In
0Mttt
VOLUME
McCONNELLSUURG, PA., MARCH 1. 1.906.
NUMIJEU 25
LETTER PROM CALIFORNIA.
Written by 0. R. Cline for the "Fulton
County New" A Description of
tnc Country.
Lono Beach Calif, Fel. 8.
Dkah Mil Pkck.- To write a
letter for tho News as you sug
gest, would be a pleasure to me
if 1 could do so satisfactorily.
However I will try to write some
thing ol this sunny land and our
trip hither.
Ilopln
to obtain better health
and escape
a winter at home, in
company with Mr. ind Mrs. Lee.
friends fro..i Anthony, Kas., we
set out for southern California,
on Oct. 17th last. We spent two
weeks on the way delightfully,
and regret we did not put in four
or live.
Our first night out, carried us
through the new home of our es
teemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. L.
0. Kell.v, at Ransom, Kan., und
our inability to stop off and see
thorn was r.uite a disappointment
. . I
thorn" yet. A soulless looking
country greeted us between day
light and Pueblo great stretch
es of rich agricultural land
where it is irrigated it is as fer
tile as tho valley of the Nilii; with
out which it is as sterile as Sa
hara. From Pueblo, via. D. & R.
G. R. R., our course is right up
the Arkansas river, with the
. . ' .
srroat Kc cities looming up in front
of us, and the white cap of Pike's
Peak away off to our right, f-m
which we could see the smoke of
the little locomotive climbing near
its summit. Passing the oil-fields
of Colorado, at Florence, we
reached Cauon City about 3 p. in.
This is a pretty little city, proper
ly namod, for it stands at tho en
trance to the greatest canon peue-
trated by any railroad. The Ar
kansas River, which rises in Fre-
mnnt Pnvlr nnn Vmr.drpH and spv-
enty miles to the northwest ot
Puiifin c.it.v Iir hran.Ua it wnv
through the Front Rangeof moun-
tains, in the Grand Cauon of tho
Arkansas. Little wonder it
should be a lazy sluggard onward
to its destination; for thus far its
experience is enough to break the
spirit, of anvthiner. Drawn bv
two monster .mountain-climbing
pnvinps. wfl slowlv enter this aw-
ful chasm in an open observation
car. Close along the foaming Ar-
ka'isas, around dark projecting
shoulders of granite, deeper and
deeper we enter until the way
a mere fissure through the
heights. Far above, the sky
forms a blue arch of light, but all
about us aresomber shades which
the sun's rays have never pone-
trated. Grauiteciiffs athousand
feet high, smooth and unbroken;
and ragged pinacles three times
as hiL'h. f .rm solid walls on eith-
- i
er side. There are no trees nor
birds nor flowers. But with the
roar of winds and the waters
about us, and the menacing crags
above us, in the midst of a spite-
ful snow storm, we feel dwarfed
and dumb in the sublime scene,
and the place seems like the en-
trance to some infernal region,
Mrs. Lee became very Bick, and
we were all glad when we came
out into the narrow upper valley
of the Arkansas; where the seen-
ery is still grand and beautiful,
but less awful.
Night came on us at Salida, but
in the light of the full moon
through the thickly falling snow.
tho serrated summits and tower-
ing peaks of the mountains pre-
sented a scene peculiarly impres-
sive and grand. But we missed
seeing the Mount of the Holy
Cross. I quote from Ernest In-
gersoll's description of it. He
says; "One ot the side valleys
coming down to thetiaokat right
angles from tho southwestward,
leads the eye for a momentary
glimpse up through a glorious
Alpine avenue to where the cathe-
di al crest ol a uoble peak, pierces
the sky. It is a" summit that
would attract the eye anywhere
us ieet hidden in verduous bills.
guarded by mighty crags, half
buried in seathing clouds. it hoi.
mot vertical, frowning, plumed
with gleaming suow'Ave. everv
inch a king.' It is the Mount of
the Holy Cross, bearing the sa
cred symbol in such heroin char
acters as dwarf all human engrav
ing, and set on the pinacle of the
world as though in sign of pos
session forever. The Jessuits
went hand in hand with the Chev
aiier Dubois, proclaiming Chris
tian Gospel in the northern for
ests; the Puritan brought me
testament to New England; tho
Spanish banners of victtry on the
golden shores of the Pacific were
upheld by the fiery zeal of the
friars of San rancisco; the froz
en Ak skan cliffs resounded to the
chanting of the monks of St. Pe
ter and St. Paul. On every side
the virgin continent was taken in
the name of Christ, and with all
the eclat of religious conquest.
Yet from ages unnumbered, be
fore any of them, centuries obliv
ious In the past time, the Cross
had been planted here. As a
prophecy during unmeasured
generations, as a sign or glorious
. -. . i- i v.i(vi,iil ..nil
turies, f-om alwpys and to etarni-
ty, a reminder of our fealty to
heaven, this ciivine seal has been
set upon our proudest eminence,
&c." Its altitude is 14,170 feet.
As we mounted to the summit in
i'enaessee Pas., at an altitude of
twomiles, our ears were snapping
and creaking, ai.d some suffered
from heart trouble. But the
.i uu:.. ..t
strenuous uuuuumg u eBiura
here gave place to a rapidly, nois
less gliding, or coasting aown-
ward into ihe valley of the Grand,
and we woke up in a cheerless
I 1 A. I i- ... nrs V - 1
looKiog country uetweeu
Grand and Green Rivers, the bed
of which in ages past was a greai
inland sea, the northern shore of
which is now represented and
outlined by the Book Clins -des
ert and lifeless-looking, multi
jorm and vari colored piles of ap
nearautclav or scoi ia. r or near-
ly two hundred miles we travers-
ed mountain desert, liien lor
ninety miles we climbed the Wa
satch mountains, the scenery
growing wilder and more varied
and still more so as we descend
into the Utah Valley, the home of
the Mormons. This favored spot
has an Arcadian beauty, and is
said to resemble the vales of Scot-
land. In its center lies Utah
Lake, the Mormons' Sea of Gali
lee, which empties through the
Jordon into the Great Salt Lake,
a veritable Dead bea. Ihe valley
is like a well kept garden, water-
ed by crystal streams thickly
crowded with trim farms having
neat white houses and fruit trees
in prof usion, all testifying to the
industry and frugality of the
Mormon farmer. As we looked
upon these neatly appearing cot
tage homes, we had a curiosity to
know what was the condition of
i
domestic life within. But in sev
eral days spent in SaltLake City,
we observed little diuerence in us
people from that of other cities,
though the city is different in
many respects. It is a beautiful
city, having paved streets 132 ft.
wide, with a stream of clear
mountain water flowing in the
curb ditch on either side, and
bordered with long rows of shade
trees; modern business blocks of
splendid structure, and tine and
rapidly growing residonco dis-
tncts. The finest residence por-
tion occupies the mountain bench,
once the shore oi tne Lrreas can
Lake, now eighteen miles distant
from the water lines, yet plainly
to be seen above the city. The
six-milhon-dollar Mormon 1 em-
pie, with walls oi granite ten ieei
thick; the Tabernacle, Assembly
Hall, and other buildings of Tern-
pie Squr.re; together -vith the
Bee Hive and Lion House, former
homes of Brigham Young and his
many wives, are all interesting,
but not all open to the visitor.
The street railway, water and
lighting service is fine, and all
owned by tne Mormon church,
From earnest and intelligent
guides we listened to the story of
Divine inspiration and revelation
that directed Brigham Youngin
loftdinff bis followers to this
"Promised Land," in formulating
and administering their govern
REV. GEORGE B. SHOEMAKER
Writes From Eldora, Iowa, and Suggests a
"Home Coming Week," for the Wan
dererg from McConnellshurg.
Eldora, Iowa. March 8th.
Editor News : When I last
wrote to you, I had some fears as
to the behavh.r of the month of
February, because we had such a
beautiful January. Wo have
passed safely through February,
and she was very good to us.
There was but one bad storm
during the month, and the weath
er was at no time severely cold.
March came in beautifully, with
thunder and rain, and change
from clouds to sunshine, and
thus far has been very quiet. Of
course, there is plenty of time
for March to storm and blow and
freeze before the end of the
month, but she has been mild
thus far. The Irost is not all out
of the ground yet, but the roads
are very muddy. This makes it
quite unpleasant for thosu who
move from one larin to another,
because it is difticultto haul loads
or to drive stock. Changes on
farms are made here from first
to middle of March. The
ground hog" did not see his
shadow hero this year, and we
have had very moderate weather
since. Whether the old fellow is
running at large or not, we are
having the kiud of weather the
- ..
theory allows to accompany him
m hls freedom.
1 am expecting an early spring
but wnl kaow more ab0ut that af-
ter a fevv Weeks have gone by
. - . .
Ou the first dav of March, in
ttae evening, I officiated at a wed
jin. near Xowa Falls, a former
charge about sixteen miles from
Eldora. The father of the groom.
a man past seventy (70) years of
age, was among the guests. The
night was very dark and rainy,
and in order to reach their home,
th8 eidorly gentleman and those
with him had to drive eight or
nine miles. When within half a
mile of their home, he got out of
the buggy to cross a bridge be
fore the team. He lound the
bridge and road all tight, and
called to them to come on. The
carriage stopped for him when
the bridge was crossed, but he
did not get In. He did not re
spond to the call of his friends.
When they found him, he had
fallen over the fence aud was ly-
ing faCe down, in a few inches of
water, dead. It was a terrible
shock to his family and to the
community in which he lived.
Having married his son on Thurs
day night, I was asked to preach
his funeral sermon, which I did
on the afternoon of the Sunday
following.
1 had a letter recently from
one of my old friends, and a form
er resident of McConnellsburg,
in which he asked me, when I
wrote to the "News" again, to
suggest a "Home Coming Week"
for the wanderers from old McC,
j think his idea is to make it an
annual affair, and he suggests as
the time that would be appropri
ate the first week in November.
j am pleased to make the sugges
tion for him, and am sure I would
be glad to be at such a gathering,
when 1 could. It would be ex
ceedingly pleasant to meet the
"boys and girls" in the old town,
0n such an occasion. What a time
we could have if we could only
get there. I do not know wheth-
or the Invitation should come
from the old town, or whether
we should invite ourselves to the
0ld home. Should the thought
meet with favor, I would like to
hear more about it in later issues
0f the "News."
With kind regards to all the
people of the old home,
Very truly yours,
Geo. B. Shoemaker.
ment; laying out and construct
ingtheir new "Cityof Ziou," etc.,
to which they might have added,
living with nineteen wives
Herewe are, only half way here,
and mv loUer too long. Will fin-
ish later if permitted
- 1 O. R. Clink.
MRS. EMANUEL SHARPE
Daughter of Enoch and Catherine Han, of
Needmore, Died at Her Home in Big
Timber, Montana.
In our last issue we announced
the death of Mrs. Emanuel
Sharpe, the following particulars
have reached us in time for press.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sharpe was tho
daughter of Enoch and Catherine
Hart, of Ni ednmre, and was born
on the old home farm near there,
July 7, 1861. She was married
to Emanuel Sharp in the winter
of 1888, and will be remembered
as one of the most beautiful young
ladies in all that section. Her
rosy cheeks and well rounded fig
ure at that time gave promise of
long life, and no one could have
suspected the existence of germs
which later developed into a fatal
aud relentless disease the White
Plague,' to which she fell a victim,
in spite of every effort on the part
of her husbaud and family for
her protection. A change of cli
mate being recommonded, she
was removed to uig nmoer,
Mont., about two yeai s ago, but
she grew weaker steadily, until
the date of her death, March 1st.
As her poor frail body grew weak
er, her taitn in uod increased and
her last words to her grief-stricken
family wero : "Do not fret for
me for Jesus is with us." She
had carefully arranged all details
of her funeral, having chosen her
dress and selected the hymns for
the occasion. 3he had lived the
life of a consistent christian wife
and mother, and her death was a
most triumphant one. She was
a member of the Tonoloway (Old
School) Baptist church for ten
years prior to her death. In ad
dition to her husband and fifteen-year-old
daughter Beatrice, she
is survived by her aged mother,
Mrs. Enoch Hart, and brother,
W. F. Hart, ot Needmore, to all
of whom we extend our tenderest
sympathy.
Almost A Fire.
A tire that might have proved a
serious one was discovered by1
Mr. Sanner Ray one day last
week, in time to save their sup
ply of meat. It appeal s that Mr.
Ray used a dutch oven in which
to make the smoke in his smoke
house. Ttis oven was placed on
the floor, and Mr. Ray went to
the building to see after the tire
when he detected the smell of
burning pine. On cl jser exami
nation he discovered that the oven
had become overheated and the
boards under it were burned al
most through. A short time
more and Mr. Ray's stock of
meat would have gone, up in
smoke.
Line Completed.
Tho Pennsylvania Telephone
line was completed to this place
on Thursday last and on Friday
Manager McCloud of Chambers
buig, put a 'phone in Trout's
drug store. We are now connect
e'l with every prominent town in
the United States. A number of
our people tested it on Friday af
ternoon and found it working ad
mirably. A conversation with a
pat ty in Baltimore was very sat
isfactory. The jound of the voice
was so plain that it was reeoguiz-
ed. W. J. C. Jacobs, the mana
ger at Waynesboro, deserves the
credit for giving us this service.
At the stockholder's meeting
of the Chambersburg & Bedford
Turnpike Road Co., recet-tly held,
the old board ol managers was
elected as follows : D. V. Sipos,
McConnellsburg; David Brake,
St. Thomas; M. J. Slick, Mercers
burg; D. B. Nace and J. A. Strite,
Chambersburg. The board or
ganized by re electing the old of
ficers : President aud attorney,
J, A. Strite; secretary and treas
urer, M. J. Slick.
Ground was broken for the
new house of C. R. Spangler, on
North Second Street, on Friday,
and David Gress is laying the
foundation for tho same.
WHY NOT WAKE UP!
Wm. J. Helm, of Pittsburg, Writes a Very
Interesting Letter to the People of
Fulton County.
Pi.tshl'iuj, Pa., March 5th.
Gentleman. I noticed m
the issue of the "Fulton County
News" of February 2nth, a notice
of the project of buildiny a line
from Chambersburg to Mount
Union via., McConnellsburg.
About three years ago I visited
Fulton county for the first time,
and shortly after, purchased
about 100 acres of land, and there
fore being interested in the wel
fare of that territory, it might
be of some interest to the resi
dents of Fulton county to hear
th i impressions gained by a visi
tor who has kept in close touch
with the conditions there for the
last three years.
Being born and raided in Pitts
burg, which every one knows is a
city of manufacture, mechanics,
and electricity, well named the
"World's Workshop," I was amaz
ed to find a lack of public interest
and facilities and old time meth
ods so close to our city, and in a
territory which I feel is so natur
ally rich as to merit developmet.
I mentioned this to several resi
dents and the reply was, the old
"South Penn" had come so near
completion, and then was drop
ped, that the peopie had lost all
hope and everything deteriorat
ed. If I am not mistaken, that
occurred m arly twenty years
ago, and it seems to me tnat if
that is the real reason, it is time
to rise and become clear of rail
roads who maroon localities, and
happily the last ten years has so
developed electricity that it solves
the problem, aud is proving a
boomerang all over this country
to the railroads, who practically
had everything in their hands up
to the last few years. As &n in
stance I will state that up to five
years ago, the best part of Pitts
burg lay on the north side of the
Monongahela river. On the south
side of the river is a mountain
(we call it a hill) called Mt. Wash
ington and in back of this moun
tain lay miles of farm land which
sold for $100 per acre ten years
ago. About three years ago a
lunnel three-fourth of a mile was
bored through Mt. Washington,
and a fast electric line was run
through and across country to
Charlcroi and Allenport (about 28
miles) This line taps a dozen
towns along the Monongahela
river, which formerly were only
reached by rail, which followed
tho river and had to travel twice
as many miles. This electnc
road mr.kes almost as good time
as the P. R., any c-rs yass any
point every half hour; the fare is
less than half, and the result is
that ac enge, now laid out in lots,
is worth from 2,500 to $5,000,
and Pittsburg is rapidly taking
up this section. Further con
struction is about to begin to ex
tend a branch of this lineto Wheel
ing, W. Va , a distance of 72 miles
by rail. This road does not carry
lreight, probably there is legisla
ture against it, but it certainly is
an exceedingly good paying line.
This proves practically that set
tlement aud development will
surely follow the establishment
of facilities aud every land owner
should lend his aid and encour
agement to any projects of this
kind.
If there is to be legislation on
the subject of allowing freight
haulage on electric lines, it seems
that the News should stimulate
interest in every way to demand
this leuislat'on, and this will of
course be fought by railroads.
Every man should write his rep
resentative to support any such
measure, or a petition prepared
and sent to the proper legisla
tures.
Electricity certainly is the com
ing powor, it is cheaper, its roads
climb over hills and in places
where a locomotive could, not
climb, and ut that, the expenses
are less than steam.
The system of electrmty is ex
tending all over the country; a
road H partly completed from
Pittsburg to Uniontown; I be
lieve one is contemplated from
Uniontown to Bedford. If the
road from Mt. Union tr Cham
bersburg is finished, a gap of
about 35 miles, I believe, from
McConnellsburg to Bedford will
soon be closed and it will be a
short time only when a trip to
Pittsburg from Chambersburg
or Mt. LJ'iion can be made on elec-
ti ic roads, and perhaps from Har-
risburg too.
It won't take much of a stretch
of the imagination to see the boom
which will result in these neg
lected lands.
I will d j all in my power to fur
ther any plan of this nature,
Why not wake up !
Very truly
' Wm. J. Helm.
Death of J. George Tritle.
On Monday evening, March 5th,
McConnellsburg received a shock
by the announcement of the sudden
demise of one of her aged and most
respected citizens, in the person of
J. (. Tritle. Eight months ago
Mr. Tritle was stricken with pa
ralysis, the result of "which were
constantly felt. Though kept close
to his home, during those months,
yet he was able to circulate among
his neighbors and immediate
friends, bearing hisatHictions with
christian fortitude. On Monday
evening, while conversing with
his pastor, in his usual good spir
its, suddenly he received another
stroke from which he never ral
lied. In a few moments after the
shock was observed, his physician
was administering to his needs,
but the last enemy had given un
mistakable evidence of his presence,
and intention to claim his subject,
no antidotes for his virus could be
administered, by human hands,
and in less than three hours all
that was with us, was the mortal
r remains of our old friend.
Mr. Tritle came to Fulton coun
ty, with his parents, from Wash
ington county, Maryland, in 1S51,
ut the age of 16 years. He was
the third in age, of a family of six
children, and next to the last one
to pass to the eternal world. His
purents located in Ayr township,
only a few miles from McConnells
burg, where he spent the greater
part of his earthly career.
On the Hth of February 1860,
Mr. Tritle was united in holy wed
lock to Miss Lydia Tritle of
Waynesboro, Pa., which union
was blessed with nine children, all
of whom are living except two.
Those who remain to comfort a be
reaved mother are the following:
Scott and Frank, Annie intermar
ried with Jas. Fryman, and Etha
intermarried with Geo. A. Comer-
er, all or this place; iienry at
Mark9, Franklin county, also
Walter and Winter, at Waynes
boro, Pa. Eleven grand-children
are connected with this family.
The widow of Mr. Tritle is of a
large family, having had five
brothers and eight sisters. In
point of age she was next to the
youngest, and, at present, has but
one brother and one sister living
Early in life Mr. Tritle was re
ceived into full communion with
the Evangelical Lutheran congre
gation at this place. In this body
he received the living Christ who
made him the character he pre
sented, an honor and a blessing to
his community.
A precious one from us ia gone,
A voice we loved la stilled;
A place Is vacant in our home,
which never can be filled.
God in His wisdom has recalled
The boon His love hat given;
And though the body slumbers now,
The soul Is sate In heaven
Miss Elizabeth Patterson left
on Monday for her Fulton county
home where she will spend some
time prior to her going to Pitts
bursr. Pa. For a number of
months Miss Patterson success
fully conducted a musical studio
at tills place. She ia an accom
plished musician. Not only will
she be missed by numerous pu
pils but her gracious manner won
for her many friends, who are
sorry to see her leave. Everett
Press.
Subscribe for the Nawa
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Snapshots at Their Comings and Goinga
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restful Outing.
NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED
J. Nelson Daniels of Pleasant
Ridge, was a business visitor at
McConnellsburg Saturday.
John Williams and sou Lewis
of Saluvia, were among those in
town on business Saturday.
Thomas Uollenshead and son
Loy of Harrisonville.were iu town
on business Saturday.
Mrs. George W. Hayes of this
place, is visiting her mother.Mrs.
Eliza Michaels of Everett.
S. D. Stevens of Chambers
burg, spent from Tuesday until
Friday at this place and Laidig ou
business.
Mrs. Elizabeth Spannuth died
on March 12th, at her home near
Knobsville, aged 7S) years, 2
months and 5 days.
Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Skipper
and two children of Waynesboro,
were visitiug relatives at Harri
sonville the first of this week.
C. B. Stevens, merchant tailor
of this place, spent several days
the first part of this week in the
vicinity of Dry Run on business.
Miss Sadie Hann of Chambers
burg, was called to Saluvia Sat
urday on account of the serious
illness of her mother, Mrs. Anna
Hann.
Cecil Sipes of Pittsburg, who
has been visiting relatives and
friends in the vicinity of Harri
sonville, spent Saturday in this
place, the guest of relatives.
Nellie Barmont and Blanche
Anderson, and John and Harvoy
Barmont were pleasant and wel
come visitors at Daniel E Foi e'3
Sunday evening.
Mrs. Minnie King aud son El
mer, of Hiram, spent the past
week the guest of her parents,
W. Scott and wife. They were
accompanied home by Clem
Brant and Miss Zena.
Word of the death of Jacob C.
H-iwett, of Thompson township,
was received in this place on
Monday morning. He was a vet
eran of the Civil War and a prom
inent citizen of his township.
Dr. F. K. Stevens, Frank Hen
ry, C. B. Stevens, George A. Har
ris, Esq., Prof. C. E. Barton, M.
W. Nace, Edward Shimer, and
Dwight Thompson of this place,
paid a fraternal visit toHarrison
ville Lodge, 1. O. O. F. Saturday
night.
(Jcorgc Alvy Kccfer.
(ieo. Alvy, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Keefer, Webster Mills, de
parted this life at the home of his
parents, March 10, l!H)6. Aged
8 months and 22 days. The funer
al services were conducted by Rev.
A. G. Wolf, on Monday after
which the remains were interred
in the Union Cemetery:
Dearest Alvy thou hast left us,.
Here thy loss e deeply fj-el,
But 'tis God who hath bereft us,
He can all our sorrows licul.
Dark within our dwelling,'
Lonely are our hearts today,
For the one we loved so dearly,
Has forever past away.
Budded on Kuril),
But will live In heaven.
Fanners' Local Institute.
The friends of Agriculturp ex
pect to hold & Local Institute at
Webster Mills school house on
the afternoon of Saturday, March
17th.
Discussions will be held on
such topics as the. following :
The Selection of Seed Corn.
TownshipSettlements. The Road
Question and The Road Law.
Practical Nature Study in our
Country Schools.
The pupils of the school will be
present and contribute to the
program. Teachers and all oth
ers interested iu the last topic
should be there, as well as the
farmers and their lamilies.
W. C. Pattkukon,
Secretary,