Danville intelligencer. (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, February 16, 1906, Image 1

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    DANVILLE INTELLIGENCER.
VOL. LXXVII.
J.J. BROWN, M.D.
THE EYE A SPECIALTY-
Eve stated, treated and fitted with
glosses. No Sunday Work.
311 Market - - B oomsburg. Pa
Hours—lo a. m.to sp. m.
~DR. J. 8W E l~S~F"i0 RT~
DENTIST.
Uses ODONTUNDER for the painless ex
traction of teeth. Dentistry in all
its branches and all work guar
anteed.
CHARGES REDUCED.
Opposite Opera House, Danv lie
THOMAS C. WELCH,
ATTOfINEY-AT-LAW.
Dlitiut Attorn.7 at Moatoai Oouaty
Ita tOT MILL STREET,
DANVILLE.
Charles V. Amerman,
Attomcy-at-L w Notary Public
DANVILLE, PA.
INSURANCE, GEN'L LAW PRACTICE
UNITED 'PHONE, 2»-»
li Ml OOP HUM.
PRESCRIPTION DRUBOIST,
Opposite Opera llouse.
'JASVILUfi, - - I'KKN'A
WM. KASE WEST.
atiukn: y-at-law.
ll*. SCO MILL STRBRT,
DANVILLE.
CHARLES CHALFANT.
ATTORNIY-AT-LAW,
It* 110 MILL STREET,
DANVILLE.
WILLIAM L. SIDLER.
ATTORHEY.AT.LAw,
COR. RILL AND MABBET STRUTS.
•ANVILLB.
Tsks your prescription! u.
ROSSMAN & SON'S PHARMACY,
MS HILL STREET, DANVILLE, PA,
Tv* I«|ISUN4 Pharaaaclsta In oharK*
r«ro rmk Drifi and foil Un« of Paloa*
■ •dlclßM sad IvadrlM.
FIJIB OlQAlt GOOD GOLD SODA.
Patronize
A. C. AMESBDRY.
Best Coal in Towi-.
BEST FOR THE
BOWELS
If yon haven't a regular, healthy movement of the
bow*la every day. you're ill or will bo. Keep your
bow*ls open, and be well. Force, in the shape of
violent physic or pill poison, is dangerous. The
smoothest, easiest, moat perfect way of keepiug
the bowels clear and clean is to !ako
CAT 'EM LIKE CANDY
Pleasant, Palatable, Potent, Taste Good, !>•■»
Good, Never Bicken, weaken or Grlpei 10. 25 an.l
M easts per bos. Write for free sample, and book •
let on health. Address 4j3
Starling Rametfr Company, Chicago or Naw Tori.
KEEP YOUR BLOOD Oim
Senior Class Entertained.
The senior class of the Danville lii#h
school was very pleasantly entertained
at a valentine party at the home of i
Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Gearhart, Bloom j
street, Tuesday evening by Misses
Katherint* Gearhart, Martha MeOlow
and Laura Maun. The valentine
■ 'heme was predominant throughout.
Che evening.
Those prebout were: Misses Mary
Gill, MargaitU Kilfoil, Mary Moyer, i
Jennie Woodside, Marg tret Pat ton,
Annie Steinbrenner, Alice Peyton,
Isabel Blue, Lucille Evans, Floronce
Trumbower, Will McCoy, Georgo Ja
cobs Rav II »mer, Maurice Dreifuss,
Fred Kvan* Maurice Eugle, Joe Gill,
Stanley Morris, Charles F. Kosten
baudur,Hurry richoch, Robert L. Arms,
Professor* D. N. Dioffenbacherand F.
W. Magi 11.
. Papen* are being made out to com
mit Michael Malarka,a prisoner in the
Columbia county jail, to the Hospital
for the Insane at Danville.—Blooms
burg Daily.
COMMITTED TO
COUNTY PRISON
Albert Smethors of Liberty township
was committed to the county prison
yesterday to await a hearing before
Justice of the Peace Oglesby on the
charge of malicious mischief.
Smethers, who is a single man about
28 or 80 years of age, was arrested yes
terday by Constable McClellan Diehl
of Waßhingtonville on a warrant sworn
| out by George K. Heddens. The spe-
I ciflc offense that Smothers has to an
swer for Is the kicking over of a lamp
in Heddens' Hall, Washingtonville.on
February 2nd. On that night there
was to be a dance in the hall, which is
in the second story of Mr. Heddens' i
building, immediately above the Btore.
It is alleged that Smethers was see
ing how high he could kick when he
struck the lamp and caused it to fall
to the floor. It broke to pieces and the ,
oil, which ran ont over the floor, took
fire. Smethers, it seems, himself pick
ed up the fragments of the burning
lamp and throw them out of the win- i
dow, after which lie assisted to ei- i
tinguish the blaze. Prompt action i
succeeded in preventing a fire. i
The complainant in the case with
necessary witnesses will drive down to i
Danville this morning,when the hear- ]
ing will take place before Justice i
Oglesby at 9 o'clock. I
i
Purchased Furnace stack. 1
F. Q. Hartman has purchased the
material consisting mostly of brick |'
and mortar, that composed the stack ! t
of the Bessemer blast furnace, which ;
was overthrown with such spectacular j i
efTect the week before last. ! I
Mr. Hartman will use the material i
in filling up between his silk mills ]
aud the river bank. The furnace stack i
contains several thousand tons of ma- ]
terial, but it will all be needed along i
with a great deal of additional matter <
before all the space at the roar of the t
mills is graded over and the river bank 1
is repaired aad protected to meet Mr. <
Hartman's idea. | ■
Tiie heavy blasting heard at the fur
nace site during tho last couple of
days, shows that work is being pushed
steadily along. Dynamite is being em
ployed to break up some of the very
heavy steam and blast pipe that still
remains at the plant.
It will be Bome days before they will
be ready to throw the tall smoke stack
or to demolish the engine house, that
still shelters the big upright engine,
which is considered in too good a con
dition to be reduced to scrap. Should
the engine not find a purchaser by the
time the dismantling is completed a
temporary structure will be built over
it in order to afford shelter until it iB
finally disposed of.
Banquet at City Hotel.
The Brick Layers and Masons Un
ion, No. 81, of Danville, held its an
nual banquet at the City Hotel last
evening and the occasion proved to be
most enjoyable.
The members of the Danville Union
and their gnosts worn seated at the
bountifully laden banquet hoard at 8
o'clock. After the menu had received
the attention of the banqueters, speech
making and a general social good time
was made the order of the evening.
Those present at the banquet were
L. MoClow, president of the State
board; George Beyers. president; Jos
eph D. Halm, vice president; Clark
Heimbuch, secretary; John Albeck,
treasurer; Nathauial Wvorhart,deputy;
Harrison Shutt, S. of A. ; John De
lauty, alternate; William F. Moyer,
financial secretary; Lamar Halm, Frank
Ryan, John Ickes, Peter Kelly, Jona
than Rudy, Masters Arthur Beyers and
John McClow. Thore were alsoprosent
as visitors Benjamin Wise,of Berwick;
H. Reiuard and R.F. Keller, of Blooms
bnrg.
A Pleasant Party.
One of the largest and most pleasant
social dunces o' the season was held at
the'home of Mr. and Mrs. John Kitch
en.at BIHCk Run, Tuesday evening.
Among th 0.,0 present were: Mr. and
Mrs. Boyd Christian, Mabel Cliristian, '
Fannie Christian, Mr. and Mrs. Grier
Derr, Mr. and Mrs. George Wampola,
Jay Derr, Lillian Derr, Mr. and Mrs.
John Tanner, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram E.
Cromley, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Sees,
Frank Tanner, Annie Tanner, Marg
aret Kreamer,Boyd Christian, Mr. and
Mrs. Clell Whitenight, Mary White
night, Wilson Ande, Bossie Ande, Ar
thur Whitenight, Sadie Christian,
Edna Ande, Earle Whitenight, Myron
Whitenight, John Christian, Ray Win
terstnou, Carrie Flick, Elwood Cross
ley, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Heller, Horace
Geiser, Raymond Hower, Mahala Hel
ler, Blaine Hartmau, William Hower,
Decker Howor, Mr. and Mrs. Thorn
ton Watts, Hiram Crouse, Mary Mel
lick, Stella Welsh,Fannie Kline, Mer
lin Reichanl,Luther Whitenight, Jacob
Umstead, David Tanner, Albert Tan
ner, Mr. and Mrs. Charles White, Edith
Ormaa, Laura Orman, Ray Shaffer,
Harry Orman, Luella McHenrv.
**'
To Publish Delinquent Taxables.
I Mrs. Mary Hageubuch, tax oollector
of Shenandoah, will havo the list of
delinquent taxables ready for next
, Thursday evening's meeting of Town
Counoil, and it iB proposed to have it
published. Consequently, there is a
i rush of delinquents to the tax office,
in a desire to keep their names from
being printed in cold type.
The only cooks that stay with a fam
ily nowadays are those that are marri
ed to It.
•rUDOKD BUT TO TRUTH, TO ÜBXSTT ABB UW-M FA YOB BTVATB US ABB BO VIAI OBAT.L AWE"
DANVILLE. MONTOUR COUNTY. PA., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 €5, 190(5.
CLASS DAY EXERCISES
AND COMMENCEMENT
The school board held a lengthy ses
sion Monday, the proceeding* being
of more than usual interest. A good
deal of time was occupied by the re
ports of Messrs. Fischer and Orth,dele
gates, who represented the school board
at the convention of the State school
directors held at Harrisburg last week.
The delegates had only praise for the
state convention and at the fine op
portunities it presented for gaining
information on matters pertaining to
education and on what is being done
for the Bchools throughout the state.
Overflowing with enthusiasm them
selves they had no trouble in enthus
ing the whole board.
Especial lnteiest seemed to attach to
Governor Pennypacker's address. The
chief executive complimented the dele
gates—and lie requested that his com
mendation be reported to their respec
tive school hoards—for their zeal and
interest in matters pertaining to the
schools. He commended the directors
especially for their unyielding attitude
toward compulsory vaccination. He
stated that at the next Bession of the
legislature the law would in all prob
ability be amended so as to impose a
penalty for non vaccination. Each of
the speakers were in turn taken up by
the two delegates and what was now
and practical in the addresses was care
fully presented to the board.
j At the conclusion a vote of thanks
was tendered to the delegates for their
! full and able report.
| Harry Sclioch and George Jacobs
: representing the graduating class of
! the high school appeared before the
I meeting relative to the proposed de
parture at commencement innagurat
ing a class day and a class play as pro
posed to the school board by a com
mittee at the previous meeting. The
committee last night reported that af
ter disenssing the matter with the
faculty of the high school the class had
decided to abandon all idea of a class
play but would ask for the privilege of
holding a class dav. by which it was
understood that a portion of the ex
ercises that belong to commeur-ruont
proper would be held in the atternion
and that the commencement exercises
follow the same evening. The lattor,
which under the old order were very
long and tiresome, will he shortened
down to an hour or so and will in
clude little morn than the salutatory,
valedictory, graduating oration with
appropriate musio. The class day ex
ercises during the afternoon will make
it possible to extend the entire pro
gram a great deal, obliging all the
graduates to participate in the exer
cises.
I On motion of Mr. Pursel it was ord
ered that the request of the graduating
class as to a class day be granted. On
motion it was also decided that the
high school committee of the school
board act in conjunction with the
graduating claßs to Belect and secure a
suitable place for holding class day
and commencement exercises.
The truant officer presonted his re
port for the month just ended, whioh
showed that 215 pupils were detained
at home by illness. There were ten
truants itwolve were kept out of school
for want of Buitable clothing. Fifteen
notices were sent out.
Tho following members were pres
ent: Adams, Orth, Pursel, Haring,
Vonßlohn, Werttheiser, Fischer, Trum
bower, Grone, Burns and Heiss.
Treasurer Schrara presented a report
of finances to date, which showed a '
balance on hand of $8516.26.
The following bills were approved i '
for payment: :
Ginn & Company $8.12 •
Montonr County Democrat . . 4.00 j ■
Robert G. Miller 6.25 j
William Miller 3.75 |'
Standard Elec. Light Co 1.40
William Aten 1.80 .
John Hixson 7.09
J. W. Lore 3.10
H. R. Moore 8 73 j
Jacob Fischer 6.90 i
W. H. Orth 8.65
Boyer Brothers 2.00
DANVILLE BOY IN CANADA. j
W. E. Lunger has received a letter
trom his son Howard, who is located
at Montreal, as draughtsman for the
Canadian Car Company. Howard, who
was with the American Car and Foun- j
dry Company at Berwick for about j
two years, entered upon his position j
at Montreal on December Ist. He is
much pleased with his new position
and sees in it fine opportunities for
gaining experience and for rapid ad
vancement. He is in the best of health
and spirits. The winter sports for
which Montreal is famous appeal to
him very strongly, especially the ex
ercise on snow shoes, with which he
already has become more or less ex
pert. Mercury, he writes, frequently
drops to 20 degrees below zero.
Pet Dog In a Runaway.
The horse attached to A. M. Peters'
delivery wagon took fright at a pass
ing sleigh on West Mahoning street
yesterday forenoon and indulged in a
slight runaway. He was caught near
Grove's office, East Mahoning street.
There was no damage done.
The black pet dog of Mr. Peters was
in the wagon when the horse started
and he took in the whole trip evident
ly enjoying the ride. As the driverless
wat r ou dashed np Mahoning street the
dog had all he could do to balance him
self and maintain his position on the
seat where he was accustomed to sit
with the driver. The spectacle amused
a good many people.
Met Death, at
Pistol's Point
"Corky" Jones Instantly Killed Tuesday Night in
Peter Dietrich's Hotel—Tragedy the Re
sult of an Argument.
A tragic end came to a human life
in Danville Tuesday, when James A.
Jones, familiarly known to many peo
ple as "Corky" was shot to death by
Peter Dietrich, at Hotel Dietrich, on
Upper Mulberry street.
The horrible rumor began to be cir
culated about 12 o'clock that a man
had been shot at Hotel Dietrich. The
physicians and police hurrying to the
scene of the tragedy confirmed the re
port, and the few people who were
awake at the time were horrified to
learn that the worst features of the
story were only too true
Both Peter Dietrich and James Jones
are men very well known in thb city,
the former for many years having been
a hotel proprietor here and the latter a
heater at the Structural Tubing Works.
Two others, beside Dietrich and
Jones, were in the bar room of the ho
tel when the tragedy occurred; Andrew
Rogers aud John Woll, and it was to
the former's story that the coroner's
jury listened when it was later assem
bled about the dead man's body.
Justice of the peace W. V. Oglesby
empanelled the following jury at Ho
tel Dietrich Tues night: John Doster,
Calvin Mincemoyer, John Russell, T.
R. Angle, Lewis Byerly and W. E.
Young. A verdict was not rendered,
iiowever, as it was thought necessary
to hear more complete testimony and
also to hear the result of the autopsy.
Andrew Rogers, who was present
when the shooting occurred, was sworn
before the jury and told of the affair
as he saw it. He said that there was
no ill feeling existing between the two
men that wonld have led to any rash
act. The conversation had drifted un
to the subject of shooting,and Dietrich
having at one time been in the western
part of the country, claimed to be an
expert with the revolver. Jones ban
teringly told him that he didn't think
that he conld shoot. Dietrich all the
while was playing with a revolver and
now stood against the bar holding the i
weapon in the crook of his arm, while
Jones was across the room half reclin
ing on a bench. Of a sudden the sharp
report of the pistol rang' out, and as
the men, startled, leaped back, Dietrich
quietly remarked: "Never mind I
didn't shoot him". Woll, however,
walked over to Jones and seeing the
blood oozing from a wound under his
eye, told Dietrich that the man was
Bhot. Dietrich then walked over to the
bencf/, and saw that Joneß.who all the
time had not moved or uttered a sound,
was bleeding and was unconscious.
Woll and Rogers were at once dis
patched for a doctor, and Dr. Paules
was the first to arrive on the scene. He
found Jones to be quite dead. Chief
of Polioe Mincemoyer also testified be
fore the coroner's jury. He said that
when he went into the hotel he met
Dietrich coming down stairs. He at
once gave himself np, also surrender
ing a 32 calibre, 5 shot revolver, that
had two empty and three loaded cham
bers. Chief Mincemoyer took Dietrich
into custody and lodged him in prison.
James A. Jones was 44 years of age.
He is survived by his wife, three sons,
James, David and Kimmer; two broth
ers, John and Thomas, both employed
at the Structural Tubing Workß; two
Bisters, Mrs. Jennie Hughes, of Potts
ville and Mrs. Mary Bevan, of New
Castle.
CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL. I
By the terms of the Roberts corrupt
practices bill which has been sent to
the Governor for signature, candidates
must, after the bill becomes a law,
itemize every dollar expended by them
for political purposes and verify these
expenditures under oath. This plan
has been adopted in other states with
a degree of success dependent only on
the Borutiny of the district attorney
as to the correctness of the returns
, made. An honest candidate needs no
public accounting for the funds he in
| vests in a political way and the dis
honest one will glibly swear to any
thing necessary either with or with
out a law governing the subject. The
only advantage in favor of such a mea
sure is that it gives a double hold up
on the political crook in case anyone
gets virtuous enough to proseoute him
—lie can be held for unlawful expen
ditures as well as for perjury in mak
ing his return. But the bill is an
evidence of reform thinking in any
event.
A Jersey City man wants a wife so
that there will be someone to mourn
his death. Experienced observers will
deem the Jersey City man an unusual
ly trustful person.
VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY.
The tragedy that ocourred at Hotel
Dietrich Tuesday in which James A.
Jones was shot to death caused a re
markable furore of excitement about
town yesterday, and the shooting and
the possible outcome of the situation
was almost the one topic of discussion.
Peter Dietrich in the Montour coun
ty prison is bearing up as well as can
be expected under the terrible strain.
Early yesterday morning after he had
boen incarcerated his nervous condi
tion was shattered,but last evening he
had quieted down considerable and
was resting much easier.
The coroner's jury held an adjourn
ed session at 3 o'clock yesterday after
noon at the office of W. V. Oglesby,
Esq., where complete testimony and
the reault of the doctors' autopsy was
held. The facts as related in the Nows
yesterday were substantiated, but in
addition the testimony taken yester
day afternoon brought out several
significant facts.
[ The flrst witness called was Andrew
Rogers who had testified before the
jury at its first meeting. He told the
story of the shooting as on the pre
vious occasion. Dr. Panles aud Dr.
Patten were then called and gave the
result of the autopsy that they had per
formed in the morning. It was their
opinion that death had been cansed in
stantaneously by the bullet, which,en
tering a half incli below the left eye,
had ploughed a course through the
brain and lodged in the bones of the
skull.
John Woll, the only other eye wit
ness of the shooting beside Andrew
Rogers, was then called. He said that
he and Jones had come to Hotel Diet
rich together, aud that after a while
the talk drifted to shooting. The wit
ness stated that Jones had "dared"
Dietrich to shoot, and that the report
of the pistol had followed closely upon
the dare. Woll, however, did not see
Dietrich fire the shot.
Chief of Police Mincemoyer told the
jury of his going to Hotel Dietrich af
ter the shooting and of his taking
Dietrich into custody. He said that
when Dietrioh surrendered himselt it
was with the words:
"I shot the man but I did it in self
defense.''
I Upon question, however, both Woll
' and Rogers stated that neither had
Jones a weapon about him nor had lie
made a threatening move of any kind.
The Jury after deliberation rendered
the following verdict:
"An inquisition taken at Hotel
Dietrich, on Upper Mulberry street in
the Fourtli Ward of the Borough of
Danville, County aforesaid, on the
Fourteenth day of February, A. D.
1906, upon view of the body of James
A. Jones, then and there lying dead,
before William V. Oglesby, a justice
of the peace in and for said County,
there being no lawfully appointed
Coroner for said County, upon the
solemn oaths respectively, of John L.
Russell, William E. Young, John Q.
Voris, W. Dosii Holloway, John Doster
and Theodore R. Angle, six good and
lawful men of the County aforesaid,
ciiarged to inquire on the part of the
Commonwealth,of Pennsylvania, when
where and by what means the said
James A. Jones came to his death,
who, upon their respective oaths, do
say, that it appears from the view of
the body and from the evidence pro
duced before them, that the said James
A. Jones came to his death, on the
Thirteenth day of February, A. D.
1906, at the said Hotel Dietrich, on
Upper Mulberry Street in the Fourth
Ward of the Borough of Danville,
County of Montour and State of Penn
sylvania, as the result of a wound in
flicted by a bullet discharged from a
revolver in the hands of one Peter
Dietrich, proprietor of the said Hotel.
"In witness whereof, as well the
said acting coroner as the said jurors,
have to this inquisition"set their hands
and seals, on the day and the year first
above mentioned.''
VALUABLE PHOTOGRAPHS.
A series of very interesting pictures
may be seen at A. H. Grone's book
store showing the old Bessemer blast
furnace in its partly dismantled state,
one of the most interesting being a
snap shot taken just as the big furnace
stack and elevator shaft were in the
process of falling. In the photograph
the ponderous mass hangs suspended in
the air at an angle of probably forty
five degrees.
The views artistically are quite up
to the standard and show that Mr.
Poulterer, the gentleman in charge, is
quite as much at home with the camera
as he is directing the wrecking of ob
solete industries. The photographs
should be prized very highly as they
will Berve to keep In mind an impor
tant industrial establishment, whose
walls were familiar to a whole genera
tion of our inhabitauts, but which af
ter a few more blasts of dynamite have
done their work will be wholly a thing
of the past and the spot where they
stood will be a part of the common.
The St. Louis police have been or
dered to arrest every man who swoars
on the street. If the Danville police
were to do that they'd never get any
thing else done.
CROSSING BLOCKED
HALF AN HOUR
This paper finds it necc isaiy to call
attention once more to the hardships
' imposed on our citizens by the practice
of blocking the railroad crossings,
; which is quite persistently indulged
' in at least on one railroad passing
through town. The trainmen are
shamefully indifferent, not to say in
solent in the matter,simply consulting
their own convenience and refusing to
cut a train on the crossing even when
requested to do so by people in wait
ing. As a result regardless of the
weather persons are held up from fif
teen minutes to half an hour at a time.
Drivers manage the best they oan to
control restive horses, while pedestri
ans take fearful risks trying to gain
tiie opposite side of the track by climb
ing over the cars.
The experience of a lot of people
driving out North Mill street between
7 and 8 o'clock Tuesday evening forms
a case in point. Arriving at the P. &
R. crossing they found the track block
ed by a long coal train. The crew was
engaged in switching cars into the
Reading Iron Works. They took their
own good time for it and simply ig
nored the people waiting. For one half
an hour they blocked the crossing. :
They refused to cut the train,although
repeatedly asked to do so by several ,
persons very anxious to cross.
The above forms an instance in
which "forbearance ceases to be a vir
tue." The limit of time for which a
crossing may be blocked was long sur
passed ; the number of people forced to
wait in the chilly winter atmosphere
constantly increased as the weary half
hour dragged along. It was not one
person, but many, who was delayed
aud put to inconvenience. The fact oc
curs to one how easily one of those
held up for half an hour might have
been a physician responding to an urg
ent call and where every moment lost
lessened the chance of saving a linman
life.
On the South Side conditions are not
much better. The Pennsylvania rail
road crews havo but little regard for
the traveling public and it is no un
usual thing for the important orossiug
there to be blocked for fifteen minutes
at a time. Some crews in taking wat
er are considerate enough to detach
the locomotive leaving the bulk of the
train standing below the crossing
while the locomotive runs up to the
tank. Others—and it is a question
whether these do not form the major
ity—are unwilling to do so much for
the public and simply pull their train
up over the crossing where it is per
mitted to stand. At this crossing, es
pecially, it is very much feared that
an accident will occur among men and
boys who become weary of waiting
and attempt to climb over the cars.
Ferry Cable Taken Down.
The long wire cable stretching across
the.river was taken down Tuesday
afternoon,and a tall pole reaching sky
ward on each side of the wide channel
is now all that remains of the free
ferry, which for nearly two years was
such an important factor at Danville.
The big ferry boat having served its
brief dav was sold and torn to pieces
last summer. The heavy cable,which,
like the boat, was new when installed
represents considerable valuo and the
County Commissioners hope to dispose
of it to some advantage.
Stretching the cable when the ferry
was installed was found to bo a very
strenuous task. The big wire rope
dropped into the river, where in the
strong current it became almost un
manageable. Remembering their ex
periences the commissioners decided
that the proper time to take the cable
down would be when the river was
covered with ice so that the current
would not be a factor to reckon with.
As the ice was increasing daily the
commissioners had intended to post
pone taking down the cable for a few
days longer, but the warm weather
Tuesday suggested that a break-up
might not be far distant and they
somewhat hurriedly decided to tackle
the job at once.
The ice was found to be eight inches
thick on the river, strong enough to
bear half a dozen oables and a small
army of men. The work was very
easily accomplished. The big cable—
which by the way weighs 2400 pounds
—was released from the top of the
high poles and permitted to drop upon
the ice. The end on the Danville side
was secured to the large reel on which
the cable was shipped here nearly two
years ago; it was cut entirely loose on
the South Danville side and drawn ov
er the ice by means of the reel, which
was operated by several men. It was
nearly dark, however, before the cable
was all wound np. When this was ac
complished the work was abandoned for
the night.
County Qets Fortune.
There lias been lifted in Schuylkill
couuty 1,185 liquor licenses. This rec
ord is several more than last year.
There are still a half dozen in the
hands of the court to be finally passed
upon.
The receipts from these licenses thus
far aggregate more than $209,000. The
Law and Order crusade against violat
ors of the license law closed up a num
ber of stands, but the renewal of li
censes to places refused last year and
those granted to new stands outnum
ber them.
They do say the new voting mach
ines vote like an individual. But,
then, we have always had a lot of in
dividuals that vote like maohints.
THOUGHT BOILER
HAD EXPLODED
The Reading Iron Works, this city,
shortly before 2 o'clock Saturday morn
ing was the scene of a most unusual ac
cident, in which a workman narrowly
escaped being killed and which came
near causing a panic among the work
men. The trouble was caused by the
explosion of a cinder tap,or to be more
explicit the slag which had drained
out of a heating furnace.
The accident took place at No. 9
heating furnace in the bar mill. The
usnal lot of slag had accumulated out
side just below the door of the furnace
and was in process of cooling when
one of the workmen, a Polander, came
along for the purpose of removing it.
Before the cinder can be hauled away
it has to be broken up into small pieces.
| The cinder in front of No. 9 furnace,
was still a little too warm for break
ing and in order to hurry along the
process of cooling the Polander took
up the hose and began to sprinkle wat
er upon it.
i All of a sudden there was an explos
ion that shook the mill; the Polander
was hurled soma fifteeu feet, while the
hot oinder In oliuuks as large as a
man's head was scattered in every dir
; ection, several large pieces flying np
to the roof. The report was deafening.
The impression all through the plant
was that a boiler had exploded and the
workmen involuntarily dropped thoir
tools and were on the point of scampre
ing out of the mill when the true na
ture of the accident bocame known.
It was only a moment until several
employes reached the spot and picked
up the Polander. It was found that
he was not injured beyoud a few
scratches upon the face. Tiie shock,
however, was terrible and the poor fel
low seemed to think he was fatally
hurt. He was no sooner assistod to his
feet than he fainted. He was later
assisted to his home on Sycamore
street,.
The explosion, it is thought, was
caused by the water working its way
under the tap and coming in contact
with somo of the molten slag. No one
about the mill could think of an ex
plosion just like it—none so violent, in
which the whole mass of cinder was
scattered broadcast. It was merely a
coincidence that the spot where the
cinder exploded was practically desert
ed at the time; otherwise no doubt a
number of workmen would have been
injured.
"Aunty" Ritter Passes Away.
Mrs. Christine Bitter, widely known
about town as "Aunty" Ritter,one of
the very oldest residents of Danville,
departed this life at 7 :30 o'clock Sun
day moruing. Had she survived un
til May 15th she would have beeu 91
years of age.
The deceased was the widow of Ben
jamin Bitter, who has beeu dead very
many years. She was born in Berks
county but when 8 years of age her
parents removed to Lewisburg,, later
taking up their residence in Snyder
oounty. '' Aunty" Bitter was a compar
atively youna woman when the family
removed to Danville and it was here
that the greater part of her long life
was Bpeut.
Probably no ono was better known
in Danville aud vicinity or more kind
ly remembered. She was a nurse and
for forty years she followed that voca
tion being employed by the leading
families of this city. She was recog
nized as an experienced aud skillful
nurse and the success of her labors con
stitute a record to be proud of. Her
Judicious aud geutle ministrations
made many a bed of suffering easier ;
in her capacity as nurse she came in
contact with people in a way tlmt was
sure to establish a boud of sympathy
and feeling, out of which grew the
general respect and affection for the
venerable woman that was shown on
every side aud which helped to make
the declining years of her life content
ed aud happy.
Death was clearly due to the infirmi
ties of old age. Although in bed since
January 2ud she did not suffer any
pain aud death came at last like a
peaceful sleep. The deceased was the
last of ten children. She is survived
by one daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Mun
sou.East Market street, at whose home
death occurred.
"Aunty" Bitter was consigned to
the gravo in Odd Fellows' cemetery
Tuesday. The funeral took place from
the residence of Mrs. Munson, daugh
ter of the deceased, East Markot stroet,
at two o'clock.
The services were conducted by Rev.
Edward Haughton, rector of Christ
Episcopal church. The pall bearers
were: T. J. Price, Sam A. McCoy,
W. V. Oglesby and Frank Q. Schoch.
The funeral was private. Tlio flow
ers wore very beautiful, comprising
tributos from a large number of well
kuown people, among whom might be
mentioned James Scarlet, T. J. Price,
M. G. Youngmau, Robert Y. Gear
hart, Dr. Jno. Sweisfort and William
Russell. A sheaf of wheat from Mrs.
Maria Rhodes formed a beautiful and
very appropriate offering.
The funeral throughout was impres
sive and abounded in tributes of re
spect as became the last sad right* ov
er one whose life had been so long and
who had done so much for others.
BAD FALL.
John R. Miller,the well known jnnk
dealer, took a bad tumble while walk
ing on the sidewalk near his home on
East Mahoning street yesterday morn
ing. He trod upon some ice which
caused him to slip. Mr. Miller is a
heavy weight and he come down with
great force striking the back of his
head on the bricks.
The man escaped broken bones but
sustained a terrible shock which kept
him confined to the house yesterday.
Dr. Wintersteen administered.
NO 12
'CRAFTY DETECTIVE
WORK SUCCESSFUL
I There is quite nn interesting detec
tive story being told in Sunbury and
if all the details are true the stories of
Sherlock Holmes and Nick Oarter an
equalled,|if not surpassed.
! From what has boeu learned several
years ago an officer in the United
States Army, at that'time located la
the Philippines, suddenly deserted
while under arrest for stealing a large
sum of money and also charged with a
number of other crimes, some of them
of a very serious feature. Owing to
the man's many bad d<»ed« and the
manner in which he so easily escaped
the United States Government wu
very anxious to apprehend him. Es
pecially anxious was present Secre
tary of War Taft, who at the time wai
Governor General of the Philippine*
and who desired that the erring officer
should be severely punished,
i Mr. Taft gave special instruction*
that no effort should be spared in try-
I ing to capture him and the case wa*
placed in charge of one of the best de
tectives in the Seoret Servioe. The
well known sleuth immediately took
up the case and the chase after the fal
low was soon a merry one. He waa
| traced to this couutry but realizing
that lie was being closely pursued he
managed to elude the deteotive on
numerous occasions. He was located at
different places, but always managed
to get away before his arrest could be
made. Finally after a search through
the anthracite coal regions of this
State it was learned that the fellow
was some where in this section and
when the detective picked up the due
he visited the towns in this neighbor
hood. When all trace of him was again
lost it was believed that he had been
in Sunbury and was possibly still
there. The detective soon went to Sun
bury and decided to make a thorough
search. Securing employment on a
delivery wagon ho kept a careful watch
and believed that he was on the right
track. He later secured several other
different positions in Sunbury and at
last finally spotted his man who was
working for the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company. Dogging his every
move lie was convinced that lie had
the right party and Monday last week
the arrest was mudo and the man was
taken to Buffalo, New York. The de
tective kept very quiet while in Sun
bury and it was not until he was sure
of his man that he told anything con
crening the case. Even then he was
very reticent but before leaving Sun
bury stated that the man committed so
many crimes and of sncli a serious na
ture that if given the limit he could
bo sent to prison for ninety-four years.
More of the details concerning the
story will likely be learned later.
Party Near Washlngtonvllle.
Mr. and Mrs. John Bobbins delight
fully entertained a surprise party at
their home near Wasliingtonville, Sat
urday evening, in honor of their daugh
ter, Miss Margaret's birthday. The
evening was spent very pleasantly with
social chat,music on the grapliophone,
cards and other games. Refreshments
were served after which all left for
their homes wishing Miss Margaret
many returns of the day. Those pres
ent were: Mr. and Mrs. Will Corneli
son, Miss Myrtle aud Master Nelson
Cornelison, Mr. aud Mrs. Ben Ware,
Misses Stella and Minnie Ware, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Miller, Misses Kathryn,
Edith and Tlielma Miller, Mr. and
Mrs. Bay Golder,Elmer Qolder, Missel
Olive, Auuie and Maude Oolder, Mr.
and Mrs. Will Boat, Mr. and Mrs.
Will Steinman, Messrs. J. A. Smith
ers, John Fruit, Baytnond aud Sidney
Bogart, Israel and Clarence Hagenbuoh,
John Heudricks, Freeman and Martin
Bobbins, Misses Kate Mainzer, Flora
and Nancy Fruit, Mary Springer, Wilda
Panuebaker, Flora, Lizzie and Mary
Bobbins, of Danville B. F. D. No. 1;
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bobbins, Mis*
Gortrude Bobbins,of Milton; Mr. Nor
mal) Brofeo.of Catawissa ; Miss Emily
Lewis, Messrs. Spencer Arter and
Purdy Arter, of Danville; Messrs.
Clarence Seidel, Elwood Deitrioh and
Isaiah Gresh, of .Wasliingtonville;
Misses Mary and Verna Zartman, of
Billmeyer's Park.
Sleighing Party.
A jolly sleighing party from Elys
burg enlivened the home of Mr. and
Mrs. A. J. Still, oorner of Water and
Cedar streets, Tuesday evening. The
neighborhood was apprised of the ar
rival of the party by noisy demonstra
tions as they passed up Front street.
After a pleasant social time and the
serving of refreshments they began to
think of leaving as midnight approach
ed. Finally by the combined efforts
of all the young men the party was
successful in locating the hostler who
had charge of their team, and soon,
with jingling bells and tooting horns
the happy party sped away.
Those present were: Misses Jennie
and Grace Miller, Hattie and Dora
Pitner, Ada Pensyl, Delia Teitsworth,
Mabel Christian, Mossrs. Howard E.
Vouglit, Howard McWilliams, John
and Marshall Fahringer,Calvin Chris
tian, Addison Rodarmel and Jesse
Teitsworth, of Elysburg ; Roy Shultz,
Miss Jnlia Russell and Mrs. N. M.
Keim, of Danville.
The 107 th.
The death at Mt. Carmel on Wednes
day night of Goerge Simmons result
ing from being struok on the head
with a brick thrown by Blink Red
dinger, makes the one hundred and
seventh killing that has occurred in
Northumberland county in twenty
' years.