NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, 21 Mar 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright August 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 21 Mar 1861 Volume 2, Number 31 Local and Personal Rhey's Furnace, Johnstown, is to be put to operation in a short time. Owen Cunningham, a son of John Cunningham, of Susquehanna township, had his leg fractured on Monday by being run over by a wagon. George Talbot, convicted of burglary at the recent Quarter Sessions and sentenced to four years imprisonment in the Western Penitentiary, was removed thither on Monday by Deputy Sheriff, Wm. Linton. The celebrated trotting horse, Tacony, formerly owned in Johnstown, was recently sold in Cincinnati for one thousand dollars. He had beaten Flora Temple three times and was once sold for the handsome sum of seventy-seven hundred dollars. In the case of the Commonwealth vs. Peter Rager and Elizabeth Gray, convicted of adultery, a motion in arrest of judgment was argued before Judge Taylor last week. The case has been continued until the Argument Court, 3d April, at which time his Honor will announce his decision. Mr. Evan E. Evans, the energetic proprietor of the news depot down town, informs us that he is prepared to accommodate the reading public with the Pittsburg DAILY DISPATCH at the low price of six cents per week. Those who wish to be posted on the great questions of the day would leave their names at his establishment. Infanticide in White Township The Cambria TRIBUNE of last week gives the particulars of a shocking case of infanticide that recently occurred in White township, this county. The facts are about as follows: A young unmarried girl, only sixteen years of age, named Ann Hartzel, who resided with a family named Smith, loved not wisely but too well, and on Monday evening, the 4th inst., was delivered of a child. Unwilling that the world should know her shame, the unhappy mother resolved to make way with her illegitimate offspring; and accordingly she concealed in under a pig- pen on the premises, intending doubtless to remove it to a place of greater security at her convenience. But Mr. Smith and two companions who were returning from church had their attention attracted by the cries of the infant, which was still alive; and after a brief search, they drew forth the baby from its hiding place. It was taken into the house and properly cared for, but owning to the injuries it had received, survived but about nine hours. In the morning a Coroner's inquest was held upon the body and the facts developed that the back part of its head was crushed, its back broken and marks found upon its neck as if an attempt had been made to choke it to death. The girl admitted the maternity of the child, but denied having done it any violence. After a careful hearing of the facts, the jury rendered as their verdict that the child came to its death by violence at the hands of its mother, Ann Hartzel. The unnatural mother was brought to this place on Tuesday and was committed to jail to await her trial at our next Court. The Question Settled At a meeting of the officers and members of the Ebensburg and Cresson Railroad Company, held on last Monday, it was definitely determined by a unanimous vote of those present that the location for the depot for the road shall be on the western side of Centre street, a short distance below Triumph street; in other words, about three squares south of the old Academy. This is about the most eligible situation that could have been secured, it being nearer the centre of town than any other point. It is easy of access from all directions, and likewise, a great consideration, there is plenty of room in that vicinity for the town to spread itself. Mr. Evan E. Evans, the gentleman we mentioned last week as having received the contract for the erection of the depot building, has already commenced work in that direction. He expects to push his job forward to a speedy completion. The Evacuation of Fort Sumter From the Editorial Page The news of the probable withdrawal of the United States troops from Fort Sumter, says the New York INDEPENDENT, flashing by telegraph all over the land, has profoundly affected the public mind of the country. This lowering of the national flag in the face of the barbarous bands that beleaguer it - this conspicuous and undeniable confession of defeat by the National Government - this surrender of a post so important and so strong to the revolutionary Government which now rules at the South- - it is, to say the least, immensely unfortunate that such should be the first prominent public act of the new Republican Administration. We have all confidence in the wisdom and the manhood of the gentlemen who constitute this Administration. Their fidelity to Freedom is altogether unquestionable. We know that they have had the whole case before them, while we see only its more obvious features. The mature judgment of General Scott should be of rights most influential, if not indeed, a controlling element in their deliberations. And if it has become, as is now alleged, a military necessity, there being no longer any possibility of re-enforcing the fort and the alternative to surrender being simply the speedy starvation of the garrison, then the event is not only to be submitted to, as Death itself must be when it comes, but it is to be attributed to the late Administration, which neglected its duty when it might have been performed, not to the present one, which had no possible chance of performing it. But the fullest explanations will be needed to satisfy the patriotic and resolute men who compose the great mass of the voters at the North that such a necessity has existed. They will demand to know, they have a right to be informed on what basis the persistent representations of Major Anderson that he needed no further supplies, have been founded. And they will claim to know at least that the various modes of reaching and re-enforcing the fort which have at different times been suggested, and which hundreds of men have been ready to take part in, have been severally considered and proved impracticable, before they will be satisfied that so single and stupendous a sacrifice should have been made for the dignity, prestige and strength of the Government. Unless it shall be plainly shown that its hands were not manacled only, but really paralyzed by circumstance, the indignation will be well-nigh universal that this key to the gate of South Carolina should have thus been relinquished. The effects of this surrender on the minds of foreign nations can hardly be overestimated. Their prompt recognition of the Southern Confederacy whose path has been so early strewn with a succession of triumphs, is hardly too large or too important a result to follow logically from it. Its effect at home, unless counteracted by prompt, wise and efficient action in other quarters and a different direction, cannot fail to be disastrous. It is the most unexpected and prodigious national humiliation known to our history. It seems to offer license to rebellion, and to put the largest premium upon treason. Unless it be speedily followed by measures positive and emphatic in distinct affirmation of the rights, purposes and power of the Government, we shall have no longer any Government, except for such as are too lazy to question it, or too timid to withstand the most empty of menaces. There will be nothing left for insurrection to fear; nothing left for patriotism to cling to. The old flag will trail in the dust so that the very swine may run over it. Our national airs will become the merest souvenirs. The Revolutionary blood will be shown to have turned to the thinnest of milk in our degenerate veins. We had better bow down all at once to the Hotspurs at Montgomery and entreat the congress there assembled to let us come into the manlier and more stalwart confederacy, which they have inaugurated. An immense responsibility will rest upon those who have advised or consented to such an act. From it they must go, either forward or backward; making it the last step on the path of submission and national surrender or else making it the first step on the path towards the full and cordial recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Standing disconnected from one or the other of these policies, a simple acknowledgment of complete defeat and ignominious expulsion suffered by the Government, the significance of the event will be fearful; and we shall be fortunate if the consequences of it are not anarchy at home, and the loosening of all the feeble restraint that hitherto have surrounded the rebellious elements in Northern cities, with a more profuse and prolonged bloodshed and battle with the stimulated South, made haughtier and fiercer by this vast success, in the near Future. Watches and Jewelry J. Stahl respectfully informs the citizens of Ebensburg and vicinity that he is still engaged in the Watch and Jewelry business, immediately opposite the store of E. Shoemaker & Sons. All kinds of watches, clocks and jewelry now on hand which will be sold very low for cash. Watches, clocks, jewelry and musical instruments of all kinds repaired with neatness and dispatch. All work warranted and charges low. The ladies are invited to call and examine his large stock of jewelry.