Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, May 20, 1898, Image 1

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    S
ewer ian,
BY P. GRAY MEEK.
Ink Slings.
—State reform is more likely to be won
when fought for on State issues.
—The ‘“‘cable’’ still seems to be intact
between the forces of Col. STONE and the
head quarters of boss QUAY.
—Thank the LorD. Bellefonte has one
thing Mr. McKINLEY’S ‘‘good times’ has
not been able to stop running—the water
from its big spring. All else is at rest.
—The Republicans don’t appear to be
willing to supply money for the war unless
MoRGAN and the other Wall street shylocks
are allowed to have a percentage of it.
—If the income tax hadn’t been knocked
out by a compliant supreme court what
a nice sum of money it would now be pour-
into the treasury for the national defence.
—Rev. SWALLOW’S scheme of bringing
the ten commandments into politics is more
likely to have the effect of bringing Boss
QUAY’s candidate into the Governor’s of-
fice.
—From thirty-five yards of speeches to
reap less than a dozen delegates cannot be
reconed as a very prolific harvest. Con-
siderin’ the ground, however, brother WAN-
AMAKER you'r doin’ well.
—The returns from the delegate elections
show that while WANAMAKER has been
making the speeches the old, boss has been
attending to the more practical business of
gathering in the delegates.
—A union of honest Pennsylvania citi-
zenship on State issues in the coming cam-
paign would be the surest guarantee of
redemption for this long misgoverned and
plundered old commonwealth.
—Gold hid itself like a coward during
the civil war while the government’s paper
money stood the brunt of the battle. The
greenback is the ideal war money. It has
been baptised with the blood of American
soldiers.
—The large amount of silver bullion
lying idle in the treasury may be converted
into money excellently adapted to war pur-
poses. When we have such resources at
command no favors need be asked of the
bond dealers.
—The Naval campaign so far has proven
very nearly like to Mr. WANAMAKER’S
political one. It has whipped the enemy a
hundred times on paper and then explain-
ed two hundred times how it was that it
didn’t do it.
—The greenbacks are a kind of money
that did the country great service in time
of war, and the Democrats in the Senate
want to enlist for the present emergency
$150,000,000 more of this currency which
is reliable and usetul whether in war or in
peace.
—The Spaniards are the enemies we have
to fight in the field and on the water, but
after all, such public characters as the
HANNAS and the QUAYS, who corrupt our
politics, and by their vicious practices un-
dermine our popular institutions, are this
country’s greatest enemies.
—DMoney is the sinew of war. Without
it the enemy cannot be fought nor the
victory won, yet the Republicans in Con-
gress would embarrass the government by
insisting that it can have the needed funds
only through an interest-bearing loan that
will increase the permanent debt and give
the bond-dealers a profit.
—If the farmers were getting their
due share of the high price to which wheat
has been run by speculation there would
be a substantial benefit, but that young
LEITER may increase his fortune by some
millions is no reason why the poor man
should pay more for his bread.
——The Cuban reconcentrados, whose
relief was one of the main objects of the
war, are being starved to death, and very
few of them will be left to receive the aid
that will be afforded them by the slow
process of a ‘‘peaceful blockade,” and the
hesitancy of an administration run by the
MARK HANNAS of the country.
—A nice commentary on Republican
billion-dollar government is furnished by
the fact that the only battleship it could
afford to build for the Pacific coast had to
be hurried over to the Atlantic to make up
for the naval deficiency in that quarter,
and ran a close risk of being captured by
the enemy in its passage.
—At this period of naval embarrassment
it should not be forgotten that, but a few
days before the blowing up of the Maine, a
bill for a small increase of the marine force
was sat down on by the despotic ruffian
whose tyrannical sway over the House of
Representatives has almost destroyed the
deliberative character of that body.
—Anmericans should appreciate England’s
good will at this time when our evident
naval weakness would be an invitation to
European nations to interfere in Spain’s
behalf if they could secure English co-op-
eration. There is something shameful in
the fact that a long period of maladminis-
tration has left us almost as defenceless. as
the Chinese, and dependent upon English
friendship for safety from foreign attack.
——There are a great many Republicans
right in this neck-o-woods who would be
delighted if they could only make a decla-
ration of ‘“‘neutrality’’ during the QUAY-
WANAMAKER war, that is raging through-
out the county. Eight candidates for post-
master here in Bellefonte, would he glad to
avoid the ‘‘issue’ if they only could, but
as they can’t, they will each be on hoth
sides when it suits, and all of them for
QUAY when they go up to vote.
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VOL. 43
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA., MAY 20, 1898.
NO. 20.
Why the People Are.Apprehensive.
The patriotic people of our country can
entertain no fear as to the result of the
present war except that which may be
caused by the weakness and inefficiency of
the men at the head of the government.
During the month that has elapsed,
since the declaration of war, there has
been displayed an indicision and want
of earnestness in their action that has
hampered the naval and military move-
ments and given the enemy an advantage
in preparing for defence which more
vigorous and earnest action would have
prevented.
The policy of a ‘‘peaceful blockade’’ has
allowed the Spaniards to complete their
fortifications at points which should have
been attacked by our strongest ships and
knocked to pieces by our heaviest guns.
Valuable time has been lost by holding our
two fleets in suspense waiting to see what
a Spanish fleet three thousand miles away
might do, instead of promptly attacking
the fortifications of Havana and at least in-
terrupting the progress of the enemy’s de-
fensive preparations if not capturing the
city. It was not the fault of our brave
sailors that they were tied up for weeks by
the indecision and uncertainty of the navy
department as to the movement of the
Spanish fleet, keeping them idle until the
intentions of the enemy could be ascertain-
ed, a disadvantage that resulted from our
naval weakness which had its cause in the
shameful neglect of past Republican ad-
ministrations.
The people have reason to fear the conse-
quences of such inefficient management,
which is par. y due to incapacity, and
partly to inhérently bad administration,
and the want of an earnest spirit in carry-
ing on the war.
There is moreover other reasons for
patriotic apprehension. In the question of
revenue for our expenses it is seen that the
purpose of enriching the bankers, and hond
dealers, is given paramount consideration
by Republican leaders, who propose that
‘Wall street shall he given a benefit by the
sale of bonds, and that MORGAN and his
ilk shall increase their millions by the
handling of war loans. There is also much
to be feared as a consequence of patronage
and favoritism in “military appointments. |
The batch of appointees for the volunteer
service which the President sent to the
Senate last week was positively scandalous
in this respect. The selection comprised
the names of parties entirely unfitted for
military service, who were appointed solely
because they had the advantage of a ‘‘pull.”’
There was never a more repulsive display
of the influence of patronage, favoritism
and nepotism, than in this case where
responsible military positions were given
the sons of ex-President HARRISON, Sena-
tor FORAKER, JOHN A. LOGAN, and a
score of others equally incompetent and
unworthy.
Conspicuous for his unworthiness as a
military appointee is young JAY COOKE,
who was the only member of the Philadel-
phia troop that backed out when his com-
pany volunteered to go to the front, but
he turns np with an appointment from the
President to a place in the commissary de-
partment. The influence of a rich family
over came the odium that should have
to him for his cowardice, and secured
the favor of the appointing authority for
an unworthy appointee.
These are things that destroy the con-
fidence of the people in those who are
managing this war. That it will be a suc-
cess in the end can not be doubted since
we may rely for ultimate victory upon the
valor of our soldiers and sailors notwith-
standing the bad management of an in-
competent and half-hearted administration.
Wanamaker and Swallow.
The Commonwealth, Dr. SWALLOW’S or-
gan, says: ‘Mr. WANAMAKER continues
to tell the truth about the boss and his
methods. But what will Mr. WANAMAKER
do after the boss has nominated the candi-
dates of the Republican party, as he is cer-
tain todo ? Will Mr. WANAMAKER swal-
low his scruples and support those candi-
dates? We shall see.”
This is a very proper question for Dr.
SwALLOW to ask. Mr. WANAMAKER
charges the QUAY machine with every
form of corruption in the state government,
and he specifies and proves them before
public meetings in all parts of the State.
Notwithstanding these undeniable ex-
posures there is no doubt that Quay’s
ticket will be nominated hy the state
convention, and it is a matter of in-
terest to know whether it will receive the
support of Mr. WANAMAKER and those
Republicans who agree with him in his
denunciation of the abuses and corruptions
of machine government.
It is therefore entirely pertinent for Dr.
SWALLOW’S organ to make the inquiry
what Mr. WANAMAKER will do after the
hoss shall have nominated the candidates of
the Republican party ? But may it not be
proper to subject the Dr. to interrogations
in this connection ? Thoroughly convinced,
as he is, that our state government is in
the hands of a gang of political thieves, who
are entrenched behind a powerful party
organization, does he believe that this cor-
rupt power can be more easily overthrown
by dividing the force that will undertake
to overthrow it? Is he able to convince
himself that he will contribute to this
achievement by leading off in a useless
diversion a large portion of the force that
should be united in the attack, if success is
to be hoped for? Can he blind himself to
the fact that the votes cast for him for
Governor will be of service to boss QUAY
in helping to elect his candidates ?
JOHN WANAMAKER and Dr. SWALLOW
have both given testimony to the fact that
our State is corruptly governed, and that
its public affairs are in a disgraceful condi-
tion. It is reliable and, we believe, con-
scientious testimony, specifically pointing
out the agencies that are responsible for
this shameful state of affairs. It is there-
fore the more incumbent upon them to so
shape their course in the approaching state
campaign as to render the fullest aid in
bringing about the reform that will be se-
cured by the overthrow of this vicious
domination. Mr. WANAMAKER would be
far from performing this duty if, after the
corrupt hoss whom he has so properly
denounced shall have nominated the Re-
publican state ticket, he should give it his
support ; and Dr. SwALLOw will prove
to be but a sham reformer if, by dividing
the opposition tothe QUAY machine, he
will assist in electing the QUAY state
ticket.
We Can Win If We Are Wise.
Why any Democrat who conscientiously
considers the political situation, as it exists
in this State to-day, with its possibilities
for the party ; the chances for success that
are waiting to be taken advantage of, and
the opportunities that are offered to defeat
Quayism should hesitate to favor any
movement calculated to harmonize and
unite the Democratic people we cannot
understand.
Under the Republican party, broken,
divided and warring as it is ; with the
honest people of all parties ready to join
in a movement for honest state rule ; with
the “‘gold’’ Democrats ready to forego sepe-
rate political action and stand by -the
regular party nominees if the contest for
state candidates be confined to state
issues, there should he no hesitancy,
or trouble, in arranging and conducting
the campaign, in such a way, as will allow
every element of the party to earnestly and
heartily support the State ticket.
With existing conditions, political sense
demandsethat we so frame our platform and
conduct our campaign that every honest
voter in the Commonwealth, no matter
what his views on ‘‘National questions,”
are, can join with the Democracy in break-
ing the bonds of boss rule that have so long
disgraced the people and government of
the State.
The ‘‘regular’” Democrat who, for a
whim, would throw away the chances of
success that are now offered, is no better
as a party man than was the ‘‘gold-bug’’
who helped to throw the election to Me-
KINLEY two years ago.
Let us at our state convention take care
of the State.
Let congressional districts take care that
men, true to party interests, party prin-
ciples and party policies, are duly nomina-
ted, and we will win a governor, ten con-
gressmen and the defeat of Quay for
United States Senator.
Raising a Constitutional Objection.
Chairman DINGLEY raises constitutional
objections to the tax on corporations, which
the Democrats in the Senate have incorpo-
rated in their revenue bill as one of the
means of raising money to carry on the
war. In taking this position the chairman
keeps in line with the policy of his tariff
bill, the object of which is to impose the
tax burden on the general mass of citizens,
as preferable to subjecting the wealthy
interests to taxation.
It is difficult to see why corporations
should not pay a government tax. Many
of them owe their origin to federal laws
and are the subjects of government protec-
tion. When a tariff hill is to be framed
the representatives of most of the corpora-
tions crowd the lobbies of Congress clamor-
ing for differential favors and they seldom
clamor in vain.
The duties in DINGLEY’Ss tariff bill were
shaped largely with reference to their in-
terest, but though lavishly benefited by
such favors, DINGLEY thinks corporations
ought to be additionally favored by exemp-
tion from government taxation.
It is wonderful how Republican states-
manship exerts itself for the promotion of
corporate interests and the protection of
wealth. If the Democrats should succeed
in passing their bill that will put a gov-
ernment tax on such concerns as the Stand-
ard oil company, the Sugar trust and the
other extortionate combines that are screw-
ing millions out of the people, Republican
influence would be found urging the su-
preme court to treat it in the same way that
the income tax was treated, by declaring it
to be unconstitutional.
Increasing Like Toad Stools.
It isa satisfaction for us to hear that
staunch old Republican journal and un-
deviating tariff advocate, the Philadelphia
Public Ledger, groan under the infliction to
which the DINGLEY tariff has subjected
the country. There was never a political
contest in which the Ledger did not stoutly
battle for the party of ‘‘protection,’’ but
from the tone of its expressions it evident-
ly regards the DINGLEY tariff as a mis-
applied protective measure.
That the protection went to the wrong
parties would appear from the assertion of
the Ledger that ‘“There are in the United
States not far from 150 trusts or oppres-
sive monopolies, the most of them being
fostered by the present tariff law and
would dissolve at once were the excessive
favoritism afforded them withdrawn.”
Every word of this is true. The trusts
had gone almost entirely out of business
under the WILSON tariff, as its lower duties
afforded them no favors, but upon the
passage of DINGLEY’S monopoly bill its
‘‘excessive favoritism,’ as the Ledger calls
it, brought those monopolies out as numer-
ously as toad stools after a summer shower.
DINGLEY’S high duties have enabled them
to seize control of every branch of pro-
duction and to rob the public in every
article of consumption.
In enumerating the robberies practiced
by those rapacious organization, in addi-
tion to:the heavier articles of manufacture,
the Ledger says that ‘“‘such every day com-
modities as oatmeal, cotton oil, glue, sugar,
tacks, matches, salt, linseed oil, starch,
wall paper, rope, tissue paper, have be-
come the subject of more or less onerous
monopolistic manipulation under the forms
of law. The ‘“‘trust’’ list is ever growing,
and the annual dividends distributed by
many of the trust combinations reach im-
posing figures.’
What advantage does labor derive from
such a system? While the trusts are in-
creasing the cost of living is there any in-
crease in the wages of the working people ?
Our Philadelphia contemporary concludes
its strictures on the DINGLEY style of pro-
tection by saying : ’’Tariff schedules which
foster trusts that control the output and
price of the necessaries and common con-
veni®uces of Hite; and that throw industry
out of employment, to feed the voracious-
ness of plundering combinations of Ameri-
can and foreign capital, are in no sense
‘‘protective’’ of anything save insatiable
avarice.”’
Fruits of Bad Government.
A navy insufficient for proper national
defence is not the only fruit of bad govern-
ment that makeés its appearance in connec-
tion with the present war. Captain C. S.
DuvALL, of the artillery service, who for
the past two months has been engaged in
an inspection of the coast defences, makes
his report to the war department, which
presents faults that are anything but cred-
itable to the authorities chargeable with
the public protection. He reports some of
the fortifications as being “in a most de-
plorable condition, due to utter and unac-
countable neglect.”’
When the fact that our fortifications are
in such bad condition is taken in connec-
tion with a naval deficiency that renders
it difficult to make head against so dilapi-
dated a power as Spain, the people may
well ask what became of the money which
a succession of Republican billion dollar
Congresses made way with ?
The responsibility for this state of affairs
rests upon the shoulders of the party that
has had almost uninterrupted control of
governmental affairs for the past thirty-
seven years. It is one of the incidents of
the profligate management of public affairs
by the Republican party Millions have
have heen annually wasted for purposes
intended to serve personal and political in-
terests, while fortifications that are needed
to protect the country are found ‘‘ina
most deplorable condition, due to utter
and unaccountable neglect,”’ and it is in
consequence of such rascaily manage-
ment of the funds appropriated for the
navy that we are greatly embarrassed
in our naval operations in a war with one
of the weakest powers in Europe.
May Prove to be an Elephant on Our
Hands.
Dr. F. 8. Bourns, of Atlanta, Ga., who
only a few months ago returned from the
Philippine Islands, after a residence there
of four years, does not speak very hopefully
of the prospects of our government being
able to hold these islands and maintain
order with a small body of troops. He
says :
“All told, I spent four years there. I do
not think Spain would yield them without a
bitter fight. The brigandsin the Philippines
are a great power. General Weyler was un-
able to cope with them. Spain has never
succeeded in crushing them. The Sulu group
of the islands were the rendezvous of the no-
torious Malay Djiates. They are not yet out
of existence. Five years ago there were be-
tween 5,000 and 10,000 Spanish troops in the
islands. At present I judge there are nearly
20,000. I think the volunteers number about
40,000. I hardly think our army of 15,000
would be sufficient to take and hold the
islands very long.”
Good for Lehigh.
The Lehigh Democrats under the lead of
Hon. W. H. SOWDEN, one of the most
earnest ‘free silver’” advocates in the State,
have decided for ‘‘State issues’’ in the com-
ing campaign. Their resolution reads as
follows :
We also claim and declare, that in the coming
State campaign, it is the paramount duty of the
local or State Democracy to make earnest warfare
upon the corrupt and extravagant management of
our State and municipal governments under Re-
publican rule, and with this as our main object in
view, the State camipaigh should be conducted
upon State issues rather than upon national ques-
tions, and particularly, since the Governor and
other State officers to be elected next fall, have
no voice in federal matters.
When Democratic counties like Lehigh,
and representative Democrats like CHANCY
F. BLACK, GEo. A. JENKs, Ex-Judge
KREBS, JAS. A. STRANAHAN, W. H.
SOWDEN and others, are willing to leave the
money and other Federal questions go as
side issues, in order to rescué the State
from the clutches of those who are robbing
and disgracing it, there should be no trou-
ble in getting all good Democrats united
in the coming contest.
They Are For The ‘Money That’s In It.”
From the Chicago Record.
Have you noticed how one word appears
and reappears in the discussion of the situ-
ation by friends of the administration? It
is the word buy. We must buy independ-
ence for Cuba. We must buy the Cuban
bonds. We must buy Spain’s withdrawal
from the island. Spain must buy exemp-
tion from her crime.
Listen to the sordid, cramped souls !
Not a thought or a word above the greasy
dollar. Not a sentiment that is detached
from the lust for gold. Not an aspiration
that cannot be measured in dollars and
cents. Not an injury that cannot he bribed
into silence. The money plank is the only
plank in their platform.
Buy did you say? Then buy something
worth buying.
Buy back our dead. Buy back the men
whom you, Mr. McKinley, sent to Havana
to be murdered in their sleep. Buy them
out of the mud of the harbor where their
bodies lie rotting. Buy them out of the
trenches of a foreign graveyard. Buy life
for them. Buy solace for their mothers,
who weep for the boys who will never re-
turn. Buy back our dead.
Buy back your courage and your patri-
otism, Mr. McKinley. Buy back the power
to defend theright. Buy back the Christian
sentiments you learned at your mother’s
knee. i
Buy back honor for the flag. a
Buy back the national freedom: that ‘has
been pawned to a tribe of leeches, and
usurers.
Buy back the confidence of the people in
their President. Buy the things that are
worth buying.
Can you do it? In your mind money is
omnipotent. Can it, then, arouse the dead
from their sleep? Can it make the mur-
dered stand again under the flag? Can it
do anything more than elect cowards to
office and heal the wounds of money-
changers ?
No, unfortunately. You may stand on
the money plank of your platform, Mr.
McKinley. But the people of the United
States will be neither bought nor sold.
Their dead cry for vengeance. They heed
no other call.
¢So Say We All»
From the Blossburg Advertiser.
Again we reiterate that there is no ne-
cessity for issuing a single dollar in national
bonds in order to carry on the war with
Spain. Open up the mints to the free
coinage of gold and silver and issue 500,-
000,000 in greenbacks non bearing interest
introconvertible with gold and silver at
the option of the United States treasurer
and the financial problem of the war is
solved. What would be thought of a
business man with unlimited credit who
could buy any thing he wanted on credit
without interest and at cash prices too,
that would insist on giving bonds with
interest. Conduct the affairs of the na-
tional government upon business principles
and there will be no necessity for a bond
issue.
And Our Own Blockade Intensifies the
Crime.
From the Philadelphia Record.
The saddest news of the war is contained
in the hints that come now and then from
the interior of Cuba as to the fate of the
reconcentrados. These wretched non-com-
batants, for whom neither the Spaniards
nor the insurgents have shown any consid-
eration, are now cut off from all hope of
immediate succor by the hard necessities
of war and are dying of starvation by thou-
sands. The fate imposed upon these wretch-
ed people is one of the most horrible crimes
of the century.
Taking Its Clothes Off.
From the Port Allegheny Reporter.
If there is one citizen in Pennsylvania
above all others whom the Republican
party should love it is John Wanamaker.
He has torn the mask from the hideous
monster that the party .has been blindly
idolizing and revealed the organization in
its true light.
‘Your Head’s Level Old Fellow.”
From the Mifflintown Democrat.
If we as Democrats expect to win in the
State this fall we must hold up before the
people the many and vital state issues that
will be involved, in our next fall’s cam-
paign.
The Grand Old Man is Dead.
HAWARDEN, May 19. — Gladstone is
dead. The venerable statesman breathed
his last this morning after a hard fight with
the grim reaper for the past week. His
wife and family were at his bedside when
the end came. All day long the watchers
sat beside the dying man expecting each
breath to be the last, but the remarkable
vitality of the man kept life in his body
against the ravages of the disease.
Spawls from the Keystone.
—The Republican primaries in Columbia
county on Saturday were carried for Quay.
—A carp measuring 28} inches and weigh-
ing 12} pounds was ‘caught at Linfield, on
Monday.
—The members of Bristol Presbyterian
church have organized a society for literary
and other purposes.
—A recruiting office was opened in Bristol
this week, and many young men anxious to
enlist were enrolled.
—The United Irish societies of Rosemont
have determined not to participate in the cen-
tenary parade of 1898.
—A little son of James Stevenson, superin-
tendent of Bristol, was drowned - in the canal
at that place Saturday night.
—Farmer Hibbs, of Bucks county, has sold
his wheat at $1.50 a bushel, the highest price
ever obtained in that section.
—Survivors of the old Ninth Pennsylvania
cavalry will meet in reunion at Lake Carey,
Wyoming county, on June 9th.
—Pastor W. Brice Morrow, of Bristol E pis-
copal church, has volunteered as army chap-
lain, and his daughter will go as nurse.
—While walking with his mother in Leban-
on, two-year-old George Bross was attacked
by a vicious dog and terribly bitten in the
face. !
—Chester Edwards died from injuries re-
ceived by falling from a Pennsylvania rail-
road freight at Johnstown, while stealing a
a ride.
—J. Snyder, of Ottsville, reports having
had a terrific fight with a monster black-
snake, which attacked him on the road, but
was finally killed.
—Senator Quay had a conference with sev-
eral Republican leaders at Avalon, on Sun-
day, and decided upon W. A. Stone asthe Re-
publican nominee for Governor.
—The smoke houses of Henry Knarr and
Philip Walker, in Flemington, were broken
open last Saturday night and three fine hams
were taked from Mr. Knarr’s smoke house.
—For the second time within a month
vandals vented their spite against Harry
Feese, of North Cornwall township, Lebanon
county, by cutting to pieces his harness and
carriage.
—On Tuesday the work of erecting a 12
foot fence around the entire Carpenter steel
works at Reading was commenced, to pre-
vent possible intrusion from Spanish agents.
Shipments of shells are now made three times
a week. :
—Miss Eliza E. Smith, of Lancaster, has
presented that city with a $25,000 property
to be used as a public library. She will also
make the necessary changes in the property
and has provided for the permanent endow-
ment of the library.
—Forty five Irish-Americans met at Ma-
hanoy City on Sunday and organized a mili-
tary company with the following officers:
Captain, Edward Fogarty; first lieutenant,
Michael Foley. The membership list will be
kept open until 125 names are enrolled. .
—The Lancaster Electric Light, Heat and
Power Company, at Lancaster, has decided
to increase the capital stock from $150,000 to
$250,000 and also to issue bonds to the
amount of $150,000. The increase is to be
used in enlarging the plant.
—For the first time in the history of West-
moreland county there is to be no primary
election held this spring. The cause of that
move is a complete dearth of candidates.
The county convention will make up a ticket
after the meeting of the State convention.
—The Shiffler Bridge company has been
awarded the contract by Laughlin & Co., of
Pittsburg, for the construction of the steel
viaduct for the big ore yard the firm is erect-
ing at its blast furnace plant on Second
avenue. Over 1,500 tons of steel will be used
in the superstructure.
—William Cramer, aged 12 years, a boy un-
der the care of the aid society, who has been
living at N. B. Ferguson’s at Bartville, was
bitten severely by a dog on Thursday
evening. He had been playing with Mr.
Ferguson's pet dog, when a strange dog came
up and attacked his pet. The hoy attempted
to separate them, when the mad brute flew at
him, biting his wrist entirely through.
—John R. Pfautz, aged about 65 years, a
retired farmer living at Elstonville, about a
mile from Mt. Hope was hurt badly. He was
white washing his barn and to make ladders
reach the desired height he tied two together
and while at the top, the ladders slipped and
threw him to the ground, a distance of prob-
ably twenty feet. He broke an arm and one
leg, cut his head and injured himself inter-
nally.
—Jacob McBride, a resident of South Fork,
met a horrible death on the Portage branch
of the Pennsylvania railroad Monday even-
ing. He was sleeping on the track a short
distance above Portage when a work train
ran over his recumbent body. He had evi-
dently been pillowing his head on the rail,
with his arm. above his head, since the head
was completely severed from the trunk and
one arm cut from the shoulder. The body
was picked up and sent to the family home
in South Fork. IMcBride was aged 45 years.
He leaves a wife and several children.
—Friday morning about 11 o’clock, Samuel
Carl, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel
Stump, of Franklin boro, a Johnstown su-
burb, was drowned in a small pond situated
in the western part of the borough,.near the
Conemaugh river. Some larger boys had a
raft on the pond on which they played, but
none of them were near the pond at the time
the Stump child was drowned. The little
one was last seen as he walked over the bank
and it is not known whether he got on the
raft and fell off it, or whether he fell from
the embankment into the water.
—The residence of Curvin Gearhart, a
short distance from Philipsburg, was tota ly
destroyed by fire Friday morning about half
past five o'clock. Mr, Gearhart arose about
five o'clock, started the kitchen fire and then
went out to the stable to put on the clothes
he wears while working in the country coal
bank. Returning to the house, he was
startled to find the flames issuing from the
roof, and hurried at once up stairs to arouse
his family, who made a very narrow escape.
It was too late to save the furniture, bedding,
ete., upstairs, but by the aid of several men
who arrived, nearly all the articles on the
first floor were saved. The fire is thought to
have caught from the flue.