; (.
VOL 28
ANNIE KREIDER'S STORY.
How the Crime Was Committed.
THE FATHER MEETS DEATH FIRST THE
MOTHER PLEADS FOR MKRCY, BUT
THE HEART OF THE RUFFIAN COULD
NOT HE TOUCHED THE LIT
TLE CLILDKEN MEET AN
AWFUL FATE.
The stoiy of the horrible crime, as
told by the oldest surving child, Annie,
who is fifteen years of age, follows :
"On the evening of last Thursday
we all re'ired at the usual time to our
rooms and went to sleep. The mur
derer, Albert Bomberger, who had
been working for us, also retired.
Karly on F.iday morning we were
awaked by a gun shot and my mother
who was pealing potatoes in the
kitchen ran to the front of the house
where my father was sleeping. She
met Bomberger there with a smoking
double-barreled gun in hand and going
on further the horrible sight of her
husband lying in bed dead, with many
gun shot wounds in his face, met her
gaze. She was immediately seized by
the cold-blooded villain and shot
through the head in the same manner
as her husband had been killed a few
moments before. The poor woman
pleaded for mercy, but the heart of
the ruhian could not be touched, tnd
she was soon sent to join her husband.
"The firing of the shots and the
cries for mercy' aroused the whole
household, and the children ran crying
down the stairs. They were met by
uomberger and driven bacH aeain.
"My oldest sister in her fright
crawled under the bed m her room,
but subsequently jumped out the sec
ond story window and ran to the field
for the purpose of catching the pony
and going to the town of cjando,
about two miles distant, to give the
alarm My sister had often ridden
the pony before wilhout a biidle, but
this time, probably through her excite
ment, she ran after the bridle. This
delay cost her her life, as she was
caught by the heartless man who had
chased her from the house. She said
to him, "Where is my father ?" and he
replied with a smile 'Gone to the hap
py land.' She asked about her mother
and received the same reply. Frantic
with grief and terror she demanded to
see her parents. Bomberger then ' led
her to the house where she was shown
the heart-rending sight of her dead
parents with gun shot wounds in their
heads from which the warm blood was
streaming. As the murderer showed
the body of the mother to her frenzied
daughter, he said, 'There she is lying
like a dead cat.'
"After the girl had seen the lifeless
bodies of her parents Bomberger took
hold of her and used his murderous
weapon again and shot her through
the head.
SHE FELL LIFELESS TO THE FLOOR
and by this time she was surrounded
by all the children. The villain then
went to work with the coolness of a
butcher and soon dispatched three
more of the children. He shot thera
all, but two of the shots did not take
immediate effect. He then went at
them and cut their throats.
"After he had finished in the front
part of the house he went in search of
me. I was in the kitchen at the time.
I, screaming and yelling at the top of
my voice, asked him where my broth
ers and sisters were. There they are,
lying just like stuck pigs,' he replied.
He tame for me, and I begged him
not to kill me.
"He seemed to relent, but drew
his gun and compelled me at the point
of the barrel to prepare a breakfast
for him. This I did, although it was
- nearly impossible, for I was constant
ly thinking of the harrowing sight in
the front part of the house. After he
had eaten the breakfast he led me out
to the stable and tied me hand and
foot with two ropes. Then he struck me
in the face with his hands and beat
me with ropes, causing me intense
pain. After he had finished with me
he pulled out his watch and said, 'It
just took me twenty minutes to do
this job.' He then mounted the pony
and rode away.
"Soon after this my oldest bro ther
Aaron, who escaped, and who was
only five years old, came out of the
house and contrived to loosen the
ropes which bound me fast. After I
was free I mounted a horse and rode
to Cando, about two miles away, and
went straight to the store of Samuel
Brightbill, who was a cousin of Bom
berger. "I was only about half dressed, and
I told him as well as I could of the
tenible deed. He at once, with ten others
of the lownpeople, started in pursuit of
the murderer. I, with some others
from the town, went back to the house.
"The men who started after Bom
berger were well mounted and well
armed, and they rode all day and all
night. Finally on Saturday they came
tip to him and cantured him nfvmt
sixty miles distant from my home. He
was lancn io nuncio ana then to Grand
forks, where he was placed in the
county jail.
"The bodies of those who wprc
murdered were tenderlv carnd lor at
home and on Saturday night Samuel
!;.. I.. i.:it if t .i ....
"Kiiium, myscii anu mree Children,
who escaped, brought the bodies to
Elizabethtown. whence iheu
taken directly to the home of John H.
is.isser, my grandtather.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Regular meeting of the Town Coun
cil was held last Thursday evening in
the Town Hall, all the members being
present except Mr. Knorr.
Sylvester Solleder appeared and
made complaint of the condition of
the privy on the property of Mrs. Ru
pert occupied by Jerre Salt.er. Up
on motion Mrs. Rupert was given
five days in which to remove the same
and in default the President of the
Council was authorized to contract
with some party to have the same
done.
The following petition was present
ed :
On behalf of the occupants of the
Sanitarium I would respectfully ask
that the sewer be extended on Sixth
street eastwardly to the building oc
cupied by Abel Dcily so that connec
tion may be made therewith from said
building. L. S. Wintersteen.
On motion it was directed to ex
tend the same on Sixth street.
It was ordered that the owner or
agent of the Sanitarium building be
required to connect the same and the
pool of water near the building with
the sewer so as to properly drain the
same and the work to be done within
1 5 days, and in default the town to
do it with 1 5 per cent, added to the
cost.
The property of George Tittle es
tate,corner Catherine and Sixth streets
was directed to be connected under
the same terms. The same order was
made in regard to the Exchange olock,
within five days.
A committee on the part of sundry
citizens, subscribers to a loan to the
H. C. Pease Machine Tool Manufac
turing Company asked that the said
Company be exonerated from pay
ment of Town tax for a period of ten
years. Request granted.
Mr. Waller requested an order for
the balance due D. J. Waller Sr. for
work on the 5th street culvert amount
ing to $400. The Secretary was in
structed to draw an order for the
amount.
Upon motion the President was au
thorized to exchange the $2,000 of
bilk Mill bonds for six per cent spec
ial stock of the same Company.
Building permits were granted to
C. B. txunton for moving and enlarg
ing his house on West Third street.
It was directed that Wesley and
Smith be notified to relay their
pavement orf Third street east of
Leonard within 30 days or 20 per cent,
be added.
Upon motion E. R. Ikeler was re
quested to connect his property on
West street with the sewer and the
same order was made in the case of
the property of George W. Sterner
buildings along Ridge Alley, and Mrs.
Heimiller's property on Catherine
all to be done in 15 days, or Town to
do the work with 20 per cent, added.
C. C long asked that the town en
gineer be notified to give approximate
grade in Ralston's addition. Upon
motion the matter was referred to the
Solicitor and if in his opinion the
same could be done without making
the town liable for grading the same,
then he should give it.
The following bills were read and
ordered paid :
Phila. & Reading Railroad
Company, freight $7137
D. L & W. R. R. Co., freight 39 69
Pennsylvania Supply Co.,
Terra Cotta pipes. ... ' 188 50
M. C. Woodward, service.. 23 17
Low Bros., spa wis 68 52
Bloomsburg Water Company 86 67
Hess Manufacturing Co. 2 00
A. V. I lower, watching town
buildings 6 months.,.. 6 00
W. H. Gilmore, flag 7 50
Bloomsburg Car Co., iron. .. 90
Geo. E. Elwell, printing or
dinances 10 50
R. H. Ringler, Sec. 1 month 20 00
The hay crop this year in Columbia
county will be the poorest known for
many years. One man has mown a
field of twenty acres and only gathered
about six tons. There are many farm
ers who will not gather enough hay to
feed their own stock. However what
is lacking in hay is made up in wheat,
of which there is an abundance the
largest yield ever known and a corres
pondingly low price, the lowest known
for thirty years.
BLOOMSBURG, PA., FKIDAY, JULY 14. 1803.
MINING COAL IN A RIVER BED.
THE CHANNEL OP THE SUSQUEHANNA
RICH TN FUEL DEPOSITS.
The following appeared in last
Monday's Press as a despatch from
Northumberland.
"Although this quiet, old-fashioned
town, which only lacked one vote of
being chosen for the county seat can
not boast of coal deposits in their
natural state, the digging of dusky
diamonds and their subsequent sale
has become an important industry
here. This coal, of which several
thousand tons are now marketed an
nually, is mined in a manner very
similar to the gold placer operations
in Western rivers and creeks.
To be more expltcit it is taken
from the bed of the Susquehanna
River by the thrifty farm workers and
is then delivered to customers at
points along the river banks at prices
slightly below the market rate for
other regularly mined coal. The min
ing of the fuel in this manner is far
more pleasant than the dangerous
work of cutting it from its natural
state in the bowels of the earth, and
is more remunerative also as the un
tutored country youth can clear from
$4 to $6, as the result of each day's
labor.
These deposits have been washed.
to their present location in the north
branch of the river, by the floods of
the past twenty years, from the big
coal operations situated on the river
banks at Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke,
Plymouth, and Pittston. The big
dam thrown across the river below
Sunbury has acted as a most effective
barrier and has prevented this valu
able fuel from passing to points far
ther down the stream. Old river men
maintain that layers of the choicest
coal, several feet in thickness, cover
the river bed for many miles above
the breast of the dam, and their as
sertion seems to be verified by the
large amounts of the products which
are daily being removed.
Low water in the river means a
rich harvest for the scores of toilers
who pursue this new vocation, as they
are then enabled to greatly increase
their output. These workers are at
times out in such numbers that the
entire surface of the water is covered
so thickly with their boats that the
steamers plying on this part of the
river find much difficulty in passing
up or down the stream without run
ning down the miner boatmen.
The workers start out early in the
morning with two large flat-bottomed
rowboats and casting anchor in from
five to nine feet of water begin their
labors. They are supplied with a
long handled scoop netting, similar in
shape to a round pointed shovel.
Using one of the boats as a base of
operations the miner pushes his scoop
net into the accumulations of mud,
sand and coal lying on the bed rock
of the river. In raising it, by one or
two dexterous movements he washes
all of the mud and sand out of the
net. The remainder of the haul,
which is half a bushel of coal, is de
posited in the second boat
These maneuvers are repeated un
til a cargo has been secured, when
the miner becomes a riverman and
rows his treasure to some purchaser
at Sunbury, Northumberland or other
point. The coal is entirely free from
slate. The water has worn it smooth
and ronnd like river boulders. In
size it ranges from chestnut to small
stove, thus adapting it admirably for
household and steam purposes. Oc
casionally, however, lumps as large as
egg and broken are brought to light.
One can harvest from two to three
tons by working all day and he finds
a ready market for his product at
$2.20 per ton. People who have
used this fuel say that it retains its
life and burns as well as newly mined
coal. As the regular day's wages paid
company miners is from $2.00 to
$2.25, it can readily be seen that the
Northumberland boatmen can double
the farmer's earnings without under
going any more risk than a very tired
back, and no miner working in steep
and narrow veins is exempt from that
same penalty.
During the early years of coal miiv
ing the smaller sues of coal were
dumped on the culm banks without
any attempt to prepare them for mar
ket. In the Luzerne regions many of
these collieries bordered on the banks
of . the Susquehanna or tributary
streams and hundreds of thousands of
tons of what was then considered
culm was dumped into the streams as
the most convenient method of get
ting rid of it. The Spring floods gath
ered up the coal thus deposited in the
river channel and laboriously carried
it along until further progress was
prevented by the Sunbury Dam.
It is estimated that nearly 4,000
tons of first class coal were taken
from the river bed in the vicinity of
Northumberland during the past sea
son, and this year's production prom
ises to be far in excess of the above
figures. Although retail dealers in
this town and Sunbury charge $2.80
per ton for the fresh mined fuel they
cannot well compete with the rivet
miners. Taking into consideration
that the latter is not compelled to
face the dangers incident to a treach
erous top rock, faulty blasts, falls of
coal, or the deadly mine gases, and
enabled to work with the broad can
opy of heaven over him, his lot is a
far more desirable one than that of his
poor brother who toils in the natural
anthracite beds."
THE SCHOOLS.
On Monday August 28th, six weeks
from next Monday, the public schools
of Bloomsburg will again open. There
is much work yet to be done, to carry
out the provisions of the late act in
reference to furnishing supplies for all
the pupils. The difficulty that con-
Ironts the Hoard of Directors of this
town is one that must be met in every
district in the state. The mere pur
chasing of books, slates, tablets, etc.,
is a small consideration, but the diffi
culty is reached when rules governing
their use are made. A record must
be kept of the books purchased by
each Board of Directors, and the pu
pils charged with the books and their
safe keeping. There is nothing in the
law to regulate punishment for misuse
of the books, and hence the general
law of punishment for destruction of
property must be enforced. Books
should not be gathered up, at the close
of the day, and distributed promiscu
ously the next day ; such a proceeding
would scatter through the whole school
any constitutional disorder that might
be found in an individual scholar.
Rules of the most rigid character should
be adopted in every district and en
forced ; if this is not done, much
mischief will be caused, and instead
of the good the law is intended to ac
complish, only evil will be the result.
MEMORIAL TO JAMES K. EYER,
The following was adopted by
Bloomsburg Grange No. 322, P. of H:
To the officers and members of
Bloomsburg Grange No. 322, P. of H:
Your committee appointed to pre
pare a memorial on the death of
Brother Jas. K. Eyer, respectfully re
port !
Brother James K. Eyer died June
22, 1893, at Bloomsburg. He was a
charter member of Grange No. 322,
and since its organization has been
active and earnest in the furtherance
of the interests of the Patrons of Hus
bandry. He was a valuable counsel
lor in all matters pertaining to the
good of the order, and by his death
we have sustained a great loss.
To his widow and family this Grange
extends its sincere sympathy in their
loss of husband and father. The con
solation will be found with that God
in whom he trusted and whose ways,
though mysterious, are always for
good to them that love Him.
The committee recommends that
the next meeting be set apart for
memoriil services to the memory of
our deceased brother, and that a copy
of this report be furnished the widow
and be forwarded to the Farmer '
Friend and the local newspapers for
publication. They also recommend
that the Grange hall be draped in
crape for 30 days.
Respectfully submitted,
J. B. Rouison, )
M. K. Appleman, V Com.
Emma Lazarus, )
At the request of President H. H.
Ballard of the Agasslz Association of
the United States, the Bloomsburg
chapter of that association in.orms
visitors to the World's Fair in Chicago
of the excellent exhibit which is to be
seen in the Anthropological Building.
It occupies one thousand, five hundred
and four square feet in the North
west corner up stairs. The reception
rooms are always open and a cordial
invitation is extender? to the public to
visit them. Among the many articles
of interest will be found a collection
of mounted flowers from Tanganrog,
Russia, fine specimens of ferns from
New Zealand, choice crystals includ
ing some huge garnets from Salida,
Colorado, and a rare collection of
Wisconsin pearls three hundred in
number. This is but a brief allusion,
as the exhibit includes beautiful speci
mens too numerous to mention.
Landlord Hill, of the Proctor Inn
at Jamison City has his house in bet
ter shape than ever for the accommo
dation of guests. It is a charming
place to spend a day or a week or a
montn. write to him tor terms.
SCHOOL BOARD.
There was a meeting of the Direc
tor of the Bloomsburg School Dis
trict Monday evening, July 10th, with
all the members present. Committee
on Supplies, through their chairman,
reported having received bids for the
supply of coal. H. G. Supplee, Su
perintendent of the Farmer's Produce
Exchange, being the lowest bidder,
the contract of two hundred tons was
awarded to him. The question of re-
E aiming the tower and replacing the
roken slate on the High School
building was discussed and referred to
the committee on buildings and grounds
with power to make contract and at
tend to having the work completed.
The question of supplies and text
books, in conformity with the late act
was referred to the respective Com
mittees to report at the next meeting
when, in conjunction with the Princi
pal and teachers a selection, will be
made and secured in time for the
opening of the schools on Monday,
August 28th. A letter was read from
Prof- Sterner announcing his intention
of returning from his vacation in about
a week.
The fence surrounding the yard
at the Third street building being in a
dilapidated condition, the building
committee reported having ordered
new material and the work of repair
ing it will soon be commenced.
The next meeting of the Board of
Directors will be held Friday, July 28,
at 2 o'clock.
The Forget-Me-Not.
From the New York Telegram.
Everybody knows the pretty little
forget-me not and likes the flower
more perhaps because of its name
than its beauty. How was it so call
ed. The Germans account for it by
quite a pathetic romance. It seems
that once upon a time a knight and
a lady were walking by the banks of
the Danube when the latter asked her
"gallent gay" to pluck for her a tiny
blue flower which she saw growing in
the Stream. No snnner ssirl than
done, but the knight, overbalancing,
ten into the river, and owing to the
slippery nature of the bank and the
weight of his own armor was carried
away by the current. As he threw
the flowers ashore to his lady he cried
out with his last hreath. "Wren's main
nichtl" ("Forget me notl") And
ever since me nower nas been looked
on as an emblem of fidelity.
The Evangelical Camp Meeting
near Guava, in Sugarloat township.
Columbia county, Pa., on the line of
the B. & S. R. R, will commence on
the second of August and continue
9 days. The meeting will be under
the superintendency, of Rev. A. H.
Irvine P. E. of Lewisburg district.
Bishop Dubbs D. D., A. E. Gabble
D. D., President of the Central Pa.
college, and other distinguished min
isters will be in attendance. A large
boarding tent will be erected on the
ground, where boarding and horse
feed can be obtained at reasonable
rates. Persons desiring to rent tents
can do so. For information write to
Rev. W. Minker, Waller, Pa., as A.
M. Harvey, Guava, Pa.
The hard times that all are com
plaining of just . now might be in a
great measure avoided if everyone
would pay their small bills promptly,
instead ot hoarding every cent they
can get their fingers on. There are
piles of money in the country, but it
does no one any good while under
double lock and key. Pay your small
debts.
If everybody would do this, The
Columbian would have several thou
sand dollars that is now scattered all
over the county, here, there, and every
where.
The place at which the farmers'
picnic is to be held on Saturday, July
29, is on an island just above Coles
Creek station on the B. & S. R. R.,
and directly opposite the mouth of
Coles Creek. There is a noted spring
here which was much visited by In
dians and concerning which are many
traditions. One of the oldest citizens
who will attend the picnic will point
out the Indian paths and talk about
traditions and incidents of the earlier
days.
A Teacher's examination will be
held in Conyngham township at the
Logan School House, near Centralia.
on Tuesday, August 1st, commencing
at 8 o'clock A. M.
Directors are respectfully invited to
be present.
William C. Johnston,
County Supt.
A number of members of Theta
Castle K. G. E. went to Berwick on
Monday night to visit the Berwick
Castle. 1 They went up in A. M. Derr's
rig, and had a very pleasant time.
NO 30
BRIEF MFNTION.
About People You Know.
Mr. Glisson of Philadelphia, is the
guest of Mr. L. Paxton at Rupert.
Mr. M. K. Watkins and wife of
Mt. Carmel were in town Sunday.
Mrs. Pierce Foulk is visiting her
sister in New York state.
Henry M. Rupert spent a couple of
days in town this week.
Mrs. W. S. Rishton went to Phila
delphia on Monday to visit her mother.
Mrs. R. C. Neal and sons of Harris
burg are making a visit at Mrs. M. H.
.Clark's
John Sterling returned from Mon
treal on Tuesday. I le had a delight
ful trip.
A. H. Bloom is assisting in the
First National Bank during the ab
sence of Miss Mary Tustin.
C. B. Jackson Esq., and S. C. Jayne
of Berwick had business in Bloom on
Monday.
L. M. Creveling of Fishingcreek
was in town on Monday calling on his
friends.
Miss Jessie Ent went to Dagua
Mines, Elk county, on Tuesday, to
visit her brother Alonzo.
Mr. Gidding of the firm of Gidding
& Salsburg, is an expert on the mouth
organ, and during the lulls in trade,
discourses sweet music.
John Beers of Centralia was in town
on Tuesday, and took steps for the re
straint of his brother Jacob who is
suffering from mental aberration.
Prof. W. H. Butts has charge ot the
organ at St. Paul's church during the
summer. He expects to go to Cam
bridge in the fall.
Hon. I. K. Krickbaum and Abrara
Hartman returned from Chicago last
Saturday. They had a pleasant trip
and report the World's Fair as the
greatest thing on earth. ,
Senator Herring and family drove
out of town on Wednesday morning
with a full supply of fishing tackle
and lunch, for a day out along the
creek.
Joseph P. Dewitt, candidate for
county Treasurer, was in town on
Monday, looking up his interests. He
is spending all his time on the road
now.
President Drinker and council men
Gorrey, Housel and Holmes visited
Williainsport on Tuesday to get some
information concerning municipal
grants to electric railways.
Mr. and Mrs. A. Z. Schock, Mrs. C.
W. McKelvy, Mrs. R. W. Oswald, Dr.
and Mrs. D. J. Waller and three chil
dren formed a party that started " for
the World's Fair on Monday.
Master Robbie Dodson, George
and Fred Harder, three Girard Col
lege boys, dined at the St. Elmo Tues
day. They came here last Friday,
and expect to return the rst ot Sep-
temDer.
Mr. and Mrs. T. Lincleof Bellefonte
and Mrs. Jas. Brugler of Port Jetvis,
New York, are in town, having hen
called here by the serious illness of
ineir moiner, jars. j. j. urower. .
Mrs. M. E. Ent hes nnrrhasM a
handsome and convenient vehicle,
known as a trap, which is capable of
being made into a conveyance of one
seat, two seats, or with two seats back
to back. Mrs. Petriken, Mrs. Ent, and
Miss Annie now occupy a portion of
the dwelline of N. U. Funk Ksn.. on
the Espy road.
The people of Mordansville and
vicinity are invited to meet in the
church on Sunday evening next, 16th
inst. to talk over the question of or-.
ganizing a Sunday School. Speakers
wui oe in attendance.
Mr. Tohn Laubach has nurcha3ed
the bakery and confectionery of Cum-
mmgs & Verdy and may be found at
the old stand. Mrs. F.nt who h.is
been conducting the business for the
nrm nas returned to Light Street.
Shickshiim; Echo.
Geo. W. Poust, an old resident of
Benton township, fell from a load of
hay one day last week, and was so
seriously injured that he died on M on-
day. His funeral took place on Wed
nesday morning. The remains were
buried at Waller. He leaves a family
to mourn his loss.
Many summer resorts are suffering
for lack of patronage this season.
Everybody who can afford it is going
to the World's Fair, and this will be
all the outing they will indulge in.
Some of the hotels that are usually
filled up at this time of the year, have
done but little business thus far.
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