ans Es 1 spp ESI THE MEYERSDALE COMMERCIAL. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT MEYERSDALE, PA. K. Cleaver, Editor When paid strictly in advance $1.25 When not paid in advance $1.50 The terrible mine disaster last week at Boswell by which eighteen men’s lives were snuffed out as one blows out a candle, is one of the worst ever occurring in Somerset county and the saddest feature about it is that it was all a wicked waste of life. Reports seem to indicate that an open lamp was the cause of the explosion. Pockets of gas were sud- denly opened but that is to be expect- ed but it is not expected that an op- en lamp be held ready to meet this gas. Those immediately responsible met their death, but what of the offi- cials who permitted such a flagrant violation of law not to mention the barest commonsense. Long familiari- ty with undergroung,.as well above ground danger eds carelessness and the innggent nfust suffer with the guilty. Such a catastrophe is a dis- grace to state authorities, for if rigid inspection were enforced a miner's life would be nbt more dangerous than many other avocations. The poor widows and orphans must now pay the price of carelessness as is usuual- ly the case, REAL ESTATE. The following real estate deals in Somerset County have recently been recorded at the office of Recorder John G. Emert: Wilmore Coal Company to Demco, in Windber, for $1050. Jacob McGregor to the First Nation- al Bank of Cairnbrook, in Shade, for $550. John W_ Forest to Elias Fike, in Summit, for $1500. Allen Fike to Lloyd B. Fike, in Sum- mit, for $1000. Elias Fike toJ. W. Forest, in Green- ville, for $2500. William Barndt to Catherine Stahl, in Meyersdale, for $1300. Central City Realty Company to John Tarapscok, in Shade, for $250. Benjamin Blough’s heirs to the Manufacturer's Water Company, in Quemahoning, for $15,000. . Elias M_ Miller to John D. Yoder, in ElkLick, for $3000. A. Kent Miller to D. W. Rhoades, in Somerset Borough, for $300. H. G. Homer to Ross E. Will, in Hooversville, for $340. George R_ Scull to the B. & O. R. R. Co., in Somerset Borough and Twn- ship, fr $5000. Harvey Pritts to John R. Sivits, in Brothersvalley, for $2200. t G. W. Pritts to Harvey Pritts, in Brothersvalley, for $8225. J. BE: Lohr to Central City Lumber Company, in Shade, for $1000, E. E. Kiernan to D. B. Zimmerman, in Jenner, for $2000. Jennie Hoover to H. L. Hoover, Hooversville, for $3000. Samuel Pifer to Alice May Friedline, in Somerset Township. for $160, Susan Forney to Milton Forney, in Jenner Township, for $1800. Charles Landman to Ida B. Hoch- ard, in Somerset Borough, for $2700. John in . © ls CONFLUENCE Our schools opened Monday. Miss Lizzie Swan, of Connellsville, has purchased the grocery store of Jessie Taylor on Williams street, and took charge Monday. The Ladies’ Aid of the Lutheran church held a very interesting meet- ing at the hpme of Mrs. William Burn- worth Thursday evening. Mrs. J. C. Younkin is not improving very fast from her recent illness. Miss Christine Flanigan, who has a gevere attack of typhoid fever, is get- ting along very well. Mrs. Roy Van Sickle and three chil- dren have returned from a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs, A.G.Forn- walt, in Connellsville. Mr. and Mrs. John Davis had as their guest Thursday.Mrs W. E.Pullen of town, Mrs. Reeves Hill of Falling Waters, W. Va., and Mrs. C. R, Neigh- borgall and two children of Parkers- burg, W. Va. ROCKWOOD Mrs. Fred Schmucker of Holsopple, {s visiting her mother, Mrs. Haley of Main street and her brother and sis- ter-in-law, Mr, and Mrs. Frank Otto of the Miller building, Rev. Erler, pastor of the Lutheran Church, returned home after a vasa- tion spent in the east. Mrs. Edna Moxwell of Castle Shan- pon, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Miller of this place. Postmaster and Mrs. Souser have as { guest, Mr. Souser’s father of | their Bedford. ldren Cry FLETCHER'S ' EXPLORING ROBBER’S i ford has made an excavation on the property of his father-in-law, Capt Le- : vi Smith, on what is known as “Hibbs’ Hill,” and discovered an old cave en- trance. It has long been known that there was a cave on this hill, which is west of the Arandale hotel, but Mr. Smith had not been able to make an investigation. The opening had been filled up with stone a few years ago but Mr. Bock discovered the location without much trouble. He and an as- sistant have excavated to a depth of 24 feet and have located an opening leading toward the South not far from the residence of Hon. John M. Reynolds. He is at present trying to run electric wiring into the open- ing so that he may further investigate The older® residents of the town have long talked of a second opening to the cave which is supposed to run under Constitution and Federal hills at Bedford Springs, but there has been no certainty of it. The cave in Constitution hill on the east of the famous hotel, has an opening now of less than two feet in width, although a few years ago it was somewhat larger. Daring youths have ventur- ed in for several feet, but being com peled to crawl refused to seek that portion of the cave where a man : could stand upright. The cave is known as the Davy Lew is cave and was the hiding place of that famous robber in the early days of 1800. Here he secreted the arti- cles and money taken from his vic- tims and as he was hard to capture, always getting away and reappearing a great distance from the cave en- trance, it was thought that the exit was on the opposite side of Federal Hill. It may be but the entranee now uncovered by Mr. Bock conveys the idea that Lewis had several entran- ces or exits. Davy Lewis first appeared in Bed ford in 1815 having been arrested for passing counterfeit coins and notes at which time he paid a fine of $1 and was imprisoned for ten hours. With in six months he was again before the court and then he was imprisoned for a longer time. He escaped from the old jail by cutting through the oaken floor and burrowing under the walls and within 24 hours thereafter he robbed a traveler being a merchant named McSlellan of Pittsburg of $1800. Finding himself pursued, Lew- is, as was characteristic of him, gave his money to a destitute widow and her family and disguised joined his pursuers in the search which of course was a failure. nT He returned to Bedford several times and his methods were strange combinations of benevolence and of self-interest as he most frequently robbed the wealthy or braggarts and gave much to the poor, many a widow or destitute family finding provisions on the doorsteps in the mornings. Mr. Bock eXpects to penetrate far ther into this recess and residents of Bedford are hoping that his attempts will result in opening the cave and give to Bedford a natural curiosity and at the same time may find some tokens or booty of the famous robber of the long ago. JOHNSTOWN'’S SECOND TRADE EXPOSITION. Johnstown is going on a lark. Spend- ing $3,000 for parades, music and oth- er entertainment features, the busi- ness men of the city are making their Second Annual Trade Expo. to be held Sept. 22, 23 and 24 a regular ju- bilee. Plans are so much more elabor- rate than last year that fully 50,000 visitors are expected. On Wednesday morning, the opening day of the expo, there will be a par- ade and drill by the combined police and fire department of the city. Spec- ial invitations are extended to all firemen interested in this display of motor and horse-drawn apparatus. Thursday will be the banner day of the celebration. At 10:30 o'clock a big industrial and automobile parade will attract the best in the city, be- cause prizes are offered for the finest floats and the most beautifully decor- ated automobiles. Fifteen bands will take part in this parade and at 4 p.m. they will be heard in a band contest for $150 worth of cash prizes. The night attraction will be a monster fan- tastic pagent with $150 more to be distributed as prizes. Band concerts and display of fire- works will be the Friday program. All the stores of the city will be in festal attire, offering free souvenirs, demonstrations and entertainments during the times that there are no public features to interest the crowds. Five hundred business men have com- bined to entertain the people of this part of the state who have contribut- ed to their success. THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN r. W. M e, Pastor. Sunday subject——Launch Out. The t—The Four Beasts of School at 9:30 | CAVE AT BEDFORD.’ Harry Bock, a young florist of Bed- | ' NO OXYGEN HELMETS lives of most of the 19 gas explosion | victims, at Boswell, might have been ' saved grew in importance lately ! when an investigation revealed the | fact that the rescuing parties were not equipped with oxygen apparatus and were therefore unable to penetrate they poison-filled mine as soon as they might have had they been so equipped. Mine Inspector who were question- ed on this feature, said that they did not know whether oxygen helmets had been used. A member of one of the first-aid teams, however, is auth- ority for the statement that the res- cuing parties did not have any hel- mets or any oxygen apparatus, and that he did not see any if they were brought from other towns. He did not know whther any effort was made to secure the life-saving equipment from other towns. Information from the Cambria Steel Company’s offices was to the effect that no assistance of the efficient first-aid department there had been asked. The Johns- town men, it was stated, could have reached Boswell within an hour. When asked about the absence of oxygen equipment, Supt. Gibson stat- ed that none was used following the explosion and that the company was without such apparatus. “None of the mines in this district have any and I believe none of the mines in Somerset County have any,” said Mr. Gibson, “The explosion did not affect the ventilating. machinery and the ventilation was good at all times. The fans were able to clear the mines of the gases within a very short time following the explosion.” A physician said Thursday that fresh air was available only a short distance from the scene of the explo- and that within a short time the air courses were directed into the affccted area, clearing out the afterdamp. Oth- ers point out, however, that the 18 men were overcome before they could reach the fresh air or before the air could be directed to where they lay, and they died. : “We were all inside the mine work- ing when the explosion took place” said one of the first aid men. “We did not feel or hear anything unusual, but we got word over the telephones that an explosion occurred and that we should come out. Later we all took part in hunting for injured and dead men.” As a result of the explosion, some of the first-aia men are dead, having been killed by the effects of the let-go. Frank Beigle was a member of Orenda No. 1 team. Martin McGuire W&s Cap- tain. of Orenda N. 5 team and Frank LaPresti was a member of the same team. Although they ‘were without oxygen protection, the first-aid men went into the mine and searched for fellow miners. Among the first-aid mem- bers who took part in the work of res- cue were William Palmer, Mine Fore- man; Frank S. Swope, Barney Snow- berger, Joseph Chase, Arch Roberts, Clarence Daniels, Herbert Horner, George Lochrie, Thomas Mark, John Taylor, Charles Turner, P, M. Cole, William Witt, Earl Daniels, Aaron Seesock, Charles Anderson, Lester Meyers, Mike Pinco, Alex Baranek, all of Boswell; Richard May, Supt, of Jerome and Frank Baldwin, another Supt. from Jerome. Thursday was a day of funerals in Boswell. Hearses, closed carriages and wagons with rough boxes were numerous about the town. The two undertakers, Friedline and Haffman, each had men assisting them. Prac- tically every convyance in the town and a number from other towns were in use hauling people to the cemetery. The funerals began Wednesday af- ternoon, when a boy trapper killed in the explosion was buried. Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, they resumed. Practically all of the foreigners were buried some time that day. Because of the fact that the services were held at different hours instead of at one time, as had been suggested, the busi- ness houses of the town did not close. Funera] services for Martin Me- Guire was held from the residence Friday morning at 9 o'clock. The body was buried in the Odd Fellows’ | Cemetery at Stoyestown. The Odd | Fellows had charge of interment, and | Delegations from the Moose and Woodmen of the World attended ina body, The body of Herbert F. Beigle, the 18 year old victim of the disaster, was | buried in the United Brethren Ceme- | tery. Funeral services were held in | the Presbyterian Church at 10 o'clock Friday morning, the Rev. Mr. McBride { the pastor, officiating. | Because of misleading statements from the company’s office on the day of the explosion, there were rumors that still more bodie ! put the Mine Insp out the a ctors have given ve made that (oH de. burial of the care some of t Italia and for made by Count | vho went there | | MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. AT BOSWELL MINE. | —_— Statements made recently that the! FOR SALE— Pony, saddle harness and runabout in first class condition, | apply at Baer & Co. | | BOARDING. Several desirable persons can obtain. very reasonable board on the South | Side, Apply at this office. 2—2t* FOR RENT—7-room house with good cellar, water in cellar and good spring water. One acre of ground. Out-, buildings and plenty of fruit, Mrs. Jacob Kuhn. 9-3t. FOR RENT—Brick Building with 6 rooms having a bath room, a boiler, cement cellar.Situated on Center St. in Meyersdale, being part of the Stone Building, at the very low price of $8.00 per month. Apply to Jno. A. Miller, Meyersdale, R. D. No. 2, Pa. WANTED—At once 50 to 100 Miners, Steady work. Apply at Superintend- ‘ent's office, Carney Mine, Donohoe Station, Penn’a. NOTICE—is hereby given that all /patrons of the Sand Spring Water Company are urged to see that their spigots and flush tanks are in good re- ‘pair, so as to prevent waste of ws ter. NOTICE—Is hereby given that the bills due Becker & Streng, Millers, who dissolved partnership in April last, after August 9 are to be settled with each of the two members of said firm, of the firm and the other half to the other member of the firm. A reasonable time will be given to close these accounts, then | shall place my portion of the accounts un- settled in legal hands for collection. ..In the daytime | am at the Habel & Phillips Warehouse. This has been agreed to by both members of the firm. GEORGE BECKER. WANTED—To buy farms of 20 to 160 Acres in Summit Township, as we have prospective purchasers for same. Answer quick. Address or call on Meyersdale Real Estate Co. F. W. Plock, Mgr.. : ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE. Estate of Elmer EZ Conrad, late of Meyersdale Borough, Somerset Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, deceased. Letters of Administration in the above estate having been issued to the undersigned, notice is hereby giv- en to all persons indebted to said es- tate to make immediate payment, and - those having claims against the es- tate may present them for settlement to the undersigned at the late resi- dence of the decedent on Saturday the 21st day of October, 1915, at one o’elock, P. M. EXECUTOR'S NOTICE. Estate of Herman B. Beal, late of Larimer Township, Somerset Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, Deceased. Letters testamentary on above es- tate having been granted to the un- dersigned by the proper authority, notice is hereby given to all persons knowing themselves to be indebted to said estate to make immediate pay- ment and those having claims against the same to present them duly au- thenticated for settlement to the un- dersigned on Saturday, October 9th, 1915 at the residence of the executor in Wittenburg, Larimer Township, Somerset County, Pa. Ross R. Scott, JACOB E. GEIGER, Attorney. Executor. GLADE CITY. Heid over from last week. Wm. Becker and wife left for Chicago last Wednesday on a vaca- tion for two weeks. G. W. Hutzell visited at J. H. Mil- ler’'s over Sunday. Glade City Sunday School successful picnic on Thusday. had a There is prayer meeting at Key- stone Junction church every Friday evening. Everybody is cordially invit- ed. Mrs. J. Miller, Mr, Wm. Grines were few days ago buying peaches. Jno. W. Miller is one of the candi- dates for school director of Summit township. Lenhart and BRETHREN CHURCH—Rev. W. L. '‘Goughnour, Pastor. On Sunday, Sept. 12, the Men’s Federation will meet in connection with Sunday School at 9:30 a. m. There will be preaching services both morning and evening in the Meyersdale church. Christian Endeavor at 6:45 P. m. All are cor- dially invited. were in the mine ! | 6 5-CENT PACKAGES GOOD WASH- "ING POWDER, or 6 CAKES WHITE LAUNDRY SOAP for 256 CENTS at BITTNER’S GROCERY. Children Cry FOR FLETCHER’'S R1 A CASTORI that is one-half of the a-! mount of each bill is to be paid to one | in Cumberland a} find at our store. for trains and street pleasure to suits and overcoats. THIS IN FAIR AND RACE TIME GOOD FOR THE HUMAN RACE SE ————— A better time to get in the Good Clothes Race at HARTLEY & BALDWIN’S. Everything that is good to wear you will When you are attending the fair. Make this store your headquarters, while waiting us to show our new fall line of cars. It would be a The place is HARTLEY & BALDWIN, MEYERSDALE, PENNA. a ISS As Pal TAS NS el ll Nl ie TY desire to secure If you are having any -EYE-SIGHT-= IS PRECIOUS WE AS OPTOMETRISTS that is possible by the use of the most up-to-date facilities. -- Vision, Headaches, or Dizziness better let us look over your eyes. —We Make No Charges for an Examination— for you the best Eye Trouble, Blurred | T COOK, nih APPLICATION FOR STATE AID ON ROUTES. To the Commissioners of Somerset County: WHEREAS, The section of highway in Meyersdale Borough, County of Somerset, Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, being about 3150 feet in length and situated as follows:- Beginning at the intersection of the State High- way in Summit Township and Salis- ‘bury street of Meyersdale Borough (at the Borough line,) thence along 11th street of said Borough to Beach- ley street, thence along Beachley street to the new bridge at Front street in said Borough. WHEREAS, State aid is desired for the permanent improvement, with brick, of the section of highway in Meyersdale Borough, under the Act approved May 31, 1911, providing for the establishment of a State Highway Department, etc., and supplement ap- proved June 5, 1913, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Borough Council of said Meyersdale Borough, in regular session assembled on this 6th day of July, 1915, do on behalf of said borough hereby petition for State aid as hereinbefore stated, and be it further RESOLVED, That the said Borough Council do agree for themselves and their successors in office to provide for the payment of and to pay to the Commonwealth from the borough funds, in the manner provided by the said Act, and the supplement hereto, one-fourth of the total expense of said improvement when due, and be it further 3 RESOLVED, That the Commission- ers of said County of Somerset be and are hereby petitioned to join in re- questing the State Highway Depart- ment to extend State aid for the said road improvment, under the said act. Approved September 7, 1915. The foregoing is hereby certified to be a true and correct copy of reso- lutions adopted by the said Borough Council of Meyersdale Borough, Som- erset County. VALENTINE GRESS, Burgess Chas. H. Dia, Pres. of Council. Attest: E. J. Dickey, Clerk. I, B. J. Dickey, Clerk of Council of the Borough of Meyersdale do hereby certify that the above resolution has been recorded in the Borough Ordi- nance Book and has been advertised as required by law. E. J. DICKEY, Clerk. m Your Own Home Town. Your preacher talks to you about the sin in the great cities and your heart is heavy with sorrow at the thought of wrong and suffering. You may feel called upon to spend your time and money preparing baskets and barrels of Christmas goodies to be sent to some of the miserable, with whom, thank goodness, you do not have to come in contact. But please don’t forget that there's a devil in | your own home town.—Kansas Indus- | trialist Baltimore & Ohio 16-DAY, EXCURSIONS TO NORFOLK AND OLD POINT COMFORT VIRGINIA JULY 15 AND 29 AUGUST 12 AND 26 SEPTEMBER 9 ROUND TRIP GOOD IN COACHES ONLY. For $2.00 additional, tickets will be good in Pullman cars with Pullman tickets. The route is rail to Washington or Balti- more and delightful steamer trip to destination, Full Information at Ticket Offices. WP Joseph L. Tressler Funeral Director and Embalmer Meyersdale, Penn’a. Residence : 309 North : treet Economy I'hone. Office: 229 Center Street Both Phones. me ma Anyone in need of a first-class Slate Roof, write to J. S. WENGERD as we have No. 1 Bangor or Nea Green Slate in stock at Meye.dale and can give you a good price on slate GALVANIZED ROOFING at the lowest prices We have a good stock on hand and prices will be higher when this is sold, also Spouting. Write for Delivered Prices i to any Railroad Station J S. WENGERD R.D.2 {| MEYERSDALE, 2. PENNA. no. at. ee ET 0 NE ~ AI EGE +~8 A wreck on the B. & 0. railroad on Sunday three miles west of Confiu- | ence, resulted in eleven persons being hurt but only slightly. L. O. Youn- | kin, of Confluence. had a knee in- { jured and Mary Davis, of Confluence. suffered from shock. The cause of the wreck is not known. Trains were de- layed for a number of hours. fa PERS! Surely Born on Frida A son L. Dupo , Harry Mary ref ington a Miss for Indi complete There and Mrs day last Dr. R; spend tl Philadel Evang 12: Rey farewell Miss ron, O., Mrs. Hi Miss Savage, with rel Mrs. Miss M and frie Maul the app paint. Mrs. her ho month’s friends. Rev. Method umbus, He wil Mr. @ niece & Gatesm to the Mr. Anders eral da tives MN Wm. phone spent Wedne John day by; Clemer bath t Mrs. day’s 1 dale, r ing. Hom his stu ical de Virgin Mr. Smith visit tl heen | Mise enjoye Johns! Sunda a. m. Conflu Mr. W. Be to Bos “First Mis! Leona day € Conne Mrs Md. 1 Mr. a street Mis rived have Diehl Mr. wife | er's 1 Meye! Mis turne after friend Mis and 1 erate at J cystic Re
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers