VOL.XXVIII.
THE CITY COUNCILS.
Fr ©<•*•! iiign of the Meeting of Both
BraDchett Lt Evening.
Both branches of the City Councils
met in regular monthly session last even
ing in their respective, rooms. A quorum
of the Select Council not being present, a
policeman was sent out to hunt t p the ab
sentees.
IN THE SELECT COUNCIL.
A quorum was present at 8 o'clock, the
following men 1 ers being present :
Messrs Barry, Kennedy, O'Sliea, Brixuer,
Moses, Slick, Kist, Huebner and Hogan.
Those absent were Messrs. Haws, Yeug
ley, Buser, McLaughlin, Smith and llocli
steio.
in the absence of Chairman Yeagley,
Mr. Kennedy presided,
A petition from John B. Gerhard! ask
ing for permission to lay, at his own ex
pense. a row of stepping stones across
Horner street in front of his place of
business in the Seventh ward was granted.
A petition from citizens of Moxham,
Seventh ward askiug for the extension of
Wheat street in that place to Coleman
nvenue. was referred to the Committee on
Highways.
The following message from the Mayor
was read :
M A voit'a OFFICE. 1
CITY OF JOHNSTOWN, June 17, tsao.f
Tu the Strlevt and Cniwnoh CfAWCUS a] the City (it
Jolmstown:
In response to resolution of your bodies " re
questing the Mayor and solicitor to present to
council the proper measure to prep.ue the way
for raislDg the money necessary to protect the
city from tlood whether by the issue of Kiver
improvement Bonds or other form—" I have to
say that the only mode of Incurring Indebted
ness by the municipality is by,
® First. Ascertaining the amount of outstanding
liability then ascertaining the amount ot reve
nue wltnin one year which the municipality
will derive fiom all sources, t his of course should
include the probable expenditures within the
year to which the revenue would have necessar
ily to be applied, this amount being ascertained,
the Councils by resolution or ordinance may In
cur an Indebtedness equal to two per cent, upon
the valuation of all the taxable property within
the limits of the city as ascertained by the last
proceeding assessment. Should the amount of
the outstanding liability be equal to two per
cent, then the Councils have no authority to
eonfract a loan or Incur an indebtedness without
having the sanction of the electors of the city us
follows :
Second. The municipality may contract a
loan or incur an indebtedness not to exceed the
sum of seven per cent, upon the valuation of the
taxable property within the limits of the city by
fixing a ttme and giving notice of •> special elec
ttVti upon which the questioned incurring an in
debtedness shall be submitted to the vot
ers. should a majority ot the votes
cast be In favor ot incurring
an indebtedness, then the municipal
authorities may contract or incur an indebted
ness tor any lawful purpose not to exceed ihe
seven per cent, above mentioned.
In either event the proper officers ot the mu
nicipality must file a statement, under oath,
"with the clerk of the Court of Quarter sessions,
Hhowlng the amount of the last annual assess
ment, the amount of the revenues within the
next year applicable to the payment of the In
debtedness, the amount of tlielndebtedness.the
form and character of the obligation Issued, and
when payable.
At the time of Issuing any obligation under
the Act ol Assembly relating to the municipal
indebtedness, the Councils must authorize the
levying ot a tax applicable to the liquidation of
* the debt, and the period lor which bonds may be
Issued shall cot exceed thirty years.
Pursuant to your resolution, a contract with
the Cambria Iron company for the building of a
temporary bridge across the Little conemaugh
river, and the tilling of the river bank for tl>?
protection of the Eleventh ward has been en
tered Into, and I recommend the appropriation
of a sum sufficient to cover the amount ot Bald
contract, to wit.: the sum of si,oooforthe cost
of the bridge, and the sum of say sa)o to cover
the actual expense for labor in laying the rail
road track
Pursuant to ordinance and resolution, I have
accepted the bid ot Hoover, Hughes k Co., they
being the only persons who tiled a bid for the
erection of tire temporary Mayor's offli e and
lock-up or station house, to be used as a city
prison. In accordance with the plan and speclil
, cation approved by the respective committees
on public property of each branch ot council;
the price atd sum of said building Is tt,400, and
is already covered by a proper appropriation.
in accordance with the resolution of the
councils, a contract tor the tilling or Main
street to Walnut, from Walnut to the bridge
crossing the Little conemaugh and Iron street
and the Intersecting streets and Idleys with
Brown Bros, at the rate per cubic yard lixed by
resolution, has teen entered into, the work to
he done under the direction of tiie City Engi
neer and the same Is now being rapidly pushed
•to completion.
A proper appropriation shoul I bo made for
i tho payment of the sum of said contract.
L I have been Informed by the cohtractor hav
f Ing In charge the building ot the proposed In
cline at the foot of viLe street that they will lie
required to excavate and remove from six to
ten thousand yards or ground in order to make
the foundations tor that structure, and they
will be required to expend the ground some
where else than In the river. Doubtless a con
tract could he made with them to fill the lower
portion of Main, Washington, and Union streets
and Intersecting alleys at a very low ngure, and
I recommend the propriety of referring the mat
ter to the City Engineer and street commlr
sloner, giving to them authority to confer with
and secure from the contractors the ground to
he expended, conferring at the same time the
' right to make a contract If the"terms are satis
factory to a [troper committee of the councils
and the Mayor.
I have drafted an ordinance deilnlng the
width and location for part of the course of the
Little conemaugh river and recommend to your
bodies its prompt adoption as the same is drawn
in conformity with the survey atd recommen
dation of the City Engineer. It will be at least
a commencement and should there be litigation
It might as well commence at the point of vital
k interest to the Inhabitants of the city
|p the matter of obtaining an outlet
for the (low of the water. It
changes the mouth of the Little Cone
maugh the width of Itself down the stream so
as to make Its flow parallel with Its couflu-
JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY. PA., FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1890
ent, the stonycreek. and will relieve us of the
dangerous bar heretofore thrown up at every
rainfall. It will be seen by a reference to the
map or plan prepared by the Engineer that the
proposed change will affect but slightly prop
erty holders except at the lower end, where the
Cambria Iron company will be mostly affected
and with them I hope but little. If any, contro"
veny will be had, as the practical effect is but
to give a better outlet to the stream and relieve
us ot the trouble of the bar deposit above re
ferred to. A change may he required In the lo
cation of Conemaugh street In the Thirteenth
ward, which will be all the street affected Dy
the change recommended by the Engineer.
It is to me apparent that there is more re
quired at the hands ot the City Engineer than
he can possibly accomplish. The councils have
ordered, and I commend them for It, that the
City Engineer throw aside all other work and
proceed with the survey ol the water courses
In order that ordinances maybe passed estab
lishing their width preparatory to cleaning the
same, clearing the rubbish, debris, and deposits
and opening the channels to relieve us from the
danger of luture floods. The grading ot streets
Is now going on, which must be done under the
direction of the City Engineer, who must be
constantly on hand to establish the line and as
certain the number of cubic yards of ffillDg
done. He Is beset on alljsldes by persons desir
ing grades, lines, and levels; an average of ton
to twelve persons dally complain to the Mayor
of the refusal of the City Engineer to give them
grades, lines and levels. If all this work is to
be done, the City Engineer must have assist
ance, and I call the attention of the councils to
the fact, in order that they may take such sters
to secure to citizens the opportunity to obtain
lines and levols as the councils may deem
proper.
The committee to whom was referred the mat
ter of Investigating and reporting upon the pro.
priely of making a change In the Eire
Limit ordinance so as to relieve persons who
had in good faith entered into contracts and
prepared material for the outer walls of their
bullalngs prior to the adoption or the ordinance
met and Investigated the matter and concluded
to recommend the adoption of an ordinance re
pealing the last proviso of section 4, of said or
dinance a draft of which will be duly presented
to Councils.
The new temporary office for the Mayor will
soon be completed and ready for cccupancy.
T here Is now no proper desk, bookcase or pigeon
holes for tiling the papers, keeping ihe blanks
and securing tho dockets, books and registry
pertaining to the offloe. The information, war
rants, subptenas, committments and such simi
lar papers are pubic records and must be pre
served, I therefore recommend to councils the
propriety and necessity of providing for the
Mayor's office a suitable desk with drawers and
case for the purpose of depositing the dockets
and storing the blanks as also proper pigeon
holes for flllDgthe office papers and the pro
curing of the necessary chairs and furniture In
order to enable him to discharge the duties of
his office.
I feel it my duty to call the attention ol the
Councils to the delay In passing the ordinance
relating to sidewalk. There is now no munici
pal regulation which will enable the executive
officers of the city to prohibit obstruction of the
sidewalk except to prosecute in the Courts for a
public nuisance those who store their goods,
barrels and boxes on the same. Nor
Is there any regulation to compel
persons to repair their sidewalks as all
ordinances on that subject passed by the sev
oral boroughs now forming the city have been
repealed. The delay, as I learn, Is caused by
those who desire to eoupie with the passage of
reasonable regulations In reference to the side
walks a proviso which proposes to give to mer
chants a right to obstruct the side-walk for
their own personal convenience and pecuniary
advantage. The citizens ol the whole commu
nity are made to suffer in order to enhance the
protlts and give an ImproDer advntage to a par
ticular class. The views ol the Executive upon
the subject ol this privilege has heretofore been
made the subject of a special message vetoing
the ordinance by reason of the obnoxious clause
referred to. should those who desire to attach
to a general regulation designed tor the good or
the whole people reflect lor a moment. It seems
to me they would see the propriety of adopting
the ordinance without the clause referred to,
and then Introducing It as a separate measure.
If the measure Is a meritorious one, it could and
would stand alone and be adopted by a proper
majority of the councils, hut when attached to
a measure of tellef and municipal regulation,
which ought not to be delayed. It only places
the advocates of the special privilege in the
Position of obstructing much needed legislation.
I have called the attention of the Councils to
the matter, and leave with you the responsblll
ty torourbrckcn sidewalks and encumbered
foot-ways.
The change or the grade at the corner of Wal
nut and Main, as also at ihe corner of Wulnut
and Washington streets, necessitates a ceange
In the lire-plugs. Of course the change In grade
and elevation will have to be borne by the city,
and I am Informed by the Superintendent of the
Water company that plugs will have to be re
newed, the one at the corner of Main and Wal
nut being ot the old McClellan pattern and the
one at t he comer of Washington and Walnut can
only be replaced by attaching a new stand pipe.
The work will require to be done at once and I
reccommcnd that the Street commissioner or
City Engineer be instructed at once to inform
the Water company to make the necessary'
change. Also within a short time when the
grading is done at the Intersection of I'nlon and
Main a ne>v plug will have to beputlnandl
suggest the propriety of having instructions
given to the water company to change it to the
proper grade.
The grade of Morris street has been changed
near the lower end. The street Hallway track
conlorms to the new grade. The sidewalk must
be elevated to correspond. The grade Is made
to suit the proposed elevation of the bridge at
one foot over the present height of the existing
abutments. The condition now Is that the
street is impassable for teams, something must
be done. If the Franklin ssreet bridge Is to be
constructed upon the existing abutments only
to be changed by an elevation of the same
the street should tie filled up to meet the
case so that wagons can use the highway. If
the stream Is to be widened and the abutment
set back the lines should be given at once, and
the work of construction begun. If the st ream
Is to be widened, where the embank
ment Is to be taken off, on which side, to whay
extent, and who Is to he affected should be as
certained without delay, to the end that If we
are to be delayed by refusal of those claiming
the property to permit It to be removed, their
houses torn down or set back, and lltlgattlon Is
to ensue or precede the work of construct
ing the bridge upon the new lines,
the fact should be known and the
courts appealed to In whatever
form may he deemed proper at once. Th
street Hallway people claim that they are not
responsible lor the condition of the street is
they only followed in elevatlhg the track the
! lines given by the proper%fficlals and they are
• in no wise responsible for the condition that
renders the street impassable and of which I
here complain. The Street Katlwav company
aver that they are anxious to go on and com
plete the road and set In motlou their cars but
can not do so until at least three of the bridges,
the Franklin Street, the Walnut Street and the
bridge across the conemaugh connecting tho
Fifteenth ward are built. The bridges should
be built. The location of the lower bridge re
ferred to should be ascertained at once.
The Finance committee claim they arc ready
to assist with funds In building bridges when
their location and length are duly established.
At a recent interview pt least one member ot the
committee announced that he was not willing
to contribute any money towards building Ihe
bridges until the council widened the streams
to the lines given by Mr. schenk. In his survey.
Everybody wants the bridges built, whether or
not a change shall be made In the width of the
Stonycreek at the FranitUn street Bridge, or
whether the bridge shall be erected upon the
abutments Is a matter exclusively for the deter
mination or the councils. So is it with the loca
tion of the bridge to be erected on the lower
Conemaugh. I believe there will bo no contro
versy in regard to the width or length of the
bridge at the end of walnut street and at the
upper end of Kailroad street as the Cambria
Iron company, owning both sides of the stream
at the upper bridge and all the land on the up
per side of the Walnut Street Bridge, have vol
untarily opened the stream or agreed that, It
shall be opened to a width of ICS feet. But still
councils must act and 1 recommend tho appoint
ment of a Joint committee of the Councils to
take up the whole question and give to It care
ful consideration of the expense, delay, and
possible Htlgatlen to follow tho widening of the
streams, the danger ot overllow II the same are
not widened, and having carefully considered
all these matters report to councils what should
be done in order that action may be taken. It
will not do to trifle with this matter. Action Is
necessary, delay is Improper. I will repeat
what 1 have heretofore said; I will enlor-e, If
the same can be done, any scheme Councils may
devise within the hounds ol law tor our relief.
W. HORACE HOSE.
Moved by Mr. Barry that the message
be received and taken up seriatim.
Tiie matter of raising money to improve
the rivers was referred to the Finance
Committee.
On motion, the City Solicitor was in
structed to draft an ordinance covering
the recommendation of the Mayor in le
gard to the bridge to the Eleventh ward.
The same action was taken in reference to
the matter of the couiract with Hoover,
Hughes & Co., for building the temporary
Mayor's headquarters.
The part of the message relating to the
matter of tbe ground tc be excavated
in constructing Ihe incline plane was re
ferred to the City Engineer and the Street
Commissioner, with power to act.
The mattei in reference to the furnish
ing of the Mayor's Office was referred
to the Committee on Citv Property,
The matter of the change of water
plugs necessitated by the change of grade
in the First and Second wards was re
ferred to the Mayor and the Solicitor to
ascertain at whose expense the change
should be made, with instructions to re
port at next meeting.
A resolution instructing the Mayor and
the Solicitor to draft an ordinance de
claring the width of the Stonycreek river
in the city limits be 200 feet passed.
The vote by which the sidewalk ordi
nance failed of passage at the last meeting
was reconsidered. The ordirance was
then passed unanimously on third
reading.
An ordinance declaring the width of
the Little Conemaugh at 125 feet and fix
ing the lines of that river from the Cam
bria Iron Company's railroad bridge to its
junction with ihe Stonycreek passed two
readings.
A resolution from Common Council di
recting Brown Bros., to take from the
river the filling they are using to raise the
streets in the First and Second wards.
Passed.
An ordinance authorizing the City En
gineer to employ an assistant passed two
readings.
An ordinance relating to the move
ment of street railway cars within the
city limits passed two readings,
An ordinance relating to tho depositing
of garbage or other obstructing materials
in the rivers passed two readings.
An ordinance regulating the movement
of vehicles on the public highways of
the City of Johnstown passed one read
ing.
An ordinance making appropriation
for the payment of the interest on the
outstanding indebtedness of the sevei'al
boroughs now comprising tho City of
Johnstown passed two readings.
A communication from the City Solic
itor was read, asking that the City Engi
neer be directed to iurnish him the neces
sary lines for Gauticr and Quarry streets,
in the Tenth ward, to enable him to com
ply with the request of Council to draft
an ordinance declaring them public
streets.
On motion, Council adjourned to meet
on Friday evening.
IN THE COMMON COUNCIL.
The members present in the Common
Cofincil were Messrs. Arthur, Donaldson,
Neary, Fearl, J. M. Davis, Foster, Mat
thews, McConnell, Greene, Flanagan,
Coleman, Zimmerman, and Miltenbcrgcr.
Tho absentees were Messrs. R. Davis,
Beaujohn, and Slater.
The minutes of the last regular meeting
and the subsequent special meetings were
read and approved.
I The message from the Mayor was read
It was considered seriatim.
An ordinance making appropriation for
the City Engineer's department, passed
finally.
Au ordinance making appropriation for
the payment of the laborers in the Street
Commissioner's department, passed fi
nally.
Mr. Matthews then moved that tbe City
Controller he requested to give au esti
mate of Ihe probable receipts and expeu
ditures tor the current year, and also the
assessed valuation of the property in the
city. Agreed to.
Mr. Fearl offered a resolution directing
Brown Bros, to take from tbe river the
filling they are now using.
It was moved that the Solicitor he in
structed to draft an ordinance in accord
ance with the Mayor's message in refer
ence to the filling in the Eleven!h ward.
Bills to the amount of $2,768.10 passed
two readings.
Mr. Foster moved that the Committee
on Highways, the Solicitor and the May
or be mstiucted to confer with Sparks ifc
Evans, in the matter of Hie ground exca
vated at the incline plane, to see what
terms could be obtained to have them put
it on tbe streets in the lower parts of the
city, and if satisfactory to draw up n pro
per ordinance iu lefcrtaee to the matter.
The clause in the Mayor's message re
lating to the furnishing of his office was,
on motion of Mr. Fearl, refeired to the
Committee on Cfly Property.
Messrs. Matthews, Foster, Green, Fearl
and Arthur were appointed a special com
mittee to meet a like committee from Se
lect Council to consider the sidewalk ordi
nance.
The ordinance on nuisances was also
referred to that same committee.
The matter in regard to the water
plugs on Walnut street it was resolved
that the water company he directed to
place new plugs or make necessary im
provements in water plugs at the intersec
tion of Main and Walnut, Washington
and Walnut, and Main and Union streets.
Passed two readings.
Mr. Greene offered a resolution directing
that the new bridge between the Four
teenth and Fifteenth wards he located at
Broad street. Agreed to.
Petition from the citizens of Iron street
that a sewer be p'aced along that
street for the drainage of tbe properties
on the north side of said street, was re
ferred lo the Committee on Highways.
Petition from the Seventh Ward Fire
Company asking for an appropriation,
was referred to the Committee on Fire
and Fire Engines.
Mr. Foster presented the petition of the
Johnstown Turnverein, asking for per
mission to lay a private sewer at their
own expeose and under the direction of
the Street Commissioner, from the rear of
their lot at the corner of Itailroad and
Jackson streets to Locust street. The
petition was granted.
The City Engineer was instructed to
give the grade and line to the citizens
along Connelly avenue so that they can
put down their curbstones.
On motion adjourned to meet Friday
evening.
New Convent Building.
Prior to Ihe flood the Benedictine Sis
ters, belonging to St. Joseph's congrega
tion, occupied a rather small frame build
ing on Railroad street, above the parson,
age. It shared the common fate of build
ings in the track of the flood. A fine new
two-story brick building is now Hearing
completion on the old site, and will, when
finished, make a very comfortable resi
dence for tbe sisters. Considering the
amount of property it lost in the flood St.
Joseph's congregation has made very
rapid progress since the disaster. Their
work of rebuilding will be done when the
convent is completed.
GREENMBUKG HAPPENINGS.
GKBBNSBCRG. PA., June 15.—Mr. Peter
Householder, of Bunker Hill, was fatally
injured yesterday morning by a fall of
coal in the Greensburg mines, south of
town. His skull was fractured iu two
places, bot'i ears were torn off. and he
was badly injured internally. He is sin
gle and about twenty-five years old.
Morris Hasson, of Ludwick, made in
formation against 8. B. 8. Miller, conduc
tor of the first section of the Western Ex
press, charging him with throwing him
from the train near Penn, on May 23d,
while running at the rate of forty miles an
hour. The conductor was arrested and
entered bail for a hearing on Tuesday
next.
Friday evening a girl named Mary
Loge, in the employ of the family of
Dick I'rehetel, was fatally scalded by
upsetting a kettle of boiling water over
her person. The flesh on her body from
the breast down was literally cooked.
Bones of Two Children.
On Friday the bones of a child were
found at New Florence and shipped to
the morgue authorities here. Spring-hcel
shoes and black stockings were the only
article? of clothing found with the body.
On Laturdav the bones of another child
wese found at thef Point and taken to the
morgue. No description could be giveD,
as there was nothing but bones.
Partners with a Fakir.
One day, after the editor ot the Weekly
Banner and Home Journal had returned
to the office from a trip around the vil
lage, he announced to me that the paper
would suspend with that issue. I was an
apprentice at $2 per week and " found,"
and he was in debt to mc and everybody
else, and could raise no more subscrip
tions or advertising. We were discuss
ing the gloomy outlook when a young
man with a hawk eye and a thin nose
came bustling m. That he was down on
his luck could easily be told at a glance,
hut that he was discouraged was not so
clear.
" I want two or three days' credit for a
little printing," he promptly announced.
•' You can't have it," growled the
editor.
The young mail was turning away,
seeming not at all discouraged, when the
editor asked :
" Who are you?"
'■ A fakir."
" What's that ? "
" A man who travels and lives by his
wits."
" Well you've hit the wrong towu. You
couldn't raise a quarter here in a week's
talking. I've worked like a jackass for a
year to establish this paper, and she busts
this week."
'•My friend," said the stranger as he sat
down," " let's go pards."
" How ?"
'• You print me some labels and dodgers
and I'll do the selling and we'll whack up."
" What have you got? "
A liver tonic."
" No good."
" Best thing in the woild. How many
people you got here ?"
"Twelve hundred."
"Then I'll sell twelve hundred bottles
of my South American Liver Invigorator
at a dollar a bottle."
After some further talk the editor
agreed to tho partnership. I went to the
drug stores and found one hundred bot
tles of a certain size. One thousand
more were telegraphed for at Pittsburgh
to come C. O. D. We got UD a label, got
out five hundred dodgers, aud the "Invig
orator " was made at the editor's house.
It was a mixture of water, molasses,
ginger, and whiskey, and cost about
four cents a bottle. When all was
ready the fakir went out ,ou the
street, I circulated the dodgers and
the editor gave him a page adver
tisement in what we thought would he the
last issue, Can you guess what that chap
did in seventeen days ? He made, bot
tled and sold 2,900 bottles of that " In
vigorator," working two other villages be
sides our own. In the making and bot
tling lie had three cr four to help, but he
did all the selling alone. Children cried
for it, and old chaps who had forgotten
that they ever had a liver bought two bot
tles and then came hack for a third one.
I saw $1,450 counted down on the impos
ing stone for our editor, and he very kind
ly handed me my hack salary and a pres
ent of SSO. It was a godsend to him, for
he squared up, the paper went on and to
day it is one of the liveliest small dailies
in the State of Ohio.
A TRAIN ri.I'NUES DOWN A HILL.
Three Killed ami Several Wounded on a
North Carolina Train.
ASHKVILLE, N. C., June 19.—A terrible
railroad accident occurred at Melrose sta
tion, on the Ashevillc and Spartanburg
division of the Western North Carolina
road last night. The dead are :
Engineer J. J. Smyra of Chester, S. C.;
Engineer Lewis Tunstall of Yorktown,
Va.; Fireman W. G. Taylor of Morris
town, Tenn., son of W. P. Taylor, for
twenty years a conductor.
The injured are; C. Bowcock, flagman,
thigh broken; conduc
toi, injuries not serious, escaped by jump
ing : William Hoe fireman, slight injuries,
escaped by jumping ; two colored brake
men named Foster and Greenlee, painful,
but not dangerous, wounds.
From the apex ot Saluba Mountain to
Melrose, a distance of more than three
miles, there is a fall of COO feet. The
track was very wet last night when a coal
train started down, and soon after begin
ning tbe descent it became evident that
tho twelve loaded ears were too much for
both engines to hold with all brakes down,
and the speed grdually quickened under
the heavy pressure until a rate of seventy
five miles an hour was reached, when the
tracks spread and the train plunged down
the mountain with a terrible crash, bury
ing beneath the broKen cars, cross ties,
and earth the brave fellows who had stood
to their posts.
The loss to the company in engines anil
cars will reach $75,000.
A Surprise Blrtlnlay Party.
Yesterday being the sixty-third birth
day of 'Squire Wm. C Bland, of the Thir
teenth ward, a crowd of his friends called
on him in the evening byway of a " sur
prise " and presented him a fine rocking
chair. The gentlemen in the party were
Thomas P. Keedy, Esq., ex-Burgess of
Millville borongh, Select Councilman
Chas. Brixner and Ed. T. McNeelis, Esq.
Quite a number of ladies were present.
The 'Squire in his well known hospitable
manner entertained the party till among
the long hours.
NO.
GREBNsBUKG KXCITED
Over the Shooting of Dr. W. J. Hammer by
Hit Wife.
GBBKKSBUHG, June 19. Last night
about 10 o'clock our quiet little city was
startled by the Dews of the shooting of
Dr. Will J. Hammer, one of our promi
nent youDg dentists, by his wife,to whom
he has only been married about fifteen
months. The cause of the shooting wan
family troubles, which had been brewing;
for some time, aud which culminated in a
quarrel yesterday, when Mis. Hammer
went to her father's, Eli Sell, at Paradise,
our southern suburb, and complained to
him about the manner in which they have
been living.
Mr. Sell told her that he would go
back home with her and try to have an
amicable settlement of the matter be
tween them, This he did, and last night
about 9:80, when the doctor got home
from his office, he found the old gentle
man and hfs wife there. In a short time
tl.ey got into a fight, which culminated
in the doctor striking the old gentleman
with a cane, knocking him down and se
riously injuring him. Mrs. Hammer
thinking he was going to kill her father,
went to a cupboard and got a revolver
and fill d twice at her husband missing
both times.
She then ran out into the street calling
foi help, which brought Mr. Dally, a
neighbor, out. who ran over and finding
the door locked broke it open and rushed
in, followed by Mrs. Hammer, who as
soon as she got in fired again, this time
the ball taking effect in the back, of her
husband, and passing through the
right lung, came out at the breast. She
then ran out and into a neighbor's house
BDd a physician was sent for. The wound
is a wry serious one and may prove fatal,
although the doctor I hicks he may possi
bly pull through. Mrs. Hammer is at
her father's, acd at this hour has not been
arrested. The excitement is great, owing
to the prominence of the parties, who are
all wealthy.
The Nicely ltoys.
INDIANA, PA., June 19. —The Nicely
boys, convicted of the rubbery and mur
der of Farmer Umberger, have brightened
up since the receipt of a letter from a sis
ter, in. which she states that a confession
has heen made by one John Beach, of
Somerset county, to having murdered
Umberger, and implicating a man named
Miller from the same county, a3 an ac
complice. The story as given by the
Nicely girl, is that a certain justice of the
peace presented himself at Somerset re
cently, made affidavit that John Beach
had appeared before him rnd c infessed
that he and a man named Miller had kill
ed Umberger, and that the Nicely boys
had nothing whatever to do with the
murder, The sister's story lacks confirm
ation, and in some respects looks im
probable. Some of the court house offi
cials believe it was cooked up to influ
ence the Board of Pardons, before which
their case will be brought again. A spec
ial from Greensburg gives a different ver
sion of the alleged confession. It says :
A rumor is in circulation here to the effect
that a man named Pat Cavanaugh, a con
vict in Somerset jail, has confessed to the
murder of old man Umberger. The con
fession is alleged to have been procured
thiough the efforts of the father of the
Nicely boys. It is said he has the papers
In his pocket and will arrive here to-day
and make affiidavit to the papers. Cava
naug is an eccentric individual and lived
in the neighborhood of the Nieelys.
Remarkably Rapid Growth of a Trias
Child.
DOCGLASVILLK, Texas, June 13.— Pine
Level, a hamlet lying six or seven miles
east of this place, and just across the line
dividing this State from Louisiana, boasts
of a phenomenon in the shape of a girl
not yet quite ten yeais old who has
already attained the height of five
feet ten inches. She is the daughter
of Mr. James Rutherford, engineer at
the lumber mill of Carter, Robinson
>fc Co.,'who is himself a giant in size,
while his wife is six feet and a quarter
in height. The girl, who was. the par
ents say, an unusually small, sickly baby,
began to grow when she was about six
years old, and in four years has gained
two feet and a half, an almost unprece
dented growth. She is stout aud devel
oped in proportion and has the strength
of a man, but her mind is feeble, or else
has been so outstripped by her body as to
give it no chance to develop. The young
giantess presents a most remarkable spec
tacle with her childish face and dress,
seated playing in the sand or amusing
a doll.
The Gallitzln Water-Works.
The work of building the Gallitzin
Water Works is progressing rapidly. The
reservoir is completed and the pipes have
reached the limits of Tunnelhill borough.
The contract for the building of the reser
voir and the laying of the pipes is in the
hands of fc Mr. David Wylie, of Altoona
who is losing no time in pushing the
work to completion. The water is ob
tained by pumping lrom three artesian
wells one-half mile north of the town near
the top of the mountain. If nothing
unexpected retards the progress of the
work the water will be ready for privatu
U9e by August Ist.