t i VOL. 32 BLOOMSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1S97. NO. 61 GIDDING & CO. GIDDING & CO. GIDDING & CO. CHRISTMAS A COMEDIAN'S PLIGHT. Adventure That Befell Nat Goodwin on a ChrlatniM Night. Tho moot eventful Christinas I ever passed was In 1801. We bad plnycd In Lltlca Christmas eve and woro to Iwivo on n oarly morning train for Poughkocpslo. The company caught the train all right, bat It was (rightfully cold and a blizzard was raging. I decided to watt for a later train, which would reach Poughkeepslo about 5 o'clock. Instead of clearing up, however, the storm grow worse, and the train that I waited for novcr crano. It was stalled In a drift tip the mod some whore. I began to realize then that It was a cold day for me In nioro senses than ono. I tried to hire an engine, but didn't suc ceed, for there was none I finally gave it up In despair and went back to tho ho tel Oeorgu Appleton, my uianagor, was mode of sternor stuff than I, however, and In about two hours had organized a party of storm bound passengers and persuaded an other railroad to make up a mlxod train and try to got us through to tho uncom pleted bridge at Poughkecpsle. We would bo landed on the opposite side of the river, they said, but we could get across to the town by tho ferry. The depot was about threo miles outsido of Utico, and it took us threo hours and a quarter to reach It There was no fire In tho cars we secured, and mighty little In the engine. At 8 o'clock Christmas night wo were dumped out at tho landing opposite Poughkecpsle. Tho river was full of jagged masses of loo and tho ferryboats had been compelled to stop running at 0 o'clock. There was THK GUARD WAS OBDORATB. no possible way of crossing except by the half finished railroad bridgo, and that wot guarded at either end by watchmen, who had orders to allow no one to pass. More over, there was no approach to the bridge. Whose lee clad buttress arose abruptly from the river's edge to a height of a hundred feet or more. Tho other passengers stopped right there and sought shelter In a neigh boring hotel. I wanted to follow their good example, but Appluton wouldn't let ma Ho sold we hod gone too fur to turn buck then, and, besides, a sturdy small boy at the hotel had offored to show us how to climb to tho bridge He was rewarded In advanoe, and then we set out to battle With (ate. The small boy took tho lead, Appleton followed him, I made a close third, and my valot, Jack, (orinod a kind of roar guard to look after my remains in ease of accident. Our small guide led us straight to the huge buttress of tho bridgo, which was built of massive blocks of stono arranged In terraoe form from its broad base to Its narrow apex. These tcrracos Were .a bout 16 feet high and covered with loe and snow. It was impossible for a man to climb thorn unaided, but the boy wak equal to the emergency. After prowling about for a few minutes be found a ladder which bad been used by tho workmen. 1 ean't begin to describe tho difficulties and dangers of that climb, but at lost we crumbled to the top, with clothes torn and hands bruised and bleeding. Fortunutuly tho watchman was walking toward the middle of tho bridge, and we had a chance 'or a good start before be could stop us. After a short breathing spell Appleton, Wik and I began our perilous journey Jong the narrow footpath that stretched cross the ghastly looking Ironwork, but Jjoforo we bad reached the middle of the "toga the watchman stopped us aud or durvd ui to go back. We pleaded and pro- MORX. I tested and argued, but ltwas of no use. ! Ho wouldn't even take a bribo. Hereupon tho boy Jack loudly culled my attention to tho fact that tho water looked awfully cold down below. Appleton quickly added that under ocrtaln circumstances It would make II n exoellent plungo bulh, atid I chipped in with a flippant remark about it being a 3 to 1 shot. Thut watchman evidently thought we mcditutL'd murder or some equally desper ate crime, for his eyes fairly bulged from their sockets as ho backed away from us as fur as the narrow footpath would per mit. Wo brushed by him Instantly and continued on our way without any further Interference from him. The watchman at the other end of the bridgo, however, proved of different metal. He was as big as two of us, and we didn't daro to attempt any bluff with him. Ho was oven nioro obdurate than the other follow. It began to look as though all our labor was to be In vain when Appleton whispered to me to run while ho engaged the watchman In conversation. Well, I scooted, and so did Jack, but we didn't scoot far, for we were j brought to a sudden standstill by tho ab ' rupt termlnution of tho bridgo at the but tress. It was a sheer 100 foot to the ground ! and thoro was no ladder. I gavo It up again and could have wopt scolding tears if It hadn't been so cold. Appleton, how ever, succeeded In pacifying tho watchman and camo to our rosoue with grim de- 1 termination In his stride. Ho boldly Jumped down tho first terrace and colled upon Jack and mo to follow. Jack did so, but I hesitutcd. That IS feet seemed Uko a precipice, and tho landing on tho next terraco looked awfully hard and insecure. I didn't daro to jump, so I compromised by taking a kind of toboggan slido on my coattaiL It wasn't as exhilarating or as fascinating as many other slides I have had, but It was quite as exciting. In this way I reached terra flrnia in a somewhat dismantled condition. Inuldoutally I bado a tearful goodby to my trousers next day. It was about two miles from the bridge to tho opera houso, and we had to foot it, because there wasn't a vohiclo abroad that night. Wo ran most of tho way to keep from freezing, and after frightening a cou plo of women into hysterics, becauso they misunderstood our hurried request for In formation, we arrived at the theater at a quarter post 9 and proceeded with tho per formance. As there was no time to change I went on Just as I was, looking like a scarecrow on a Massachusetts farm. Tho audience was good natured, though, and readily forgave mo when they learned what had happenod. NAT 0. Goodwin. An Karly Christmas Drinking Bong. Tho following verses from tho original Jn old Norman French are said to bo the first drinking song composed in England: Lordling from a distant borne, To seek old Christmas are we come. Who loves oar minstrelsy t And here, unless report iqtasay, The gray board dwells, and on tola day Keeps yearly wassail, ever gay With festive mirth and glee. Tale Cakes. Yulo dough, a kind of baby or little Image intended to reprcso the child Je ius, made of paste, was forrly baked at Christmas and presented by bakers to their justomors "in tho same monner as tho shandlers gave candles." They are still sidled Yulo cakes In the county of Durham, England, Those who object to have the little folks believe in Santa Claus, ten chances to one have a mighty dull Christmas at their homes. The child that is overly smart, and cannot be fooled with Santa Claus stories, nine times out of ten is more trouble to his folks than the urchin who has explicit faith in the legends about old Santa. Hang up the children's stockings and be sure you don't forget, if you want the little ones to feel happy on Christ mas morning. Water was let out of the canal last Thursday. Kris Kringle News From this interesting store more so now than ever. Christmas Gifts that are Sensible, and rightly priced. Visit the store now in all its glory. Look around, buy if you like, or look around. Its interesting. EXTRA SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRICES. Pongee Silk Handkerchiefs, Extra good quality, good size, 25c. Finest grades of Pongee silk, plain or with fancy border, 50c, 75c, or $1. Silk Suspenders, Plain or with embroidery, Special 25c. Finest grades, 50c and $1.00. Kid Gloves, Lined, for men or boys, 50c. Finest grades, 7oc, 1.00, 1.50, $2.00 flackintosh Coats, Plain, double breasted, velvet collar, black, blue, light covert, or grav, 5.00, 7.50, 10. or $12. With Cape, 3-50, 5.00, 7.50 or $10. Umbrellas, Canes, Plain or silver mounted. GIDDING & CO., Nearly opposite Court House, BLOOMSBURG, PA. Two doors below Post Off ice. PARDEE HALL IN ASHES, Building Incubator Fires Scientific Lafayotte College of Pardee Hall, the beautiful four-story stone scientihe building, which was presented to Lafayette College by Ario Pardee in 1891, at a cost of nearly $300,000, was almost entirely destroyed by fire early Saturday morn ing, causing a loss of nearly $100,000. The centre of the structure and the entire west wing were gutted, and only the blackened walls are left standing. Besides the damage to the building, thousands of dollars' worth of valuable property belonging to pro fessors at the college was destroyed. The fire originated in '.he biologi cal laboratory and must have been burning for a considerable length of time before it was discovered. It was about 5 o'clock when Lehigh Valley Railroad employes noticed a blaze coming out of the windows of the hall, and tetephoned to the Col lege Hill Engine Company. The fire spread from the biological department toward the west throughout the sec ond floor of the lateral wine. and. after licking up everything inflamma ble there, attacked the upper floors of the centre of the structure. Just be fore the blaze burst out in this portion of the building it looked as though the firemen were getting the better of the fight. The hot flames from the top story of the west wing, however, see thing and whirling and leaping 30 feet in the air, soon caught the south towers on the filth floor and then the work of destruction began anew. The fire ate down to the fourth floor and then through the ceiling, from which burning debris dropped to the floor of the main audience room. This was soon ablaze, and such a seething mass of fire has not been seen there since the same auditorium was burned al most nineteen years ago. The fire is believed to have been started by In cubators that were used to develop germs in Professor Davidson's depart ment. Many of the show windows of our town merchants are very tastefully decorated for the holidays. Among the most noteworthy are Gidding & Co., Hockman, Hess Bros., Mercer, Roys, Rishton, Itartman & bon, Pursel & Harman, Broadway, Clark & Son, Bloomsburg Store Co., Leader Co., and others. AWTTJii WRECK. An awful wreck occurred on the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona on Tuesday. A freight train consisting of thirty loaded cars was on its way down the mountain at that city. A slight rain which froze on the rails as it fell made the track very slippery, and before the engineer and train men had time to apprehend the danger, the heavy train had attained a momentum which could not be checked by the Drakes. The distance of twelve miles was covered in the frightful speed of less than a mile a minute, and the run away train crashed into a freight train standing in the Altoona yard, directly in front of the Altoona station. The wreckage piled up higher than the top of the passenger station. About fifty cars were completely demolished and a passenger train which was standing on one of the tracks was thrown over on its side. The engineer and fireman escaped unnurt. une man by the name of S. Kuster, was seriously injured Two brakemen, Corbin and Vurner, are missing. Deputy Beaten. Clubbed a Hungarian and Had to Qo to a Hospital. An echo of the Lattimer shooting affair occurred at Hazle Brook Satur day, when the miners at that place lined up at the pay office to get their mothly wagesf The coal and iron policeman sent to maintain order was William Raught, who is now under indictment tor murder as one of Sheriff Martin's deputies, and who is said to have fired the last shot deliber ately. ... His appearance excited an ugly dis position among the men, and one of the Hungarians refused to get into line, A fight followed. A number of men engaged in the fray. Hordach was clubbed by the officer, but the latter accidentally slipped and fell. ' lis gun dropped from his grasp. This was seized immediately, and the prostrate officer was beaten into in sensibility. He is now at the hospital. The family of Harry Christian was increased Sunday morning by the ar rival of a young daughter. ' White or Fancy Shirts, 50c, 75c or $1.00. Toques, For boys or girls, silk finish cassimere, 25c. Fine wools, all colors and combination?, 39 and 50c. Neckwear, 150 dozen, flaring ends, four in hands, tecks, bows and ties. On sale at 25c. Light or dark colors. . Rich and elegaut Satin Neckwear, Special for Holidays, Roman Plaids, Yale Stripe, Harvard Stripe, puffs, tecks, imper ials or string ties, 50c. Regular $1.00 value. Reefers for Boys, Splendid for Christmas, 1 98, 2 50, 3.50, 4.00, 5.00 and $0.00. . Our lines of men's and young men's suits are top notch. Children's novelties, vestee, reefer or blouse suits. MISS HERBERT COMMITS SHI01DE. ! A profound sensation has been caus - ed in social and political society at Washington, D. C, by the suicide of Miss Leila Herbert, daughter of Hilary A. Herbert, who was Secretary of the Navy under President Cleve land. The young lady jumped from the third story window of her father's residence, No. 1313 New Hampshire Avenue to the asphalted yard below, a distance of forty feet and died al most instantly. She was very popu lar, and during her father's official life as a member of President Cleveland's Cabinet was his constant companion, and was the leader of all the functions given by the Naval Secretary. Miss Herbert has been an invalid for some time, suffering from the results of a fall from her horse. The coroner of the district, Col. Carr, after hearing the facts in the case and having been in formed that Miss Herbert had been for some time suffering from melan cholia gat a certificate of death by suicide committed while temporarily insane. Parmer's Institute. Don't forget the Place and Date Court House, Monday and Tuesday Jan'y. 10th and nth. This will be a rare treat not only for farmers and agriculturists but for the general public. The music will be of the best and with Messrs Yetter. Yost and Hartman as managers of this de partment nothing need be said. Local talent will take active part in all the discussions and with the able heb mrnisnea Dy the state, every session promises to be full of interest and instruction. Come prepared to stay. Bring questions on subjects in which you are interested. The question box will be an important feature and post us well if we but use it. Program in next week's paper. r. 1 ... . The Hazleton Plain Speaker says that the launching of a new republi can paper is under consideration in that city. Editor Tubbs of the Shick shinny Mountain Echo will be editor ana general manager of the enterprise. new John S. Williams went to Shamoktn on Tuesday to cry a horse sale for Ezra Kellar. A SUDDEN DEATH. i On Wednesday afternoon about half Dast four o'clock. Mrs. A PennypacKer suddenly expired. She had been visiting her daughter, Mrs. W. S. Rishton, on Market street for several weeks, and while sitting with her in an upstairs room, Mrs. Penny packer's head suddenly fell forward, and before she could be removed to the bed she had ceased breathing. During the day she had seemed in excellent spirits, and there was no premonition of her sudden and start ling death. Dr. Graydon was sum moned, and efforts were made to revive her, but without avail. The deceased was the widow of the late Oliver H. Pennypacker, of Phila delphia, where all of her married life was spent. Her age was sixty years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her surviving children are Mrs. W. S. Rishton of Bloomsburg. Miss Blanche of Philadelphia, and Harry, of California. The remains will be taken to Philadelphia tomorrow morning at 8.30 on the D. L. & W. and the interment will take place at Mt. Vernon Cemetery. There will be no services at the house. From Shamokin to Danville The Danville News says that citi zens need not despair of having an electric railroad built to connect with Shamokin via Paxinos, Elysburg, and Big Roaring Creek also from Dan ville to Bloomsburg and Espy. Work 01 surveying is already under way. Building operations will begin next March. It is stated that orders for the rails will be placed with the North. Branch Steel works of Danville. AT THE HYMENEAL ALTAR. Eddie F. Dawe, and Miss Gertrude. Foy were united in marriage by Rev. D. N. Kirkby, before a large number of invited guests in St. Paul's Episco pal Church at ten o'clock yesterday morning. The groom is the collector for the Bloomsburg Daily and the bride is a popular young lady of town. The newly made man and wife took the P. & R. train for a wedding trip to Niagara Falls and other places. On their return they will take un their residence at Mrs. M. M. Phillip's house on First Street.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers