Republican News Item.
VOL. VII. NO. 38.
Better ThaEverlS
£ lam better prepared p
? than ever to supply your
n wants in ?
}Clocks & S
r AND STAPLE JEWELERY, S
j I invite your inspection s
\ at your earliest S
s convenience. \
S RETTENBURY, )
< DUSHORE, PA. The Jeweler. S
COLE'S^
HARDWARE. >
Place
For Reliable
STOVES and RANGES,
COAL OB WOOD.
v HEATERS;
ONE OP WINTER'S GREAT DELIGHTS.
House Furnishiug Goods, Tools of Every
Description, Guns and Ammunition.
Bargains that bring the buyer back.
Come and test the truth of our talk.
A lot of second hand stoves and ranges for sale cheap.
We can sell you in stoves anything from a fine Jewel Base
Burner to a low priced but satisfactory cook stove.
Hot Air, Steam and Hot Water Heating and
General Repairing, Roofing and Spouting.
Samuel <3ofe,©ttsftore^a.
The Shopbell Dry Good Co.,
> 313 Pine Street, ,
' • j WILLIAMSPORT, PA.
The Sale of Muslin Underwear
IS AT ITS HEIGHT.
Don't the best things go before you do your shop
ping. All low prices previously advertised are still
current. Every garment fresh from the best manufactur
ers in the land. We urge you to examine them carefully.
Note materials, workmanship, style, trimmings and every
other detail.
At the Linen Counter.
Here are goods and prices that will
surely interest the "head of the house."
Real Irish Damasks, the perfection of
fineness and finish, new spring patterns.
If you are ready for a few new cloths or
a dozen of Napkins, never a better time
than now to purchase them.
At 50 Cents
We are showing a very superior quality
of bleached and unbleached Table Linen
in neat patterns that are worthy of con
sideration.
At 75 Cents
We sell 72-inch wide unbleached and
full bleeched Table Linen, very heavy
Scotch or Irish sort. They come in a
large variety of new, neat designs. We
own them cheap and you're going to* get
the benefit.
Snbscrihe lor the News Item
LA PORTE, r SULLI VAN COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1903.
Our SI.OO
Quality full bleached Table Damask is
a leader that has never been equaled.
Their white satiny surfaces show ia strong
relief many new striking designs. Pro
nounced cheapness is unquestioned. Then
we have napkins to match all paterns.
At $1.25 to $2.50
Our assortment of pure Irish satin fin
ished Table Damask is complete. There
is a firmness and grace about these that
nothing but pure flax can give. Then the
designes you'll be fascinated with.
LINEN SETS
Damask Cloths and Napkins is a large
variety of designs and qualities that range
in price from $5.00 to $23.00 for the set.
We are showing some new Lunch Cloths,
Centerpieces, ( arving Cloths, Scarfs,
Doilies and Squares.
COUHTYjNEWS ISSuwiTfcS
Happenings ol ££SSf"'
Interest to Readers
MUNCY VALLEY.
The Republicans of Davidson Twp
held their caucus at Hotel Lorah
last Tuesday.
Samuel Secules has taken his
teams to Jamison City to deliver
bark to the tannery at that place.
John C. Taylor who \tent to the
Williamsport Hospital last Wednes
day and underwent an operation on
Thursday is much improved at this
writing.
Anna Meyers of lola is visiting
her Uncle, T. L. Watts.
Taylor Bros, of the Muncy Valley
Stock farm have purchased a new
20 horse power engine and a new
chopper.
F. W. Snyder a roller in the tan
nery rolled one of his lingers quite
badly lastNThursday.
Messrs. Jas. Moran Jr., Charles
Hopper and Bertie Miller spent Sun
day with their old friend Joseph
Numitz on Eagles Mere Ave.
Frank Magargle has purchased a
large drove of sheep for his farm
above Sonestown.
C. D. Stroup, the woodman is de
livering about thirty cords of wood
here every day.
Chas. E. Crawley seems to be the
only candidate for supervisor in the
lower end of Davidson. Charley has
held the office for one year and has
done such good work that no one
has the "sand" to run against him.
Jas. Moran Jr. was at Laporte on
Saturday.
A. P. Starr, County Auditor, came
down from Laporte on Saturday to
spend Sunday with his family here.
M. Donovan, who was badly scald
ed at the tannery is much improved
but not yet able to walk.
D* M. Taylor spent Sunday with
his son John at the Williamsport
Hospital.
Jas. P. Miller was a Laporte bus
iness visitor last Friday.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. A. B.
Magargle was the scene of a large
and delightful surprise party Thurs
day afternoon in honor of their
daughter, Mrs. M. F. Shaw, who re
ceived some useful and handsome
presents.
A. J. Hill has gone to Nordmont
to work for the Union Tanning Co.
The rain last week caued the ice
togo out along the creek and the re
sult was a large ice jam below tow«
but it was blown out with dynamite
by supervisor Crawley before any
damage was done.
Samuel Ritter and Chas. Green
spent Sunday at Laporte.
• ESTELLA.
Ray and Clay Williams of East
Canton, who have been hauling logs
for Mr. Webster, have returned
home with their teams.
Boyd Osier is reported on th« sick
list.
Floyd More is at home suffering
with an abscess.
Clark Brown of Athens recently
visited his father, J. S. Brown who
continues in very poor health.
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Richard
Duff, daughter No. 4. The first
daughter also came to the home of
Beuj. Little on Bear Mountain.
J. J. Webster is at home superin
tending his log job.
A. T. Mulnix and D. F. McCarty
made a business trip to Laporta last
week.
Happy Children Sleighride.
Two sled loads of merry school
children from Bernice enjoyed a
pleasure trip to Laporte last Thurs
day afternoon. Prof. Bowles took
them about the town and included
the News Item office as one of the
points of interest. The pupils were
greatly interested in their instruct
ion on how newspapers are made.
They were every where cordially
received and invited to return.
SHVNK.
We are informed that a large and
eommodius hotel with all modern
improvements will be erected here
this coming spring, by A. E. Tripp
of Laporte. This place is very much
in need of such accomodations, and
Mr. Tripp has fully realized the
wants of the people. Success to
him.
Mrs. Lorenza Brown spent the
greater part of last week in caring
for her daughter, Mrs. Clarence
Watts, of East Canton, who is very
low at this writing, with no hopes of
recovery.
The P. O. S. of A. celebrated the
anniversary of their existence Mon
day night by giving an oyster sup
per to the members and their ..fami
lies and sweethearts. A large crowd
was present and every one seemed
to enjoy themselves immensely, es
pecially "snaky locks."
C. V. Parrish and family oT Cald
well, were called here last week by
the serious illness of Mrs. Parrish's
mother, Mrs. Sophrona "Porter.
Miss Emma Spencer of Laporte
enjoyedja sleigh ride to this place
on Friday last, the guest of Mrs. W.
E. Porter.
Ezra Williams of East Canton
spent last week with his son O. J.
Williams at this place.
A- V. Shattuck of Company M,
sth U. S. Infantry, who has been
serving Uncle Sam in the Philip
pines for the past three years arrived
home last Wednesday evening. Vic
looks as though he had been through
the war, having been sick with fever
for about six months before dis
charged.
Lost, on Postofflce Ave. last week,
a lady's breakfast. A reward of a
tin plate will be given the finder.
* RICKETTS. a.
Mr. Frank Kuhns and T. A. Kel
ler returned on Saturday from a vis
it to Harrisburg. It is reported that
the people of our capitol had prepar
ed for the visit and had things fixed
for them in a number of ways.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller spent Sunday
near Jamison City visiting relatives.
Mrs. L. D. May ofGranviile Cen
ter, Bradford county, visited Mrs.
Mintzer last week.
Just now we are in the midst of
the ice harvest and it helps to keep
things moving.
Engine 357 drawing passenger
train No. 555, broke a tube at Beth
Run Monday night and had to wait
for two hours until another engine
•was secured. The train was 2 hours
and 30 minutes late in consequence.
The mill has been running one
half time lately owing to a broken
shaft.
The axle on engine No. 8. broke
last week causing it to be laid up
for a week.
Want'd to know, where to get
coal?
The K. O. T. M. held a dance on
the 23rd which was well attended.
Mr. Milton Qetts fell and broke
his arm last week.
The snow is now over three feet
deep in the woods making it very
difficult to handle logs.
Mrs. J. Waring rendered two very
acceptable solos last Sunday *at the
morning and evening services.
Wr. W. R. Ricketta of Ganoga
Lake gave a supper to a number of
Wilkesbarre friends last Saturday
evening.
CHARLES A. GODCHARLES DEAD.
Charles A. Godcharles, a promi
nent manufacturer of Milton, father
of Fred. A. Godcharles candidato
for Congress from this district last
fall, died at his home in that place
on Satuiday January 17, after an
illness of but a few days following
an operation for constriction of the
bowels.
FATAL WRECK OH W. & N. B.
One of the most appalling railroad
wrecks in the history of the W. & N.
B. R. 11. occured near this place
at an early hour Monday morning,
when a loaded freight train running
at twelve miles an hour crashed in
to ten freight cats standing on the
Summit siding,resulting in the death
of three of the trainmen.
The dead are:
H. L. Edkiu, conductor.
Edward Darling, brakeman.
Thomas Swank, brakeman.
The injured: Lloyd Fairman, fire
man, bruised and badly scalded
about the body; Boak Steiglenian,
engineer, sustained minor injuries.
Both brakemen resided at Sones
town. Darling is survived by a
widow and Swank by a widow and
infant child, both having been mar
ried leas than a year. Mr. Edkin
who had been in the employ of the
railroad for 18 years, lLved at Satter
fleld. He is survived Jay a young
widow.
The accident occured at what is
known as Summit siding which is
about one and a half mile from La
porte. In order to accelerate the
movement of coal, the crew had been
at work to move all cars possible to
Summit siding that big trains could
be started in the morning toward
Halls Station.
Owing to the steep grade from
Satterfield to Summit siding only a
short draft of cars was moved on
each trip and these were placed on
sidings between Nordmont and La
porte.
At an early hour Monday morn
ing the crew of the early passenger
train with their engine placed ten
cars on the siding at the summit and
the engine ran out the south end on
to the main line and returned to
Ringdale for the remainder of the
train. At 2:40 o'clock the engine
returned to the summit with loaded
ears of hayand grain. Owing to the
position of the cars already on the
siding it was the intention of the
crew to run past the north switch and
push the cars back onto the siding
from the south switch. As a conse
quence the engineer did not reduce
the speed as they approached the
north end but instead of continuing
on the main line the engine dashed
into the open switch and against the
string of loaded cars left there a few
hours previously.
All the men were riding in the cab
of the engine except Fairman who
was on the rear of the tender pulling
down coal when the Engineer saw
his train turn to the switch and was
but two car-length from the standing
cars ahead. He shouted "Boys we
are all gone!" All but he made an
attempt to jump, but had only time
to step to the tender when the col-
lision oceured.
The impact of the engine and its
string of cars against the stationary
cars was terriffic. The tender crush
ed together like an egg shell and
lodged against the big locomotive.
The cab was completely demolished
and thrown upon the boiler over the
dome. Engineer Seigleman was
thrown through the cab window and
escaped with a painful cut on the
thigh. The fireman was on the rear
of the tender shoveling coal and was
thrown with terriffic force against
the fire box. The three unfortunate
men were caught between the ten
der and the locomotive when it
crashed together. Mr. Edkin's legs
were crushed to the knees. Mr.
Darling's body was horribly man
gled, indicating instantaneous death.
Mr. Swank's one leg was severely
crushed and scalded. The fireman
though badly scalded' after assisting
engineer Seigleman as best he could
in caring for Swank and Edkin start-1
ed for Laporte to summon help. The
lanterns were all extinguished and
the night dark and cold. The road
to Laporte was not familiar to Mr.
Fairman who lost his way. Half
frozen and in a state of collapse he
reached Laporte about 4 o'clock.
The dreadful news was soon spread
and a conveyance was dispatched
with haste to bring the [dead and
dying to this place. Citizens who
hurried to the scene found the un
fortunates nearly frozen from expos
ure and loss of blood. Mr. Swank
75 GTS. PE R YEAR
died while being placed in the sled.
Mr. Edkin lived to reach the Com
mercial Hotel where he recognized
sorrowing friends who with tender
hands and hearts full of pity were
doing all in their power to alleviate
his sufferings. He passed away at
10:30 a. m., a few minutes before
his wife reached here from Satter
field. Despite his terrible injuries
and exposure, having lain near the
wreckage from the time of the acci
dent at 2:40 until relief came at
about 5 o'clock, he remained con
scious until shortly before his death.
The force of the collision caused
Six of the cars to break from the sta
tionary train on the siding and move
out on the main track from where
they went like a Hash down grade
for two miles where they were all
derailed at a point known as King's
fill and caused a damaging smash-up.
This prevented through traffic on
the road until late in the evening.
A coronor's inquest was held over
the bodies in the afternoon. The ver
dict of the jury was to the effect that
death had come throu.h accident
caused by neglect of one or more of
the crew in not properly turning the
switch. The jury was composed of
Messrs T. J. Keeler, A. E. Tripp, A.
H. Buschhausen, Lee R. Gavitt, 31.
W. Botsford and John \V. Flynn.
The Railroad Company was repre
sented by Asst. Manager H. Knipe
and Atty. E. J. Mullen; the Com
monwealth by Dist. Atty. Howard
Hill; Miss JuliaO'Donovan serving
as stenographer.
At first it seemed to be the purpo. e
to show the jury that this crew had
been kept on continuous duty for
•'M hours, but the engineer's train
orders showed differently, having
been issued Sunday morning.
The evidence showed that Swank
was detailed to attend the switch and
when he boarded the engine was
asked by the conductor, "Is every
thing all right?" to whit, lie replied
it was. The engineer then pulled on
to Ringdale. He testified that he
took notice of the signal when Swank
steped on the locomotive and saw
the "white" and knew it was all
right. lie said he stopped opposite
the switch for Swank to get on. The
"white" showing at that point of
view would throw the '.'red" up anil
down the track, indicating that the
switch was open. It appeared, how
ever, that the "white" conveyed the
idea that all was right, not calculat
ing at the moment his point of view.
Mr. Edkin's body was removed to
the home of F. M. Crossley, uncle
of Mrs. Edkin, Monday afternoon.
Brief funeral services were held at
Mr. Crossley's residence on Wednes
day morning after which the body
was taken aboard the ten o'clock
train and taken to Hughesville
where further services were held
and interment made.
The funeral of Mr. Darling was
held at Sonestown, Thursday fore
noon, and the funeral of Mr. Swank
was held in the afternoon of ti e
same day.
Probably Murder.
Mrs. John Saam an aged woman
ol Forks township, died on Wed
nesday of last week under peculiar
circumstances. She lived with
her husband and son who it is al
leged were in the habit of treating
the aged woman most unkindly.
Although she had beeu in poor
health the neigbors knew nothing
of her being seriously ill and were
not informed of her death until
after she had been prepared for
burial, which tookjilace on Friday.
After the funeral, however, some
of the woman's relatives became
suspicious that all was not well,
and immediately notified the cor
oner to investigate the circumstan
ces surrounding her death. On
Sunday the body was exhumed and
found to be in a terrible condition,
the stomach showed that the wom
an had partaken of no food for sev
eral days previous to her death.
The back of the head and the body
were covered with bruises and one
i rib was broken and penetrated the
lung. The verdict of the coroner's
jury was that death had resulted
from injuries inflicted by person or
persons unknown to the jury.