NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1907; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 20 Dec 1907 Volume 41, Number 50 Local and Personal Attorney and Mrs. F. A. Shoemaker were among the first to come forth Saturday and accept the invitation of the newly fallen snow to take a sleigh ride. Mr. Shoemaker is the owner of a fine turnout. Later in the day a number of others jumped into sleighs and shared in the same pleasure. G. A. Harvey of the East ward will spend Christmas at Wilkinsburg with his daughter, Miss Margaret Harvey who is not enjoying good health. Wednesday of last week the young lady underwent a serious operation but is doing as well as can be expected. Attorney Reuel Somerville of Patton, jolly as ever, was in town this week as usual during December court. Mr. Somerville is a candidate for Assembly on the Republican ticket. He is a clean cut young man of ability and rigid integrity. Assessor John Somerville of Patton came to the county seat Saturday for the purpose of making his returns to the county commissioners. Incidentally he tarried long enough to renew acquaintances with some of his old friends. The public schools will close next Tuesday for a two weeks' holiday vacation. The scholars are planning to have all kinds of fun. Santa Claus has promised them many nice Christmas gifts. State Troopers James P. Logan and H. T. Nugent of Portage were around this way Wednesday greeting friends and watching the wheel of justice revolve at the court house. A piano recital will be given in the opera house here Monday evening, Dec. 2, by Miss Katharine Stokes, assisted by Miss Maude McDonald. Doors will open at 8:15 p.m. Poor Director-elect John Cunningham came up from Nant-y-Glo on Saturday and qualified before Prothonotary Charles E. Troxell for the duties of his office. Liveryman Thomas Peach is favorably mentioned for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner to succeed the incumbent, Conrad Hahn Mrs. T. F. Chilcote of Rockhill, Blair County, is here spending the winter with her son, the Rev. J. P. Chilcote, pastor of the Methodist church. Samuel Shoemaker came down from Spangler Saturday and passed Sunday very pleasantly in the society of his friends in Ebensburg. Daniel H. Lantz and Robert Hivemarsh were appointed by the court as appraisers of the assigned estate of A. H. Neff of Hastings. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Kephart entertained the 500 club Wednesday evening at their home on Centre street. Eben Edwards of Blacklick township was among the visitors at the county seat Tuesday. Miss Mae Pruner is assisting in handling the holiday trade at Barker's store. The venerable William M. Kimball is seriously ill with an attack of sciatic. Ebensburg friends of Miss Mae Schott who formerly resided here will be grieved to learn that she is confined in a hospital at Pittsburg, suffering with a sprained spine, from which she may never fully recover. The injury is the result of a fall in one of the skating rinks of that city a few days ago. Joseph Westrick, one of the directors of the Grange National Bank at Patton, was in attendance at court here Wednesday, taking notice of what was said and done in the now famous Cauffield libel case. Farmer Joseph Price of Barr township, was a caller at the FREEMAN office yesterday. He stepped into the sanctum to extend holiday greetings. Thanks, Mr. Price, same to you. Ex-Commissioner T. M. Sheehan of Patton was among the prominent visitors in town Thursday morning. He reports business brisk up Patton way, but as to politics, there is nothing doing. Squire Charles McDonigal transacted legal business of a private nature in Ebensburg on Thursday. He was in good humor and gave a fine report of everything down Lilly way. Jury Commissioner Albert C. Hines of Blacklick township combined business with pleasure in Ebensburg Thursday. Philip Hartzog, one of the directors of the county almshouse, is sorely afflicted with erysipelas, which keeps him confined closely to his home at Barnesboro. E. G. Miller, Richard Tibbott, R. D. Evans and Joseph Davis were out in Kaylor's Bottom Wednesday chasing after foxes. The number they saw but did not kill was one. Late News of County O. H. Osman has opened a furniture store at Nant-y-Glo. The center of attraction in Nant-y-Glo just now is the new skating rink of Harvey Conrad, which was formally opened to the public Tuesday evening. The measles and whooping cough prevail to an alarming extreme among the children here. The total number of cases reported aggregate about one hundred. No deaths have occurred as yet. There are nearly a hundred cases of whooping cough and about forty cases of measles reported in Portage borough and township. One of the schools has been closed. Reaches 82nd Milestone Health Still Good and He Receives Many Congratulations The venerable John A. Blair, father of Mrs. William A. Horan and Mrs. Thomas McDermott of Johnstown, celebrated his 82nd birthday anniversary at his home in Ebensburg on Saturday. The celebration was a quiet affair, which was as the aged gentleman desired. The majority of the Blair children called at the home of their parent that day to assist him in commemorating the event, the affair being of a strictly informal nature. Mr. Blair is a veteran of the Mexican War, being one of the few survivors of the strife now residing in Cambria County, where he has spent practically all his life. He was married a few years after the Mexican War to the Miss Julia N. Evans and is the father of 11 children, eight of them surviving and constituting one of the best known families of the county. They are: W. W. of Ebensburg; John T. and H. E. and Mrs. O. E. Wilkinson of Ebensburg; Mrs. Bearer, wife of M. D. Bearer, cashier of the Grange National Bank of Patton and Joseph R. Blair of Elyria, O. For many years, Mr. Blair was the leading spirit in Democratic politics in the county. In 1880 he was elected Sheriff of the county for a term of three years and filled the office with credit. His health is fairly good and he has many friends who wish him many more years of life. Stuck in Snowbank, Party Nearly Froze Stuck in a snowbank far out in Croyle township yesterday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Simendinger, with their two small boys, aged about 9 and 11 years, were nearly frozen to death. Their home is at Ehrenfeld and they were on their way to Ebensburg in a sleigh. Half a mile from the Peter Long homestead, the horse stalled in a four-foot drift. In trying to extricate himself, the horse broke the shaft and tore the harness. This left the occupants facing a cold proposition. They had a "bitter cup to drink." The best they could do was to get out and walk, which they did. The Long home was the nearest habitation in sight and the two little boys, already shivering with the cold, almost froze before arriving there. Mr. Long received the stranded neighbors with all the kindness of a noble farmer, succoring them with every comfort. After 4 p.m. when the Simendingers had recovered from their numbness, Mr. Long conveyed them to town in his own cutter. Mr. Simendinger is assessor of Croyle Township and at the time of the accident was on his way to turn in his report to the county commissioners. He and his wife and two sons will ever remember the Samaritan kindness of Peter Long. Physicians Very Busy Many an unwary mortal was hard bit by the frigid coldness during the past few days. The result is a large increase in the number of sick people and as a natural consequence physicians everywhere are unusually busy. Innumerable cases of tonsillitis, neuralgia, grip and whooping cough are reported but besides these and kindred afflictions, the general health of the community is good. Busy Days in the Lumber Camps Down Along the Blacklick These are busy days in the lumber camps down along the Blacklick and at other outlaying mountain points. The fall of snow Saturday gives the operators of the jobs a good opportunity to move their many sawlogs from the rough and steep hillsides to the sawmill landing miles away. Scores of sturdy men and dozens of teams have been engaged at high wages and sent into the woods where there is great activity in all the camps. From early in the morning until late at night these men and horses, equipped with bobsleds, chains, axes, grabs and canthooks, like soldiers marching to war, make the woods a veritable battlefield as they cut and slash, roll and slide, trail and skid sawlogs from the rugged forest, which is no easy task but as a matter of fact, woodmen generally are used to hard knocks and go about performing the hardest kind of manual labor with comparative ease, exhibiting a peculiar adaptability and fascination for the work that is surprising to one not familiar with life in the back woods. The forests of Cambria County and elsewhere as well are being depleted of their wealth rapidly, owing to the great demand and increasing prices of lumber. Boy Injured While Skating Children cannot be too careful when they go out on the ice to skate. Accidents are apt to occur any time. In a head-on collision with two schoolmates several days ago, skating on a pond in Barr Township, Elmer Price's feet were knocked from under him and he fell violently upon the ice, fracturing his left arm in two places. His parents fear the son will be crippled all the days of his life. Hotel Property Transferred The Porto Rico Hotel at Chest Springs has changed owners. The transfer took place Monday last. W. Frank Pfeiler retiring and J. Scott Kelly taking possession of the hostelry. The purchase price of the lot and building is $3500, furniture and good will, $2000. Mr. Pfeiler has removed to Carrolltown. Removed to the Pen Convicted of larceny at court last week and sentenced to one year and three months, G. L. Glosser, Edward McCue and John Fogas were removed Tuesday by Warden Edward Knee to the Western Penitentiary at Pittsburg. Peter Nail was removed to the Huntingdon Reformatory Monday. Lost Valuable Horse by Death The Messrs. O'Hara & Luther lost one of the best livery horses by death Wednesday. Sherry Jones conveyed a party of surveyors from this place to Portage. The horse suddenly took sick with colic on the way and died before the service of a veterinary surgeon could be secured to treat him. His name was John and he was one of the span of horses valued at $700. Arrested His Man on Sunday, Lodged Him in Jail on Monday Early Monday morning Constable Silas Gibbons of Ashville delivered David Smith to the jail authorities here for commitment on a charge of larceny lodged against him Nov. 21 last by the Ashville Coal Company. A day or two after the information was made Smith was arrested and arraigned before the magistrate at Ashville. He waived a hearing and was held for court on his own recognizance. Under the cover of darkness Saturday night he returned to his home and family at Ashville. Officer Gibbons was apprised of the fact. Arming himself with a new warrant and a policeman's billy as well, Mr. Gibbons proceeded Sunday morning to re-arrest the fugitive from justice. The officer, anticipating trouble, deputized a brother to accompany him. They found Smith at home and sure enough, they did have trouble. Smith resisted the officer. "You have no right to arrest me on Sunday," said he, in a defiant manner. Gibbons was determined to take his man, however and at it they went. A lively scuffle ensued. Smith is a strong man and it required the united effort of Officer Gibbons and his brother to shackle him. They placed him in the borough lock-up until Monday morning. Trains Slaughter Three Johnstown Reports Three Railroad Fatalities in Cambria County Johnstown, Pa. Dec. 19 -- Three men were killed within the confines of Cambria County by trains. David A. Rhoades, aged forty-five of Johnstown, was run down by a Pittsburg accommodation train on the PRR and almost instantly killed. Bennett Weakland, a prominent coal operator of Patton, was run over near his home town, his body being cut in two. He was thirty-six years old and married. The body of an unknown man, terrible mangled, was found near Gallitzin. He was apparently about forty years of age. The trackwalker who found him, George Angus, in five months has come upon the remains of five dead men and perhaps a dozen injured within his territory. Gus Ringling Dead Famous Showman, Eldest of Seven Brothers, Passes from the Stage New Orleans, Dec. 19 -- Gus Ringling, head of the circus combination which controls the shows of Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey and Forepaugh Sells, is dead here at a sanitarium. Death was due to a compilation of diseases. Mr. Ringling came to New Orleans about two weeks ago with the hope that the climate would benefit him. Augustus Ringling was the oldest of seven brothers. Born a poor boy fifty-five years ago, he educated himself and accumulated sufficient funds with his brothers to start in their little home town of Baraboo the nucleus of the great shows he controlled at his death. Gradually they were able to get together a small traveling circus and with their big red wagons followed in the footsteps of the pioneer circus man, John Robinson, driving across country by night and showing by day. First one big circus and then another was bought and it was only a few months ago that the famous old Barnum & Bailey show had been bought by them. Murdered by Indians Nogates, Ariz. Dec. 19 -- News which has just reached here tells of the frightful murder of twelve men by a band of one hundred and fifty Yaquis Indians, forty- five miles southeast of Magdalena, state of Sonora, Mex., last Wednesday. P. J. McIntyre and a party of mining men of the section have arrived from the scene where they viewed the remains of the murdered men. The Yaquis captured the party of thirteen men. Among the number was Jose Fernandez, son of President Fernandez, of the town of Cucurpe and owner of the Mescal plantation, where the killing occurred The others were Mexican laborers on the ranch and some Cananea miners, looking for work. One American was among the number but he was rescued by men who told them that they were Americans. The remaining twelve were stripped naked, stood up against trees and shot through the head. A band of Yaquis is reported to be on the warpath. Mary Early Dixmont, Pa. Dec. 18 -- Miss Mary Early, a nurse at the insane asylum here, was killed by a train as she was about to start to Pittsburg to buy Christmas presents. Arthur Stanton Johnstown, Pa. Dec. 19 -- Arthur Stanton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stanton of Stanton Mills, Somerset County, was caught in the shaft of his father's grist mill while no one was near and instantly killed. His body was whirled against the floor and ceiling and every bone broken. His parents were away doing Christmas shopping at the time. He was twelve years old. John W. Snyder Pottsville, Pa. Dec. 19 -- Convinced that the man was murdered and robbed, the authorities are inquiring into the circumstances surrounding the death in a local hospital of John W. Snyder, a young business man of this city. Snyder was found unconscious on the street, suffering from a fractured skull. He died without regaining consciousness.