NEWS: Items from The Huntingdon Journal, March 2, 1888, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
__________________________________________

LOCAL AND PERSONAL.

  On Monday evening the horses driven by P. H. Piper in the hack that 
plies between Alexandria and Petersburg, broke loose from the hitching 
post and ran to the barn, where one of them struck the side of the 
building and broke its neck, killing it instantly.

  On Friday evening some cold-blooded scoundrel administered a dose of 
poison to Harry McCahan's dog Fritz, causing his death soon afterwards.  
While he was not the handsomest dog in this latitude he was watchful 
around the home of his master and will be greatly missed by the family.  
Poor Fritz, he was a friendly cur, and deserved a better fate.

BOLD BURGLARS
Relieve Rev. Father Woelfel of Watches, Clothing and Other Articles.

  During the wee sma' hours of Friday morning burglars entered the 
pastoral residence of Rev. Father L. M. J. Woelfel of Holy Trinity 
Church, this city, and succeeded in security booty to the value of 
about $300.00.  The Rev. Father was awakened about 3 o'clock, and 
opening his eyes observed a light in the front room, but presuming that 
his mother had lit the gas for some purpose he thought nothing of the 
circumstance.  Soon, however, the light was extinguished and he heart 
two persons whispering.  Then he arose, lit the gas in his room and 
soon discovered that thieves had been at work in his chamber.  He 
hurriedly threw open a window and fired his revolver for the purpose of 
arousing the neighbors.  Dr. A. B. Brumbaugh, John H. and Charlie 
Westbook were awakened by the report of the pistol and hurrying to the 
scene found the back door open and the thieves gone.
  An examination showed that an entrance had been effected through the 
back door, the lock of which had been opened by inserting nippers in 
the keyhole and turning the key.  Once inside they lit a sperm candle 
and proceeded to ransack the house, first having regaled themselves 
with edibles which they found in a down-stairs cupboard.  Going up 
stairs they entered the room occupied by Father Woelfel where they 
appropriated several articles of value, the most costly of which was 
his gold watch which they found in his vest handing on the post of the 
bed occupied by him.  The articles stolen consisted of one double-cased 
gold watch, Elgin movement; one double-cased silver watch; one pair of 
gold-framed spectacles (heavy frame); one black ribbon chain with gold 
ends and gold cross attached; one gold pen and holder; a Waterman Ideal 
fountain pen; one gold capole, one half inch in diameter, for carrying 
the sacrament to the sick (looks like a watch case), and suit of black 
clothes (clergyman's) and a slouch hat; one 1,000-mile ticket book on 
Pennsylvania railroad, book No. 57,-500; one 500-note mileage book on 
the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad; one gold toothpick, and a check, 
No. 24, on the First National Bank of Huntingdon, in favor of Ellen 
Garvin.
  It was a bold burglary, and from the scientific manner in which it 
was performed was no doubt the work of professionals.  Up to this time 
no clue to the thieves has been discovered.

In a Blaze of Light.

  On Wednesday evening the electric plant just completed in the 
Reformatory buildings and on the ten acres of ground connected with it, 
was tested by the contractors and found an entire success.  The grounds 
and the adjacent country for some distance were rendered almost as 
bright as day, and many of our citizens went over to see the beautiful 
sight.  Many points in this city, where the reflection would reach 
without much obstruction, were made quite light.  To Mr. J. S. Conover, 
the superintendent, we are indebted for the following description of 
the plant:
  The light is the Brush system, furnished by J. E. Midall, Pittsburgh.  
In the engine room there are two Ball highspeed automatic engines of 
one hundred horse power, each with perfect regulation, which receive 
steam from a battery of six large boilers of Kelly & Jones Co. pattern, 
which also furnish steam for the entire heating of the buildings.  
There are four dynamos in position to generate the electricity, with a 
capacity of furnishing 60 arc lights of 2000 candle power and 1350 
incandescent lamps - 516 of 8 candle power each for use in the warden's 
houses, offices, school rooms, chapel, dining rooms, kitchen, laundry 
and hospital.  The 60 arc lights will be distributed as follows: 30 on 
poles outside of buildings but inside of main enclosure wall, 4 in 
front of warden's houses, to light up the grounds in front, which have 
just been enclosed by a neat iron fence.  A light will be placed on top 
of the spire of each tower on the four corners of the main wall, which 
will be so high that they can be seen for miles around.  The remaining 
22 will be placed, 2 in the main entrance, 4 in guard room, 15 in the 
three wards, and 1 in boiler room.  The arc lamps are all double carbon 
style and will burn 16 hours.  
  The lights are placed on 12 circuits, with switches so that any 
building can be lit or extinguished from one point; so that an accident 
happening to one circuit would not cripple the others.  Also the 
engines and dynamos can be run coupled or separately.  About 7000 lbs 
of copper was required for wiring.  The plant cost $25,000.
  The warden's house and office are supplied with handsome chandeliers 
of latest pattern, and fitted throughout with electric bells and 
enunciators, the latter having been put in by our townsman, D. S. 
Drake, esq., manager of the Telephone exchange.

A Handsome Present.

  Gilbert Greenberg, Chief of the Huntingdon Fire Department, Tuesday 
afternoon, received by express a very handsome and costly trumpet, a 
present from his friends and fellow members of the State Firemen's 
Association, as a mark of their esteem and appreciation of his worth as 
a fireman and the deep interest manifested by him in the success of the 
Association.  The trumpet is of solid silver, satin finish, beautifully 
embellished with the most delicate etching and engraving, bell and 
mouth-piece lined with gold, and stands twenty-three inches high.  It 
is a beautiful specimen of the silver-worker and engraver's art, and is 
highly prized by the recipient.

An Early Morning Fire.

  About one o'clock this - Friday - morning a small frame building, the 
property of Dr. Ballantyne, standing on the bank of Fisher's mill-race 
on Eight street, was totally destroyed by fire.  The building contained 
a number of porpoise hides belonging to G. Taylor Siminton, all of 
which were destroyed.  The building was partially insured, but whether 
Mr. Siminton had any insurance on its contents we have been unable to 
ascertain.  The cause of the fire is a mystery, but the general belief 
is that it was of incendiary origin.

Fourth Tour to Florida via Pennsylvania Railroad.

  The Pennsylvania Railroad Company's series of Midwinter Tours to 
Florida have met with such unparalleled success, and the demand for 
accommodation has been so much greater than the supply, that a fourth 
tour has been arranged for Tuesday, March 6th, 1888.  No tickets ever 
placed on sale by the company have ever been so completely satisfactory 
in every respect.
  The fourth tour will be conducted in the same manner and under the 
same auspices as those which preceded it.
  The special train of Pullman sleeping cars will leave New York about 
12.25 P.M., and running via Harrisburg, the Cumberland and Shenandoah 
Valley, the east Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, and Savannah, Florida 
and Western Railroads, will arrive at Jacksonville before noon on the 
second day.
  Round-trip tickets, good for two weeks, including Pullman 
accommodations and meals en route in both directions and one day's 
board at Hotel Everett, Jacksonville, will be sold from New York at 
$47, Philadelphia $45, and from all principal stations on Pennsylvania 
Railroad system at proportionate rates.  The returning special will 
leave Jacksonville March 22d.
  The number of tickets ill be limited to 150.
  For tickets, itineraries, and detailed information, apply to ticket 
agents, of address S. W. F. Draper, Tourist Agent, 849 Broadway, New 
York.

NOTICE. - The following named persons have filed their applications for 
license to sell liquor, etc., with the Clerk of the Court of Quarter 
Sessions.  They will be laid before the Court on the third Tuesday, 
20th day of March next.

  J. C. SWOOPE, Inn or tavern, at the "Hotel Brunswick," in the First 
ward of the borough of Huntingdon, Pa.
  HENRY LEISTER, Inn or tavern, at the "Leister House," in the Second 
ward of the borough of Huntingdon, Pa.
  HENRY J. KINT, Inn or Tavern at the "Franklin House," in the brough 
of Orbisonia, Pa.
  GEORGE LAGLE, to sell malt and brewed liquors by wholesale as a 
brewer, at the township of Smithfield, Pa.
  MARTIN GRUBE, to sell spiritous liquors by wholesale as a distiller, 
at the township of Smithfield, Pa.
      JOHN BREWSTER,
        Clerk of the Court.

The Huntingdon Journal, Huntingdon, Pa., Friday, March 2, 1888