Desai fata
BY P. GRAY MEEK.
Ink Slings.
He don’t have the wealth of a CraEsus
Nor creases in his pants;
He is just plain old farmer CREASY
But he’ll make some one dance.
—Everybody knew that it would be har-
monious. How could it have been other-
wise when all laid out beforehand by de
boss. :
—Every day of the DREYFUS trial con-
vinces the public the more that he is not
guilty but that French justice wont have
the courage to say so.
—The preachers who are praying for rain
these days evidently are not inspired with
the same faith that buoyed PETER up on
the surface of Galilee centuries ago.
——It is but natural to inquire as to
whether OTIS is using the blue pencil so
dexterously so that there will be some re-
served facts for the government blue book.
—1It isn’t so much the fear of the out-
come of hostilities that deters great powers
from going to war as it is the question as
to what the balance of the world will think
about it.
—There was no mistaking ‘‘de main
guy’’ at Harrisburg yesterday. The whole
push was turned out for him except two
from Centre county and a few others who
didn’t count.
—There must be something in a name
after all. On Tuesday young LLEWELLYN
STOUT marched to the gallows in the jail
yard in Easton without evincing a sign of
dread for the terrible ordeal he was to pass
through.
—That the war vessels of the United
States are angels of mercy as well as en-
gines of death could not be illustrated in a
nicer way than in the trip of the Panther,
freighted with provisions for the storm
swept Puerto Ricans.
——Eight thousand gallons of whisky
were seized by government officials in
North Carolina on Saturday last. If this
does not prevent illicit distilling it should
at least make it a little longer between
drinks down in that neighborhood. .
—With the Democratic party in 1900 it
should not be so much a matter of a win-
ning platform as of a winning candidate.
Let us make a Democrat the next Presi-
dent and have faith in his Democracy to
do what is right after he is elected.
—The New York man who is married to
two women and has been refused a divorce
from either one of them needs no prosecu-
tion for bigamy. His punishment, if left to
the women he has deceived, will be quite
severe enough to be a terrible example for
most men.
—BILLY KoUNTZ, the author of the
unique ‘‘Billy Baxter Letters,’’ is dead.
We have felt sad ever since hearing of his
demise, but we can’t keep from wondering
whether, if ST. PETER should give him the
‘““marble heart,” he will ‘roll his hoop”
some where else.
—XKIp McCoy’s being knocked out in
the first round by a comparatively unknown
fighter in Chicago, Friday night, simply
goes to show that over-confidence is dan-
gerous to all men. The Kip thought he had
his man licked before the fight begun, but
the trouble was that ‘‘his man’’ didn’t
wait until he was ready to do it.
—According to the letter of private
FISHEL written home to his friends in
York county the American soldiers consid-
er it great fun killing Filipinos and they
view it much the same as rabbit hunt-
ting. Of course ‘‘it is more fun to kill’
than to be killed, but this terrible warfare
against those uncivilized blacks seems to
be blunting the finer sensibilities of our
men and effacing the memory of the cour-
ageous tenderness that vaunted the boys
in blue all over the world after their con-
duct hefore Santiago.
—From the personnel of the Philippine
commission it was but reasonable to be-
lieve that great things would be accom-
plished by such a body of distinguished
and eminently learned men. President
ScHURMAN, of Cornell University, is a
member of the commission who has lately
returned home and declines to say any-
thing on the two all important questions
as to when the war will possibly end or of
the advisability of annexation. The pro-
fessor’s quietude is significant. It is quite
evident that he would answer ‘‘nit’’ to
both questions, if he were not afraid of
offending the gentleman who appointed
him.
—Congressman THOMAS BRACKETT REED,
of Maine, has resigned his seat and retired
from the activities of a long and certainly
distinguished political career. Distinguish-
ed because his record as speaker of the
House will probably continue without a
parallel in the history of that body. Au-
tocratic at all times, domineering often, he
held the majority in that body so effectual-
ly in leash that the fifty-fourth and fifty-
fifth sessions, over which he presided, en-
acted his policies and eschewed what he
did not favor. While there was ignominy
for a free people in such a one man power
this very autocracy proved a vast good dur-
ing the last session. When the President
and his thoughtless advisers were run war
made speaker REED stood an immovable
barrier hetween their wild notions and the
people. Though it was not that he loved
the people more, but because he disliked
McKINLEY most, it had the same good ef-
fect and the former Speaker retires to pri-
vate life with the knowledge that he was
able to accomplish the rare feat of doing a
public good while squaring a personal
grudge.
Temacrali
TO
2,
2
li
yy
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
late
.
_NO. 38.
BELLEFONTE, PA., AUG. 25, 1899.
Is It an Effort to Defeat Him ?
We pity ex-Governor PATTISON. From
away down deep we pity him. Four
weeks ago he was a presidential possibility.
Two weeks ago he was a vice presidential
probability.. Now it is doubtful if he is
either. The interviewer has been about,
and, whether authorized or not, has put into
his mouth the expression of doctrines,
which if left undenied or unrepudiated,
will leave him in that political forgetful-
ness that comes to all who run counter to
that which the public believe to be right,
and will force him to be content with the
glories of his past public record and the
knowledge of how easily one can undo him-
self by talking when there is no demand
for it.
Two weeks ago the ex-Governor went
west. Through an interviewer the public
was given what purported to be his opinion
on the financial question. It was not an
opinion, however, but simply a reflex of
what is presumed to be the general Demo-
cratic idea of the position the party will
occupy in 1900. Because it neither at-
tempted to point out new paths for the
party to follow, or new doctrines for it to
espouse and defend, it left the Governor,
in public estimation, just about where he
was before.
The last effort of the interviews, changes
the situation entirely. It puts him ina
new light before the people, and one that
will effectually end all hope his friends
may have entertained of presenting himfas
a hopeful candidate for presidential honors,
unless it is promptly and forcibly repudi-
ated. In this last effort, which comes by
the way of the New York Tribune, he is
represented as favoring imperialism, expan-
sion, the subjugation and control of the
Philippines, along with all the costs and
deviltries the McKINLEY administration
is fighting for. In fact, after reading what
the Zribune’s interview would have him say,
one has reason to doubt if, in his mind,
there is room for any other candidate than
McKINLEY or excuse for the Democracy
holding a convention or placing a ticket in
the field.
Knowing Governor PATTISON as we do,
nothing will convince us that he has gone
so far wrong as the Zribune would place
him, but his own acknowledgement of the
correctness of the statements attributed to
him. He has too much good sense to fly
in the face of the universal sentiment of his
party and is too fair and truthful a politi-
cian to resort to such arguments as are as-
signed as reasons for the strange position
he is said to occupy. Governor PATTISON
is no demagogue who would attempt to
compare the Louisiana purchase with that
of the Philippines, nor is he that kind of a
jingo statesman who would justify the
wrong we are doing to our own professions
of devotion to the priciples of republican
government by promises of untold benefits
in a business way through the acquisition
of this new and remote territory.
He knows when we purchased Louisiana
we were given title to every foot of land in
that vast territory as well as all the rights
the former government exercised; that
through that purchase millions upon mil-
lions of acres of the most productive soil on
this continent became the absolute and un-
disputed property of the United States;
that the small population then inhabiting
portions of that territory, acquiesced
in the change of ownership and hecame
citizens of their own volition. There was
no war made to compel them to acknowl-
edge allegiance, or no force required to es-
tablish for them such a government as
they desired. In that instance we got
what we paid for. It was part and parcel
of our own country. It was worth all we
paid for it. We violated no principle of
Republican government, nor did we make
ourselves governmental robbers simply be-
cause we had the power to take that which
belonged to others, and to force them to
accede to our terms and dictation.
It is not so with the Philippine purchase.
In truth that was no purchase at all, it
was a payment of $20,000,000 for a doubt-
ful and disputed claim to the governmental
authority over a country, every foot of
which is owned and occupied by people
who owe us no allegiance, whatever. Our
rights in the Philippines, under any cir-
cumstances, could go no further than the
right to tax, for there is no uninhabited
or unclaimed land there. It!was a purchase
of the ‘‘right to govern,’”’ and that only,
and surely no man, who is as generally
right as is Governor PATTISON, will insist
that a war to enforce our right to govern
any people outside of our own government
is either just or honorable.
It is for the reason that Governor PAr-
TISON is alleged to have attempted the jus-
tification of the Philippine war by com-
paring its purchase and all the inconsis-
tencies, evils, wrongs and disgrace that
follow in its wake with the Louisiana pur-
chase and the blessings and benefits that
came with it, that we doubt its authentic-
ity. To us this last ‘‘interview’’ looks
like a rank job, put up hy those who are
jealous of the position he occupies.
Governor PATTISON may believe in ex-
pansion, but he is not an advocate of wrong,
in order to accomplish it.
Dare Not Meet the Issues.
What will be heralded as the Republican
state convention, but what in reality was a
meeting to ratify the selection of candi-
dates made by Mr. QUAY and to endorse
and adopt resolutions proposed under his
direction, was held in Harrisburg yesterday,
(Thursday.) The nominees named weeks
ago, by the little coterie that held its con-
sultation at Atlantic City, were duly rati-
fied and J. HAY Brown, of Lancaster, for
Superior Judge, and JAMES E. BARNETT,
of Washington county, for State Treasurer,
will constitute the boss’ ticket during the
campaign. At the time the WATCHMAN
went to press a copy of the resolutions had
not been received, but a summary given
out to the newspaper correspondents en-
dorses every act, policy and purpose of the
McKINLEY administration, promises that
the people of the State will vote their
approval of it; points with pride to the
administration of Governor STONE; glori-
fies the soldiers of the Cuban and Philip-
pine wars and declares for gold as the,
only safe standard and for the DINGLEY
tariff hill as a model of protective legisla-
tion.
State issues are left untouched as if there
were neither State nor state questions at
stake. The only matters with which the
ticket, if elected, will have anything to do
go unmentioned. There is no promise that
the judges will act independent of the ma-
lign influences of the boss who decrees their
candidacy. There is no assurance that ef-
forts will be made to reform the manage-
ment of the State Treasury. There is no
pretense of securing less expensive and
more effective administration of state af-
fairs. Nor is any account taken of the re-
cent robbery of the public school fund;
the pitiable condition of the state insane,
poor and helpless; the inequality of taxa-
tion that compells the farmer and laborer
to pay higher taxes that corporations and
others may pay less, or of any of the vital
questions that the people must pass upon
at the coming election.
All these are dodged—openly, squarely,
defiantly dodged.
And it is the hope of those trying to con-
tinue their corrupt rule in this State that
they can dodge them.
Whether the people, who are so vitally
interested, will permit this silence on
matters of such grave import to them re-
mains to be seen.
It is no wonder the Republican party is
anxious to evade reference to the condition
of affairs in the State. It hasbeen in pow-
er for years. It is responsible for every
condition that shames and disgraces this
great Commonwealth.
Its insane asylums are crowded like
slaughter pens at butchering time, be-
cause the money needed to enlarge them
has been squandered and misappropriated.
Its hospitals are unable to extend relief
to the suffering poor, because of ‘‘Bird
Book’ jobs and other theivings of public
money.
Its trade schools are closed hecause of in-
creased clerkships and padded pay-rolls.
Its deaf and dumb are put on half rations,
that useless officials and retainers of the
boss may draw fat salaries.
Its charities are paralyzed and helpless
because the bills of junketing Legislators
and rollicking officials must be met.
Its public asylums are rotting without
repairs, because the public moneys are
needed for political jobbers and henchmen
of the ring.
Its public school fund is robbed that
beer brewers and corporations may escape
taxation.
Isit to be wondered at that there is a
silence, more profound than death, on these
matters, on the part of those who are re-
sponsible for them? And it is to Mr.
QUAY and the party that follows his dic-
tation that these conditions are to be
charged. Of them they are ashamed to
speak. For them no explanation can be
made. Silence is there only hope and to
silence they have resorted.
Suppose.
Supposing that after France had given us
the substantial aid she did in achieving
independence that government had declared
our unfitness for self-government and de-
manded submission to its dictation, what
course, is it likely, our hrave old fore fath-
ers would have pursued? Would they
have thrown down their arms and submit-
ted to that dictation? Would they have
acknowledged the right of France to dis-
possess them of such rights as they believed
they bad acquired, o1 to tax them at its
pleasure and for its own purposes?
Or, suppose France, in the midst of our
war for independence, had purchased for
$20,000,000 the claim that England had to
the government of the colonies and after
receiving that title had garrisoned the forts
that England vacated and had proceeded
by bitter, blighting war to enforce her de-
mands, what would the grand old patriots
have done? Do you think they would
have quietly gone to their homes and al-
lowed a foreign power to set up such a gov-
ernment as it deemed proper ? Would they
have forgotten that their fight was for in-
dependence and self government and that
France's title was only that which England
sold" because she could not enforce it ?
And suppose, further, that after a war of
years France had succeeded in dispersing
our'broken and dispirited army; that she
had established her dictatorship and com-
pelled us to formulate such kind of govern-
ment as her rulers believed best suited to
our needs, would that have increased our re-
spect for France or secured for her in the
future the benefits of our good will and
trade?
And what is the difference in the situa-
tion of the Filipinos to-day and that of the
American patriots of 1776 ?
Self government was the aim of both.
It was but an experiment in 1776 and yet
France, opposed to the theory as she was,
was great enough and broad enough to ac-
knowledge our right, and to assist in the
attempt to make that experiment.
How different with us. We boast of
self government as a God given right. We
glory in the thought of people governing
themselves. We denounce the idea of
dictatorship. We are proud of our inde-
pendence, and yet we go to war to deny to
others that for which we glorify the pa-
triots of the revolution for securing, and
which we declare to be the natural right of
others.
How narrow and inconsistent must we
appear to others, when our treatment of
the struggling Filipinos is compared with
what we received from France one hundred
and twenty years ago?
Want to Evade the Issue.
The fact that Democratic state conven-
tions are not bothering about general is-
sues is creating no little concern among
Republican politicians. They fear to meet
the questions that properly belong to state
campaigns, and would be only too well
satisfied if the local tickets could be run on
national issues, and congressional and
presidential candidates on local issues.
Its a cowa:dly position to occupy but its
the one the Republican party has for years
resorted to, and we presume will continue
doing so, as long as it can fool the people
and secure their votes on false pretenses.
““There is not a State in the Union this
fall that will elect any official who has a
thing to do with questions outside of those
connected directly with the management of
state and local affairs. Asin Pennsylva-
nia, where we elect two state Judges ail a
State Treasurer, so is it in every State.
State tickets only are to be elected, and is-
sues arising out of the administration of
state concerns are the only legitimate is-
sues that should be considered.
But this does'nt suit the Republicans.
Their control of state offices has been so
corrupt, so rotten and so detrimental to the
interests of the people, that anything is bet-
ter for them than reference to their mis-
management, thievery and the purposes
for which they have used the public offices
and public moneys.
If the people of the different States in
the Union now under Republican control
would forget outside matters and vote di-
rectly on the question of a continuation of
present methods in their public offices, is
it probable that one half of them would
favor the prolongation of the wrongs they
arenow suffering ? How would it be bere in
Pennsylvania ? Does any one suppose that
if the people of the State would forget all
other matters and vote directly on the
question of unbossed courts and the careful
and correct management of the State Treas-
ury, that there would be any doubt of the
overwhelming defeat of the ring ticket ?
It is because there would be no question
as to what the result]would be, if the issues
made paramount were those, and those
only, that pertain to the offices to be filled,
that makes Republicans attempt to dodge
these and arouse the prejudices of the peo-
ple on other questions.
This is why they are so concerneds about
the refusal of Democratic conventions to
have anything to do with financial, tar-
iff, trust and other matters. They will be
legitimate and necessary issues when we
come to elect a President and Congressmen.
It is to avoid the real issues and prej-
udice the people, to hide their own delin-
quencies and to prevent the exposure of
their rotten rule in state, county and munic-
ipal governments that they are eternally
blathering about other matters.
It has always been so. It will always
be so, until the people waken upto the
deceptions that are practiced upon them,
and understand how often and effectually
they have been fooled by those who want
the offices to fleece them.
-——*‘‘Any fool can make a mistake, but
it takes a great man to acknowledge one.’
On this premise it can be contended that
there are few ‘‘great men’’ in the Belle-
fonte council, for after placing a price of
15cts. per barrel on water taken from the
pipes by non-residents and recognizing the
ill effect their act will have on the town,
council could not scrape up the courage to
wipe out the whole, measly business by
revoking its action. Instead it went
deeper into the penny-wise and pound
foolish category by reducing the water to
5cts. per barrel.
Lord, Send Us Rain.
Joe W. Furey in the Lock Haven Democrat.
Lord, thou hast filled earth’s bitter cup,
The land with heat is burning up;
The fields are dried, and brown and bare,
The farmer groaneth in despair.
The streams, obeying thy command,
Are fast withdrawing from the land;
While frightened people on each shore
Most earnest pray, “Lord, give us rain.”
And are we, then, so deep in sin.
That we can now no longer win
The moistened breath, so sweet with rain,
To save from death the burning plain?
O thou, to whom the trees up-point
In burning agony and pain,
They ask thee to the land anoint,
With thy rare ointment, luscious rain.
Then shall the healing springs outpour
Their cooling drafts from shore to shore;
While nature to the desert shows,
The way to “Blossom like the rose.”
An Honest Candidate who Will Keep His
Pledge.
From the Wilkesbarre Leader.
The hold charges and sacred pledges
made by candidate Creasy at Williamsport
on Wednesday are alarming the Republi-
cans and they don’t know how to overcome
the influence that his unquestioned honesty
and sincerity is likely to have upon the
voters. William T. Tilden, chairman of
the executive committee of the Philadelphia
branch of the Business Men’s league, had
this to say in response to a query as to his
opinion of the charges presented by candi-
date Creasy: ‘I have read candidate
Creasy’s speech at Williamsport. He tells
the truth in unmistakable language re-
garding the past. He states in clear terms
the duties of a treasurer, and promises to
do, if elected, precisely what the people of
the State know to be right, and would, if
alive to their full duty as citizens, demand
should be done, not only by their State
Treasurer, but by every public servant,
and which if done would not deprive either
party of a proper organization, but force
what some of us have contended a long
time for—a clean, honorable political Re-
publican organization in this State, in place
of the present debauched and debauching
machine, which is utterly devoid of patriot-
ism, but is living on, and for spoils only,
at the expense of our voters who permit it
to exist.” Mr. Tilden expresses the hope
that the Republicans may nominate candi-
dates who will dare to promise as well as
Mr. Creasy and whose character shall be a
proof that they will make good their
pledges. It will be no difficulty to nomi-
nate candidates who will promise, but will
they be permitted to fulfill their promise ?
There’s the rub.
Let Us Be Mindful of Our Lilierties.
From the Altoona Times.
The liberty of the American people
should be jealously guarded by them. We
should be always vigilant in caring for it,
in order that we may not be deprived of
such a precious thing. On this subject,
the anti-Imperialists league has issued an
address to the American people. Its words
are of warning and counsel; it is sound in
argument, virile in its sentiment. The
document is signed by George Boutwell,
one of the most prominent citizens of the
State of Massachusetts and a member of
the cabinet under President Grant. Mr.
McKinley is scored and the infamous poli-
cy that he is championing is condemned.
The dangers that are now confronting the
country and threatening the life of the na-
tion are pointed out in words that burn as
if they were formed of fire. It is a master-
ly document, calm in reasoning, unim-
peachable in its logic, patriotic to a degree
that cannot be surpassed, thoroughly
American and Republican in all its tenden-
cies and teachings. The country should
heed this appeal. The people are the
masters and they should put an end to this
war of ‘criminal aggression.’”’
The Difference That Leads to the isms
That Destroy Governments.
From the Huntingdon Journal.
The advantage of sinning largely if one
is going to sin at all is aptly illustrated by
two incidents from the Regular army. A
few weeks ago Patrick Fahey, private,
Fourth United States Volunteer Infantry,
got drunk at Fredericksburg, Va., and had
a fight with a civilian. A court martial
has sentenced Patrick Fahey to five years’
imprisonment. He it serving his term,
the finding of the court martial having been
approved. Oberlin M. Carter, Captain
United States Engineers, the ‘‘crack’’
corps of the Regular Army, and a gentle-
man of very aristocratic and influential
political connections, stole $1,500,000 of
government money. A court martial sen-
tenced Oberlin M. Carter to five years’ im-
prisonment likewise. He is not serving
his time like Patrick Fahey however. The
finding of the court martial has not been
approved, nor is it likely that it ever will
be approved. He is meeting with every
kind of leniency, and the President has al-
ready suspended the execution of the sen-
tence over a year.
And the World Helped to Elect Its Stn-
pendous Blunderer.
From the Bedford Gazette.
Many volunteers who have returned from
the Philippines have been asked plain ques-
tions and their brief answers have been sten-
ographically reported by the New York
World. As a result of its investigation the
World has arrived at the conclusion that
the returning soldiers are unanimously
agreed upon these points.
1. The islands are not worth fighting
for nor fit for a white man to live in.
2. It will take years to subjugate the
people and they would be good for nothing
for our purposes when whipped.
3. General Otis is a monumental fail-
ure.
‘‘Such testimony as this, from the men
who have helped to win whatever glory
this country has gained. in the Philip-
pines,” says the World, ‘‘is worth more
than all the cut-and-dried resolutions and
buncombe speeches that have been or may
be emitted in support of Mr. McKinley's
stupendous blunder. The uncensored
truth has revealed the results of this
blunder in all their ghastliness.”’
Spawls from the Keystone.
—W. J. Henry, who killed George Rut-
ledge, formerly of Renovo, at Sayre last
spring, was refused a new trial in the Towanda
courts, Thursday. He will be sentenced in
a few days.
—The West Branch Hose company, of Re-
novo, won the second prize in the drill con-
test at Bradford last week. The prize isa
silver trumpet. There were five divisions in
the le of parade.
—Over 300 rattlesnakes have been killed
since June 1st, on the Emery lumber tract
near Hillsgrove. One man who narrowly
escaped being bitten on two occasions re-
fused to work any longer on the job.
—A Lewisburg exchange says that the
Kulp brothers have fully decided to extend
the Buffalo Valley railroad into Loganton.
The men are now at work on the extension
and are working towards that borough.
—William Thompson, of Philadelphia, and
W. H. Wolverton, of New York, natives of
Alexandria, Huntingdon county, where they
spend their summers are going to build a
town hall and public library there to cost
$10,000.
—William J. Henry, who is in the Towan-
da jail awaiting sentence for killing George
Rutledge, formally of Renovo, attempted sui-
cide a few nights ago by severing an artery
in his le}. He was discovered and the wound
staunched in time to save his life.
—During the heavy storm of Tuesday
night a tree on the property of detective
Harry B. Thomson, at Malvern, was struck,
and a flock of chickens which had been roost-
ing in its branches were killed, their dead
bodies being found on the ground Wednesday
morning.
—A man named Wellman, of Westport,
drank wood alcohol last Friday and was
found dead in bed Sunday morning. He was
about 73 years old. ’Squire Kepler em-
panelled a jury and a verdict of death from
drinking wood alcohol was rendered. Well-
man was a man of intemperate habits, and
had drank this liquid in small quantities
heretofore.
—~Colonel Henry Cooper, who formerly
resided at Elenore, Jefferson county, and
who was known as the giant Odd Fellow,
died at Calgary, British Columbia, a few days
ago. Colonel Cooper was 39 years old. He
joined the order over four years ago. He
was nearly eight feet tall and weighed 300
pounds. He was well known throughout
the United States as he had exhibited him-
self in many museums.
—A short time ago, William H. Harter, of
Hartleton, while driving along at Pardee,
says the Times, saw a large black snake in
the road, and getting out of his wagon, kill-
ed it. After the snake was killed William
Libby approached, having an axe on
his shoulder. A large hump was noticed
on the body of the snake, so the axe was put
in play and the snake cut open, when they
found one of Joe Pursley’s young turkeys.
The snake measured 5 feet 8 inches in length.
—William Hoover, who is serving a year’s
sentence in the Williamsport jail, attempted
suicide Saturday by cutting his throat. The
windpipe was severed. The jail physician
stitched the wound together, but states that
Hoover's chances for recovery are slim.
Hoover and John Ayres, while intoxicated,
entered butcher Thompson’s meat market,
Jersey Shore, last winter and assaulted him
with a cleaver. Hoover resides about five
miles from Jersey Shore. He is 27 years old
and is married.
—The postmaster’s salary at Tyrone, Blair
county, has been cut from $2,900 to $2,600,
and it is said will soon receive another re-
duction of $300. The receipts of the office
there have been falling off rapidly of late on
account of several institutions, which were a
great source of revenue, having closed down.
The citizens have become much alarmed over
the intimation that the free mail delivery
may be taken from them unless the receipts
at the postoffice soon show a decided increase.
—Henry Laning a Luzerne county farmer,
aged 23, had just got inside his barn and was
unharnessing his horses when lightning
struck the barn, setting it on fire and kill-
ing the horses. One of the horses fell over
on Laning, pinning him to the ground. His
cries attracted the attention of the other
farm hands, but by the time they reached
the barn it was completely enveloped in
flames and they were powerless to render
assistance. Laning’s body was burned al-
most to a crisp. :
—DBasil Bell is a licensed colored preacher
at Huntingdon. Saturday he got drunk and
with an ax knocked Mary Winters down
then kicked her heavily. A little later he
attacked John Rumpert a neighbor, and cut
him dangerously with the ax. Bell had
been living with Mary Winters, a white
woman, for a number of years, and he blam-
ed Rumpert for interfering with what he
termed his domestic affairs. Neither the
woman or man are expected to recover, and
Bell is in jail.
—The large tannery establishment of Alley
Brothers & Co., of Curwensville, burned to
the ground Friday night. The fire broke
out about 11 o’clock, and resisting all efforts
of the fire department and citizens, the main
building, sheds, hark and everything con-
tained on a space of five or six acres of ground
were totally destroyed. The fire was in-
tensely hot and after once under full head-
way it was impossible to closely approach
the burning buildings. It is not known what
caused the fire. It was solely a currying es-
tablishment, where no sole leather was
manufactured. The company is a private
one, and has no connection with the Elk
tanning company. The loss is of course very
heavy, but is largely covered by insurance.
—Lightning played havoc with the large
bank barn of Robert Shaw in Pine Creek
township, Lycoming county, Monday after-
noon. About 3 o’clock lightning struck the
barn and set it on fire. The same bolt also
killed three horses in their stalls. The ani-
mals were found dead afterwards, when men
ran in to rescue them. The building was
entirely destroyed. Eight pigs, all the farm
implements and the season’s crops went up
in smoke. When the fire broke out no men
were on the premises. A boy was near by,
but he could do nothing towards getting
any of the contents out. A farmer in his
anxiety to escape the storm drove into the
barn, He did not know it was on fire until
the flying burning pieces dropped on his
horse and vehicle. He lost no time in get-
ting out of the building. The loss is esti-
mated at $5,000; partially insured.