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ADDITIONAL LOCAL NEWS.
MIGHT IT MEAN SOMETHING FOR
BELLEFONTE.—We do not know if the
report is true, or if true what the object
is, but we do know that the Pennsylvania
Railroad company does not employ men
to make surveys and take elevations
without a purpose in view. The story
that comes to us is that that company,
within a few days past has had surveyors
at work down about the old Nail works
property doing something that looked
like work that would need be done to
locate new tracks or to lengthen the old
ones that are there.
Possibly the report was not correct,
probably the purpose suggested has less
foundation in fact, and it might be that
the parties seen there doing surveying | =
and engineering work were College boys
practicing for their examination in engi-
neering. But be these reports and sur-
mises as they may, no more joyful news
tothe people of Bellefonte could be given
them, than that after all these years of
waiting they were at last to have High
street given back to the public for the
purposes for which itwas laid out and is
kept up and that the railroads, freight,
classification and storage yards that
have occupied it for somany, many years
were to be moved outside of the borough
limits.
It may be, however, that what gives
rise to the hope is the fact that within
the past month the company has gone to
the expense of relaying the brick between
its tracks across High street and that
only last week it hauled in a small car
load of crushed lime stone and filled up
the water puddle holes that ornamented
its passenger station grounds. It is these
two evidences of intended improvements,
and they are about theonly ones we have
seen for a long time, that make some
people think that the company is really
waking up to its condition and needs
about Bellefonte, and puts others of us
to wondering if it really might mean
something that would give a hope of get-
ting High street relieved of that eternal
conjestion that not only hinders and de-
lays the business of the town, but rail-
road traffic as well.
ORGANIZED PROTECTION FROM FOREST
FIres.—The meeting of timber land own-
ers of northwestern Centre county called
to be held in the court house, Bellefonte
on Saturday afternoon, Junuary 24th, has
been postponed until Saturday, February
1st, at one o'ciock in the afternoon, owing
to the fact that those men who were se-
lected to make addresses will be unable
to come until that time. In regard to
this organized movement for protec-
tion against forest fires we have re-
ceived for publication the fellowing
communication as to “Why organized
fire protection is especially practical for
this community.”
First and most important is the fact
that the land owners in northwestern
Centre county are awake to the value of
es Sot: OF the
majority ol
eke lh
urgently is t ac-
tive steps be ils to stop
this loss. When you hear our plans I
believe every one will believe them to be
Our district contains in the
central part of Rush township a few
thousand acres of State lands which are
now entirely unprotected and if ever re-
forested will require a system of fire pro-
tection.
We also join a large body of State lands
in Burnside and Snow townships
and only the river at Karthaus separates
.us from State lands in Clearfield county,
Our association will be a great aid
protecting these from fires.
i Views Showing Damage to Presbyterian Church by Saturday’s Storm.
FOUNDATION OF WRECKED SPIRE
SE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STEEPLE BLOWN :
DOWN IN SATURDAY'S STORM.— During a |
fierce rain and wind storm which passed |
over Bellefonte Saturday afternoon the
steeple of the Presbyterian church was
blown down, part of the slate roof blown !
off of the Presbyterian chapel and more
or less damage done throughout the
county. Following an hour's sunshine
the storm begun about 2:30 o'clock, and
was accompanied with thunder and
lightning. The rain poured down in
torrents and the wind was a raging
tornado. During one of the fiercest
blows the tall steeple on the church
started to fall full length but when at an
angle of forty-five degrees it broke in the
middle, and the top doubling back saved
the M. I. Gardner house across the street
from being demolished. As it was the
steeple reached far enough to knock a
two-foot hole in the roof and smash into
kindling wood the end of the porch.
Mrs. Cyrus Strickiand, Mrs. Gardner's
mother, was standing in the bay window
of the Gardner house when the steeple
fell, but fortunately not even a pane of
glass in the window was broken. One
or two big stones from the coping of the
steeple crashed through the roof of the
church and knocked the plastering off
the ceiling but did not break through the
joist. When the steeple fell Herbert
Beezer, son of Mr. and Mrs. George A.
Beezer, with another boy, was standing
in the southern doorway of the church,
having taken refuge there from the
storm, and neither one was injured. The
same hurricane of wind that blew down
the steeple tore off about one-third of
the roof on the rear end of the north
side of the chapel and hurled it against
the house occupied by Dr. Edith Schad,
breaking the side porch and some win-
dows.
The Presbyterian church was com-
pleted about the year 1872 and had the
highest steeple of any church in town.
At one time it was considered in a dan-
gerous condition but it was afterwards
anchored with cables on the inside and it
has not been very long ago that a build-
ing inspector pronounced it safe. At
that, residents in that locality have always
felt uneasy and will no doubt sleep better
at nights now that it is down. The
damage to the church and chapel will
amount to about $2,500, which is not
covered by insurance. The damage to
Gardner's house will probably be about
$250.
The above constituted the main dam.
age done in Bellefonte, although there
were a number of windows broken, limbs
blown off of trees, etc. Joe McCulley,
driving one of Shuey’s delivery wagons,
was on his way to Lyontown with a load
of groceries, was caught in the storm and
wagon, horse and all were blown over
and rolled down an embankment. Fortu-
nately neither horse nor driver was hurt,
very | 1°F the wagon very badly damaged.
The storm went in streaks and one of
them passed over Benner township in the
neighborhood of Shiloh where the entire
roof was blown off of the Henry Walters
barn. Thebarn is 150 feet long and wide
in proportion so that the damage is con-
siderable. A portion of the roof was
blown off the barn on the Oliver Witmer
farm near Shiloh, and an addition which
Clay Witmer recently built to his barn
up Buffalo Run was unroofed. One of
the tenement houses on the Brockerhoff
farm along Buffalo Run is also minus a
roof as a result of the blow. Consider-
able damage was done at Tyrone, where
several houses were blown down, but no-
body hurt.
Raymond Johnson, of Milesburg, aged
nineteen, is in the Altoona hospital with a
fracture of the left leg sustained in the
storm at Bellwood. The roof of the P,
R. R. machine shop blew off therein a
bad wind storm recently, and heavy cor-
rugated tin is now being placed on the
building. Johnson, with other workmen,
was beside the building when the gust
came on Saturday. The heavy pieces of
tin were lifted like so many bits of paper,
and the workingmen went running in all
directions for safety. Johnson was un-
able to escape, and was struck just above
the left ankle by a piece of metal six feet
square,
—Don't read an out-of-date paper. Get
| all the news in the WATCHMAN,
THE CRURCI ASTID VAS
"
WRECK OF 77. 7. GARDINER'S 72E SIDENCGE
HARPER.—Following a week's illness
with pneumonia Mrs. Jeste Anne Harper,
widow of the late William Harper, died
at her home on south Thomas street on
Friday of last week. Her maiden name
was Gramiey and she was born in Miles
township on August 25th, 1838. She was
married to Mr. Harper at Madisonburg
in 1864 and three years later they came
. to Bellefonte and Mr. Harper embarked
in the mercantile business.
Mrs, Harper was never strong physic.
ally and for many years had been an in-
valid so that her life was spent mostly in
her home. She was not only a good
woman but one whose kindness of heart
and neighborly qualities were far above
the average. When a young woman she
became a member of the United Evan.
gelical church, but because of her ill
health had not been an attendant for
years and just a short time before her
death she became a member of the Re-
formed church.
Mr. Harper died February 20, 1901,
but surviving the deceased are two
daughters, Mrs. R. S. Brouse and Miss
Carrie Harper, both of this place. One
brother, Henry Gramley, of Nebraska,
also survives. The funeral was held
from her late home on Thomas street at
ten o'clock on Monday morning. Dr. A.
M. Schmidt, of the Reformed church,
had charge of the services and burial was
made in the Union cemetery.
Those from a distance who came to
Bellefonte Monday to attend the funeral
of Mrs. Harper included, Mr. and Mrs.
Hayes, Mr. C. Royer and Miss Dornblaz-
er, of Clintondale; W. H. Brouse, of Bip-
pus, Indiana; Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Topelt,
Brooklyn; Jerome G. Harper, Renovo;
Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Gentzel and J. G. Roy-
er, Zion; Mr.and Mrs. C. L. Gramley,
Mr. and Mrs. S. Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. S.
; Mrs. E. Grenninger,
Kerstetter, A. Barner, Mrs. E.
Ni Logimon; Mr ud Mre, Thomas
aE Ts.
Emerick, and Mr. and Mrs. Da-
McCLoskEY.— David McCloskey, one
of the oldest men in Centre county and
best known residents in Curtin township,
died on Sunday night at his home on
Marsh Creek, a short distance above
Romola. He was born on May 20th,
1819, hence was in his ninety-fourth
year. He was a remarkably well pre-
served man, having always enjoyed a
splendid physicial constitution, and until
a few months ago was able to walk from
his home to Beech Creek. He was a
familiar figure on upper Marsh creek for
several generations and a fine old gen-
tleman, who was held in high respect
and esteem. He was a brother of Camp-
bell D. McCloskey, of Beech Creek town-
ship, and father of Mrs. Barnard Rupert
and Mrs. William Rupert, of Beech Creek.
The funeral was held on Wednesday.
| |
KELLEHER.—Katharine Estella Kelle
her, a sister of Joseph Kelleher, of Belle-
fonte, died at her home in Tyrone on
Saturday morning after almost a year’s
illness with a complication of diseases as
a result of an attack of pleurisy. She
was thirty-three years of age and was a
member of St. Matthew's Catholic church.
Her funeral was held on Tuesday morn-
ing, burial being made in the Oak Grove
cemetery, Tyrone.
D. yesterday morning.
WITMER.—Mrs. Dora May Witmer,
wife of James Witmer, died suddenly and
unexpectedly about nine o'clock last Sat-
urday evening, at her home near Filmore.
She had not been well for a week but had
been confined to bed only two days. On
Saturday afternoon there was a consulta-
tion of physicians and it was decided to
bring her to the Bellefonte hospital on
Monday. That evening she complained
about her bed not being comfortable and
Mr. Witmer came to Bellefonte and
purchased a new bed but when he got
home he found his wife dead, she having
expired very suddenly about a half hour
before his arrival. The direct cause of
her death was myocaurditis-inflammation
of the cardiac muscular tissue.
Mrs. Witmer was a daughter of John
and Susan Laugher Gingerich and was
born near Centre Hall on March 13th,
1859, hence was aged 53 years, 10 months
and 5 days. She was united in marriage
to Mr. Witmer when a young woman and
most of her married life was spent in
Benner township. Of a quiet and unas-
suming disposition she devoted herself to
her home and her family and her death
is deeply mourned.
In addition to her husband she is sur-
vived by three children, namely: Mrs.
John M. Shaffer, of Elizabethtown; Bea-
trice and Harrison at home. She aiso
leaves three brothers, John Gingerich, of
Sunbury; R. E. and Edward living near
Huntingdon. Funeral services were held
at her late home on Tuesday morning,
after which the remains were taken to
Shiloh for interment.
| |
AGED GEORGES VALLEY COUPLE Pass
AwAy.—Living together for almost fifty-
four years Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ertle, of
Georges valley, were buried in the same
grave in the Georges Valley cemetery
Mrs. Ertle, who kad been ailing for
some weeks with a complication of dis-
eases, died at 6.30 o'clock last Saturday
morning. Her maiden name was Mary
A. Minnich and she was born in Penn |
township November 16th, 1835, hence |
was 77 years, 2 months and 2 days old. |
Mr. Ertle was stricken with paralysis
on Thursday of last week and a second
married in May, 1859. They are surviv-
ed by two daughters, Mrs. J. W. Dobble,
of Georges valley, and Mrs. Seward C.
Decker, of Altoona. They also leave five
grand-children and one great grand-child,
Mr. Ertle leaves two brothers and one
sister, Daniel, of Marshalltown; Adam, of
near Penn Hall, and Mrs. George Gentz-
el, of Spring Mills. Mrs. Ertle leaves one
brother, John A. Minnich, of Savannah,
Pa., and one sister, Mrs. John H. Mes-
mer, of Penn Hall.
The double funeral was held from their
late home at 9.30 o'clock yesterday
morning, the officiating ministers being
Revs. Fred W. Barry, J. M. Tice, E. E.
i
SMi1TH.—Mary F., the infant daughter
of H. W. and Cora Shaffer Smith, of Zi-
_——.
SHERRY.—Ambrose Joseph Sherry, son
of George W. and Pauline Sherry, of this
place, died in the Fordham hospital, New
York city, on Sunday following an opera-
tion for appendicitis. He had been ill
about three weeks.
Deceased was born in Tyrone on Octo-
ber 17th, 1883, so that at his death he
was 29 years, 3 months and 2 days old.
His parents moved to Bellefonte when he
was quite small and his boyhood and
youth were spent here. He was educat-
ed at St. Vincent college, at Beatty, Pa.,
and St. Mary's college, Belmont, N. C.
While at the latter place about three
years ago he was married to Miss Wilda
Fleming and shortly thereaiter he left
college and accepted a position in New
York city, where he had lived since.
Surviving him are his wife and a little
son, born last Thanksgiving day; his par-
ents and two brothers and one sister,
Leo, ot Pittsburgh; Oscar and Marie at
home. Funeral services were held at his
late home in New York on Monday even-
ing after which the remains were brought
to Bellefonte Tuesday morning and tak-
en to the home of his parents. Final
services were held on Wednesday morn-
ing after which burial was made in the
Catholic cemetery.
Those who were here for the funeral
were Mrs. Fleming, of Belmont, N. C,;
Mr. and Mis. Irvin Kennedy and son
Frank, of Lock Haven; William Croft and
daughter, Mrs. Herbert Hull, of Tyrone,
and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Sherry, of Pitts.
burgh.
| i
TATE.~Mrs. Robert Tate died at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas
Shope, in Milesburg, on Monday, after
an illness of weeks with a complication
of diseases, aged seventy-nine years. For
many years Mrs. Tate and her sister,
Miss Shields, made their home at Nitta-
ny but several months ago the latter fell
and broke her hip, and as a consequence
was brought to the Bellefonte hospital
for treatment and is still confined to that
institution. At that time Mrs. Tate clos-
ed her home and went to live with her
daughter.
Deceased is survived by three daugh-
ters and five sons, namely: Mrs. Mary
Fultz, of Milwaukee; Mrs. Shope, of
Milesburg; Mrs. Harry Stover, of Hu-
blersburg; N. H. Tate, of New Orleans;
Edward, of Ridgway; Charlies, of Flem-
ington; John, of Salona, and Robert
Mills, a son by a former marriage, of Ty-
rone. The funeral will be held from her ;
late home at Nittany this (Friday) morn-
ing, burial to be made in the St. Paul
cemetery at that place.
| : |
CLARK.—W. Edgar Clark, a former
resident of Blanchard, died at a sani-
torium in Texas last Saturday night, after
an illness of some weeks with Bright's
disease, aged fifty-one years. He was a
son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William W.
Clark and was born at Marsh Creek. For
a number of years he was employed as a
| survived by a son, Dean R., and a daugh-
' ter, Florence Clark. He also leaves four
| brothers and three sisters, one of the
. former being J. Irvin Clark, of Blanchard.
i
GLENN.—John Glenn, one of the oldest
and best kuown residents of Boggs town-
homestead. Funeral services were keld
HoFPER.—Mrs. Sarah Ellen Hoffer, wid-
ow of the late John Hoffer, died at the
Hayes apartments in the Bush house at
{nine o'clock on Wednesday evening.
| Twenty-three years ago she suffered a
| stroke of paralysis and ever since she had
| been more or less an invalid, her condi-
{ tion during the past year or so being
quite serious.
Deceased was a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. David Pruner and was born at the
| old Pruner homestead on Pine street and
| had she lived until Saturday would have
been seventy-three years old. She was
one of a family of eight children, five
sons and three daughters, and is the last
| one to pass away.
Forty-seven years age she was united
in marriage to John Hoffer who died in
1885. Mrs. Hoffer continued her life at
the old homestead until the death of her
| brother, the late Col. E. J. Pruner, when
| she went to make her home with her
| only daughter, Mrs. R. G. H. Hayes, who
| is her only survivor. A number of years
| ago she became a member of the Pres-
| byterian church and had since been a
faithful advocate of its doctrines.
| Dr. George E. Hawes will have charge
! of the funeral which will be held from
| the Bush house at three o'clock this
| (Friday) afternoon, burial to be made in
| the Union cemetery.
| 1
SpoTTs.—After a lingering illness ex-
| tending over a period of many months
| Mrs. Rachael Jane Spotts, wife of John
| Spots, died at the home of her daughter,
| Mrs. Lena Lansberry, in Unionville, on
| Wednesday of last week. Her maiden
| name was Rachael Jane Way and she was
! born August 21st, 1834, being aged 78
| years, 4 months and 22 days. In addition
| to her husband she is survived by one
Ison and a daughter, Alfred Spotts, of
Union township, and Mrs. Lena Lans;
berry, of Unionville. She also leaves the
following brothers and sisters: William,
Caleb,,Cecelia and Melissa Way, all of
Union township. The funeral was held
last Saturday morning, burial being made
in the Advent cemetery.
Sw e—
ACHENBACH~— DRAUCKER.—B. Earl Ach-
enbach, a son of Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Ach-
| enbach, of Lock Haven, formerly of this
| place, and Miss Lola Ethel Draucker, also
| of Lock Haven, were married at noon on
Monday at the rectory of St. Paul's Epis-
copal church in that city ty the pastor,
Rev. Louis Nichols. The bridegroom is
employed in Philadelphia where the
young couple will be at home after Feb-
ruary fifteenth,
HoMAN—SUNDAY.—~Waldo E. Homan,
of Oak Hall, and Miss Anna B. Sunday,
of Pennsylvania Furnace, were married
in Altoona on Wednesday evening. Imme-
diately after the ceremony they departed
on a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and
for a visit with friends in Carbon county.
MAYES—HEBERLING—At the Methodist
parsonage in Stormstown on Wednesday
evening, January 22nd, Edward W. Mayes
and Miss Nancy Heberling, both of
Marengo, were united in marriage by the
pastor, Rev. M. J. Runyan.
To Prevent Accidents.
The Pennsylvania Railroad company
has renewed activity in an effort to pre-
voit osklenss and fatalities 300 Ja fours
an t of way. .
ment has been notified to be doubly vigi-
lant in apprehending and arresting tres-
passers. Other em including
trainmen, signal men track foremen,
have been instructed to assist in keeping
trespassers of company's property
by bringing to the ene so of the police
any violators who may come
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