" the Old Home week business!
* opens.
Beworralic: Wad,
BY P. GRAY MEEK.
Somme
INK SLINGS.
—Next week she starts. Are you sure
you're ready for it?
—The longest day of the year is over.
Do you realize that?
—Say, you fellows who are running
Get your
subscriptions all in before the big show
You all know what paying for a
dead horse is. :
—Of course the needy little Bellefonte |
gubernatorial axe and, as a consequence, '
it will have $300 less for maintenance !
than was expected.
—LEO FRANK has been saved from the
gallows by the Governor of Georgia. It
was a courageous act and one that Georgia
will probably come to commend him for,
though mobs in that State are now hang-
ing him in effigy.
—Jim McNiIcHOL’s bill to “jimmy" the
Democrats out of their rightful column
on the election ballot has been vetoed by
the Governor. Whatever else may be
said of BRUMBAUGH it can’t be said that
he is a “poor sport.”
——Anent the unusually cold weather
of yesterday and the day before Miss
Annie Mignot recalled that forty-one
years ago yesterday there was a freeze in
the vicinity of Frenchville, Clearfield
county, that froze all vegetation black.
—War news during the past week in-
emer]
®
NX
GO!
en ih
S UR
VOL 60.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
BELLEFONTE, PA. JUNE 25, 1915.
NO. 26.
Governor Brumbaugh’s Wise Vetoes.
‘hospital had to stand a blow from the Governor BRUMBAUGH has not only |
! .
made a new veto record in respect to the
| number of bills stricken off but he has :
i easily outclassed all his recent predeces- |
! sors in exercising that prerogative wisely :
| and well. He permitted a few measures
| to become laws which would better have !
| been vetoed and possibly he vetoed some
| which might have proved helpful. But '
it may safely be believed that he acted |
"in the full flower of conscience whether :
| his action resulted in life or death. He:
had the courage to go against the ma- |
chine and the audacity to offend some of |
, the self-appointed “up lifters,” and an
; executive who does that may safely be:
relied upon by the public.
i Inthe veto of the MCNICHOL election
| legislation, the Governor was especially |
' responsive to the best public sentiment. |
| The sponsor of those bills was Senator
| MCNICHOL of Philadelphia, a cheap sport |
| who welches whenever he loses. There |
|
Our Weekly Summary of Legislative Activities.
Feeling that the people of Centre county have a personal interest in what is
being done by the Legislators at Harrisburg and that laws that may affect the
future of every individual more directly than ever before are under consideration
now and may be written into the statutes of the Commonwealth, the WATCHMAN
has arranged to publish a weekly summary of what has been done at Harrisburg.
It is not the purpose to go into detail of the various Acts proposed and furnish
you with a burdensome account of them. Merely to set them, and whatever else
is deemed of interest to the people of this community, before you in a general,
unbiased statement that will keep you informed of the progress that is being
made. The contributor of this Summary is one of the most capable and best
informed of Harrisburg’s newspaper men and the WATCHMAN has been very for-
tunate in enlisting his service for this work.—ED. :
. HARRISBURG, PA., June 23rd, 1915.
Governor BRUMBAUGH’S ambition to make a new veto record has been ful’
filled. He vetoed 211 bills against 171 vetoed by Governor TENER, two years ago
and 120, the high water mark made by Governor STUART during and immediately
following the session of 1909. BRUMBAUGH acted upon 1003 bills, TENER con-
sidered 1028 and STUART wrestled with 779. The recent session lasted 106 days
and that of two years ago 171 days. The session of this year averaged nine bills
and a big fraction a day and that of two years ago averaged six and a small frac-
OLD HOME WEEK.
To the Tune of *“A Long, Long Way to Tipperary.”
SARAH P. BAYARD.
Dear old town of Bellefonte with its hills and
valleys green
We are coming back to waken our happy,
childhood’s dreams
Many are the loving thoughts we give to one
and all
Mothers, fathers, sisters,
aunts and all.
brothers, uncles,
For it’s along way to Centre county
It’s along way to go
Bellefonte will be the station
When you hear the whistle blow.
Good-bye toil and worry, Good-bye pain and care
It’s a long, long way to Centre county
, But our hearts’ right there.
We're longing to visit all the old familiar scenes,
To renew our youth and vigor at our clear and
crystal spring,
Our noted old Academy that nurtured men of
fame,
And the homes of our three Governors where
proud traditions reign.
| The court house, the monument, the churches
and the schools
i Are full of living interest, are mem’ries deepest
SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE.
—Mrs. Amelia Fisher, who died at her home in
Sunbury a week ago in the 102nd year of her age,
iS believed to have been the oldest resident of
the State.
—The city of Johnstown has appropriated $500
to be expended in salaries for two nurses to be
employed under the direction of the Associated
Charities of the city.
—An enterprising Williamsport gardener has
offered to supply the school children of that city
with cabbage plants for their school gardens free
of charge, up to 2,000.
—Andrew Carnegie has expressed a willing-
ness to help the Lutherans of Philipsburg by
making a liberal contribution toward the pur-
chase of their new pipe organ.
—William Walker, of DuBois, who is now an
inmate of the County Home at Clearfield, is 102
years old and hale and hearty enough to go to
the table regularly and enjoy his meals.
—While working in the woods near his home,
Henry From of near Armagh, Indiana county,
was struck and pinned to the ground by a falling
tree. Death followed soon after the accident.
—Mrs. Margaret Worrel, aged 81, died on
Tuesday morning as the result of a mosquito
bite on her lip. Previous to the bite of the in-
sect on Monday she had been in good health.
—William Moyer, of Freeburg, visited Lewis-
town last Saturday and gets his name in the
newspapers because on that day he walked a dis-
tance of six miles, although he is over 80 years
of age.
—A large barn belonging to George Edwards,
of Morrisdale, Clearfield county, was destroyed
by an early morning fire last Monday. The dis-
aster is placed to the score of tramps who were
seen in the vicinity.
—Over inthe town of Indiana one chauffeur
who, with two passengers came near going to
kingdom come, plead guilty to driving an aute-
mobile while under the influence of liquor. He
was fined $100 and costs.
=A man named Harvey Hemminger, residing
in a little log hut, half hidden by a mountain
thicket, has been arrested by officers of Boswell,
Somerset county, charged with being a mem-
; y : deci. | Were six of the measures and they were | 2 L 0. ; : pools; ber of a gang of counterfeiters.
dicates that if the Russians are not deci- | all designed to restore to the Republican | tion: The machine had stronger opposition two years ago. The operation of the Effervescing with their stories of what brought | —The Middletown Car Works, which is con-
sively beaten in the Seiglivoriood of i | party by legislation advantages which it | mill caused less friction this year than during the previous session. i renown, . : pasted With companies opetating plskss i Bits.
1 Vv T0 . . 5 | s eeps our heart-strings clingi to o urgh an utler, has received orders for 5,
berg they will be so effectually route | had fairly lost in ballot contests in which | The veto of the Full Crew law repealer surprised even those who hoped for dear old Home Town. PRE our cars, most of them for South America. It will
that it will be months before they can re-
| that party enjoyed every natural and, t. BRUMBAUGH was pledged to that action but few had confidence in his fidelity. -| mean employment of 250 more men.
"that its trustees “are answerable only to
organize their armies and come back
at the Germans.
—Wahile the veto of the Full Crew re-
pealer was more or less of a surprise it!
was only in line with a hint the Gov-
ernor is said to have given before the
bill passed, to the effect that he would |
veto such a measure should it be passed
by the Legislature.
—Of course the mayor and police are
going to try to keep all pick-pockets out
of Bellefonte during Old Home week,
but the one that slips by them might be
the one who will “dip” your fat wallet,
if you are foolish enough to carry one in
such crowds as will be here then.
—So Mr. J. LEVERING JONES, trustee of
the University of Pennsylvania, declares
that his “is not a public institution” and
their own sense of duty and responsi-
bility.” - My, what a long tail our cat has
when it isn’t lobbying for appropriations
fromthe State of Pennsylvania.
—Only Republicans who have a streak |
of yellow will condemn Governor BRUM: |
BAUGH for vetoing the bill that was de-
signed to cheat the Democrats out of the
place they won on the ballot atthe last
Presidential election. Jim MCcNICHOL
never appeared more like a political
welcher than when he introduced that
contemptible measure.
—Governor BRUMBAUGH, commander
in chief of the National Guard of Pennsyl- |
vania, has issued a sweeping order pro-
hibiting the use or sale of intoxicating or
malt liquors in any encampments of the
Guard. He couldn't control the Legisla-
ture because PENROSE is the boss of
Pennsylvania, but he can control the
National Guard because he is, surely, the
big boss of it.
—Governor BRUMBAUGH cut nothing
from the appropriation to the University
of Pennsylvania; only $50,000 from that
to the University of Pittsburgh and $112,-
000.00 from the Pennsylvania State Col- |
lege. Oh yes! The way the Governor
loves the farmers, and agriculture and |
the one institution that the State is obli-
gated to support is like the old woman
kept tavern out west.
—The preachers and the Old Home
week committee have, happily, patched
up a truce. There are to be no more
paddle wheels on the streets to sell
tickets for the automobile until the big
week actually arrives. Then the good
dominies are to emulate BILL Doak
should they happen to amble into the
sections where they are nearly giving
away canary birds, candy, woolly dogs!
and the big automobile with each ten
cent paddle.
—Dr. DIXON advises parents to en-
courage their children to “take an inter-
est in the wonders of God’s great out-of-
doors.” There is nothing about nature
that isn’t inspiring and the child who
learns to know it learns to love it. The
majesty of the mountains, the fertility of
the fields, the purpose of the streams, the
beauty of the flowers are all for man and
the more he knows of them the closer
he comes into communion with the Crea-
tor of it all.
—Don’t run around on Bellefonte.
streets during Old Home week with a
wallet full of money in your pocket, and
a watch inviting the attention of the
“dips” who may be in the crowds. If ,
you are a visitor for the week put your
money in a bank when you arrive and
check out only what you need for a day
at a time. If you are a visitor only for
a day carry only what money you will
need for the day. Of course it sounds
big to have the news spread about that
you have been “touched” for a hundred
or so, but the notoriety doesn’t relieve
tactical advantage. Governor
BAUGH appears to be a stalwart Republi-
can but he was not able to descend to
legislation contemplated. Only men of
the MCNICHOL type are capable of that.
In his veto of the bill to prevent the
fusion of voters the Governor handed a
| neat rebuke to the selfish office seekers
in the Democratic party who consummat-
to come into Pennsylvania last year, for
the purpose of “tearing President WiL-
SON to pieces.” ‘‘Any one conversant
with the unnatural alliances of a recent
campaign,” he wrote, “might well favor
such enactment.” He had reference, of
course, to the corrupt bargain entered
BiLL FLINN and ROOSEVELT, last fall.
But it failed of its purpose and left such
a stench in the nostrils of decent men
that it is not likely to be repeated even.
But it is worth while to keep it in mind.
Full Crew Law Stands.
Under the circumstances the Governor
could have done nothing other than that
pealing the Full Crew law of 1911. Dur-
ing his campaign for election the ques-
tion was put up to him with such direct-
he unequivocally declared his approval of
such legislation. Possibly he has chang-
ed his mind on the subject and his im-
plied promise to act the other way two
years hence indicates that he has. But
i he couldn’t turn quick enough to get
into the big tent this year. At least he
was unwilling to face the storm of in-
dignation which was inevitable if he had
approved the bill.
The railroads which persuaded the
Legislature to enact the bill in question
squandered enough money in their ef-
forts to pay the expense of the “extra
man” on each train for a year, according
to their own estimate of the cost. They
were allowed a considerable increase in
freight charges by the interstate com-
merce commission to reimburse them for
the money paid to the “extra man.”
——For over a year S. D. Ray was
compelled to let his new shirt factory lie
idle, because he could get no shirts to
make. Now his factory has not the
capacity, nor can he get the operators to
put out all the shirts for which he can
get orders. As stated in the WATCHMAN
last week he started operations two weeks
ago on an order for twelve hundred
dozen shirts. Last week he was be-
seeched to take an order for one thous-
and dozen shirts a week, and other big
shirt emporiums want him to make
shirts for them. Whether the war in
Europe has anything to do with this sud-
den demand for shirts is not known. .
——Monday was the longest day in
the year and summer was officially
ushered in, according to the almanac, on
Tuesday, but it is almost impossible to
believe it by the weather. Following on
the heels of Tuesday’s thunder, rain and
hail storms it became unusually cool for
this time of year and Wednesday and
yesterday heavy clothing felt very com-
fortable. It fact fires were lighted in
grates and stoves and the warmth was
very grateful. Fortunately it was not
cold enough to freeze ice and the cloud-
ed sky kept the frost away, so that vege-
tation was not injured.
——1In disposing of the appropriation
bills Governor Brumbaugh cut the Belle-
fonte hospital appropriation from $12,300
to $12,000; Pennsylvania State College
from $1,107,000 to $995,000, and the
western penitentiary from $568,000, to
$360,500. The Cottage State hospital,
the “sore” you have over it.
‘Philipsburg, got $29,200, and the Lock
Haven hospital $29,500. ‘
i i oa
the depth of infamy which the vetoed | After the expiration of his term of office he will be a dead one, unless conditions
| change, for the Republican machine will be a willing ally to the big corporations
ed the deal which permitted ROOSEVELT |
into between VANCE MCCORMICK and !
ness as to make evasion impossible and
BRUM |
|
|
|
i
|
|
i
i
|
which he did with respect to the bill re- ;
He is a politician and ambitious and the railroad magnates make no secrecy of
their intention to make reprisals. Maybe he will be able to reconcile them but it
doesn’t look that way. It is next year with him or never and the time is short’
and they are united against him. But he is not without recompense. He is the
most popular man in the State today among the railroaders.
The Governor failed to keep his promise to veto appropriation bills only in a
constitutional way. The organic law in Section 16 of Article IV, declares that
“the Governor shall have power to disapprove of any item or items of any bill,
making appropriations of money, embracing distinct items, and the part or parts
of the bill approved shall be the law, and the item or items disapproved shall be
void.” After the session of 1899 Governor STONE smashed this provision of the
constitution and his successors followed his example. Every lawyer in the State
knew it was a crime and every man of conscience protested against it. BRUM-
BAUGH declared he never would but he did follow the bad example.
No cut in the list of appropriations will cause deeper regret than that for
State College. The appropriation for that institution was $1,107,000 which has
been cut down to $995,000. That is $74,000 more than was given to the college
last time, but the meagerness of the appropriation last time greatly curtailed the
usefulness of the institution, retarded its progtess and interfered with its pros-
perity. Of course it performed a vast amount of good service during the period
covered by the 1913 appropriation but that was largely in spite of the State au-
thorities rather than because of them. The award to the University of Pennsyl-
vania, a semi-private concern, was “never touched.”
That cutting the bills was necessary is beyond question and that it is the result |
of slovenliness is equally certain. Estimates upon the probable revenue for the two
years differed widely. The Auditor General whose business it is to know all about
such things declared most emphatically that no more than $60,000,000 could be
expected while the House Committee on Ways and Means with equal confidence
asserted that something like $72,000,000 might be hoped for. The Governor put
some experts of his own selection on the job and they reported that it would be
safe to figure on about $67,000,000. The appropriations totalled $72,194,411.77 and
the Governor reduced the amount to $65,464,852.42.
Whether or not his excellency cut wisely remains to be seen. It is certain
that he hit the educational institutions hard. Being a school man everybody im-
agined that he would take care of the schools. But as a matter of fact in addi-
tion to the considerable cut on the State College bill, he slashed the academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, the vocational education branch of the Depart-
ment of Public Instruction, the bill for liquidation of mortgages in the State Board
of Education, and the University of Pittsburg and considerably reduced the bills
for other institutions of learning. The bill for the purchase of State Normal
schools and the University of Pennsylvania are about the only ones to escape.
Naturally every decent citizen read with pleasure the announcement of the
veto of the MCNICHOL political bills. As the Philadelphia Ledger put it those
vetoes “loosen the machine grip.” There were five of these vicious measures,
the most important being that which was designed to prevent the fusion of voters
opposed to the machine. As the Governor indicates, this bill was suggested by
the “unholy alliance” of last fall. The combination between VANCE MCCORMICK
and BILL FLINN was so abhorrent to the public conscience that McNICHOL dis-
‘cerned in the frame of mind created an opportunity to weld fetters upon inde-
pendent voters. Happily his sinister purpose has been defeated.
Next in importance in this group was the bill to put the Republican ticket in
the first column on the ballot. It ought to have been entitled “An Act to Permit
the Republican Machine to Plead the ‘Baby Act,’” That party had lost its posi-
tion of many years as the result of the vote in 1912 and the leaders hoped to re-
-cover it by legislation. That expectation has been defeated by the veto. Another
bill which “got it in the neck” good and properly, was one designed to make in-
dependent political parties impossible and the last, and least important, would
have ousted HENRY G. WASSON, a Bull Mooser, from the office of Member of the
Republican National committee. If he had any self-respect he would resign.
That these vetoes have made a profound impression upon the public mind
“goes without saying.” A great many independent voters, including thousands of
Democrats, supported BRUMBAUGH in the belief that he would do just what he |
has done with respect to such measures. On the other hand thousands of Repub-
lican voters supported him only because they believed he would yield to party or-
ganization pressure and take the opposite course. Nobody imagines that either
‘PENROSE or the VARES ever select or support a candidate for any office for patri- |
otic or altruistic reasons. Those party bosses have no more of the spirit of patri-
otism than an English sparrow. But they have selfish hopes in abundance.
The declaration of the final action of the Governor upon measures in his
hands at the adjournment of the Legislature is an event. The constitution de- |
clares that “if any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within ten days after !
it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if
he had signed it, unless the General Assembly, by their adjournment, prevent its
return, in which case it shall be a law, unless he shall file the same, with his ob-
jections, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and give notice |
thereof by public proclamation within thirty days after adjournment.
The word “proclamation” is variously interpreted and presumably the publi-
cation in newspapers or the filing of the statement in the office of the Secretary
of the Commonwealth would serve the purpose expressed in this constitutional re-
quirement. But from the beginning the custom has been for an official of the
Executive Department to appear in the corridor of the Capitol and read it aloud.
On this occasion, precisely at midnight, the Executive Clerk, JAMES C. DININGER,
a fine fellow physically and mentally, took his place in the rotunda, and with no °
[Continued on page 4, Col. 2,]
‘Death or Imprisonment.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Governor Brumbaugh has very prop-
erly vetoed the bill empowering juries to
fix the penalty either of death or life
imprisonment in cases of conviction for
murder in the first degree. If life is
forfeited for crime that forfeiture should
be decreed by the law itself. No twelve
men should be asked to determine at
their discretion whether a man should
die or live. It is enough for them to
determine from the evidence presented
whether he is guilty or not guilty. They
are bound by their oaths to render a
true verdict and as the law stands now
they have no further responsibility. It
is too much to ask them to choose in
addition between life and death for the
man whom they are compelled to find
guilty.
‘The device of leaving the choice of
death or life imprisonment to the jury
and the similar provision which in some
States leaves this alternative to the dis-
cretion of the trial Judge is a half-way
concession to the demand for the aboli-
tion of capital punishment. Like most
compromises, it does not suit either side
of the controversy. Seven States have
abolished capital punishment altogether.
{ Two States give a condemned murderer
| the choice of being hanged or shot, and
i twelve States substituted electrocution for
hanging.
Capital punishment, which still obtains
in forty-one States, may be wiped out
hereafter, but while it lasts the dooms-
man should be the law itself and not a
jury of the murderer’s peers.
Stand Pats Set Back.
From the Harrisburg Patriot.
Those ‘“stand-pat newspapers which
profess to see in the retirement of Mr.
| Bryan from the Cabinet an impassable
| chasm between the President and him and
the first step in a Democratic rupture
were given a setback by the very per-
i sonal and social call paid Mr. Bryan by
the President on the eve of the former's
| departure for his summer home.
This striking evidence of good-will be-
tween the two men confirms the convic-
tions of friends of both when Mr. Bryan
retired that his action was taken as was
then stated by both men wholly as a
result of honest differences of opinion
not even as to the end sought in the in-
ternational complications but merely as
to methods.
The resignation was in no sense due to
personal or political differences. As Mr.
+ Bryan himself said on the day of the
President’s visit there had been no dif-
ferences between the President and him-
self until the submarine crisis developed
.and that he and the President had con-
ferred on virtually all public matters.
This ought to put a quietus on the
: mischief makers who, unsympathetic and
selfish, have sought to magnify the ter-
mination of official relations between the
| two men into a political feud of bitter
hostility, for which there is not the
slightest evidence.
An Era of Good Feeling.
From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. :
The co-operation of Latin-American
Republics with the United States in any
further drastic measures for the restora-
i tion of orderly government in Mexico
would be additional proof of confidence
rin the good intentions of this country.
| The reported intimation by the A. B. C.
i Republics and others of a desire to be
! represented in such a demonstration of
Pan-Americanism is in itself a welcome
assurance of good feeling full of promise
| for the future.
| A Delectable Discovery.
, From the Detroit Free Press.
A new York chef has discovered the
i way to remove the bones of a shad be-
fore cooking it, thus conferring a greater
blessing on mankind than all the inven-
1078 of all the implements of warfare ever
id.
Lansing’s Diplomacy.
. From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Lansing’s entente with newspaper cor-
' respondents shows that our State Depart-
' ment now sees that diplornacy must be
| like a watch—its works concealed, but
; its face open to every observer.
——For high class Job Work come to
the WATCHMAN Office.
-
—When G. F. Miller, of Williamsport, went
down stairs to the kitchen last Wednesday morn
ing, expecting to get his breakfast, he was shock-
ed to discover the body of his wife hanging there.
She had been in ill health for weeks.
—Miss Margaret Ward, of Johnstown, aged 30
years, died suddenly last Monday morning of
ptomaine poisoning. She has been employed as
aclerk by the Johnstown Sanitary Dairy com-
pany for the last six years and was at work on
Saturday.
—Milton Walker, of Jenner, Somerset county,
has been arrested charged with the attempted
murder of Lizzie Walker, a relatitive who kept
house for him. The girl is said to be in a critical
condition. Walker also stabbed two deputies
who aided in his arrest.
—During the last week of this month the mem.
bers of the Young Men’s Christian Association of
Johnstown, are going to make a concerted effost
to secure 1,000 additions and $4,000 in money, the
latter being needed to carry on the work along
various lines of activity.
—Ezra Buskirk created something of a sensa-
tion in DuBois the other day when he appeared
at the Hotel DuBois, where his wife was engaged
working in the kitchen, and fired two shots at
her inflicting two slight wounds. He fled but
was arrested and lodged in jail at Clearfield.
—Early last Monday morning, following a pro-
tracted celebration of a Slavish wedding at Bitu-
men, Clinton county, and during a drunken quar-
rel, Fred Fant, a native of Finland, shot and kill-
ed Adolph Camperine, a Swede. The murderer
was made a citizen of the United States on June 9.
—The Pennsylvania society of the Sons of the
American Revolution will unveil on Saturday
next at Ligonier a huge granite shaft marking
the site of old Fort Ligonier, which was erected
in 1758. Governor Brumbaugh and several other
distinguished Pennsylvanians are expected to
deliver addresses.
—Judgment of the Pennsylvania Supreme
court for $124,000 as treble damages under a
State law in favor of the Clark Brothers Coal
Mining company against the Pennsylvania rail-
road for discrimination in car distribution, be-
fore the passage of the Hepburn rate law, was
set aside on Monday by the United States Su-
preme court. :
—Mrs. Mary Orner, of Shaver’s Creek valley,
was last Thursday awarded $2450 damages by the
Blair county court, in a suit brought by her
against Huntingdon county, for the death of her
husband who was fatally injured May 30, 1910,
when the traction engine he was driving fel;
through the bridge into Globe Run, about one
mile from Cottage.
—The Hawk Run gunman, generally known as
“Dare Devil Dave” Smith, was called before
Judge Bell at Clearfield on Monday, and failing
to make a satisfactory answer as to fwhy he fail-
ed to keep his promise to leave the county was
soaked to the tune of $1.00 fine, cost of prosecu-
tion and not less than two years nor more than
five years in the western penitentiary.
—William Seldon, aged 45 years, left his home
in Turbett township, Juniata county, more than a
week ago for the supposed purpose of visiting a
doctor in Mifflintown. When last seen he was
standing at the south end of Mexico bridge look-
ing at the river. For some time he was com-
plaining that things were not going right about
the farm. His friends fear that he may have
taken his own life or wandered away in a state of
bewilderment.
—Her jaws locked as the result of fright. fol-
lowing a sharp flash of lightning during a storm
last Tuesday afternoon, Jennie McCloskey, 7-
year-old daughter of Edward McCloskey, of Ho-
kendauqua, Berks county, died on Saturday. The
case is unusual, doctors say. The girl was by
her mother’s side in the kitchen when there was
a sharp flash of lightning, the child falling un«
conscious on the floor. A doctor found the girl’s
jaws locked, and she remained in that condition
until death. / :
—Nearly five thousand pigeons were burned to
death and buildings valued at $1,700 were de-
stroyed Saturday morning when fire, supposed to
have been caused by a spark from a passing D.
L. & W. freight train burned the pigeon pens of
Ralph Sharretts at Espy. In the pens were Ho-
mers, Carneaux and crossed pigeons, to the num-
ber of about 3,500, while there were also about
1,500 squabs in the pens. Mr. Sharretts stated
that not more than a hundred of the entire lot
were saved, many of these being so badly burn-
ed that they will die. }
—Joseph Buck, 48 years old, a wealthy con-
tractor of Chester Springs, Cambria county,
committed suicide by grasping a wire carrying
60,000 volts of electricity. Ill health is given as
the cause of his act. Buck, who had only re-
cently retrrned from a Pittsburgh hospital,
where he was told it would betuseless to attempt
to cure him of cancer, took his eight children
on a fishing trip near his home. Leaving the
children, he climbed a pole of the Penn Central
Light and Power company and caught one of the
high-tension wires, His hands were burned off
and his body fell to the ground, his neck being
broken when he struck the earth.