the surplus is carried off through the Dry run - not a fissure of a hole of any kind to give it an outlet is visible. School Reports. Grade of pupils belonging to grammar school No. 1, First ward, for the month ending December 1, 1879. A CLASS. M. W. Bales 100 Robert Shank 96 Hattie Cox 99 John Marks 96 Bertie Yatts 99 Frank Miller 96 Emma Dillen 99 A. Ashburn 96 M. B. [E.?] Clingerman 99 Amelia Fry 95 M. E. Zimmerman 99 * Willie Painter 93 S. A. Weaver 99 Willie Hooper 93 Bessie Orr 99 Y. Stevens 92 H. B. Ferguson 98 * Lizzie Gibson 92 J. M. Clabaugh 98 Anna Watts 91 Nannie Stouch 98 Louis Class 89 Emma Kuhn 97 Grant Steel 88 Frank Orr 97 * L. Grove 88 M. E. Houser 96 * Edgar Geesey 84 Millie Marks 96 F. McClelland 82 M. A. Beverlin 96 B CLASS. W. Clingerman 99 * M. S. Keesberry 93 Siddie Groves 99 Maggie Rose 93 B. W. Bragonier 98 Mattie Taylor 93 Anna Smith 98 C. M. Swanger 93 Ida Miller 97 * Ella McCune 92 Amanda Walter 96 * Minnie Wilson 92 W. Valentine 96 M. Stouffer 92 * Anna Hare 95 George Houser 92 Mimie Scott 95 Samuel Metz 92 John Hirst 95 Harry Smith 83 * Absent on account of sickness. Relative standing of pupils of the Eighth ward second intermediate school (advanced) for the month of November: A CLASS. Mary Ross 100 Ellie Black 93 George Bittner 100 Annie Garrect 92 Jennie Brenneke 100 Henry Kunzig 91 Jessie Postlethwaite 100 Charles Ross 90 Minnie Palmer 99 Mary Sample 88 Mary Cook 97 Lydia Lingenfelter 84 Calvin Marshall 96 Nettie Wagner 82 Harry Weest 96 Gertie Kline 79 Amelia Johnston 96 Agnes Hoyt 79 Harry Morse 95 Edgar Fleming 69 Charles McCormick 95 Sadie Benson 68 George Blyler 94 * May Orner 56 B CLASS Annie Anderson 99 Bayard Jellison 89 Effie Kuhn 99 George Raugh 87 Annie Burkheimer 98 Minnie Black 81 Estella Guyer 97 Bertha Johnston 78 Willie Moore 96 Jane Benson 75 Allie Gardner 95 * Nettie Law 74 Charlie Hamilton 95 Alice Mathews 61 Lizzie Brown 94 Katie Kelley 58 Cora Guyer 93 * Mary Carson 55 Stella Jellison 92 Charles Kolley 43 Minnie Brown 89 * Unavoidably absent. CITY AND COUNTRY. Things Briefly Told. Dr. William T. Sheadel, of this city, is visiting his former home in Clinton county. Major John Thompson, of Ebensburg, whose serious illness was announced, died at Ebensburg on Friday morning. Cooper, Bailey & Co.'s big show, comprising a long string of railway cars, passed east through the city of Saturday afternoon en route to winter quarters. The shooting match for a mustang that was to have taken place at Vaughan's brickyard on Satuday was indefinitely postponed on account of the "shower." Our old colored friend, Mr. John Alexander, who keeps the restaurant under the Globe Hotel, has been laid up with the rheumatism for the past three weeks. Lieutenant Stephen Potts' Post No. 62, G.A.R., will assist in the reception of General Grant in Philadelphia. They will leave on the Philadelphia express on Monday evening, the 15th. George A. Patton, toy dealer in the Opera House, had a fine large face of Santa Claus to ornament his window. The sun came out on it so strong that back and front dissolved partnership, and a string across the front chopped its nose off as it slid down. The brakeman Philip Hall, of Wilmore, who was injured at Portage on Thursday and brought to this city for treatment, was taken care of at Stephen Halloren's restaurant, corner of Seventeenth street and Tenth avenue, instead of W. J. Allen's restaurant. On Saturday Miss Lizzie Reagan, of Eleventh avenue, near Seventeenth street, celebrated her birthday. She received a number of presents, among which was a beautiful gold watch from her cousin. The Ormes Bros.' glee club serenaded the young lady at the paternal mansion. Mr. Steve Halloren is now engaged in keeping the restaurant at the corner of Seventeenth street and Tenth avenue, formerly under the charge of Mr. Harry Stewart. Mr. Halloren is an old railroader and has hosts of friends. Mr. Reuben Morgan presides over the kitchen and dining room departments of the restaurant. Mr. Nelson Graham, late leader of the Newport band, has removed with his family to this city and is now the leader of the Mountain City Band. At present the band numbers eighteen musicians and two more will be added shortly. The band is in good "trim," and engagements will be promptly attended to. A juvenile "Pinafore" company will produce that popular and amusing opera at the Opera House here on the 20th inst. There are said to be forty-five little people in the company. As this will be the first production of the opera in this city, that and the novel fact that children will sustain the characters will doubtless draw a full house. The fire bells rung out an alarm yesterday afternoon for the First ward and the firemen quickly had their "masheens" in the streets. In a few moments it was discovered, however, that the alarm was premature, the cause of the excitement being the smoke which poured out of the crevices in the Opera House cellar, where the fires were being made in the heaters. Mr. E. Conrad, of the McVeytown Journal, was in the city Saturday for the purpose of removing W. H. McCorkle, the brakeman who had his hand so badly injured last week by being caught between the deadwood while coupling cars in the yard, to his home in the former place. The attending physician thought Mr. McCorkle's condition was such as to forbid his removal before to-day. Mr. Charles Jaekel left for New York this morning for the purpose of securing some one to take charge of a kindergarten for the benefit of the poor children of this city. The success of the first venture has been so gratifying that the establishment of a free kindergarten is now justifiable. If he succeeds, it is hoped he will receive substantial assistance from our well-to-do citizens. Mrs. John Trout, an old residenter, is, we are glad to say, considerably improved in health. Samuel Saulsbury, an aged resident of Eleventh avenue, who has been sick for some weeks, was yesterday improved. The celebrated stallion owned by Mr. A. G. Sink, of this city, has been purchased by Mr. George E. Hackett, of Harrisburg, to which place he will be shipped to-day. Mr. W. F. Postlethwaite will dispose of his horse, buggy, harness and sleigh by raffle. The number of tickets has been limited to three hundred and seventy-five, at $1 each. Miss Mollie McFarlane and Miss Irwin, of Hollidaysburg, are visiting at Mr. Ritz's. Some of the young men also seem to like to visit there. Robert G. Ingersoll, the infidel, one of the best known lecturers of the present time, will lecture in the Opera House on the 15th inst. He always draws a large crowd. His subject has not yet been announced. Good Templar Surprise Party. The Independent Order of Good Templars, of Altoona, are bent on having a good time this winter in the way of surprise parties. They are held on the recipients' birthdays as they occur. The second one was held at Mr. Clark's, on Twelfth street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, on Saturday night. There were over fifty persons present, who took Mr. Clark completely by surprise. He was about to start for the store and afterwards to bed, when he was met at the door by the party. As a consequence he did not repose much before midnight. The affair was very acceptable to him and he appreciates it as a token of respect felt for him. When called on for a speech he responded promptly and said he had just completed half a century, and was glad to know he had so many friends. He hoped they would enjoy themselves to the utmost. After the other exercises were concluded, the party discussed oysters and cakes, which were provided in abundance. As the Sabbath day approached a reluctant farewell was said, and all hands adjourned. On the preceding Saturday evening a similar party paid their respects to Mr. Scott Miller, on Sixth avenue, near Sixteenth street. On this occasion Mr. Miler's better-half claimed the honor, as she was having a birthday. A number of fine presents were left at both houses. Two Famous Pugilists in Town. Billy Edwards and Arthur Chambers, the former of New York and the latter of Philadelphia, the well known pugilists, arrived in this city last evening from Johnstown, where they had a rousing benefit on Saturday evening. Billy Edwards' last fight was with Sam Collyer about five years ago, after which he retired from the "P.R." Arthur Chambers won the light-weight championship from Johnny Clark about a year ago. Edwards always had the reputation of being the gentleman of the profession, and he has quite a prepossessing face and suave manner. Both men give exterior evidence of the "muscle" that has made them famous. They will give a sparring exhibition at the Opera House on Saturday evening, assisted by the best local talent in the city. In the meantime everybody will have a chance to get a look at them, as they will remain at the Globe Hotel all week. Quite a number of ladies attended the exhibition at Johnstown, and the intention is to make the one here such that the "softer sex" can attend with propriety. The Machine the Women Liked Best. Quite an interesting scene was enacted at the residence of Joseph Woods, on Third avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets, between 3 and 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Three sewing machine agents tested the merits of their machines before five female judges. The machines represented were the Davis, the Singer and the American. After considerable fun had been extracted from the proceeding the women voted unanimously in favor of the Davis as the best for doing the heaviest and greatest variety of work. Quite a number of persons were attracted to the entertainment, some workmen becoming so intensely interested as to "lay off" half a day. TWO RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. An Old Employe Has Both Legs Crushed. A Johnstown Man's Mishap. Doan Michener, for about thirty years past in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, over 50 years of age and well known in this city among railroad men, having been engaged as freight conductor, had both legs crushed on Saturday in such a terrible manner that it was found necessary to amputate both feet. The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon near the west end of Rockville bridge. Mr. Michener, although previously a conductor, had grown tired of the responsibilities of the position and had applied for and received the situation of a brakeman. As the train neared the bridge he ascended to the top of a car for the purpose of adjusting a brake, when one foot slipped, and in the attempt to recover his equilibrium, he fell to the track between the cars and the wheels passed over his legs - over the right leg at the ankle and over the left leg at the knee. Mr. Michener was afterward picked up and conveyed to the hospital at Harrisburg. It was believed that his injuries would not prove fatal. The unfortunate man's residence is about two miles from Duncannon. He has a wife and one child, and it is said he has, by frugality and steady habits, accumulated a comfortable competence. Thomas Quinn, who said he lived in Johnstown, on Thursday night last, while stealing a ride on a freight train in company with a man named Boyle, fell through a bridge at Mill Creek, a water station on the Pennsylvania railroad. The train had stopped to take water and the men had climbed down from the cars. The conductor was notified, and after a search Quinn was found lying under the bridge, having fallen about thirty feet. He was placed in the caboose and taken to the next station, where a medical examination showed that, although no bones were broken, Quinn had suffered serious internal injuries. He was taken to the Lancaster county hospital. Almost a Murder at Houtzdale. The drivers employed at the slope mines, about a mile above Houtzdale, Clearfield county, on Friday evening of last week went on a strike and refused to go to work, and the miners concluded that they would do their own "driving." On reaching the mouth of the drift hot words ensued and a quarrel resulted. One of the drivers was shot at by a miner and the ball from the latter's pistol struck the driver on the forehead. Fortunately it did not penetrate, but glanced off to the side of the head. The miner escaped into the drift and the wounded man was taken to Philipsburg, where his injury was attended to by a physician. He is not dangerously hurt. Matters were quiet in the neighborhood of the mines on Saturday. P.S. - Some further intelligence of the affair is to the effect that the man who was shot is named Hollerin, and the man who did the shooting was named Lockert. Both were drivers, and Hollerin and others called Lockert a "blackleg." The shooting is claimed to have been done in self-defense. Lockert was arrested, but as there seemed to be a disposition on the part his assailants to give him further trouble - it being asserted that Hollerin's friends have sworn to kill him - he preferred to go to jail in default of bail rather than risk his life either at his home or at his work. An Episcopal Clergyman Has a Leg Broken. Rev. Mr. Hewitt, rector of the Episcopal Church at Bellefonte, was at the Logan House on Saturday and departed for his home on Atlantic express in the evening. Mr. Hewitt was nursing a broken ankle and was compelled to use crutches. About six weeks ago the reverend gentleman paid a visit to a brother, who is a successful physician in Kansas, intending to spend a season in hunting and resting from his labors. In company with his brother, one day soon after his arrival, he was hunting prairie chickens, and while standing up ready to shoot a pair of chickens flew up directly beneath the horses. The animals taking fright ran away. Mr. Hewitt, finding he could not control them, jumped to the ground and his ankle was broken. He got up and ran for twenty yards after the team, when he fell in a faint. He did not know that his limb was fractured. Mr. Hewitt's accident insurance policy, purchased before leaving home, expired the day before the accident occurred. The Schools for November. The monthly reports of the public schools of the city for November, show an increase of thirty-six in the enrollment of pupils. 2646 was the total enrollment; 959 pupils were present every day, a number larger than previously reported. The highest percentage of attendance was obtained by the High School and the First grammar school in the Third ward, each having ninety-seven per cent. The percentage of attendance of the First ward schools was ninety per cent, Third ward eighty-seven, Fourth ward, eighty- four, Fifth ward eighty-two, Sixth ward eighty-nine, Seventh ward eighty-two and the Eighth ward eighty-seven. Three hundred and sixty-two pupils were reported tardy, nine suspended and thirty-five truant. Sprained His Arm. A little boy, named Edward Fox, while crossing the street at Eleventh avenue and Seventeenth street, fell and sprained his arm yesterday. He was walking quietly across the street, when the first thing he knew he was landed wrong side up in a mud puddle. The poor little fellow suffers severely.