_m—mllree
Terms 2.00 A Year,in Advance
Bellefonte, Pa., April 8, 1892.
P. GRAY MEEK, - - - Ebpiror
—
First Evidence of Failure.
The Rhode Island election has prov-
en the fact that the Australian ballot
system is no check to bribery,or no se-
curity for the employee who desires to
vote as his conscience, rather than his
employer, dictates. In parts of that
State where bribery and bulldozing
could be most easily accomplished on
Wednesday last, the Republicans had
exact copies of the official ballot print-
ed, and marked them Jas they desired
them voted. These were given to pur-
chased voters before they went to the
polls, and at the same time a small
portion of the bribe money was handed
over, The party who had been pur-
chased went to the election as other
voters do, demanded an official ballot
and proceeded to the booth, where the
ballot already prepared was exchanged
for the official one, and voted as the
legal or regular ticket. The official
ballot which had been given by the
election officers, was kept and present-
ed to the briber as evidence that ithe
individual bribed had tulfilled his part
of the agreement, when the balance of
the money for which his vote was pur-
chased, was paid him.
The bulldozing scheme was worked
the same way exactly, except that
there was no money paid, and the em-
ployee was required, after voting, to
produce the official ballot given him,
as evidence that he had cast the one
furnished him by his boss.
To be sure there are heavy penalties
imposed for these offenses, but the
trouble is to prove that they have been
committed. The man who has taken
a bribe will not “peach” on the the
man who bribed him, nor will the de-
pendent employee, who, to make his
situation secure, votes as his boss dic-
tates, insure the loss of his place by
informing on his overseer.
It was the hope of every honest vot-
er in the country that the adoption of
the Australian voting system would be
a preventative of these two, if of no
other, evils that our own system was
subjected too. The experience in
Rhode Island proves that this hope is
without foundation, when desperate
and designing persons conspire to de-
feat the object of the law,and that with
this new, complex, costly and unsatis-
factory method of voting, we are but
little if any better off, than under the
old system that has been so generally
deeried.
Pennsylvania will have a trial of the
same system this fall. and after it has
been fully experimented with, we
should not be surprised to hear the
same complaints made against its
operations-that-come to us from Rhode
Island.
After all it is a question if any kind
of a voting system, other than that
which does away with the printed or
written ballot entirely, and substitutes
for it some mechanical devise that wiil
register the will of the voter without
leaving a record for the briber and
bulldozers’ satisfaction, will secure
either that secrecy desired or security
from the corrupting influence of money,
that an honest election and a fair ex-
pression of the popular will demand.
——Standing out.in direct contrast
to the account of a mother’s great sac-
rifice, which we publish elsewhere in
to-day’s paper, comes the story, from
Ireland, of Lady MoNTaGUE's cruelty,
which was so unnatural” and vicious
that the jury would have sentenced her
to ten years imprisonment instead of
one, had she been a poor nobody with-
out influential friends.
To punish her little three year old
daughter for soiling her dress, she
tied the child’s hands behind its back
and fastened them to iron rings in a
dark closet. Three hours afterwards
she] opened the door and found the
child dead.
Nothing appeals so forcibly to the
sensibilities of the humane as injustice
or cruelty to those who are incapable
of defense. And although no crime is
more deserving of swift and righteous
judgment than cruelty towards a very
young child - Lady Monracue who
occupies a high placein the world of
fashion, would not even have been held
for trial had her more humble neigh-
bors not insisted on a show of justice.
—— A factional fight that promises
to be as destructive to Republican
hopes, as a Kansas cyclone is of cot-
ton wood sheep shacks, is just now
raging in Ohio between the adherents
of “icicle” SHERMAN and those of wind-
bloated Foraker. If each should
swallow 'tother and nothing be left of
either when the war is over, what a
relief to the public and a blessing to
Ohio it would be,
Exposing the Iufant.
The infant tinplate industry that
Republicanism and McKiNLEy have
taxed every user of tin in any shape, so
fearfully, to protect, and which curios
ity seekers have been hunting for all
over the country, was brought to light
by a fire, on Monday morning, at
Front and Canal’s street Philadelphia.
It consisted of a one story brick
building thirty by seventy feet, andthe
report of the fires says: ‘the loss in-
cluding building, machinery, stock and
fixtures, all of which were consumed
is something less than $7,000, fully
covered by insurance.”
In the entire country there are said
to be six industries ot the kind, and
this was one of the most expensive
plants engaged in manufacturing in.
From the assertions of Republican
papers,that defended the tariff robbery,
the people were left under the impres-
sion that hundreds of thousands of dol-
lars were invested in each plant and
that thousands of werkingmen found
employment at good wages in éach.
one of them.
of seven thousand dollars,
dozen of laborers.
And it is for the “protection’ of this
kind of an investment that the people
of.the country pay aun increased price
amounting, as estimated in round fig-
ures, to over a million of dollars year-
ly for the tin cups, buckets, cans and
other articles of the kind they are
compelled to use. It isto enrich the
investorsin these $7000 plants, that
every family in the land is required to
pay tribute in the shape of higher
prices for articles they cannot do with-
out.
Surely the people will some day get
their eyes opened to the enormity of
the tariff fraud that is impossed upon
them even if it requires a fire in a tin-
plate manufactory to do it.
——Pages of history are devoted to
the sacrifices and sufferings that a
mother has endured for her child ; but
seldom does one hear a more pathetic
tale of a mother’s love than comes to
us through an account of a fire, at
Wilkes-Barre, last Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Gore EasBy, after escaping
from her burning home, discovered
that her two children had not been
carried out. Without a moment's
hesitation she returned to the building
followed by a fireman. He grasped the
little boy, aged three, and Mrs. Easny
took her little two year old daughter in
her arms. The fire reached some pow-
der cans just at this time and a vio-
lent explosion followed. The fire
man and his charge, who was protect-
ed by a woolen blanket, were dragged
out in an unconscious condition; but
all efforts to find the poor mother
were unavailing. After a desperate
fight the flames were subdued and the
search that was made for the bodies
revealed the fact that the little one had
been held tightly in the mother’s arms
through all the horrors of their terribie
deaths.
A Forced Confessiou.
When Governor McKiNLEY bluntly
said to a Rhode Island audience the
other night that “tariffs do not raise
wages,” he told more truth than in all
the balance of his speech. It was not
because he wanted to admit the fact,
but because the truth was so apparent,
in the reduced wages the working
men, he was talking to, were receiving
under the operation of his bill, that to
have said anything. else would have
made doubtful to his hearers, every
other statement set forth. When this
great apostle of tariff taxation admits
publicly, that it does not “increase
wages,’’ it should be an eye opener for
the thousands of workingmen who
have been wheedled into voting for
those who advocate it, on the pretense
of getting better prices for their work.
Ifit don’t raise wages and does raise
the price of that which the working
man wears and uses, how is he to be
benefited by it ?
Deserves ne Consideration.
There is one thing very evident to
Democrats who have a greater desire
for party success than to follow the
fortunes of any particular individual,
and that is, that if the adherents of
Mr. Creveranxp in New York had
made half the efforts, prior to the
State Convention, in February, to be
represented properly in that Conven-
tion, that they are doing now to organ-
ize a kicker’s or factional Convention,
Mr. HiL. would not have had the walk
over he had, nor would Mr. CLevE-
LAND aud his friends have been placed
in the position of being disorganizers,
as their actions now and their May
Convention must class them: Mr.
CLEVELAND has no more right to have
a factional organization in New York,
than Mr. Hint. has in Pennsylvania.
Both are wrong and both should be in-
continently sat down upon.
4
Can Have the Floor.
Whenever a Democratic Legislature per-
petrates a gerrymander of congressional or
legislative districts, Republican papers de-
nounce the outrage and have no difficulty in
demonstrating that thousands of citizens have
been practically disfranchised for partisan ad-
vantage. And when a Republican legislature
does the same unfair thing democratic editors
find it easy to show up the act as a one-sided
and unjustifiable one. What is needed is that
all editors should agree to demand fair ap-
portointments and to speak warmly against all
gerrymanders, whether they be originated by
party friends or foes. Ifthe gerrymander is
ever wrong it is always wrong and honest peo-
ple everywhere in this republic should unite
to put an-end to it.—dAltoona Tribune.
Correct you are brother Tribune.
Correct, from the bottom of your boots
up, on this question. Now, let us
hear you “speak warmly” against
your own party that has just consum-
mated one of the most villianous
and unexplainable gerrymanders in
Ohio that hasever disgraced any State.
And while you are warm on the sub-
ject you might breathe a little of your
burning invective against Quay and
his crowd here in Pennsylvania for
maintaining for years, in violation of
‘.constitutional requirements, a gerry-
Here is one uncovered by a fire, and!
the bottom facts show an investment |
less than |
the value of the most ordinary coun- |
try printing office, and with room and |
facilities to employ a possible ten or a’
mander that “practically disfranchises
thousands of citizens for partisan ad-
vantage.” Thereis room and occa-
sion for a red hot speech on this sub-
ject, and the floor is yours for the oc
casion, brather Tribune,
Rhode Island Republican.
The Indications Point to the Legislature Being
Republican—A Very Warm Fight Was Had
in Newport on the Legislative Ticket.
Provipence, R. I., April 6.—The
elections in this State to-day were of
the most exciting nature. Fifty towns
and districts give Wardell, democrat,
12,958; Brown, republican, 12,918.
The prohibition vote will probably be
enough to defeat an election by the
people, but the legislature will be un-
doubtedly republican.
Newport, R. I., April 6.—The state
election in this city has been a hot
fight and indications point to the elec-
tion of the full democratic legislative
ticket. One ward is yet to be heard
from, which probably will not change
the result. The vote polled has been
very large and the ward rooms have
been centres of excitement all day.
This culminated in the Fifth ward,
where the republicans claim that a
democratic supervisor, who is also
president of the common council, vio-
lated the ballot law by giving unsolicit-
ed assistance to voters. They collected
evidence and placed it in the hands of
ex-City Solicitor Prekham, who has
promised to prosecute if it is sufficient,
and a prominent republican lawyer is
of the opinion that it is. The republi-
cans propose to bring a criminal suit
against President and Supervisor Boyle,
and perhaps the warden of the ward as
well, and also, if necessary, appeal to
the supreme court and contest the seats
of the members of the legislature elect-
ed here. There was a serious row over
the election in Jamestown, culminating
in a personal assault by republican
Representative J. B. Banders upon Dr.
Howland, a democrat, which necessi-
tated the attendance of the physician
and may result seriously.
Provibexce, R. L., April 7.—At
12.40 this morning the returns from
all over the State were not all in ow-
ing to the tedious counting necessary
under the Australian system. The re-
turns at hand are sufficient, however,
to indicate that there is no election for
state officers with a probability of a
republican plurality. The state law
requires a majority vote to elect and
there are a sufficient number of repub-
licans returned up to this hour to io-
sure the election of Senator Aldrich to
the United States senate and the choice
of the republican candidates for state
officers. Newport probably elects but
one representative and it will require
another election to determine the
choice for the other four. It requires
fifty-four members of the legislature to
elect on joint ballot and the republicans
have at present fifty-one, with every
probability of having elected six more.
The city of Providence went democrat-
ic by about 400 majority, but the city
assembly ticket is in doubt. Paw-
tucket was carried by the democrats
by about 100 and Woonsocket by a
little less. The democratic assembly
ticket in Woonsocket is elected by
thirty, but the Pawtucket assembly
ticket is in doubt. The vote polled
was the largest in the history of the
State. The result is a surprise to
everybody and shows that there are
several thousand people in the State
whom the party managers can never
locate.
Provipencg, R. I., April 7.—1 a, m.
—The total vote eo far is Brown, 23,-
187; Burton, 176; Gilbert. 1,411;
Wardell, 22,072. The total vote cast
was 46,846, the largest vote ever cast
in Rhode Island.
A Terrible Hail Storm.
WhueeLiNg, W. Va., April 3.—A
terrific hail and rain storm, accom pan-
ied by thunder and lightning, passed
over this section of the country about
five o'clock this afternoon. Though
the hail stones fell thick and fast in
Wheeling no damage of any couose-
quence was done. In Martin's Ferry,
however, hailstones were as large as
hen’s eggs and great damage was done
to windows, hundreds of which were
broken. The streets were badly dam-
aged by the heavy rain. Washouts
are reported on the railroads and no
trains will be in before morning. It
is reported that much live stock in the
fields in the country was injured by
the hail. In some instances the horns
of cattle were broken off. A telephore
message from Martin's Ferry says that
that nearly every window facing west
was broken.
oe ———————— A Sa A hE rE
] Awful Work of the Storm Demon in the
Western States.
A Wide Track of Desolation. Eight States, From
Texas to the Dakotas, Swept by tke Cyclone—
Great Loss of Life in Kansas— Widespread |
Havoc is Wrought in Iowa and Nebraska
Partial List of Dead and Injured.
Reports of the storm of the lst inst |
show it to have been the most general
as to extent in many years. The States
of Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas and Indiana
were swept by a furious gale of wind,
rain_and hail, in some places rising to
the force of a tornado. The full extent
of the less of life is not known, but it 1s
believed the fatalities will reach the
figure of fifty ut least.
The list of injured numbers about
105. Of the later class a large propor-
tion will be added to the death rol), as
the injuries in many case are serious.
The loss in the way of property cannot
as yet even be surmised, but there can
be no doubt that when all the reports
are in, the figures will reach into the
millions.
Kansas leads the list in the matter of
fatalities. It is known that twenty-
seven persons lost their lives, and that
fifty-seven were injured. These are
figures based upon authenticated reports.
THE DEATH ROLL IS TERRIBLE.
At Towanda—Dr. John D. Godfrey,
aged 78, retired physician; Herschel
Culp, aged 21, farmer’s son; John
Bailey, aged 21, railroad laborer ; John
Blake, aged 47, merchant, George
Blake, aged 5, the latter’s son ; Miss
Annie Robbins, aged 34, Postmistress ;
Earl Karr, aged 11,; C. L. Wescate,
aged 33. At Augusta—Albert Barnes,
aged 28, farmer; infant child of Will-
iam Rhecades ; Harmon Hoskins, aged
380, farmer ; infant son of latter ; Mrs.
Herbert Abbott, Near Wellington—
Mrs. Joseph Showalters and infant child ;
William Little and his four children.
At South Haven—Benjamin H. Maple
and James H. Maple, his son. At
Wichita — Pat Martin, farmer. At
Eureka—Miss Mary Rizer. At Strong
City—John Glosser, Mrs. John Glosser
and infant child.
Seven persons were killed and over a
dozen others badly injured by the torna-
do in the little town of Wamego, Kas.
The killed are Carles Taylor, wite and
child ; Mrs. Albert Eggers and two
children, aged 3 and 5 years respective-
ly ; Joseph Johnsou, a farm laborer.
The storm leveled the house ot Albert
Eggers and carried the inmates a dis-
tance of 200 feet. The body of Mrs. Eg-
gers was found at a considerable dis-
tance from the ruins of her home. The
body of her youngest child was tightly
clasped in her arms, The other child
was buried under a mass of timbers.
Charies Taylor, his wife and little child
were instantly killed. Their bodies were
terribly bruised and blackened.
KANSAS THE HEAVIEST SUFFERER.
All Kansas suffered from the cyclone.
Nearly every county was affected.
Particularly in the suthern part was the
damage severe. Sedgwick, Kingman and
Butler counties suffered much. At
Strong City nearly every structure in
the town was leveled, but the people
were prepared for the storm and had
taken refuge in their cellars.
In Texas, the towns of Bangs and
Santa Anna were heavily visited. Four
persons lost their lives and ten were in-
jured at the former place, while at the
latter thirteen were injured and one
death occured. Little has been heard
from the interior of the State, and the
gravest apprehension is felt as to the
condition of affairs in the cattle district
toward the Indian Territory, where the
storm raged in its greatest fury.
The property damage will probably
be heavier than in any other State. At
Des Moines, Boone, Stuart, Mount Ayre,
Ottumwa, Muscatine, Marshalltown,
Dubuque and many other places build-
ings were unroofed, windows blown in,
trees uprooted and river craft sunk by the
gale. At Des moines alone the damage
will be upward of $100,000.
THE STORM IN NEBRASKA AND MISSOURI.
Great distruction is reported from Ne-
braska. AtSuatton, Nerfolk and Platts-
mouth the damage was heaviest, but
Beatrice, Elk Creek, Beaver City and
Nebraska City also suffered heavily.
As in Kansas, little has been heard from
the farming districts, where the wind
raged all day and night over the plains
with unobstructed fury. Loss of life
is sure to have resulted. Missouri seems
to have been lightly visited, except on
the western edge. Kansas City was
roughly shaken up, and unroofed houses
uprooted trees and tangled telegraph
wires.
Sedalia, too, suffered rather heavily,
but the rest of the State escaped practi-
cally unscathed. Minnesota and Wis-
consin felt only the dying breath of
Green the giant gale, and al-
though jthe cities of Beloit and
Bay in the latter State sustained con-
siderable damage there were no casual-
ties and the gross loss will not be
heavy. Kast of this city the storm
seems to have lost its force,and although
heavy rains and accompanying high
winds are reported from Indiana and
points along the lakes, there was no loss
of life and little damage to property.
CHICAGO'S CATASTROPHE.
The people reported as dangerously
injured in the terible disaster at Halstead
and Pearce streets, caused by the col-
lapse of a new seven-story building in
a giant whirlwind, appear to have a fair
chance of recovery. Seven is the total
number of those dead. They are :
Edward Mott, aged 2 years ; Horan
Mott, aged b years ; David Hulett, aged
6 montbs ; William Gowan, aged 10
years ; Samuel Barsdale, Mary Walsh,
of Joliet, Ill., and Mrs. James Gowan.
After working all night by the aid of
search lights for those buried under the
ruins—Samuel Barsdale, Miss Walsh,
Mrs. Gowan, and the latter's 10-year-
old son William—the firemen were this
morning forced to desist, as it was ap-
parent to dig any further into the ruins
without additional help would bring
down upon the rescuers the immense
mass of the surrounding debris, Just
before 3p. m., the first of the corpses
buried under the ruins was reached.
The body wasso frightfully crushed
that identification was well nigh im-
possible. The remains were thought.to
be those of Miss Walsh.
It was nearly two hours before the
debris was removed sufficiently to allow
. identified.
the bodies to be taken from the ruins.
The bodies of Miss Walsh, Mrs. Gowan,
Samuel Ensdale and William Gowan
were removed to a morgue, where they |
were viewed by the Coroner’s jury.
; They were all horribly mangled, and it
i
|
was with difficulty that they were
The Storm in the West.
St. Pavr, Minn., April 5—It is clear
to day and thestorm has passed away
all over the northwest. Details as to
the extent of the storm are now being
received and indicate that its severity
was but hinted at in the carrier reports.
The blizzard continued most of the
night around Miller, South Dakota,
and snow drifts eight feet deep are now
to be seen. Hundreds of stock wand-
ered with the storm, many of which
probably perished. One freight train
has been stalled in the snow here
since yesterday.
The uuparalleled storm of rain and
snow which has rained at Aberdeen,
South Dakota, for the past three days
ceased early this morning and the sun
is now shining brightly. The fall of
snow is simply tremendous and in con-
sequence railroads are badly tied up.
The north and west line mixed trains
on the Milwaukee road laid in the
snow all yesterday afternoon and last
night. The through Chicago passeng-
er on the northwestern got no further
than Redfield on this line, but turned
there and went back. The blockade
is the worst experienced 1n a long time.
While seeding will be greatly delayed,
farmers and all others are well satis-
fied and encouragement is felt. The
country districts will be well nigh im-
passable for days to come.
From Huron, South Dakota, it is re-
ported that the snow storm yesterday
afternoon blockaded the west and north
branches of the Chicago and North-
western railway. The northbound
train last night only reached Redfield
and returned this morning. No trains
have been sent out or have arrived
from the west since noon yesterday.
Lines in other directions are open.
Snow ploughs and shovels are work-
ing west and north. The Great North-
ern trains are also interrupted. The
rain fall was the greatest ever known
here in April.
Cuicaco, Ill, April 5—The Illinois
state building at the World’s Fair
grounds was struck by a small cyclone
to-day. The tower and half the me-
morial hall were wrecked. The loss
is between $10,000 and $20,000. Two
policemen near by were killed,
Credit to Whom Credit is Due.
The State of Pennsylvania has pro-
vided for the payment of the last dol-
lar of its debt in 1812, says the Phila-
delphia Record , through the operation
of a Sinking Fund for which provision
was made before the war. Inorder
that there should be no mischance nor
failure through legislative default, the
revenues belonging to the Sinking
Fund were put out of the reach of mis-
appropriation by specific constitutional
requirement. Nothing short of insur-
rection or invasion could justify the
use of these revenues for any other
purpose than the payment of the State
indebtedness. The original act an-
thorizing the Sinking Fund was the
work oft Jacob Fry, Auditor Gen-
eral of the State in 1857. He is hardly
remembered, though he deserves a
statue. Itis amusing to find Repub-
lican newspapers claiming credit for
the payment of state debts as a meas:
ure of Republican policy. It is true
that for the greater part ot the time
since 1861 the management of State
administration has been in Republican
hands. But there were cast-iron limi-
tations for enforcing upon whatever
party might be in power the necessity
of provision for the State's liabilities.
The Republican officials deserve no
credit. Insofar as they have been
able to divert the proceeds of State re-
venues to partisan or personal uses
they have not hesitated to do so.
Whatever special credit attaches to
any party for making permanent statu-
tory provision for preserving the State’s
credit and setting aside the necessary
revenues for the final extinction of the
State debt belongs to the Democratic
party. Republican officials in Penn-
sylvania have a magnificent record in
the line of expenditure. The have
trebled the burden of tax-payers and
the cost of administration. They
ought to rest satisfied with their legit-
imate laurels, without trespassing upon
ground where to set their feet is a dese-
cration.
A Quarter of a Million Words.
The Mammoth Sunday Edition Promised by the
Pittsburg Dispadi.
Twenty-four pages of reading is what
the Pittsburg Dispatch has prepared to
give the readers of its Sunday edition.
This means 192 columns or over 250,-
000 words. The Dispatch always led
in this section and it proposes to keep
the lead by unlimited expenditure of
time and money.
New literary features have been secur-
ed and better news facilities added.
Next Sunday, April 10, it will publish
the first chapters of Herbert D. Ward’s
story of Artic adventurein an air-ship
entitled “A Dash tothe Pole.” This
story promises to be the literary sensa-
tion of the year.
The Great Gubernatorial Controversy
in Nebraska is at Last Ended.
LincoLN, Neb., April 6.—The gub-
ernatorial controversy is at last ended.
The Supreme court to-day handed
down a decision denying the applica-
tion of John M. Thayer for a reopen-
ing of the case. The court bases its
opinion on the ground that a person
who seeks by quo warranto proceed-
ings to obtain possession of an office,
held by another, must show that he
has a better title to that office than the
incumbent; that when Governor Thay-
er abandoned the office in favor of
Governor Boyd, be put himself in the
light of a disinherited person and has |
no ground for action.
EA TY ETA ET EE ER A OR As,
Moonshiners Thought to Have Captur<
ed the Detectives.
SoMERSET, Pa., April 5.—Up to a late
hour to-night nothing kad been heard
from the little band of detective men
who left here last night to capture the
| murderers of old man Hochstetter. It is.
believed that they were surprised and
captured by the moonshiners and that
they will be held for aday orsoand then
released. Miller and Pritts were seen
in a lonely part of the mountains, on
Sunday, by a minister and yesterday a
photographer saw Miller at bis home,
Sheriff Good says he knows where the
moonshiners are secreted and will go
after them just as soon as the expenses
of the trip are guaranteed. He is await.
ing the arrival of Special Officer Culbert-
son. of the internal revenue department
and will do nothing till he reaches here.
Developments are coming to light which
tend toshow the moonshiners’ gang
contains not less than 800 or 400 mem-
bers. Probably only twenty of this
number have been engaged in the
manufacture of illicit whisky but their
secret is known to the gang.
ADDITIONAL LOCALS.
—— Uriah Gates, one of Half Moon’s.
staunch “Jimmycrats” was in town on,
‘Wednesday.
——The good people of Lock Haven,
shipped a car load of flour to the starv-
ing Russia peasants yesterday.
——The name of C. A. Peters, of
West Liberty, fowa, has been added to
the WATCHMAN’S growing list.
——Gov. Pattison signed Charles
Cleary’s death warrant, on Tuesday,
and the young Renova boy must expiate
the murder of Policeman Paul on.
June 9th.
——Col. D. K. Tate, of this place.
came within $99,70 of getting the con
tract for the erection of the new school.
house, in Lock Haven. The lowest bid-
der was William Ely who figured the
cost down to $14,971.
——Mr. F., F. Coudriet, a prominent
citizen of Karthaus township, Clearfield
county, and well known to many of the
readers of the WArcEMAN, died in
Coudersport, Potter county, on the 24th
ult. at the residence of his son, whom he.
was visiting.
—— While working on the roof of
Sechler’s house, on west Willowbank
street, the foot rest broke precipitating
Ollie Campbell to the porch roof, from
which he bounded on to the ground.
Fortunately he escaped with slight in-
jury to his right arm.
——The rolling mill of the Valentine
Iron Co., was discovered to be on fire,
on Wednesday night, between twelve-
and one o’clock, and only after the most
strenuous efforts were the flames gotten
within control and the building saved.
The fire was discovered in that portion.
of the mill near the wheel and itis not.
known how it could have caught.
——A lively runaway excited pedes--
trians on Allegheny and High streets,
on Wednesday noon. While deliver~
ing fish Orie Atwcod left his horse
stand near the public school building
and when he went to get into the
wagon again it started off before he
could pick up the lines. Being lame he
thought it best to jump out and while
doing so the wheels ran over his arm,
cutting it badly. The horse continued
on down to the Centre county bank.
building, where it stumbled and turned
a complete somersault. Some furniture.
standing in front of E. Brown’s furni-
ture store, was broken up in the flight.
SPIRITUALISM AND OIL DRILLING.—.
A Tyrone correspondent to the New
York World gives the following singu-
lar account of an incident which hap-
pened down along the Juniata a few
days ago :
“Boring for oil has been begun along
the Juniata river, in the belief that it.
has been ordered by the spirit of John S.
Isett, who died five years ago. Mr.
Isett’s farms extend for more than a
mile along the Juniata and back from it
a full mile into the country. Spruce
creek, a tributary of that river runs
through them. Mr. Isett was a Spiritu-
alist. He entertained spiritualistic
mediums whenever they chose to come
and supported lectures in the village
hall. The only member of his own
family who imbibed his faith was his
son Jacob H, Isett. His lands extend
down the river on the side opposite
Spruce Creek station until they come to
a narrow gorge in the mountains,
where there is a strip of nearly level
land the breadth of an ordinary field be-
tween the foothills and the stream, and
it is there that the oil is being sought
for. Jacob H. Isett frequently receives
letters purporting to have been written
in the spirit land. A blank sheet of
paper, securely sealed in an envelope, is
sent to a medium and soon returned, not
having been opened in the meantime, it
is said, with the communciation written
upon it. [t was in this way that Mr,
Isett received the directions of his father
to bore for oil. The letter designated
the exact spot in which the hole was to
be put. Mr. Isett has already bored to
the depth of 300 feet. The work has
been temporarily delayed by the break-
ing of some machinery in the hole, but
will be resumed. There are those who
hope that the Spruce creek region will
soon be covered with derricks and flow-
ing with petroleum.”