NEWS: Items from The Cambria Freeman, January 15, 1904, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, January 15, 1904 Volume XXXVIII, Number 3 Monitors to Be Sold Relics of Civil War will be sent to Junk Heap Washington, Jan. 13 - - An order has been issued by the secretary of the navy that the old single turret monitors, Nahant, Jason, Canonious, Lehigh and Montauk, shall be stricken from the navy list and sold at auction. These ironclads were authorized during the Civil war and have long since outlived their usefulness. For many years past they have been anchored at the League Island navy yard. Each cost originally about $500,000 but none of them is of any value at present except as old junk. A Delightful Banquet On Monday, Fred D. Barker banqueted a number of friends at his home on Horner street. The dinner was a revelation in the art of cooking a poem, told in stanzas of the things pleasing to the taste. The following guests were present: W. R. Thompson, Philip Shettig, Frank Hartmann, B. Frank James, John E. Evans, E. H. Davis, H. H. Myers, H. F. McNamara, Thomas Osborn, Hiram Andrews, B. F. Jones. Blacklick Church Contest Closed Mrs. Joseph P. Rodgers, wife of the popular Central Hotel landlord of Nantyglo was the leader in the recent ladies' collecting match for the Catholic mission churches down the Blacklick, having raised $100 while Joseph Piper, the well-known trainman, led in the gentlemen's contest, having raised $201.20. Each will be presented with a gold watch handsomely engraved. File Charter The charter of the Seward Coal company has been left for record. The company was incorporated for the purpose of mining coal and other minerals and manufacturing coke and transporting and selling the same. The incorporators of the company are George H. Brown, L. D. Hanford and Harry Doerr, all of Johnstown. The concern is capitalized at $50,000, divided into 500 shares of $100 each. Leg Amputated Frank Harkins, a Gallitzin man, had his right leg crushed by a switching engine on the Allegheny Valley Railroad recently. He was taken to the West Penn Hospital, Pittsburg, where the injured member was amputated. Local and Personal Constable Samuel Springer of Lower Yoder township has entered claim before Attorney D. P. Weimer for a part of the forfeited land of George Simovich, who last summer shot a daughter of Mr. Springer's and on being arrested for the offense, entered bail for court. Not appearing before that body the bail was declared forfeited and Mr. Weimer was appointed auditor to report distribution of the funds. The awards have not yet been made but will be soon and the report of the distribution filed at the March term of court. William Kimball sent that goose all right, all right. General orders have been issued from the headquarters of the National Guard of Pennsylvania announcing the details of the spring inspections which will be held between February 1 and May 15, 1904, as shall be designated by the brigade commanders. The infantry will be inspected by the brigade inspectors, the cavalry by the division inspector and the artillery by chief of ordinance. The naval force of Pennsylvania will be inspected by the inspector general. A company failing to reach a general average of seventy-five will be considered inefficient. G. E. Wilkinson left on Monday for a trip to New England where he will visit the big marble quarries. John P. Thomas and his wife, of this place left here on Tuesday morning for the southern part of West Virginia where Mr. Thomas has been employed by a coal company to take charge of its civil engineering department. Mrs. Thomas is a daughter of Merchant John Owens of this place. Miss Emma Craver, daughter of the late Lewis A. and Theresa Craver of this place, is critically ill at the home of her sister, Mrs. Richard Burr at Lovell Park, near west end of town with tuberculosis. Her condition is critical and her recovery doubtful. Diphtheria Epidemic Blacklick, Indiana county, is at present in the throes of an epidemic of diphtheria and Friday there were seven cases of that frightful disease in the little town. So far there has been one death, one of the pupils of the primary department of the public schools. All the sick are children belonging to the same department and in order to prevent further spread of the disease the school director instructed the principal to close the school for at least one week. Situation Much Better The smallpox situation at Patton is now well in hand. The authorities have taken all necessary precautions and now no fear of a general epidemic is entertained. At present there are five cases in Patton. These are confined to three houses which are all quarantined, being roped off and guarded by watchmen who prevent egress or ingress. The first patient was John Barger who lives near the Pardee No. 3 mine. Another case is that of Mrs. Lewis Leroy while three children of Henry Chapman are victims of the disease. Will Suggest a Decree Attorney J. Wallace Paul of Johnstown, master in the divorce case of Robert Nitzel vs. Elizabeth Nitzel, sat last Friday at his office and heard the testimony in the suit. The evidence showed that Mrs. Nitzel had deserted her husband and the master will suggest a decree. The defendant was not represented at the hearing. Argument List Closed The argument list for the coming session of argument court has closed. There are twenty cases on the list for argument. The case of Frank Davis, convicted of murder in the first degree at last court, is at the head. Report on Bridge The viewers recently announced by the court to view the Fallen Timber bridge across Clearfield Creek together with Benjamin Jones, W. S. Stutzman, T. M. Sheehan and F. B. Jones performed that duty on Friday last. The bridge is built on stone abutments and is seventy-six feet in length by twelve feet in width. Besides the above named gentlemen the following viewers were appointed: William G. Jones, Cambria township; Alex C. Ivory, Clearfield township; John A. Gray, Jackson township; Joseph Krise, Clearfield township; Theodore Beam, Johnstown and Valentine Rager of Upper Yoder township. The bridge was found to be in accordance with the plans in its construction and it will be taken off the hands of the contractors by the county. Drive from South Fork A sleighing party composed of a half dozen ladies from South Fork drove to this place Friday and tested the magnificent sleighing between the towns. The party arrived here at about 11 o'clock and took dinner at the Bender Hotel. After dinner they were shown through the court house from the tower down by Court Crier E. J. Humphreys. The members of the party were Mesdames C. B. Salkeid, A. L. George, C. A. Fox, O. M. Stineman, R. M. Luke and G. H. Fesler, all of South Fork. The party started on the return trip about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Catholic Federation Officers At a recent meeting of the Federation of Catholic societies of Cambria county in Patton, W. A. R. Little of Loretto was chosen president; Walter Weakland of Patton, vice president; and J. M. McCann of Lilly, secretary. Fred Skelly of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and John Neary of the V. M. L., Johnstown, were among the representatives at the meeting. The next meeting of the societies will be held in Barnesboro in June. Lilly Society Chartered The charter of the Lilly Catholic Beneficial association was left for record recently. The society was organized for the protection and aid of its members and for the purpose of paying to them or their families both sick and death benefits. The incorporators of the society are Peter Robine, John W. Rainey, John McCabe and C. B. Helly. Elect New Officers The Gallitzin Fire company has elected the following officers for the ensuing year. President, L. G. Steiner; first vice president, F. A. Rice; second vice president, F. N. Burk; secretary, Dr. J. L. Paul; assistant secretary, W. Eckenrode; financial secretary, G. N. Stephens; treasurer, K A. Reed. Trustees: John Plunkett, G. Bookrup, F. N. Burk, F. A. Rice, J. S. Burkhart, L. G. Stiner, G. N. Stephens, E. T. Parrish, W. H. Eckenrode and Dr. J. L. Paul; foreman, J. S. Burkhart; assistant foreman, F. A. Rice. Among other business transacted at the meeting was an amendment to the constitution providing for the expulsion of all those who are in arrears one year with their dues. This will be voted upon at the next meeting. A committee consisting of J. S. Burkhart, F. A. Rice, J. L. Paul, E. T. Parrish and L. J. Burk was appointed to arrange for the first annual ball of the company. Another Johnstown Murder John Gibbony, William Bell, and Van French, jointly held by a Coroner's jury for the murder of C. A. Hill, alias, C. F. Pond, were on Saturday held by Alderman John C. Rutledge of the Fifth Ward, Johnstown, to answer the charge at court. The trio were brought here Saturday afternoon by Constable Herzog and Detective James. At the hearing Constable Herzog who, under the direction of the Coroner, made the charge, was sworn and gave the circumstances as they have come to his knowledge and Peter Harry, the Windber foreigner who was with the murdered man the night he received his injuries, was also put on the stand. His testimony was substantially the same as given at the inquest. Attorney M. B. Stephens was presenting for the prosecution, while F. P. Martin, Esq., appeared for the defendants. The latter subjected Harry to a severe cross examination but the foreigner's story stood as first related, though the witness was unable to definitely state the exact time the assault which resulted in the murder was made. The defense of the accused men will in all probability be an alibi as subsequent to the hearing Saturday, Bell's mother went to Alderman Rutledge's office and stated that her son was at home at 11 o'clock on the night of December 23d, the time the crime is alleged to have been committed. The prisoners have been "sweated" to some extent but no damaging admissions have been secured from them. Postmasters Chosen Names of Those Appointed and Confirmed in Senate Washington, Jan. 12 - The president sent to the Senate these nominations for postmaster: Pennsylvania: Crawford H. McGee, Mahaffey; John P. Wilson, Manor; John W. Bears, Marysville; Joseph Moody, Tremont. The senate has confirmed these post office appointments: Ohio: George W. C. Perry, Chillicothe; Frederick G. Withoft, Dayton; Edgar M. Kane, Vermillion. Pennsylvania: Frank R. Hammond, Bolivar, Albert A. Atterholt, Rochester; Francis A. Thompson, Lilly. West Virginia: John F. Lewis, Point Pleasant; John A. Dinsmore, Keystone.