NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1912; 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, 2 Aug 1912 Volume 45, Number 30 Personal Mention William H. Mondy, the hustling real estate man of Portage, transacted business in town Monday. Mr. Mondy reports business brisk in his line and that a number of new buildings are in course of construction at Portage. If the improvements contemplated are carried successfully through, he believes Portage will rank next in importance to Johnstown in this county. F. J. Jones, deputy sheriff and his little son, David, are spending a week's vacation at Gary, state of Indiana, visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Higson. Mr. Higson, a son-in-law of Mr. Jones, formerly lived in Johnstown, but some months ago accepted a responsible position with the American Boiler Co. at Gary to which place he moved with his family. Mrs. Upton S. Hayden of News Castle, Pa., is visiting friends in Ebensburg this week and paid THE FREEMAN a business call on Wednesday last. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden, once residents of this county at Ebensburg and at South Fork, have been living at New Castle for four years where Mr. Hayden holds a responsible position. Howard C. Yerger and E. C. Brown of Patton were in Ebensburg Thursday. Both named gentlemen are leading officials of the Pennsylvania Beech Creek & Eastern Coal and Coke Company. Pat Crilly, one of Allegheny township's most prosperous farmers, paid THE FREEMAN sanctum a visit Monday last. While here he did not fail to subscribe for Cambria's best weekly newspaper. The firemen will hold a dance in the opera house on Wednesday of Carnival week. The Ebensburg Inn orchestra will furnish the music. Everybody invited. Admission 50 cents. Sister Mary Innocentia, of the order of St. Joseph, is visiting her mother, Mrs. Thomas McBreen. During the last school term she was stationed at St. Patrick's school, Moxham. John D. Wendgen of Barnesboro paid the county seat a business call yesterday and while here insisted on paying a FREEMAN subscription. Of course John was a welcome visitor. The last Barnesboro base ball team will cross bats with Ed Knee's Sluggers Saturday afternoon on the Griffith field. A good game is expected. M. H. James, the DEMOCRAT'S clever clothes-horse column conductor and correspondent, called upon Johnstown friends Wednesday. The Messrs. Con Brown, Edw. Englehart, Earl Moore and George Hogue took in the sights at Lakemont Park, Altoona, on Sunday. J. Lawrence Luther of the Cambria Title, Savings & Trust Co., made a business trip in the vicinity of Nicktown last Tuesday. Brother Benedict English of St. Francis college, Loretto, accompanied a number of visitors to the county seat last Monday. John D. Bradley of Ashville transacted business in Ebensburg Monday. Mr. Bradley until recently lived at Summit. David Plunkett of Gallitzin is spending some time in town while Dr. J. L. Paul's automobile is being repaired. Mrs. J. V. Leonard and Miss Ruth Troxell of Gallitzin registered at the Metropolitan hotel here Tuesday. P. M. Swope, Carrolltown's well known contractor, tarried awhile with Ebensburg friends Tuesday last. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Owens have returned from an extended visit in the eastern part of the state. Fletcher C. George, one of Lilly's leading business men, called on his friends in this place Thursday. Joseph McCann, a coal operator of the Cambria mines at Lloydell, was in town Monday on business. A. F. Hunt, cashier of the First National Bank of Lilly, was an Ebensburg visitor Wednesday. J. E. Reagan and wife of Portage were Ebensburg visitors Tuesday. Attorney H. H. Myers of this place spent Tuesday at Blairsville. A. T. Strittmatter of Hastings was here on business Wednesday. Squire J. J. Rhoddy of Ashville was a business visitor here Thursday. Miss Marcella Brannan of Gallitzin visited in Ebensburg Wednesday. M. Cosgrove, Burgess of Gallitzin, was registered at the Mountain house Thursday. Rev. and Mrs. H. Mahon of Braddock visited Ebensburg friends during the week. Frank Bryson Wood Esq., of Barnesboro transacted business in Ebensburg Tuesday last. Father H. M. O'Neill of Holy Name Catholic church is visiting at Philadelphia this week. F. P. Dawson and son, Vernon, of Gallitzin were business visitors in the county seat yesterday. Additional Personals Irvin Crist, formerly an employee at the MOUNTAINEER-HERALD office in this place but until recently employed in Williamsport came here Monday to pay a brief visit among friends. He is now assisting the MOUNTAINEER-HERALD force with some rush work. On Wednesday last a party of Johnstown ladies came to Ebensburg by way of the Southern Cambria railway and registered at the Mountain House for one of those regular weekly chicken and waffle suppers, which attracts so many patrons to "Prop" Stoltz's hotel. Among the crowds were Mrs. Wm. R. Foster, Mrs. Geo. Porch, Mrs. Geo. Moyer, Mrs. H. J. Carlin, Mrs. Kennedy W. Hamilton, Mrs. John F. Berlin and Miss Bertha Tross. THE FREEMAN is glad to note the recent promotion of John I. Campbell, formerly of Gallitzin. About two years ago Mr. Campbell moved to New York to accept a responsible position in the post office service. That he has made good is proven by the fact that he was promoted several times, until recently the position of clerk in charge of the city mail transportation was tendered him. In America's metropolis, this position is one of great importance and responsibility. New Catholic Church for Conemaugh The Rev. Father John Gill, Rector of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Conemaugh, has announced that a new and modern edifice will be erected within a short time to replace the present outworn and inadequate structure. It is probable that the present church will be converted into a school hall. The plans for the new church have not yet been drawn and the cost is still a matter of conjecture. "Stone House" Destroyed And a fire destroyed what was left of the old stone house about a mile west of Ebensburg, leaving only the crumbling and dilapidated walls of the famous old time "Wayside Inn" in the days of coach travel on the Pittsburg & Philadelphia turn-pike. In view of the recent notoriety connecting the Minnie Lloyd farm, on which the stone building stands, with the Anderson-Davis graft imbroglio, the fire of Wednesday night last was the subject of some comment in the county seat. Someone has suggested that the conflagration may have been due to an inanimate sense of shameful blush on part of the honorable house whose inner walls were inflamed to an uncontrollable heat which produced its self- destruction. A Sweet Pea Rarity Among the local sweet pea farmers who have been getting good results this year is C. H. Barker. Mr. Barker has some very strong and sturdy vines in the rear of his handsome home on Julian street and his peas, the majority of the Spencer variety, have been blooming profusely for two months. Not only did Mr. Barker have the first sweet peas in town this year, but the other day he exhibited a spray of Vermillion Brilliant peas which bore five flowers. This is most unusual. Four flowers on a single stem are found frequently among the high-class Spencers, but five are very rare. In this instance the standard and wings on Mr. Barker's specimen were very well developed. Fergus C. Lloyd on Western Trip Mr. and Mrs. Fergus C. Lloyd of this place left last Wednesday afternoon on an extensive western trip – a combined business and pleasure sojourn of a month or six weeks. Mr. Lloyd is the senior member of the store firm of John Lloyd's Sons and for many years has been one of our most prominent business men. During his vacation he and Mrs. Lloyd will visit Pittsburg, Chicago, Rock Island, Red Oak, Omaha, Hills City, Deadwood, Denver, Kansas City, Joplin, Indianapolis and other places along this route. Carrolltown Lady Injured Mrs. M. J. Farabaugh of Carrolltown is slowly recovering from injuries sustained a few days ago when she fell down the stairs at her home. She is the wife of a well known local photographer. Mrs. Farabaugh had been working on the second floor of her home and stumbled while going down stairs. Gas Explosion at Carrolltown Mrs. James Green, wife of Superintendent Green of the Black Dimond Coal company there, was painfully burned about the head and face Tuesday morning by an explosion of a small gas stove, about which she was working. She is lying in a serious condition at her home. A daughter, Miss Marie Green, was also in the kitchen when the stove let go. The flames caught Mrs. Green in the face and she fell to the floor. Neighbors were attracted by the loud report of the exploding gas and rushed to Mrs. Green's assistance. Mrs. Green's entire face was scorched and some of the hair was burned from her head. She also inhaled some of the flames and is suffering from the shock. Insane in County Jail Warden E. H. Knee of the county jail has 153 inmates under his care and of this number 16 are demented. In dealing with this latter class, Mr. Knee has had remarkable success as nearly all have improved greatly under his care. Rest, fresh air and good food are part of the treatment given to the insane at the jail. A portion of the day they are left to themselves but are kept out in the fresh air as much as possible. The county provides liberally for them. Milk, eggs, meat and soups form the larger part of their food. Confessed to Robbing His Own Store After causing the borough and railroad official much trouble by stories that his store had been robbed and demanding that search warrants be issued, Samuel Brozgal, a Portage clothing merchant, confessed Tuesday that he had smuggled to goods himself. Brozgal had been complaining that goods were being taken from his store. This caused the officials to be alert to the situation. Tuesday Brozgal called at Burgess John J. Green's office and asked for a search warrant, stating that his store had almost been "cleaned out by the robbers." Meanwhile another story was afloat. Sometime during the night a freight train was passing slowly under a small bridge east of the town. A man with a horse and wagon was seen standing near the bridge. As the train passed under the bridge, the man dropped a trunk into one of the cars. The matter was reported to railroad officials at once and an investigation started which resulted in the arrest of Brozgal. The officers searched the merchant's house and they found the supposed stolen goods, about $1,000 worth. Brozgal, when arrested, wept bitterly and confessed that he had planned the affair himself. The case will be tried at the September term of court. Physicians Moving Dr. E. T. Ealy, who for six years has been located at Emeigh, this county, has purchased the John McQuilken property at Barnesboro and will begin practice there about August 1. He has sold his property at Emeigh to Dr. Johnston who will move there from Cherrytree, Indiana County. Dr. Johnston was formerly associated with Dr. D. S. Rice of Hastings. Mr. McQuilken will move to Indiana, Pa. Bengal Tiger at Large A few days ago while John Houghendougler, a coal miner with his son and daughter, aged 12 and 14 years respectively, were hunting huckleberries near the "Fountain Inn" a few miles southeast of Gallitzin near the Cambria-Blair line, hideous (sic) noises half like a wild cat's scream and half like a dog's yelps, frightened them. Suddenly from the bushes near by jumped a ferocious animal, uttering sickening yells and showing ugly teeth. Houghendougler and his children climbed small trees and the animal, also a tree climber, after a few leaps, was at the foot of the tree the man had climbed with his lunch basket. He took from the basket the lunch and began feeding the animal, throwing each morsel farther and farther down the mountainside as the hungry brute was satisfying his ravenous appetite. Houghendougler reports that he then descended from his perch, took his children and hastily "beat it" in the opposite direction and sought the "clear." After rejoining civilization and relating his experience, a small jungle party armed for the purpose pursed the enemy of the "full dinner pail" and came within close hearing of its wild noise but failed to get a rifle bead on it, although within range, had the scene been in the open or clearing. The animal was described as large as a Sepherd (sic) dog with yellowish striped hair or fur, very nimble footed and fierce looking. It is believed that the animal is a Bengal tiger that escaped as a half grown kitten about a year ago. This sure was a narrow escape from a most ferocious animal. By the Suanee (sic) River Jacob J. Weaver of Lynn Haven, Florida, formerly of Summerhill township, this county, was a pleasant caller at THE FREEMAN office this week. Mr. Weaver went to Florida last November to locate there permanently and came back on a short visit among old friends in this locality. According to Mr. Weaver there is no other place quite so pleasant to live as his adopted state. There, at Lynn Haven, a place about 150 miles from Bradentown, where Ex- Judge Barker, Fred, D. Barker and their families have located their winter quarters. Mr. Weaver has invested in some real estate and invites his friends to join with him. The town, not yet three years old, has a population of more than 2000 people. Replying to an inquiry what occupations engage the town builders, besides the mere building, he said, "They don't have to work." "Everything grows there, which man needs to enjoy a living and there is no booze." He says there are more northern than southern people settling at Lynn Haven and every state in the Union is represented. One thing he especially likes about the state of Florida is the election law which excludes all from voting until they own real estate valued at least in the sum of $500. This, he says, practically excludes the negroes from exercising the right of franchise. As to the weather, he says, while they have no winter at all, yet it is always cool. Lynn Haven is "Away Down upon the Swanee River." Stamps of 1847 Sell Well Block of Ten-Cent Black Variety Goes to Philadelphia for $845 – Were Purchased by Pioneer New York A record price for the five and ten-cent 1847 issue of United States stamps is shown in the summaries of an auction sale of rare postage stamps held here recently. An unsevered uncanceled block of six of the five-cent brown variety and a similar bock of six of the much rare ten- cent black variety went for $815. The scientific collectors of the present day are not content with single stamps but prefer unsevered blocks of two or four. A block of six such rarities as these 1847 United States stamps, which formed the first national issue, created more than usual interest in the stamp world. They were bought for a private collector in Philadelphia, who has one of the finest collections in the world. By an odd coincidence, they were also sold by a Philadelphian, who found them a few weeks ago by accident while looking over his deceased father's papers. They were in a small envelop, where they lay forgotten after being purchased at the post office more than sixty years ago. Doings of Long Ago [includes marriages] How many FREEMAN subscribers will ask their neighbors to help us extend its influence by increasing its circulation? We have been giving its readers a better newspaper and intend to make it sill more interesting by re-publishing some of its items of long ago, when the Hon. R. L. Johnston, late judge of the county, was its editor. Next week we shall begin to revive the memories of the days of '67 by publishing some extracts of interest to subscribers, some of whom will recall the days when: John J. Glass undertook to contest the election of John P. Linton to the Legislature. MacShane corresponded for the "Freeman." John Buck was postmaster at Carrolltown. Judge Geo. Taylor presided over the courts of Cambria County. D. F. A. Greery, Democratic committee man for East Taylor twp., married Jennie Cover and was a subscriber to the FREEMAN. (Dist. Atty. Please note) M. A. Quartz was passenger conductor on the Ebensburg and Cresson R. R. The PRR station platform at Johnstown sank under the crowd gathered to greet President Johnson. The dwarf "Little N" Conrad was known by all in the county. The baseball score between the "kicks" of Johnstown and the "Mountaineers" of Ebensburg was 54 to 73 against the Kickenpawlings. The Catholic Churches at Ebensburg and Carrolltown were building. Everybody knew favorably Geo. C. K. Zahm, then Prothonotary. Hon. A. A. Barker and D. J. Morrell were in Congress. Edward Glass was in the foundry business at Ebensburg. William Palmer was proprietor of the Foster House in Johnstown. Attorneys F. P. Tierney, Geo. W. Oatman and Wm. Kittell occupied offices in "Colonade Row" on Center st., Ebensburg. James Myers retired from the Sheriff's office and John A. Blair was elected to succeed him. Ex-County Treasurer Thomas Callan was proprietor of the Shields' House in Loretto. "Judge" J. D. Thomas made and sold boots and shoes in Ebensburg. James J. Kaylor was Steward of the Poor Hose. James Griffin was Register and Recorder. Charley O'Donnell and "Les" McGuire of the "Elms" were beaten at base ball by the "Ionians" by a score of 26 to 69. "Wagner" playing r. f. for the Elms, E. R. Dunegan umpiring and W. J. Cole and Wm. Todd, "scorers." Andrew Foster and Barbara Geis were married at St. Vincent's Abbey. Thos. J. Chapman was Co. Supt. of Public Schools. Samuel Henry, Cashier of Lloyd Co.'s bank and Maggie Kittell were married by Father R. C. Christy. All Ebensburg business men advertised their wares in the FREEMAN. The old Court House, Jail and Academy stood in a row where the Court House now stands. A. D. Criste waged war against the Poor Board. The 1st Annual Teacher's Institute in the county was held in the Old Court House. The first jury commissioners – John Buck and James Cooper, were elected in the county. Mail was carried from Cresson to Loretto, Chest Springs, St. Augustine, Fallen Timber, Roseland and Utahville to Smith's Mill; from Ebensburg to Carrolltown, Plattsville, Garman's Mills and Grant; from Somerset by Sipesville, Jenner's Cross Roads and Somerset Furnaces to Johnstown and from Somerset by Bentford's Store to Stoyestown, Stanton's Mills and Davidsville to Johnstown. Miss Annie McKenzie D. L. McKenzie of West Virginia and his brother, Charles McKenzie of Portage, were Ebensburg visitors last Tuesday. They are brothers of Miss Annie McKenzie whose death occurred at Portage last week.