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.