VOL. 35.
BLOOMSUUltG, PA., THUKSDAY, MARCH 1, 1900
NO. 9
LEAPED TO BIS DEATH.
John Laiaru. a Wealthy Resident of Mt
Carmel Endi His Life by Jumping
from Uoat Island Bridge.
Reverses In Business Believed to be the
Cause.
John Lazarus, a wealthy and in
fluential resident of Mt. Carmel com
mitted suicide Thursday afternoon
last, at Niagara Falls, by jumping from
Goat Island Bridge.
He left Mt. Carmel on Wednesday
for Elmira, New York, for the pur
pose of securing a loan from a saving
fund at that place. His visit there,
it is said, was unsuccessful, or it may
have been that the trip was only in
tended for a ruse, as he did not stop
there, but went on to Niagara Falls.
Immediately after his arrival he went
to the United States Express Office,
from where he sent his pocket books,
containing upwards of one hundred
dollars in money, his gold watch and
a lot of valuable papers to his brother
Dr. J. S. Lazarus at this place. While
at the Express office he remarked that
he was going farther west. He then
wrote a letter and sent it to his brother
here, after which he left the office and
was driven down the Canadian side
of the gorge to the whirlpool. He
also made the trip to the whirlpool
over the gorge railway on the Ameri
can side. On returning he left his
overcoat and a grip at the Gorge
Railway ticket office and walked hur
riedly to the Goat Island Bridge and
without any hesitation whatever he
plunged into the rapids below. Two
reservation officers and a boy wit
nessed the fatal leap.
In his grip was found a flask half
full of whiskey and a pair of stockings.
On a tag on the grip was printed
-John Lazarus, Mt. Carmel, Pa."
Those who saw him before the suicide
said he appeared perfectly sane and
acted like a man without a care or
distress. He appeared to have plenty
of money with him and remarked that
the money he was sending home
amounted to about $140.
Mr. Lazarus met with a serious
accident two months ago, when his
horse ran away. The conveyance
was upset and its occupant was hurled
to the ground, his head being badly
cut and bruised. During his convales
cence, it is believed, debts accumu
lated. He at once grew melancholy
over the fact that he could not be
1 about to maintain his good financial
standing. This appears to be the
only cause advanced for his commit
ing the rash act.
Mr. Lazarus was born in 1833 on
the old Lazarus homestead, a few
miles above Orangeville, and was
therefore 63 years of age. He was
one of Mt. Carmel's heaviest property
owners, and was widely known. His
wife, tormerly a Miss Kinney, died
several years ago. His survivors are
Dr. J. S. Lazarus and three sisters,
Mrs. J. S. Woods, of East Filth Street;
Mrs. John Brown, of Catharine Street;
and Mrs. Katharine Blodgett, residing
at the home of G. P. Frymirc, on
East Street.
Golden Wedding.
Monday 26th of February Mr. and
Mrs. I. W. Hartman celebrated their
fiftieth anniversary, with a dinner to
their children, grand-children and
great-grand chile ren. Mr. Hartman
is now in his seventy fifth year, and
Mrs, Hartman only a few days ago
passed her seventy second. They
have lived in their present home over
thirty-four years, six children have
been born to them, three have gone
before them, three remain to enjoy
this occasion, namely, Edwin V.,
now living in Philadelphia; Ada M.,
also living in West Philadelphia, her
husband is pastor of Calvary Luther
an church, and Robert E., who is
partner with his father in the dry
goods business Bloomsburg. I. W.
Hartman is conceded to be the oldest
continued merchant in Columbia
county, began his career as a business
man Oct. 1st 1S48, in the old
"Arcade" building, owned by Elisha
H. Biers, located where the J. K,
Lockard building is, and now occupied
by the Bloomsburg Store Company.
These occasions fall only to a few
families, wh'ch make them worthy of
note to the public.
Hotel Tor Bent.
The Park Hotel, at Towanda, Pa.,
is tor rent. Possession given Apri
1st, 1900. Located in the heart of
the town, opposite Court House. For
terms, apply to Geo. E. Elwell
Bloomsburg, Pa., or E. W. Elwell
iowanda, Pa. tf.
IN OUPIU'8 REALM-
Two ot Bloomsburg's Fair Daughters Plight
Their Troth on Tuesday.
PURSEL MILLER.
Rev. G. H. Hemingway, of the
Presbyterian Church, officiated at the
wedding of Miss Vida Miller to Mr.
Frank Pursel, which occurred at the
home of the bride's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles W. Miller, on Centre
s-reet, Tuesday morning, at ten
o'clock. The affair was kept very
quiet and the ceremony was witnessed
by only the families of the principals
and a few intimate friends. Follow
ing the ceremony a wedding dinner
was partaken of and the young couple
were conveyed to the Penna. statio.i,
where they took the south bound
train for a tour of some of the prin
cipal cities. Mr. Pursel is one of the
town's foremost young business men,
and his bride is an accomplished
lady and a potent social factor. They
begin life with the good wishes of all
their friends.
VAN HORN HARMAN.
Miss Mary, daughter of Mrs. P. S.
Harman of Iron street, and Dr. C. S.
Van Horn, were united in holy mat
rimony in St. Paul's Episcopal church
by the Rector, the Rev. David N.
Kirkby, at one o'clock Tuesday after
noon. Only the relatives of the bride
and groom and a limited number ol
guests were present. The bride is
an estimable young lady' and enjoys
the esteem of all while the groom is
a successful dentist. He established
himself here several years ago and his
business has been continually increas
ing. 1 he bride was the recipient ot
many handsome and useful gifts.
Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn took the
2:36 tiain on the D. L. & W. Rail
road, for a bridal tour. May happi
ness . and prosperity attend them
through life.
Bloomsburg's Need-
The PhiladelDhia Press last week.
requested the Mayors of the various
cities and towns of this state, through
us special correspondents, 10 express
themselves as to the legislation, which
in their opinion, would result in the
moral improvement of their respective
cities or towns. In answer to the
query, the Press on Sunday contained
Mayor elect frank Ikelers views, con
cerning Bloomsburg's need:
'The morals of Bloomsburg are, in
the broad sense of the word, good.
There are few towns of its size in the
State where you will find the order on
the streets to be so well maintained.
Probably the most notable offense
aeainst the moral sentiment of the
O
community is the action and conduct
ot the young men and girls upon the
streets after 7 o'clock in the evening.
"While nothing criminally wrong is
ever done, nor anything which could
be prevented by police interference,
still there is a noticeable looseness
and vulgarity in their conduct upon
certain occasions.
"If this could be remedied bv the
passage of a just law, I am sure the
morals of this town would be greatly
benefitted."
Banquet at Wilkes-Barre.
The Annual Banquet of the Lafay
ette Alumni Association of North
eastern Pennsylvania was held at Hotel
Sterling, Wilkes-Barre, Friday evening
last. In an article on the affair the
Record of that city says :
"Dr. J. P. Welsh, principal ot the
Bloomsburtr State Normal School, in
the absence of Robert Peck, took the
toast "HannvDavs" As an after
dinner speaker Dr. Welsh always has
something entertaining to say, and
last evenmc he was un to his standard.
His reference to what he deemed the
happy days at Lafayette were replete
with humor and unusually interesting
to his fellow alumni. The things he
said, that need to be looked after in
colleges are the social matters, which
so much embarrass the collegian fresh
from school when brought face to
face with the real battle of lite. He
was pleased to see some attention
being given to this side ol Lafayette."
In a disnatch from the Philip
nines containine a list of the dead.
which armeared in the papers on
Wednesday is the name of William
G. Samuels. He was a son of Mr.
and Mrs. George Samuels of Iron
street this town and was acred nearly
twenty years. He left home about
one year ago against his parents
wishes, and after passing a success
ful examination enlisted in the
retrular army. He was a member
of Company F, Twelfth Infantry,
and died in the nospitai iroin an at
tack of dysentery.
OARS PILED 11103 IN THE AIR-
Trains Come Together in a Head-on Col
lision at Nescopeck
Engineer Joe Keofer Killed.
A frightful head-on collision, result
ng in the death of one and the injur
ng of many others, occurred at Nes
copeck, on the Pennsylvania railroad,
luesdav evening at seven o clock.
The west-bound passenger train, due
at East Bloomsburg at 7.23, crashed
into an east bound freight train while
going at a high rate of speed. Both
engines were badly wrecked and Joseph
Keefer, the engineer of the passenger
train instantly killed.
The passenger coaches left the
track but were not damaged to any
great extent. All the passengers es
caped uninjured. One of the train
crew was badly hurt. Both the injured
man and the body of Engineer Ktefer
were removed to Wapwallopen. The
accident is said to have been the re
sult of the freight being mistaken for
another train, while another report
says it was caused by a misunders'and-
ng of orders. Engineer Joe Keefer
resided in Sunbury, was one of the
most careful and best liked engineers
on this division ofthe Pennsylvania
railroad. He was well known all
along the line, having been in the
employ of the r.vlroad company many
years.
The Canal to be Abandoned.
Last week we printed a special
from Danville, which was to the ef
fect that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company would abandon the canal
along the Susquehanna river and util
ize the towpath for a railroad track.
The report was only a rumor, and
manv people, who not being able to
comprehend what the Penna. Com
pany wanted in such a move, were
induced to discredit it. The appended
story is taken from the Sunbury News:
" All shippers have been officially
notified that the North branch canal
from Northumberland to Nanticoke
has been abandoned and will there
fore not be opened to navigation this
year. 1 he cause tor this action has
not been made public, but there
seems to be much back of the state
ment. Nothing comes from an offic
ial source, but there is a possibility
that within the next six months the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company will
commence to lay a track on the tow
path between the points named.
Within the past six weeks the Rail
road Company has purchased the
three-cornered piece of land opposite
the old D., L & W. round-house, in
Northumberland, on which stood the
Valley House. The building has
been torn down, the land cleared,
and it is said the purpose of the Rail
road Company is to make a yard of
the canal basin. If this course is to
be pursued by the Company it would
give them direct communication with
Shickshinny, Berwick, Bloomsburg
and Danville and practically the ad
vantage of a double track between
Sunbury and Nanticoke. The use
of the towpath gives them a solid
road-bed, already graded and ready
for the track. With this line in op
eration the greatly congested condi
tion of the Sunbury Division could
be relieved to a great extent, and at
the same time the traveling public
would be accommodated as they
would then be able to avoid the
change of cars at Northumberland, or
the inconvenience of crossing the
river at the towns named, making di
rect connection from Sunbury with all
the towns on the left bank of the
river. It has been estimated by com
petent engineers that by utilizing the
towpath the road could be built at
one-half the cost of double-tracking
the Sfinbury division between this city
and Nanticoke, while the Company
would gain the great advantage p di
rect lreight and passenger communi
cation with the towns named."
Reduction in Telephone Tolls.
A new toll line tariff scheduled on
a "3 minute basis" has been adopted
by the Central Pennsylvania Tele
phone and Supply Company for bust
ness, both terminals of which are
within its telephone territory. Both
Day and Night rates are provided :
the Night rates applying between 6
p. m. and 6 a. m. Great reductions
in cost of telephoning between its dis
tant stations will be found. Apply to
Local Manager or Chief Operator for
details. The new schedule takes
effect March 1st, 1900.
The Philadelphia North American
will open a branch office at William
sport and start a 16 page morning
paper.
FATAL WEEOK.
An Open Switch Causes a Wreck in Which
One Lite is Lost.
A point on the Philadelphia and
Reading railroad, near Locust Summit
was the scene of an accident early
Thursday morning last which resulted
in the death of braketnan Hairy
Schulcr and the damaging of two
engines and several cars. The dis
aster is directly attributed to negli
gence. A switch was left open and
when the north bound passenger train
came thundering along it was thrown
into the siding, colliding with terrible
force with a freight train, which was
awaiting its arrival. The young man
whose life went out with the accident
was a brakeman on the freight train
and stood on the engine watching the
approach ot the passenger train. In
an instant there was a crash and his
body was hurled over an embankment.
There were no other fatalities. Mr.
Schuler is survived by a wife and
several children. He was a brother-in-law
to Miss Bessie and Guy Jacoby,
Esq., of this town. Both were in
attendance at the funeral which oc
curred at Catawissa on Sunday.
Burglars Took Only Solid Silver.
Burglars effected an entrance to the
residence ot J. V. Brown at Williams
port, Sunday night and made a rich
haul, carrying away over $1,000 worth
of solid silverware and hundreds of
dollars worth of furs. Mr. Brown and
his wife are in the South where the
former is traveling for the benefit ot
his health. During their absence the
house is kept open and a full corps of
servants are employed.
The house was shut up as usual
Sunday night, all the doors and win
dows being fastened by the domestics.
The robbers ga'ned an entrance, how
ever, by turning the key in the kitch
en door with a pair of pinchers. They
touched nothing that was not solid
silver, as some heavily plated articles
that were on the sideboard were hot
disturbed. The stolen silverware was
taken from within the sideboard, the
doors of which were opened easily
after being bored with holes. The
occupants of the house were not dis
turbed by the work of the burglars,
and the astounding discovery was
made by a domestic when she came
down stairs to prepare breakfast.
Mr. Brown is the controlling stock
holder of the Williamsport Water
Company and is reputed to be the
wealthiest man in that city. This is
the second time that his residence
has been robbed.
Mr. Brown is a brother of Mrs. H.
H. Grotz, of this town.
Created a Favorable Impression.
The Male Choir ot the local Young
Men's Christian Association, attended
the Y. M. C. A. State Convention, at
Williamsport on Saturday and Sunday.
The organization made a very favor
able impression in that city, as can be
seen from the following very compli
mentary notice which we clip from the
Williamsport Sun:
The Y. M. C. A. Male Choir, of
Bloomsburg, which was in attendance
at the Y. M. C. A. State Convention
here, won everlasting praise for its
splendid music. The numbers on the
program taken by these singers were
among the most delightful features of
the convention. At the several church
es in which they appeared yesterday
the townspeople were afforded excell
ent opportunity for judging the merits
of the organization, and the unani
mous verdict of approval expressed is
a pronouncedly strong testimonial for
these vocalists. The choir is finely
balanced, and the volume of song pro
duced is tremendous. For conven
tion or concert work this choir is es
pecially strong, as was advantageously
shown at the big meeting in the Opera
House yesterday afternoon. Blooms
burg should be proud of these singers.
They are C C. Yetter, R. F. Colley,
R. F. Vandershce, C. D. Lynn, A. N.
Yost, F. B. Hartman, H. S. Barton,
E. II. Ent, F. P. Eyer, W. H. Brower,
S. R. Bidleman, O. H. Yetter. They
left for home on the 1 o clock train,
on the "Pennsy," Monday morning.
Jonas BiUenbender, an old and
respected resident of Minlinville,
died at Berwick, where he had
gone, something over a week pre
vious to visit, on Monday. We are
without any particulars as to the
cause of death. The fuueral will
occur from the home of his sister
Mrs. Aaron W. Hess, at . Mifflin
ville today.
The county statement will ap
pear in next week's issue of this
paper.
We Have About 50
Storoi Coats!
which we will sell
At Half Price,
FOR 10 DAYS,
If you are thinking of a coat, don't
let this opportunity
OUR SPRING GOODS!
are coming in daily. We now have
advance
Spring Hats and Neckwear.
Ben Gidding
BL00M5BURG, PENNA.
j3Ge Come in and see us we'll treat you right.
Bishop (Chaplain)
Just as we expected and predicted,
the people of Bloomsburg and vicin
ity are becoming wonderful.y inter
ested in Bishop (Chaplain) McCabe's
great lecture on "The Bright Side of
Life in Libby Prison, to be given in
the Methodist Church Saturday even
ing, March 3d. AJmission, only 25c.
It is the talk of the town, and the
tickets are going like hot cakes. It
is predicted that he will have the
largest lecture audience ever assem
bled in Bloomsburg. He is to preach
in the Methodist Chnrch Sunday,
Hotel Proprietor Dead.
George Hutchins, who, for nearly
five years, conducted that well-known
hostelry, the Susquehanna House, at
Catawissa, died from an attack of
what the attending physician diag
nosed as cramps, Tuesday morning.
It was about haif-past ten the night
before that he complained of feeling
unwell, and at times suffered pains in
different parts of his body. Before
he retired, however, the pains left
him, and he was apparently in his
usual good health. When morning
arrived he felt indisposed and did not
arise at his customary time. About
ten o'clock his condition assumed a
serious phase, and medical skill failed
to revive him. He died shortly after
ward. Mr. Hutchins conducted a
good house and was popular with the
a vy J .
sv. '''''
slip by.
McCabe's Lecture.
v
ess
March 4th, both morning and even
ing, and many living outside of
Bloomsburg are arranging to hear the
lecture on Saturday night and then
stay over Sunday to hear the sermons.
The Methodists will throw open their
great church building and welcome
all who come. It is a rare privilege
to hear one of the greatest living
men sing, lecture and preach, and our
reiders may rest assured that hun
dreds, if not thousands, will avail
themselves of the opportunity. We
advise all who can to go.
traveling public. He was thirty-seven
years old and leaves to survive him a
wife and two children.
After a stubborn fight for the
postmastersliip of Wilkes-Barre,
President McKiuley ended the sus
pense and contest by appointing
Byron G. llahn, republican chair
man of Luzerne county. Hahu's
strongest rival for the plum was
Charles B. Metzgar, an old war
veteran. Those to whom the nom
ination is distasetul, say it will be
the means of defeating the Quay
candidate tor the Legislature.
Typhoid fever is reported to be
raging to an alarming degree at
Milton. According to rumors there
are upwards of forty cases in the
town.