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VOLUME 10
McCONNELLSlSUKG, PA.. J UNI- 3, .))!).
NUMJiER 37
0. L. GREATHEAD HURT. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Wan Charging Tanks Connected with Dwelling House and Contents, and Wagon
anea oi uamei a. nenry, Near blear
Ridge, Destroyed Last Sunday.
ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN.
Soda Water Fountain at Sey
lar'g Drug Store
WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED.
About half pa3t tea o'clock last
Stu'cay morning, as Ormond
L. Greathead was in the cellar
under Seylarif drug store, charg
injfthe tanks connected with the
soda water fountain, one of them
burst, and a flying piece of . the
metal struck Mr. Greathead in
juring him seriously, but with
careful nursing it is believed that
he will recover.
The soda water apparatus had
not been in use since last sum
mer, and Mr. Greathead is one
of those geniuses that you fall
back upon when ""you are "up
against it" whether you need a
ne, w eye in a sewing machine nee
die, or the kinks taken out of a
cranky automobile. Of course,
when the soda water fountain
was to be overhauled and started
for the season, Orm's services
were in demand, and he had ev
erything m readiness to put the
enticing liquid on draught, when
the accident occurred.
The apparatus that produces
the "tiz" at the fountain consists
of two egg-shaped copper tanks,
with a capacity of eight gallons
each, mounted on anv iron frame
so that the contents may be
readily shaken. These tanks are
filled about two-thirds-full of wa
ter, and then into the remaining
space is driven lrom another
tank liquid carbon dioxide, which
is mixed with the water, and is
then leady to be drawn from the
fountain, into the syrup wbjch
gives it the flavor and makes th 3
drink so palatable. Attached to
the pipe thus conveying the gas
into the tank, is a pressure gauge
just such as you see on a steam
engine, which is supposed to reg
ister the number of pounds per
square inch that the tank is car
rying. Mr. Greathead was pass
ing the gas it. to the tank contain
ing the water, at the same time
carefully watch'ng the gauge.
One hundred and twenty pounds
were registered. The tank was
then disconnected, given a shak
ing, and then tested. It now
showed 80 pounds, the shaking
having reduced the pressure.
Again the gas was admitted and
the register climbed up slowly
until it was back to 120, when it'
"let go" with a noise like a heavy
blast the copper .tank tearing
like so much brown paper, and
the concussion shaking buildings
for hundreds of feet distant. One
end of the tank in it's flight hit
Mr. Grerthead, cutting him bad
ly about the throat aud head, and
also injuring an arm and his
breast Edward D. Shimer, who
was standing near the tank was
thrown back several feet by the
explosion, but outside of being
slightly stunned was not hurt,
and was able to go to Mr. Great
head's assistance at once. Mr.
Greathead was , unconscious and
bleeding profusely, but when
taken out to the fresh air and wa
ter applied, was restored to semi
consciousness. Drs. Dalbey and
Mosser were summoned. The
mjured man was taken to Dr. Dal
bey's office and given the neces
sary surgical attention, when he
was taken to the home of his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. John W.
Greathead.
Unless some unlooked-for com
plications arise, he is lately to be
all right in a few weeks. It is
little less than.' miraculous that
both he and Mr. Shimer were
not both killed Instantly.
Uow did it happen f
It is supposed that the pres
sure gauge was rusty, and that
it was not correctly registering
the pressure of the gas, and that
instead of trjere being 120 lbs.
on, there was probably twice that
much.
When Daniel S3. Henry, who
owns and lives on a farm near
Clear Ridge postoftice, in Taylor
township, went to the barn at
noon last Sunday to do his feed
ing, he saw that his wagon shed
was afire. With the fire in close
proximity to his good barn,
and the wind blowing strongly
toward his large commodious,
and almost new dwelling house,
it is not to be wondered at that
Daniel thought that a big chunk
of bad luck was about to drop on
him. Without stopping to figure
on his loss, he went to work,
with all the strength at his com
mand, to control the fire in the
wagon shed, while his wife frant
ically rang the dinner bell. In a
short time neighbors began to
arrive, and the battle against the
devouring element was carried
on most vigorously, but the ad
vantage was altogether on the
side of the wind and the flames,
and but little could be done to
avert destruction Mr. Henry
narrowly escaped having his
clothing burned from his body,
and his wife and sister Gertrude
stayed upstairs and threw goods
out of the window until their
way of escape was cut off and
they were obliged to leap to thd
ground from a window in the
second story. The loss consists
of the house with nearly all its
contents, the wagon-shed, about
400 bushels of corn, a separator
and clover huller, and other pro
perty. Mr. Henry has no idea
how the fire originated.
BRUSH CREEK.
Corn planting is over and the
farmers are now 'busy watching
the crows and plowing corn. ,
Mrs. J. C. Barton and Mrs. M.
E. Barton spent Monday after
noon in the home of Amos Hix
son. Clara Hixson spent Sunday
with her parents G; W. Hixson
and wife.
Mrs. Irene Truax, of Emma
ville, 8 pent sometime with her
brother, Dr. J. G." Hanks, at
Breezewood. A number of peo
ple from our valley attended the
festival at Breez jwood last Satur
dry evening.
Mrs. Preston Deshong, son
Howard, and daughter Eva, of Ev
erett, spent Saturday and Sun
day with Mrs. Deshong 's mother
Mrs. Sarah E. Barton, at Crystal
Springs.
Misses Jennie Calhoun and
Cora Price, and Harvey Calhoun
and Chas. Pepple, spent Sunday
in the home of G. W. Hixson.
Subscribe tor the "News;"
only fi.oo a year. . '
HUST0NT0WN.
Sunday school in the U. B.
church next Sunday morning at
9:30; at 10:30 Rev. Henry Wolf, of
Bethlehem, will preach a sermon
to the older folks, but the young
er frlks are cordially invited to
be present and bear what he has
to siy to the older people.
Mrs. Mary Sipes spent a fow
days in the old home with her
brothers John and Hezekiah.
Wible's two girls spent Thurs
day afternoon with Miss Minne
Carouthers.
George Sipes, wife, and grand
daughter, of Needmore, visited
George Sipes and wife at Huston
town last Sunday.
Linlnger.
Blanche Grace, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lininger.
East End extension, McCoiinells
burg, died at noon last Saturday,
aged 11 years, 10 months, and 10
days. The child had been m ill
health for two years. Thefuner
al took place at 9 o'clock Monday
morning, the services being con
ducted by Rev. C. W. Bryner, of
the M. E church. The remains
was then taken to Fort Loudon,
where mterment was made.
WAGON RAN OVER
HEAD AND NECK.
John E. Locke, Formerly of Fort Little
ton, Seriously Inj ired at Home
stead, Pa., Last Friday Morning.
MULES STARTED TO RUN AWAY.
The following is clipped from
a Homestead newspaper: Mr.
Locke is a native of Fort Little
ton, and well kuown in the upper
end of tho county, and his many
friends will regret to learn of his
accident. Tho clipping says:
"John Locke, of 120 W?st Eighth
avenue, a driver for the Home
stead Baking Company, was se
riously njured in an accident at
Eighth avenue and City Farm
lane this morning at 0:45 o'clock,
and he is now in the Mercy hos
pital in a serious condition. He
was delivering goods this morn
ing aud while at the corner of
Eighth avenue and City farm lane
got on the pole of the wagon to
adjust a part of the harness when
the team, consisting of a couple
fractious mules, became fright
ened and started to run away.
Locke was tin own in front of the
wagon and one of the wheels ran
over his face and neck, causing a
fracture of the jaw and a deep
wound over the left eye. One of
his hands was badly mashed and
his arm and chest bruised and
cut. He was carried to the of
fice of Dr. P. J. OelTner, where
his injuries were dressed when
he was taken to the Mercy hos
pital in Gillen and Coulter's am
bulance. It is thought that he
also received internal injuries
and it will be some days before
tho extent of them is known.
"This is the second accident
caused by fractious teams of the
Baking company. A team ran
away about two weeks ago on
Eighth avenue and in the accident
Mr. Cook, an employe of the
company, was thrown lrom the
wagon and so badly injured that
he is still confined to the house."
JUDGE MORTON LAID LP.
Surprise Party.
Thursday, May 27, 1909 will
long be remembered with pleas
ure by Mrs. C. W. Schooley, of
Licking Creek township. It was
the 48th anniversary ol her birth
and she was going about with her
work, little suspecting that kind
friends and neighbors were busy
preparing a most agreeable sur
prise for her. The first intima
tion that there was "something
doing," was the appearance of a
procession of buggies and wag
ons laden with neighbors and
friends, and with accompanying
boeces and baskets of good things
to eat prepared by" hands that
knew how to cater to a healthy
appetite. Those present were:
C. W. Schooley and wife, and
John, William, Harry, Norman,
Laura, and Stella Schooley; Mil
ton Decker, wife and daughtei
Laura; Mrs. Sarah Winsor, Cleve
land Strait and wife, Dan John
sonand wife; Edw. Mellott, wile,
and two daughters Nellie and
Mildred; Richard Schooley and
wife and son Cadiz; Emory Sipes
and wife and son Charlie; Lizzie
Dishong- and children Clyde, Ada
and George; John Sipes, wife.and
children Carl, Thomas, Mary,
Hattie, Maudaline, and Clura; G.
L. Schooley, wile and son Vernon,
Mrs. Elsie Sipes and family
Myrtle, Wilbur, Clyde, Helen,
Lula, and Emmel; Solomon Mc
Lucas, wife,. and son Harry; Mrs.
R. R. Sipes and children Earl and
Rhoda;Tena, May, Rexie, and
Rickie Sipes; Georgie Deshong
and Joe Schooley. Fearing he
might not get his share of cake,
Mr. Decker filled his pockets,
but one sitting at his side "got
on to his little game" and remov
ed the cake quietly from the
pockets aud ate the cake. This
was done in all kindness to keep
Mr. Decker from over feeding.
Was Injured Tuesday Morning in At
tempting to Mount a Broncho. He
was Thrown over the Ani
mal's Head.
LUCKY IT WAS NO WORSE.
Judge Morton met with an ac
cident Tuesday morning that
will, at least, give him a few days'
enforced recreation from the
strenuous life he general leads.
He came into town lrom his farm
with a wagon for a load of wool.
While his team was standing at
S. A. Nesbit's on North Second
street, his son Eirl came on
horseback aud informed the
J udge that the Judge was wanted
at the "phone." Earl took the
team, and his father took the
horse Earl had been riding.
When the Judge was in the act
of mounting the horse, the animal
became skittish. The Judge has
been about horses too long to be
afraid of them and hung on un
til suddenly the broncho bucked
and tossed the Judge over his
head into the street. While Mi.
Morton was badly shaken up, he
followed the horse home, but
when he reached the house, he
was about on the point of faint
ing away. He was at once sent
to Dr. Mosser's office, and given
attention. It is feared that in
addition to being badly bruised,
there are some bones fractured.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan Hann,
of Pleasant Ridge, were in town
a few hours last Friday doing
shopping, 1
An AII-'Round Farmer.
David Gregory, who owns and
resides on the farm of his grand
lathe.', the late David Gregory, at
Gregory '8 fording in Thompson
township, is putting new build
ings on the farm and otherwise
greatly improving it. Last Tburs
day about fifty of his neighbors
assembled at his home and assist
ed in the raising of the frame
work of a bank barn 50 by 70 feet.
While Mr. Gregory is just a plain
everyday farmer, he is one of
those handy all-arouud people
that can turn his hand to almost
anything that needs doing about
the farm; and so, when he decid
ed to build a barn, he gathered
up a saw, augers, square, and
other necessary tools and played
boss carpenter, designing the
building, laying it off, superin
tending the work, and in' reality,
doing much of it himself, and his
neighbors say that when it came
to the raising, every piece went
right to its place without the
slightest hitch.
It might be added that Davie
not only successfully played the
role of boss carpenter, but is a
concrete artist as well, for he
constructed a concrete founda
tion for the superstructure to
rest upon.
DIED FROM BEING
KICKED BY HORSE.
George Emery Ellas, a Farmer In Wells
Valley, the Victim. Was Plough
ing and the Traces Caueht.
ONLY LIVED ABOUT TWELVE HOURS.
George Emory Ehas, a well
known farmer ol Wells Valley,
aged about fifty two years, was
in a field near his house plough
ing on Wednesday of last week.
About ten o'clock, the inside
traces of the horses became en-
I tangled, and he stepped up be
hind the horses to loosen the trac
es, when the off-horse kicked
wickedly, striking Mr. Ehas full
in the stomach, knocking him
backward on tho ground. After
lying there awhile, he recovered
sufficiently from the shock to
crawl to the house, some three
hundred yards distant.
Mr. Elias was unmarried and
he and a maiden sister, Lavinia
some ten years his senior, had
kept house and conducted the
farm for many years. When his
sister saw him as he dragged
himself into the house, she was
terribly shocked, and at once ran
screaming for help from neigh
bors. Mr. George W. Sipe was
the first to be attracted by her
cries, and the first to reach Mr.
Elias. Soon after Mr. Sipes got
there, Mr. John N. Duvall came
along, and the two neighbors did
all in their power to make the in
jured man comfortable. Dr.
Campbell, of New Grenada, not
being at home, his brother Dr.
Frank Campbell, of Hopewell was
summoned, and reached the in
jured man late in the afternoon;
but Mr. Ehas's injuries were such
as to make it beyond the power
of human agency to save his life,
and Mr. Ehas .gradually sank
away until the end came at
about 11 o'clock Wednesday eve
ning.
Funeral took place on Friday,
services being conducted by Rev.
FleegaJ, of the Three Springs
Charge, M. E. church, and inter
ment was made in the cemetery
at the Valley M. E. church.
Emory was a jovial kind heart
ed, accomodating man, an excel
lent neighbor, ever ready to lend
a helping hand in time of need or
affliction and will be sadly missed
in his neighborhood.
WEST DUBLIN.
The Laidig Baseball team went
down to the Reunion grounds
last Saturday afternoon and by a
series of good throws hits and
catches defeated the Triple Alli
ance team by a score of 27 to 3.
There was a good attendance
at Fairview Epworth League on
Sunday evening and an interest
ing meeting.
Epworth League on Saturday
evening, June 5, Harvey Cleven
ger leader.
James WoodcocK of Wells Val
ley passed through this place last
Friday on his way to Warfords
burg. , Calvin Benson and family of
Trough Creek Valley Hunting
don county speht a few days re
cently with relatives la this town
ship. Our farmers are busy replant
ing and plowing corn. Some
complain of damage done by the
crows.
There have been a number of
persons buying wool of the farm
ers in this township this spring
and prices have been much bet
ter than last year. ..
Mrs. Sarah Sbaw and sons
Russell and Bruce spent Tues
day with Mrs. Eliza Hoover.
Truax Truax.
At the home of the officiating
minister, Rev. W. R. Truax, of
Pleasant Ridge, on Wednesday
evening, May 20, 1909,!Mr. An
drew Truax was united in mar
riage with Mrs. Sadie E. Truax,
both of Belfast township. The
ceremony was performed in the
presence of a few invited guests,
and after congratulations, a boun
teous wedding supper was serv
ed. To show their interest in
the important event, about forty
of the friends and neighbors of
the contracting parties assem
bled after nightfall, and gave
them an old-fashioned serenad
ing. Everything passed off very
pleasantly, and the bride and
groom will go to hou tekeeping at
once on the bride's farm on Lick
ing Creek, a mile or two north of
Gem.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Tribute to the Soldier-Dead Was Paid
by McConnellsburg, on Satur
day, May 29th.
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
EXERCISES SIMPLE AND IMPRESSIVE.
State Needs Horses.
At the annual Farmers' Normal
Institute at York last week,
Prof. Mairs, of State College,
said that the horseless age is a
long way off. The professor said
horses are bringing a higher
price than ever and that the pric
es for horses would be prohibit
ive if it were not for other means
of locomotion and transportation.
He said large stores and others
who had displaced horses with
the auto wagon were replacing
animals again, and the demand
for hWses is increasing. This
State, he declared, produces but
one fourth of the horses it needs,
and he urged upon farmers to de
vote more attention to horse
breeding, ,
At 1:30 o'clock last Saturday
afternoon, the surviving mem
bers of King Post, G. A. R., con
ducted by the Band, proceeded
from the Post Room on West Wa
ter street to the Court House,
where appropriate exercises were
held preliminary to the decora
tion of the graves of their deceas
ed comrades.
The Court Room was beautiful
ly decorated with the national col
ors, and with flowers in profus
ion. Hon. D. Hunter Patterson,
of Webster Mills, was elected
Chairman of the meeting, and the
following program of exercises
was carried out:
Prayer by Rev. John Diehl.
Music by the Band.
Singing of "America" by the
audience.
Recitation of Lincoln's Gettys
burg Address, by Newton Mor
ton. Patriotic recitations by Rose
B'isher, Mary Baumgardner, and
Ross HammuY
Solo "The Vacant Chair" by
Mary Wilkinson.
Oration, Hon. John P. Sipes.
The exercises were simple and
impressive, and the audience thit
overfilled the room, was attentive
and reverent. Mr. Sipes' ad
dress was replete with facts of
historical value, and his recital of
the causes that led to the several
wars, and the results that came
from those struggles, was alike
instructive to the young and com
phmentary to those whose blood
has consecrated the ground of
scores of battlefields.
The decoration of graves is a
custom borrowed lrom the peo
ple of the South. In its observ
ance are combined praise and
honor to God for this great and
free country, and honor to and
reverence for, the men who serv
ed it.
It is gratifying to note that al
though more than two-score
years have elapsed since the in
stitution of Memorial Day, the
increase of interest in its observ
ance does not wane but on the
contrary, shows a wonerful in
crease.
As we have done, let us contin
ue to do. Let us instruct the
children our coming men and
women by putting flags in their
hands, patriotic songs in their
hearts, and praises in their
mouths, for the glorious deeds of
these grizzled veterans these
heroes of the past.
"Once they jjave us all, their best,
Now, wo bless them tn their rest;
And la each Memorial Day,
Flags and blossoms o'er them lay."
Snapshots at Their Comings and Ooings
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restful Outing.
MERCERSBURQ COMMENCEMENT.
Invitations Out for Event From June
6 to 9.
The final preparations afe new
being made for the annual com
mencement exercises which will
be held at the Mercersburg .Ac
ademy from June 4 to 9. The
program for the four days ex
ercises follow:
Sunday, 10 a. m., baccalaureate
sermon to graduating class by
Dr. W. Al. Irvine; 2:30 p, m.,
Campus service of Academy Y.
M. L. A.; 7:30 p. m., annual ser
mon by the Rev. J. W. Smith, of
Warren.
Monday, 1 p, m., tennis tour
nament; 8:15 p. m concert by
Academy musical clubs.
Tuesday, 9 a. m., declaration
contest, the Wood prize; 10:30 a.
in., meeting of Board of Regents;
12 m., alumni luncheon; 3 p. m.,
class day exercises; 7 p. tn., step
songs; 8:15 p. m address by Dr.
Richard Watson Gilder, of New
York.
Wednesday, 9 a. m., commence
mentinTrluity Reformed church;
1 p. m., baseball, Albright Col
lege fg. Mercersburg; 8:80 p, m.,
Senior dance la Kelt Hall,
NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED
J. C. Snyder of Thompson
township, spent a lew hours in
town last Saturday.
N. H. Peck and wife, of Need
more, spent last Fridav with
friends m McConnellsburg.
Mrs. S. A. Nesbit went to Car
lisle last Friday to spend a week
with the family of her brother. J.
J. Conrad.
Miss Josephine Runvan spent
several days last week in Cham-
bersburg, the guest of her friend
Miss Sarah Keyser.
Mrs. Frank StCIair, of Wash
ington, D. C, is visiting her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Benj. Shimer,
on JNorth Second street.
Mrs. George W. Parsons and
son Don, of Mount Union, are vis
iting in the home of Mrs. Parsons'
daughter, Mrs. John E. Locke, at
Homestead, Pa.
Ernest R. McClain, Walter R.
Sloan, and Wilson L. Nace went
over to Gettysburg in Ernest's
Buick last Sunday and returned
Monday evening.
Dr. R. b. Campbell, of New
Grenada, and D. A. Black, of Wa
terfall, two of the upper-end-of-the-County's
prominent citizens,
spent Friday night in town.
Mrs. Chas. 3. Stevens went to
Harrisburg Monday and is spend
ing this week in that city visiting
relatives and attending the Ep
worth League Convention.
Mrs, L. H. Wible, accompanied
by her son IIollls, went to Har
risburg last Friday to spend a
week with her husband, who is a
clerk in the Treasury Depart
ment. Dr. and Mrs. Walter Enfield
and their two interesting little
sons Tom and George, of Bed
ford, passed through town Mon
day evening in the Doctor's auto
mobile, enroute to Gettysburg.
Helen and Grace Danghen
baugh, of Orbisonia, are visiting
their grand parents, Mr. and
Mrs. John Tice at Knobsville.
They accompanied their grand
father to McConnellsburg last
Saturday.
W. Sloan Warthin, Miss Esther
Sloan, Miss Ethel Logue, and
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie W. Seylar,
went over to Gettysburg last
Saturday in Sloan's big Maxwell,
and stayed over for the Decora
tion Day exercises Monday.
Dr. and Mrs. II. C. McClain,
N. E. Hoover and Miss Maye Bar
ton, and Mrs. McClain's father,
W. F. Laidig all of Hustontown.
formed an automobile party that
went over to Gettysburg Sundav
and returned Monday evening.
Miss Harriet B. Sloan, who has
been spending the past school
year in the home of her brother
James A., at Columbus, Kansas,
and attending the High School in
that city, returned to the home
of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Thos. F. Sloan, last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith Mulhnex,
who bad beeu visiting the latter 's
parents, James A. Sipes and
wife, in Licking Creek township,
returned to their home in Foltz,
on Monday. They were accom
panied to town by Miss Tena
Sipes.
M iss Minnie Reisner, who has
been teaching in the pubho
Bchools at Munhall, Pa., during
the past winter, and her sister
Anna, who has been a student in
the High School at the same place,
returned home Tuesday evening
for their summer vacation.
Mrs. George W. Reisner, who
had been spending a few weeks
in a sanitarium at Wernersvillo,
Pa., returned home last week
much improved in health. She
was accompanied home by her
mother, Mrs. M. E Dalbey, who
will remain a few weeks with
Mrs. Reisner.