NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1909; 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, 8 Jan 1909 Volume 43, Number 2 Personal Items Landlord T. V. Hott was in Ohio on business last week. Mr. Nelson Brown of Barnesboro visited his parents here during the holidays. Miss Victoria Brown arrived home from Latrobe for Christmas and is still with her folks. Miss Mary Bell, who had been spending the holidays at her home in Indiana, has returned to this place. Mrs. B. F. Jervis of Center Street, who had been suffering from pleurisy, is reported somewhat improved. Mr. and Mrs. Olin P. Thomas of Johnstown spent Christmas here with County Commissioner John Owens and family. Mrs. Susan Davis and Mrs. Mayme Davis and daughter, Esther, of this place visited Mr. and Mrs. Howard Davis of Conemaugh last week. Hastings Happenings Hastings, Jan. 7 Simon Strittmatter, whose left hand was so badly burned by a live electric wire some time ago, is slowly recovering from the injury. Hastings has now an adequate supply of pure sparkling water which comes from an artesian well drilled to the depth of 517 feet. The typhoid fever has about disappeared but a few cases of scarlet fever exist. Edward McHugh, who lives on the outskirts of Hastings, is probably the oldest ex-schoolteacher in Cambria County. He will be 84 years of age in March. Mr. McHugh commenced to teach in the Delaney schools in Allegheny Township in November of 1843. He is a noted geologist and before his retirement was a coal operator, having opened the first mines in Hastings, as well as the first ones at Bennington. In 1846, he clerked at Ashland furnace. Gave Stocking Shower Miss Helen Barker, daughter of Former Judge and Mrs. A. V. Barker of Ebensburg, entertained a number of friends Monday afternoon in honor of Miss Ada Lloyd, who is to be married early next month to Frank E. Bracket Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Coal Company's operations at St. Michael. The party was a "stocking" shower and the place cards were done in water colors, showing a representation of a stocking. Saturday evening a miscellaneous shower was tendered Miss Lloyd by Miss Elsie McKenrick. Guests at the Monday evening affair were the following: The Misses Elsie McKenrick, Louise Blair, Mildred Owens, June Boney, Edna Barker, Anne Spiller, Marian and Martha Jones, Margaret Griffith, Elsie Lloyd, Margaret Davis, Mary G. Lloyd and Fannie C. Lloyd, all of Ebensburg; and Olean and Grace Denny of Johnstown; and Harriet Shaffer of Altoona. Cresson Man Gets Patent Among the patents recently granted at Washington D. C., was one to A. Taylor of Cresson. Mr. Taylor's invention is a lubricator for car wheels. Hotel Clerk to Leave Frank D. Gibson, for a long time clerk at the Mountain House in Ebensburg, will sever his connection with that hotel Saturday night. Beginning Monday morning Mr. Gibson will be with the United Sales Company of Johnstown. Peter Collin's at Death's Door Famous Contractor, Native of the Summit, in Precarious Condition at Bellefonte Shot by Indians in '78 The Rev. Father Ferdinand Kittell of Loretto has received word that Peter Collins of Philadelphia, is lying at the point of death at the home of his sister, Miss Sallie Collins in Bellefonte. He has been unconscious for several days and his death is momentarily expected. Peter Collins was born at the Summit, this county in 1840, and has an international reputation as a contractor and builder. He was for some years associated in business with his brother, Thomas Collins, deceased. They helped to build the mainline of the PRR, the Ebensburg Branch in 1860, the Indiana Branch, the Bald Eagle road from Tyrone to Lock Haven and several roads in Schuylkill County. In May, 1878, the contracting firm of Collins Bros. with Mackey, Scott & Co., another contracting concern, left the United States with a number of ships for Brazil to establish a steamboat line and railroad there but the ships were destroyed at sea and some of the men perished, compelling the contactors to abandon the project. A few months later, Peter Collins and George Gray were overtaken by Indians in San Antonia, Brazil, where an arrow penetrated one of Mr. Collins' lungs. He has never been able to work since the injury which is said to be the cause of his present illness. Veteran Editor is Near Other Shore Man Who Stated Cambria FREEMAN Dying in City of Washington H. A. McPike of Washington, D. C. and at one time editor of the Cambria FREEMAN is very ill at his home. The veteran journalist is 84 years of age and his right side is badly paralyzed. Mr. McPike has a great many friends among the older residents of Ebensburg who will be sorry to learn of his sad predicament. Mr. McPike was born in Hollidaysburg and learned his trade in that town. He worked in Hollidaysburg, Johnstown, Altoona, Summit and Ebensburg. When young he was a clerk in Johnstown and afterward operated a grocery store in Altoona. When the Pittsburg diocese was formed, Bishop O'Connor founded an academy at Summit. This academy is now St. Michael's of Pittsburg. Summit was on the old Portage road and was a bustling town at that time. H. A. McPike went there in 1855 and started a Catholic paper called the CRUSADER. This paper was the forerunner of the Pittsburg CATHOLIC. In January, 1867, Mr. McPike came to Ebensburg and with the late Judge R. L. Johnston, started the DEMOCRAT and SENTINEL. The name of this paper was afterward changed to the CAMBRIA FREEMAN. Mr. McPike edited this paper for many years. About May 1884 Mr. McPike sold THE FREEMAN to J. G. Hasson, whose first issue appeared May 9, 1884. Mr. Hasson operated the paper until the present owner, Thomas A. Osborn, took charge. From Ebensburg Mr. McPike went to Altoona where he started the Altoona TIMES and operated it for a number of years. He finally sold the paper, went to Washington and entered the government printing office where he has since been. In 1880 diphtheria caused the death of five of Mr. McPike's children in one week. This was while he lived here. His wife died some time later and he remarried. George McPike and Martin McPike are living. Blown through the Kitchen Door Barnesboro Woman Has Narrow Escape from Death Mrs. Henry Fridman of Barnesboro had a narrow escape from death Thursday morning when a water back on the kitchen stove in her house bursted (sic) with a deafening report. She was blown ten feet through a door in the interior of the house and slightly burned. Mrs. Fridman had a very hot fire in the stove. She was standing over the apparatus, preparing breakfast and had just moved to one side when the water back let go. The force of the explosion carried the woman through a closed door into the next room. The kitchen was filled with steam and blazing coals. Neighbors attracted by Mrs. Fridman's screams rushed to her assistance and extinguished the blaze, starting in the kitchen. A physician was summoned and attended to her hurts, which consisted of bruises and slight burns. Patton Man May Lose Hand Patrick Lannigan of Patton is at the Memorial Hospital, Johnstown, suffering with blood poisoning and may lose one of his hands. The infection followed a slight injury to one of his fingers. Run Down by Crane A prisoner brought to jail in Ebensburg this week was Frank Carbay of Johnstown, a crane driver in the Cambria Steel Company's machine shop. Carbay is charge before Alderman Lamberd of Johnstown with having run down James H. Eckels who was working on the crane runway. Carbay says the affair was purely an accident. Inhuman Father Arrested George Davis of Conemaugh accused by his two little daughters, 12 and 14 years, of a most horrible crime and who fled from the Iron Horse town last week has been arrested at Nevada, O., by officers. Extradition papers have been applied for and Davis was brought to jail in Ebensburg after a preliminary hearting in Conemaugh. The latter town is greatly aroused over the crime. The council offered a reward of $100 for Davis' arrest. Barnesboro has Another Blaze Three Story Building Destroyed by Fire Early Tuesday Morning The three story frame building on Carolina Street, Barnesboro, owned by H. C. Prutzman of the Central Hotel, was totally destroyed by fire early last Tuesday morning. William Herrick and family who lived on the second story of the structure, had a narrow escape from a horrible death, escaping only a minute or so before flames cut off the stairway. The flames were discovered in the store room of L. Wainger on the first floor of the building. The building was an old one and the fire spread with incredible rapidity. When the Herrick family awakened, the flames were already on the second floor and the members escaped in their night clothing. Mr. Prutzman's loss will be in the neighborhood of $1000, covered by insurance. Mr. Wainger will lose about $4000 with $2000 insurance. The Herrick loss was in the neighborhood of $1000 with little or no insurance. Catholic Orphanage will Open Monday Sisters from Scranton Have Arrived at Summit and Children Will Enter Home Monday Bishop Will Be Present The doors of the new Catholic orphanage of the diocese of Altoona, located at Summit, near Cresson, will be opened next Monday, when the children to be taken care of by the Catholic churches of this vicinity will enter the home. Seven sisters from Scranton have arrived in Summit and are now quartered at the orphan's home. Several days ago they were tendered a reception by ladies of the Summit congregation and Bishop E. A. Garvey, Fathers Farren, Garvin and Munley. A luncheon was served during the evening. The contract for the erection of the building was awarded to P. W. Finn of Altoona. The work was started in the fall of 1907 and is now completed. There remains some minor touching up to be done and the installing of the furniture in the school rooms. The building is of stone and is three and a half stories high and will accommodate 300 children. It is modern in every respect. The main structure is 80x140. The boys will have quarters on the left side while the girls will occupy the right side. At play, in school or at work, they will be kept apart, the only time they will be allowed together being at worship. The building is lighted by electricity. Fire alarms are installed in various parts of the building and reels of fire hose are handy on all floors. The heating and cooking system are the most modern. An electric pumping engine is installed in the cellar to pump water to a large tank on top of the building. In addition a large wind mill has been erected and will be used as an auxiliary to the pumping engine. Fifteen acres of ground will be used for growing truck for the home, flower gardens, lawns, etc. At present a fence has been erected on two sides of the institution and after the grounds have been beautified the remainder will be enclosed. The good ladies of the Summit congregation have been busy as bees during the past week getting the building in readiness for the opening next week. By them the building has been thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. The furniture and the fixtures have been put in place and the bed clothing in shape. The greater portion of the linen and furniture has been donated by the different parishes and church societies. The following are the names of the ladies of the Summit congregation who took part in getting the building ready for the opening and prepared and served the dinner at the orphanage Monday evening: Mrs. Annie Rattigan, Mrs. John Brawley, Mrs. Frank Adelsberg, Mrs. Edward Mower, Mrs. John Bertram, Mrs. Joseph Fisher, Mrs. Jennie Riffle, Mrs. S. C. Lilly, Mrs. Joseph O'Neill, Mrs. Thomas Luther, Miss Ella McConnell, Miss Stella Brawley, Miss Stella Luther, Miss Bertha Ahles, Miss Katie Freedhof, Miss Grace Boland and Miss Lizzie McKenna. Portage Robbers Dead Hidden away in the news stories concerning the disastrous earthquake in southern Italy was a paragraph to the effect that the prison at Messina, Sicily, had been destroyed and that all prisoners had been killed. It was in this prison that the Italians suspected of the Portage holdup in 1904 were lodged. Patrick F. Campbell of Puritan, the paymaster, who has badly injured in the holdup, has given it as his opinion that the four robbers are among the dead.