NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 30 Mar 1906; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 30 Mar 1906 Volume 40, Number 12 Items Local and Personal Joe Petok, a National organizer for the U. M. W. of A. and who has been in Alabama for some time, has returned to his home in Benscreek. He has been assigned to work in the Winber (sic) field. At a recent meting of Capt. John M. Jones Post No. 556, G. A. R., the following committee (all sons of veterans)was appointed to make all arrangements for Memorial Day services and to have charge of the same: John W. Kephart, Esq.; Prof. H. T. Jones; Lester Larimer; S. L. Reed, Esq.; J. R. Myers; Thomas J. Hughes, Commander. The First National Bank of Ebensburg is having its interior remodeled and decorated by Dick Burr, the well known church decorator and sign painter. When finished the interior of the bank building will be one of the handsomest in the northern section of the county. Capt. Tom Davis, president of the Ebensburg borough council and well known all over Cambria county, sustained a very severe fall several days ago in front of Dr. Jones' office, rendering him completely helpless for a day or two. He is now able to be about again. Warden H. E. Blair of the County jail and Dr. Donald Shoemaker took to the Huntingdon reformatory Monday six prisoners who were sentenced to the institution by Judge O'Connor during the March term. In the recorder's office Monday was received a commission as justice of the peace for M. C. Lynch of Cresson. The commission will expire the first Monday in May, 1906. George Porch, the Ebensburg music dealer returned Saturday from Altoona and Bedford where he spent several days looking after business affairs. Mr. Isaiah Gates of Coalport who is one of THE FREEMAN's valued subscribers paid us a pleasant call while in town Thursday on business. Mr. Richard J. Denny of Cresson was among the Ebensburg visitors Thursday and paid THE FREEMAN a pleasant call. Wm. H. Moody of South Fork was in town on business on Wednesday and registered at the Cambria House. Mr. J. A. Murphy of Cresson township paid us a pleasant call Wednesday while in town on business. Mr. Bender of Coalport was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Gates of this place last Saturday. Mrs. George Porch has returned home after spending several days in Altoona and Roaring Springs. Arthur Sanner, the well known traveling salesman, was in town Wednesday calling on his trade. Howard Davis, the well known undertaker of Conemaugh, spent Sunday in this place with relatives. William H. Piper of Johnstown spent several days this week in Ebensburg on business. James McCann, editor of THE LILLY SIGNAL was in town Tuesday. Squire Parrish of Gallitzin was in Ebensburg on business Tuesday. Mrs. Ferguson Seriously Ill Mrs. Robert Ferguson of the West ward is lying seriously ill at her home as the result of a stroke of apoplexy last Friday afternoon. It is thought that the present state of Mrs. Ferguson's health was superinduced through worry over her son, Jesse Ferguson, removing to the far West some time ago. Mr. Ferguson and his family are now located in Idaho where he expects to occupy some land owned by the Ferguson's. Fireman Campbell Caught William Campbell of the Seventh Ward, a member of the Assistance company, who was helping with the deluge set, was caught under a shower of hot bricks and blazing splinters. His companions who had escaped by the narrowest margin risked their lives a second time by rushing back into the scorching street and dragging his prostate form into safety. It was thought at first Campbell had been killed outright, but signs of life were soon discovered and he was removed to the Memorial Hospital where he was found to be suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull and a fractured leg. Rager Released Joseph Rager, who was lodged in jail last Sunday on a charge of manslaughter following the unfortunate occurrence at the Globe Hotel in Barnesboro last Saturday evening, which resulted it the death of "Cap" Donahoe of Patton, was released Wednesday upon habeas corpus proceedings being instituted by his attorney, Frank J. Hartmann, of this place. Rager will be tried on the charge at the June term of court. Home from School R. L. Evans, son of Constable R. D. Evans and Clarence Davis, son of Poor Director John Davis, of this place, arrived here on Friday to remain for ten days. Both young men are students at the Indiana Normal School and have been released from study during the Easter vacation. Russell and Robert Leech, sons of District Attorney James W. Leech, who had been spending Sunday with their parents here, have returned to Mercersburg to resume their studies at the academy. Illness prevented the boys from getting back to Ebensburg as promptly as they should have and their vacation stay here was consequently short. Wind Up of Sleighing Parties The fine sleighing Sunday attracted many people to Ebensburg from surrounding towns in the north of Cambria and the aspiring young man in the glaring red cutter, with his "best girl" by his side, was very much in evidence all day long. Many people here also drove to adjacent towns just for the pleasure of a sleigh ride. A merry sleighing party composed of Ebensburg ladies was driven to Gallitzin by Liveryman O'Hara Saturday evening, stopping at J. V. Leonard's popular hostelry for supper, after which they returned to the county capital about 9:30 o'clock. The party was made up of the following: Mrs. James McBreen, Mrs. Myers, Mrs. T. B. O'Hara, Mrs. John O'Hara, Mrs. J. G. Hasson, Mrs. E. C. Parrish, Mrs. Wm. Kimball, Mrs. J. A. Boney, Mrs. Luther and the Misses Annie O'Hara, Ellen O'Hara, Alberta Luther, Gertrude Mulvehill, Josephine and Charlotte Kimball. Cresson Sleighing Party A merry sleighing party from Cresson drove to the county capital last Monday evening and took supper at the Metropolitan Hotel. In the party were the following: The Messrs. J. B. Wagner, B. A. Root, T. R. Blair, E. G. Glass, M. M. Mitchell, H. A. Miller, Robert Thompson, Frank Lynch, William Dobie, H. O. Kozer, Clarence Brown; the Misses M. Deveraux, G. Kephart, M. Schwader, Elsie Schwader, M. O'Hara, A. McDermott, B. O'Donnel, A. Thorne, M, Williams, Mrs. Hine and Mrs. Johns, chaperons. The Fiercest Fire in Johnstown History! Conflagration Breaks Out in Swank Building Early Wednesday Morning and Eight Buildings are Destroyed Loss is Over Four Hundred Thousand Dollars The Plant of the Johnstown JOURNAL Goes Up in Smoke The Firemen were Powerless to Check Flames The fiercest fire that has visited Johnstown for a long time early Wednesday morning completely destroyed the large Swank Hardware company building at the corner of Bedford and Main streets. At 2:30 o'clock the Swank building, a five story structure occupied by the hardware company and 10 office firms was a mass of ruins. The big four story building occupied by N. B. Swank as a wagon and buggy establishment was in flames but was saved. The four story brick building of the Henderson Furniture Company was in flames and doomed. The Wild building, a three story brick structure occupied by the JOURNAL plant was burning as well as the Fisher building immediately adjoining it. The fine large brick building of Louis Geis occupied as a furniture store was in danger as was the three story building of the New Enterprise Clothing store. The firm was in the business heart of Johnstown and the total loss will probably be considerably over $400,000 as the loss on the Swank Hardware building alone was over $65,000. The fire originated from a defective electrical wire on the second floor of the Swank Building and before the arrival of the fire department had gained such headway that it was impossible to check it. The fire department was totally unable to cope with the flames, which spread and gutted the Swank building in less than a half hour. Less than an hour after the fire was discovered the N. B. Swank structure was ruined and the Henderson and Wild buildings were burning. New Mine for Sonman The Benscreek Coal Mining company has leased 500 acres of coal on the cement seam at Sonman. The company is drilling a hole to test the coal near the Shoemaker mine and if it proves all right in quality they expect to open an operation during the present year. The Shoemaker Coal Mining company of Philadelphia, which at present operates a drift at Sonman on the Lemon seam, has leased several hundred acres additional to what it now operates, says the Portage PRESS. This will necessitate the opening of a slope or shaft to take out the dip coal. Arrested for Assault Arthur Simpson, of Cambria Township, was arrested Saturday by Constable R. D. Evans of this place on a warrant charging assault and battery, issued by Squire A. J. Waters on information of Jerry Lloyd of the same township. The defendant has given bail in the sum of $100 for a hearing to be held today. Killed at Barnesboro Drunken Scrap Terminates in One Man Throwing the Other Over High Porch, Fracturing His Skull "Capt." Donahue is dead as the result of some trouble he had Saturday night with Joe Rager in the Globe Hotel at Barnesboro. He was thrown from the porch of the hotel and his skull was fractured. Rager is in jail. An inquest into the affair was held on Monday morning. Donahue came from Patton. He was about 30 years of age. Rager met him in the barroom of the Globe Hotel Saturday night. The two had some trouble and Ager (sic, should be Rager), it is stated, invited the other man outside where they could settle the difficulty. The men started fighting when they reached the hotel porch about 7 feet from the ground. They wrestled around for a minute or so, it is stated, and then Rager threw the other man to the ground. Donahue did not move after he struck the ground. Friends picked him up and he was at once given medical attention, but he died early Sunday morning without regaining consciousness. Coroner Prothero of Johnstown was notified of the affair and directed Squire Brown of Barnesboro to inquire into the case. Joe Rager was brought to jail here on Sunday evening. The charge against him is manslaughter. He is a carpenter and about 34 years of age. He had very little to say about the death of Donahue, except to mention the fact that both men had been drinking during Saturday evening.