BY P. GRAY MEEK.
Ink Slings.
——
—CORBETT has formally challenged Fi1z-
SIMMONS for’ another go in the ring and if
Bos treats him anything like he deserves
ta be treated he'll tell him to go and get a
reputation first.
—Old Congressman HOLMAN, the notor-
ious objector of Congress, is ill but there is
not much danger of his dying. ‘‘A creak-
ing door hangs long,” so they say, and the
old man has spent most of his time croak-
ing.
—Greece ! Always Greece! Byery pa-
-triotic, christian citizen of America should
shout for the little Mediterranean country
that is so heroically battling against the
despicable Turk ard his heathenish atroc-
ities. -
—If that ‘‘greater New York’’ bill be-
comes a law no more will be heard of
“home rule for Ireland.” They’ll need
the few remaining Irshmen left on the
‘ould sod’’ for policemen for the new bor-
ough of Manhattan.
——JOHN GRUBB, a Milesburg black-
smith who has a family of ten to support,
has kept account of the number of miles
he has walked in his search for work. Up
to the present it has been 450. He is said
to be a good mechanic. :
—If the wool schedule of the DING-
LEY tariff bill is allowed to stand it is esti-
mated that the increased cost of the cloth-
ing for the people of Ohio, alone, will be
$10,000,000. What proportion of this the
rich man HANNA will pay has not been
announced. :
—Thank the Lord there are some
things left untariffed to we poor, common
people. We still have our voucou, our
vocoa, our balm of gilead, our beauxite,
our dried blood, our coculus indicus, divi
divi, our munjeet and our zuffer, all on the
free list.
—What do you think of that meeting of
the Democrats, at Harrisburg, on Wednes-
day? Surely there was nothing in the at-
tendance or enthusiasm to indicate that the
Democratic party is not more alive than
ever. There is no use of talking, you can’t
down us. We are the people and we will
survive.
—The Pennsylvania Legislature has de-
cided to take a day off to attend the un-
veiling of the GRANT monument in New
York, next Tuesday. There are plenty of
readers who will take exception to our use
of the words, take a day off, because they
will wonder, from all that has been done at
Harrisburg, when these Legislators have
had a day on. :
—The re-election of Hon. JOHN M. GAR-
MAN, of Luzerne county, to be state chair-
man of the Democratic party, was a stroke
of exceptional wisdom on the part of the
central committee. He has plans for an
aggressive campaign that ought to solidify
and encourage our party that it would
have been a pity to have left inoperative
-. by not re-electing him.
— Notwithstanding the fact that more
watches and watch parts are manufactured
in the United States than in any country
in the world the DINGLEY tariff puts a
higher tariff on them than has been on for
twenty-five years. This ought to be the
last straw for American labor. After de-
priving it of work, reducing the wages for
the little bit there is to be had, giving it the
dearest kind of money, clothing and neces-
saries, this Republican party of promises
and ephemeral prosperity has rubbed it in
by putting a tariff on ‘‘tick.”’
—Our good Methodist brother DERN, of
the Altoona Zribune, brings himself up
squarely under the old biblical injunction
that ‘‘he that calleth ‘his brother a fool is
in danger of hell fire,”’ by intimating that
Rev. S. Z. LLOYD, of the Central Pennsyl-
vania Methodist conference, is entitled to
that very name. Just because preacher
LroyD is 82 years old and has lately taken
unto himself a wife he is being called a
“fool.” Pooh, eighty-two isn’t old!
Look what HARRISON and Gen’l. ScHO-
FIELD did and they ain’t colts any more.
—Hogtzdale has passed a carfew or-
dinance and a whistle is blown over there
every cvening at 8 o’elock. As its dis-
cordant notes reverberate from hill to hill
of that populous mining town there is a
general scramble of kids for their own
fire-sides from which they do not care to
wander after that hour because of a whole-
some fear of the coppers. In Bellefonte we
have had such an ordinance for years, but
as Bellefonte can’t be happy unless making
a fuss all the time the youngsters are left
oat to do it long after their dads and mams
have gone to bed.
—Why this army of office seekers?
Why these many pilgrimages from all parts
of the country to Washington? Why this
unseemly pulling of wires and recounting
of political servitudes? Surely it is all out
of harmony with the plans and specifica-
tions of the great Republican wind castle
built up for the masses last fall. Accord-
ing to the promises then an. era of boom
and plenty was to dawn immediately up-
on MCKINLEY’S election, but it didn’t
dawn and now they say: ‘‘Wait, and give
him a chance.” If they have any faith in
him at all what is there such a scramble
for? If he is to bring a plethora of good
- things to eat, wear and drink, of work and
of ‘‘sound”’ money why don’t some of these
fellows wait for these times instead of pull-
ing each others coat tails off in their efforts
to clamber into government berths.
—
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STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
ELLEFONTE, PA., APRIL 23, 1897.
Making a Disgraceful Record.
ha
It is nearly four months since the State
Legislature convened for the present ses-
sion, and that body of lawmakers, con-
trolled by more than the usual large Re-
publican majority, is making a more dis-
graceful record than any of its predecessors,
although that would seem to be impossible.
The misdeeds of the previous Legislature
consisted in acts of commission. . It dis-
played its vicious character in legislation
by which the official expenses of the State
were unnecessarily and profligately in-
creased. In that line of misconduct it cre-
ated new offices for the benefit of party re-
tainers, and enlarged the emoluments of
official incumbents, thereby increasing the
cost of the state government in order that
there might be more places and larger
salaries to satisfy the demand of party
workers. The pernicious action of the last
Legislature was also manifested in the ser-
vice it rendered corporate interests to the
injury of the public, the most conspicuous
example of which was its legislation for the
benefit of the Standard oil company.
But the wrong doing of the present ses-
sion manifests itself in its omission to do
what the public interest requires. It is
not as actively profligate as was its prede-
cessor, but equally pernicious in the effect
produced by its evident determination to
prevent the passage of reform measures
needed for the public good.
Four months have nearly expired since
the opening of the session and not a single
act has been consummated that would bene-
fit the people, although the ruling boss de-
clared it to be his purpose that this Legis-
lature should signalize itself by the passage
of great measures of reform. He promised
enactments that would put an end to the
corrupt use of money in politics and the
assessment of office-holders for political
purposes, and he made a big parade of civil
service reform in state and municipal gov- |
ernments. Whether QUAY was sincere in
these intentions, or was practicing the de-
ception usual in machine politics, is a ques-
tion, but at all events the two factions into
which’ the majority in the Legislature has
split, are playing foot-ball with his reform
bills, with the probability that they will
be kicked out entirely.
On the other hand, the bill intended to
enforce the payment of interest on state
money deposited in banking institutions,
which was introduced by the anti-Quay
faction, not so much for the public henefit
as to deprive the boss of a source of politi-
cal revenue, is being made a point of con-
tention between the factions, with the
probability that a measure that would be
of real advantage to the State will fail
along with the other promised reforms.
In addition to such delinquency in its
action, the present Legislature will con-
tinue the lawless disregard for the require-
ment of the constitution, which was dis-
played by previous Republican Legisla-
tures in refusing to pass apportionment
bills, and it willadd to the shameful aggie-
gate of its worthlessness by intentionally
neglecting to pass the bill for the amend-
ment of those defects in the ballot law
which render it a mere burlesque on the
Australian system.
In the present session the people of the
State huve an example of a legislative body
that has been intoxicated by the unlimited
and unconditional confidence which they
have reposed in it, and been made reckless
by excessive power. But it is natural that
it should be the irresponsible, profligate
and generally worthless bedy that it is, as
a consequence of the misdeeds of its ma-
jority. What else was to be expected?
When the ruling party had been guilty of
the shameful abuses of the last session,
the people, instead of administering a re-
buke, gave it the endorsement of their ap-
proval by an increased majority. With
the inference which corrupt politicians
would draw from such an endorsement, the
people have no reason to be surprised at
the disgraceful character of the proceedings
of this session, and they can put the blame
for it nowhere else than on themselves.
Jefferson and the Gold Standard.
It is really too bad that editor ALEXAN-
DER K. McCLURE was forced to denounce
WiLLiAM J. BRYAN and the Democrats
who celebrated JEFFERSON'S birthday at
Washington for having been guilty of prof-
anation. He regards the great Democrat’s
memory as having been profaned for the
reason that there was not a single utter-
ance of JEFFERSON’s, from his earliest to
his latest public deliverance, that did not |.
emphasize his devotion to honest money.
This sort of swash might do in a politi-
cal campaign when there was a purpose in
humbugging the gullible into the belief
that a silver dollar is not as honest money
as a gold one, but at this time, when there is
no immediately object in fooling anybody
on the money question, we can see no oc-
casion why editor MCCLURE should in-
dulge in such gratuitous clap-trap.
He goes on to say that ‘‘in many ways
and on many occasions did JEFFERSON de-
clare his faith in honest money that would
be free from fluctuations in value and in
the scrupulous maintenance of national
credit.”” Of course he did. He had great
faith in honest money, and for that reason
he was among the early statesmen of the
country who gave it a currency—not of
gold as the exclusive standard—but of gold
and silver ; a double standard money cur-
rency at almost the identical ratio as ghat for
which WILLIAM J. BRYAN and the Demo-
cratic party are contending, and which
they will restore some four years hence.
That double standard currency, “gold and
silver, at a 16 to 1 ratio, authorized by the
constitution and adopted by the origina-
tors of our monetary system, existed dur-
ing JEFFERSON’S time, and on through
JACKSON’s period and still later, until 1873,
when by one of the most sneaking legisla-
tive tricks that was ever perpetrated, it.
was substituted by the single standard
gold monometallism of ‘the Wall street
sharks.
As proof that JEFFERSON was a goldbug
editor MCCLURE says that in his first
message he declared for ‘‘the honest pay-
ment of our debts and sacred preservation of
the public faith.”” Such an expression was
very much like JEFFERSON, but did he
say that the payment of our debts with
silver would be dishonest, or that nothing
but gold would sacredly preserve the pub-
lic faith? To tell the truth, editor Mc-
CLURE, you can’t find a single word in
anything JEFFERSON has said or written
that can be construed as an approval,
sanction or justification of such a monetary
system, based on exclusive gold monomet-
allism, as that which for the last 24 years
has been subjecting the prosperity of the
country to gradual strangulation, and
those who would associate his name with
the single gold \standard are guilty of
violence to his reputation as a statesman,
a patriot and Democrat.
Corruption in the State Senate. _
Rumors of corrupt use of money in in-
fluencing insurance legislation at Harris-
burg are an addition to the discredit which
has generally attached to the reputation of
our State Legislature. The character of
that law-making body was already so badly
damaged that it appeared superfluous for
it to get any worse, but it is brought still
lower in the public estimation by the re-
port that money to the amount of $50,000
had its influence in affecting the action of
certain State Senators on a bill relating to
insurance business.
This isa very serious charge. It im-
presses the public mind with the suspicion
that in addition to the other faults in the
conduct of our State Legislators, their ac-
tion is open to the corrupt influence of
money. It is such an impeachment of
their legislative integrity as to destroy all
public confidence in their representative
character.
The charge of this corruption has been
openly made in the Senate, and should
have been attended with immediate action
to purge the reputation of that body, but
nothing has been done in the matter that
would indicate that the reputation of the
State Senate is worth vindicating.
Senator GOBIN, who objects to such a
sacrifice of senatorial reputation, has de-
manded an investigation that would get at
the facts of the reported use among Sena-
tors of money to the amount of $50,000 to
influence legislation, but an investigation
instituted in our State Legislature is so sug-
gestive of whitewash that the exculpa-
tion of the accused by that process would
fail to command public confidence.
The Passing of Shannon McCormick.
The remains of the late SHANNON vc
CORMICK were interred in the little coun.
try cemetery, at Pine Hall, yesterday after-
noon, and nothing now remains but mem-
ory of the noble old character who has
moulded thought and made for the good of
society in Ferguson township for nearly
half a century. Few men are left of the
type to which he belonged and only as they
drop sadly away from us do we realize that
standards of manhood have deteriorated as
the world has progressed in other spheres.
On the 25th of last May he was in this
place, where of late years his visits had
been so rare as to make, in truth, holidays
among those who were honored with his
acquaintance, and during a conversation
with him then we learned something more
than a life of friendship with him had ever
brought out. With all the mellowness of
his many years of life, with that support-
ing sweetness of an experience of Christ he
looked at the past and met the future with
the calm and meaning words : “I am satis-
fied !"’
Politically Mr. MCCORMICK was a Demo-
crat. He had been a Democrat when it
took physical and moral courage to be one
and his memory will live in the history of
the Democratic party in Centre county as
long as it stands, for it was he who feared not
the jibes nor the sneer of those who have
tried to laugh to scorn his oft declared be-
lief that ‘next to the church the Demo-
cratic party is the grandest organization in
the world.”
-—=Subscribe for the WATCHMAN.
The Effect of the Swallow Charges.
Doctor SWALLOW is not unreasonable in
claiming that his publication impugning
the management of affairs at Harrisburg
has produced results beneficial to the pub-
lic interest. If public attention had not
been attracted by his charges of malfeas-
ance against state officers, the probability
is that an extravagant plan for the build-
ing of the capitol would have been adopted
at a cost of many millions to the State.
But at the time when he was being prose-
cuted for having charged state officials with
misusing public money, they were shy of
substantiating the truth of his publication
by a plundering scheme of jobbery in the
construction of a new capitol.
The doctor would seem to be justified in
making this claim, and if his publication
has been productive of this benefit £6 the
State it is difficult to see -how it could
properly be a subject for prosecution.
As regards the burning of the capitol
building the people of the State have an
interest in that occurrence, and their opin-
ion in regard to it is not likely to be settled
by the prosecution brought against doctor
SWALLOW for having stated in his paper
that the fire was not entirely accidental.
This was about the substance of the doc-
tor’s declaration on that subject, incident-
ally mentioned in connection with more
specific charges against certain officials, but
he is prosecuted for it, and precautions
have been taken to prevent his securing
any evidence that may get at the facts con-
nected with the conflagration. Much care
has been exercised to prevent his examin-
ing the ruins of the burnt building, as if
there was a fear that he might discover
something that would substantiate his sus-
picion that the fire was not of accidental
origin, and the same surveillance has been
practiced upon others upon whom he relies
for his defence in this matter.
The prosecutors have not pursued the
course in this case that is best calculated to
disabuse the public mind of the impression
that the fire was not aceidental. That is
all that the doctor charged. The people
of the State are interested in the facts con-
nected with the loss of their capitol, a
building with so many historic associations,
and to replace which will be a matter of
heavy expense tothem. Why should there
be an interference With doctor SWALLOW’S
getting at the facts, and from what motive
would certain State officials rather crush
him with a prosecution for libel than to
assist him in getting at the origin of the
conflagration? There should not be such
a treatment of this case as would strength-
en the public suspicion that there are parties
interested in concealing the facts connected
with it.
A Discouraging Prospect.
It is observed that the high tariff organs
and the managers of the MCKINLEY scheme
of protection are a good deal more humble
than they were some months ago. There
is an absence of that arrogance which char-
acterized their tone in the early days of
March.
The reason for this change in their ex-
pression and demeanor is obvious. They
are experiencing the difficulty they have
got to encounter in their task of making
the country prosperous by loading it down
with increased tariff taxes. They discover
that prosperity will not respond to the in-
vitation of ‘‘the advance agent,” but is
more reluctant in putting in an appearance
the more the tariff scheme is pushed in
Congress. :
But nothing has had so chastening an ef-
fect upon the tariff mongers, and given
them so serious an expression of counte-
nance, as the result of the elections in all
parts of the country this spring. From
Massacusetts to Iowa, and notably in Major
McKINLEY’S own State, the people have
repudiated the result of last fall’s election
and declared their want of confidence in a
monopoly tariff and the goldbug money
policy.
‘When a different expression from that of
last year was given in the town elections of
Massachusetts, New York and Pennsyl-
vania, the Republican organs declared that
it meant nothing, but when the same is re-
peated in Ohio, Michigan, and with pecu-
liar emphasis in Illinois, winding up with
defeat of the Republicans in the principal
towns in New Jersey last week, the mean-
ing of it cannot be disguised, and is of a
character calculated to make the party of
monopoly tariffs, and monetary contrac-
tion feel very unhappy.
This is merely the beginning of that
party’s political trouble. It will increase
as the month’s of the MCKINLEY admin-
istration go bye, without affording any re-
lief to the embarrassed condition of the
people. Higher tariff duties may enable
the trusts and monopolies to make greater
profits, as they did under the first MCKIN-
LEY tariff, but they will fail to benefit the
workers. Low wages and periodical sus-
pensions of work will characterize the in-
dustrial situation as the inevitable result
of a DINGLEY tariff and a contracted cur-
rency. ‘This is the prospect ahead of the
MCKINLEY administration and it is an
outlook that presages political disaster to
the Republican party.
The Good Times We Were Promised
How Republican Pledges are Being Fulfilled.—Factor-
ies Closing Down, Wages Being Reduced.—Work-
men Without Employment, and Want and Distress
Everywhere.
Everybody remembers the promises made
by the Republican press and Republican
speakers before the election. With the suc-
cess of MCKINLEY was to come a restoration
of confidence and, with a restoration o fconfi-
dence, such a revival of business and alter-
ment of times and the condition of the
people, as had never before been witnessed
in this or any other county. Mills and
factories and mines were to start up and
run to their full capacity, work was to be
made plenty, wages were to go up, and
everything was to boom. These promises,
you all remember. How have they been
fulfilled? The following items of news,
taken from the Philadelphia Press of the
14th and 15th inst. will tell, most forcibly,
how faithlessly :
Stringency in Manufacturing Business
Seriously Affecting the Anthracite
Coal Trade.
From the Press of April 14.
The anthracite coal trade is in a chaotic
condition, and orders are falling off because,
owing to the stringency in manufacturing business
many of the mills are shut down. A few days
prior to the beginning of this month the coal
companies in this city issued their spring cir-
culars. The price quoted were the same as
have been in force for some time past, but it
was generally understood that the prices
would not be lived up to, as many of the
dealers had received notice that there would
be a reduction of 15 cents a ton on all sizes.
Even at these low figures the orders are few
and far between, and there ave few inquiries
being made. The retail dealers are practical-
ly doing nothing, and they are laying in very
little coal, as there is a belief that prices will
be further reduced.
Receiver for a Pottery.
From the Press April 14.
TRENTON, April 13, (special).—The Brew-
er Pottery company, of Tiflin, O., which was
considered one of the most prosperous in this
country, has gone into the hands of the re-
ceiver, because of the general depression of
the pottery business. The pottery being lo-
cated in Tiffin, O., and the capitalists in
Trenton, the application was made in the
United States Court, and Frederick A. Dug-
gan, a pottery manufacturer, was appointed
receiver by Judge Kirkpatrick.
Factories Shut Down Indefinitely.
From the Press of April 14.
SOUTHINGTON, Conn., April 13.—All of the
factories of the Peck, Stowe & Wilcox com-
pany, manufacturing edge tools and general
hardware, have shut down indefinitely.
This throws out of employment a large num-
ber of hands who for the past six months
have been working on a short schedule. The
Ztna Nut company’s work’s and rolling
mills are also at a standstill, and the works
of the Southington Cutlery company are run-
ning on short time. >
~
Eight Tanneries to Close.
From the Press of April 14.
CLEARFIELD, April 13, (Special).—The
tannery trust, operating eight industries at
Clearfield, Curwensville, Irvona. Penfield,
Reynoldsville, Tyrone, Philipsburg and
Johnstown, will close down their tanneries
May 1 until the price of leather has advanec-
ed. About 2000 men will be thrown out of
employment.
A Scene of Destitution Witnessed by the
Mayor of Wilkesbarre.
From the Press April 14.
WILKESBARRE, April 13.—Mayor Nichols
having heard that a number of families were
so poor that they had to carry away con-
demned meats and vegetables from the city
dumping ground visited the scene this morn-
ing with the health officers, to make an in-
vestigation.
The dumning’ ground extends from Ross
street to the old slaughter houses, a distance
of about one-half mile.
When the party reached there this morn-
ing the bank was alive with wagons, some
loaded on their way to the dump and others
empty returning to the city for another load.
As the wagon drove to the edge of the bank
it was surrounded by a coterie of half-clad
men, and as the driver shoveled the refuse
from the wagon the deft fingers of the scav-
engers sorted out the old iron, tins, bottles,
apples, potatoes, fruit of any kind, scraps of
meat, etc. The iron, bottles, tins, etc., are
sold to the junk dealers and the fruit, fish,
meats and such material are taken home and
eaten.
The party was brought face to face with
evidence of the most abject poverty within
300 yards of the residences of some of our
most wealthy citizens. Here in the neigh-
borhood of the fashionable and wealthy resi-
dence portion of the city scores of people,
men, women and children, plodded through
the garbage, eagerly seizing the decaying and
putrid scraps of victuals that have been
carted to the dump.
Old and partly decayed apples onions, po-
tatoes, spoiled ham, eggs, and sometimes
meats, were secured and eaten with a relish.
An intelligent-looking young man who
said he was a machinist, lived at Ash-
land, and came here looking for work, ad-
mitted that he depended on the dump for his
meals. A man who said he is a Polander was
picking paper, rags, etc., which he hoped to
sell and earn a few cents. .
Dozens of similar eases were found on
every hand. The mayor will make a deter-
mined effort to have the poor people proper-
ly cared for by some of the charitable or-
ganizations.
Heavy Iron Works Failure.
From the Press of April 15.
Norristown, Pa., April 14.—The Longmead
Iron company and the Conshohocken Tube
company, of Conshohocken, have gone into
the hands of receivers.
The failure is the largest that has ever oc-
curred in this county.
The liabilities will amount to about $300,-
000, while the assett will not be over $150,-
000.
Reducing Wages.
From the Press of April 15.
Last Saturday night 100 men were dis-
charged from the Alton’s shops at Blooming-
ton, Ill. Among these were men who for
forty years have had steady employment
( Continued on page four.)
Spawls from the Keystone.
—Tramps at Elkhart, Ind., fatally shot
John Burke, of Scranton.
—The spring meeting of the Presbytery of
Lehigh was held at Easton Tuesday night.
—The March pay-roll of. the Reading Rail-
way company in Reading amounted to £90,-
000.
—The Reading company is preparing to
erect a handsome new breaker at Wedes-
ville.
—Manus Harkins, of East Mauch Chunk,
Was run over by an engine and instantly
killed.
—While playing about a bonfire, 4-year-old
Anthony Youski, of Plymouth, was burned
to death.
—Six-year-old G. R. Franklin Sharp fell
from a rail-road bridge at York Tuesday and
was drowned.
—The Central iron and steel company, of
Harrisburg, was incorporated with a capital
of $1,000,000.
—With his foot crushed Lawrence O’Brien,
of Buffalo, was found alongside the Reading
tracks at Pottstown.
—The second trial of Anthony Zemetis for
the murder of Andrew Yeisley was begun at
Wilkesbarre Tuesday.
—A runaway horse hurled Miss Mary
Walsh in front of a rapidly-running trolley
car, at Archibald, and killed her.
—James S. Slocum, of Pittston, post-master
of Scranton under President Grant, was kill-
ed by a Lehigh Valley coal train.
—Fourteen collieries in the Schuylkill
region have contracted for mine locomotives
with the Baldwin locomotive works.
—Work has been begun on a shaft at the
Lytle colliery, near Minersville, which,
when completed, will be the deepest in
Schuylkill county.
—Thousands of people viewed the remains
of Rev. Father P. F. Beresford, which lay in
state at Reading before being removed to
Philadelphia for burial.
—G. L. Morlock, of Lock Haven occording
to a dispatch sent out from Washington, D.
C., has announced himself as a candidate for
national bank examiner for Western Penu-
sylvania.
—Measles has broken out in Bentleysville,
Beallsville and Somerset townships to an
alarming extent. About 100 families are af-
fected. ' No deaths have so far occurred, but
a number of the victims are in a serious con-
dition. :
—Williamsport recently lost an industry
by the wire buckle suspender factory remov-
ing from that city, but the business men of
that place, having an eye to the future, set
to work and organized the Williamsport sus-
pender company, which will begin operations
about June 1st. About fifty hands will be
employed.
—The, Coudersport Enterprise perpetrates
the tolling libel ; A Tioga county school
teacher has lost her position because she pre-
ferred to get her meals at home rather than
board around. In a note apprising her of her
dismissal was the following sentence : “‘T am
serprized that yew hed the Nurv to do it.”
—At Williamsport Tuesday, John Strailey,
while attempting to climb on a coal wagon,
had his legs badly twisted by having them
caught in the spokes of the rear wheel while
the wagon was in motion. The boy was
‘thrown to the ground and the wheel ran over
his body. Afterwards he was carried to his
home. No bones were broken, but the boy
suffered intensely.
Al Strunk, the well known passenger con-
ductor on the P. and E. railroad, died in
Harrisburg at 2.20 o’clock Wednesday morn-
ing of typhoid pneumonia. While making
his run to Lock Haven last Friday, Mr.
Strunk became ill, and returned to Harris-
burg that afternoon a very sick man. He
continued growing worse until death came to
his relief. Mr. Strunk was a widower, but is
survived by four daughters, two of whom are
married, and two who reside at home.
—Hotel Dunkle, at Jersey Shore was dam-
aged by fire to the amount of $1,500 last
Thursday morning. The origin of the flames
is not definitely known, but it is thought
they started in the bar room. Many of the
lady guests escaped by being taken out the
upstairs windows and down ladders by the
men. A man named Wilson was found un-
conscious in his bedroom. The bucket brigade
extinguished the flames after two hours hard
work.
—The extension of the Beech Creek sys-
tem now in course of construction will reach
the great soft coal deposits of cenfral western
Pennsylvania aud give the road an enormous
traffic. The Pennsylvania has long enjoyed
a monopoly of the soft coal business, having
a number of branches that radiate through
the territory where the coal is mined. There
is plenty of freight in the region for both
roads, and as these reach separate territories
there will not be much strife between them.
—L. A. Whitmire, of Muncy, has been en-
gaged by a Williamsport physicianto make
three pairs of slippers from human hide.
Early last fall an unknown tramp was hurt
on the rail-road near Williamsport and died
from loss of blood and his body fell into the
hands of a doctor in that city, who skinned it
and had it tanned. The piece of the hide
which he sent to Whitmire is four feet long
and is from the left side and left leg of the
victim. There is enough material in the
hide to make at least three pairs of slippers.
—A Jersey Shore dispatch says Mr. John
Williamson and wife, Mrs. M. P. Hepburn
and Miss Emma Hayes, of that place started
at 3 o'clock last Friday afternoon to drive to
North Bend in a big double seated wagonette.
Lock Haven was safely reached but after
passing that city their troubles began ; for it
was discovered that the road was at intervals
under water from the flooded Susquehanna.
It was finally decided to take to the rail-road
tracks about two miles this side of North
Bend. A section hand then informed Mr.
Williamson that he just had 35 minutes to
drive to North Bend before a fast freight
train passed that point. The ladies hearing
this decided to walk and Williamson whip-
ping up his horses started out pell mell up
the ‘‘Pennsy”’ tracks. After a thrilling ride
he reached North Bend justin time, asthe
freight was approaching. He quartered his
horses and started back for the ladies and
found them a mile down the track thorough-
ly frightened and fearing attacks from any-
thing from bears to highwaymen. It was
very dark and the walk was a hard one but
the party finally reached North Bend at mid-
night instead of 6 o'clock as contemplated. ‘.
Sams goa 2h ont