The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, December 09, 1908, Image 1

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    Wm
Rcynoldsvifle
Reynoldsville
Hai modern schools and churches, payed
streets, water, gas and electric accommoda
tions, convenient trolley service, hlh and
healthful location, varied employment for
labor and many other realdontlal advantage!.
Offers exceptional advantage for itlie loca
tion of new Industries I Free factory sites,
cheap and abundant fuel, direct shipping
facilities and low freight rates and plentiful
supply of laborers.
VOLUME 17.
REYNOLDSVILLE, PENN'A., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1908.
NFMfiEB 30.
mm.
THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR
FIRE IN HEART OF THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT OF REYNOLDSVILLE
Disastrous Blaze Gave Firemen a Five Hour Fight and Made Necessary a Call for Aid to the
DuBois Fire Companies. Originated From an Overheated Stve in a Millinery
Store and Gained Headway Through Lack of City Water.
VERY SMALL INSURANCE CARRIED ON THE
For lack of a bucket of water
at 9.50 Saturday evening, thirty
five thousand dollars' worth of
Reynoldsville property was de
stroyed before midnight, seven
business places were damaged,
three families rendered homeless
and two firemen severely burned.
As in the case of the blaze which
swept the east end district Au
' gust 31st, the city water pipes
were practically dry when the
alarm of fire was given and it
was fully a quarter of an hour
before the firemen could secure
water enough to make an effect
ive fight. "
The fire originated from an overheat
ed stove In the building occupied by
Mies M. E. Dailoy's millinery Btore.
When discovered the blaze was small
sad parties dashed to the restaurant
Adjoining or a bucket ot water; they
failed to draw a drop and when they re
turned the fire was creeping swiftly
along the wall. They (ought It with
brooms and like instruments with little
effect except to spread the flames. The
structure was built of wood, was old and
dry, and adjoined two other wooden
buildings with but thin walls between.
In a very few minutes the entire group
from the Imperial hotel on the west to
the store of W. H. Moore on the east
was wrapped Id flames and there was
' every Indication that the east side of
Main street between the hotel and the
brick structure of Prlester Bros, would
be destroyed. All the buildings were
of wood, covered by a tin roof beneath
which the fire crept swiftly along un
touched by the water which had
finally filled the empty pipes.-
When the firemen finally secured
water, five lines of hose were turned on
the burning mass. The building occu
pied by Miss Dailoy's millinery and
Frank McClure's billiard and pool room
were gone beyond hope of saving and
all efforts were directed to cheesing
the fire in Norman Butler's Imperial
restaurant, adjoining the 175,000 Im
perial hotel, and In Moore's building.
The restaurant building burned to the
ground but under such a constant play
of water that the hotel with which it
was connected by a passageway, was not
'injured. Inside the Imperial, guards
were stationed in every room of the
three stories along the heated wall and
LO damage was done.
In the rear, stables lined the alley
'Very close to the end of the burning
buildings. Firemen with a line of hose
'fought constantly there and none of the
barns burned, nor did livestock periBb,
-as reported. At eleven, the fire was
still unchecked and fear of wholesale
destruction of the business district led
to a oall to Chief Griesemer, of the Du
Bois fire companies, for aid. The .Du
Bois people responded generously, near
ly a hundred persons, including mem
bers of the Union and John E. DuBois
Fire companies, with the city fire en
- .glne, boarded a special train on the B.,
R.P. R'y and being given the right
-of way, came thundering down the
rails at a speed rarely attempted on the
elnuouB R. & F. C. The fire engine was
unloaded near the foot nf Fourth ntmot.
and a line thrown into the Sandy Lick
creek. Hose was strung up to Main
street, two smaller lines were there at
tached and the DuBois firemen thence
forth co-operated with the Reynolds
ville companies under Chief Mllllren,
remaining until the end of the long
fight, about three o'clock in the morn
ing, rendering valuable service.
' W. Harry Moore lived in the rooms
over his grocery and two of hischildren,
aleeplng when the fire broke out, were
rescued with difficulty, owing to the
dense smoke which penetrated ' the
rooms long before fire broke through.
After they had been taken out, a group
of firemen attempted to mount the
italrs to the second story and had just
commenced the ascent when a terrific
-explosion of natural gas overhead
- knocked them down the steps and
burned two, Ralph Carr and Leon Wes
eoat, about the face. Carr wu so se
verely Injured that mod leal treatment
was necessary.
Fire repeatedly broke out In the sec
ond story of the buildings above owned
by H. T. Potors and J. T. Butler and
M. M. Fisher and to protoot them the
firoman played liberally with the hose
in all, oauslng damage by wator to the
business places beneath, occupied by
the Velvet Ioe Cream and Candy Co.,
Butler's barber shop, Rodgors' cigar
store and the Bijou nickelodeon. It
wasdinioult to fight the fire In thlB
section owing to Its division Into small
rooms with thin bsard partitions which
furnished fuel to carry the fire along.
There was a tin roof over the building
and fire crept along boneath unchecked
until the firemen managed to tear off
huge strips of the tin and get the noz
zle beneath.
By twelve o'clock the united efforts
of the companies had secured control ot
the fire, though it required three hours
longer to completely reduce it and a
sooond alarm was given at one time
when the blaze seemed to be getting
beyond cootrol In the second story of
the Fisher building. TBo upper stories
of Peters & Butlor's and Fisher's build
ing were badly gutted.
Very little was saved from any of the
buildings. Norman Butler lived over
his place of business and both restaur
ant fixtures and household goods were
consumed. Damage estimated at $2,000
with $1,300 Insurance.
Miss Dalley, the milliner, will Iobo
about 1100 on her stock, which was
covered by Insurance.
Frank McCiure succeeded In saving
some of his billiard tables and stock,
but stands to lose $2,500, with $1,000
Insurance.
The buildings occupied by the above
named were owned by Green & Conser,
proprietors of the Imperial hotol. They
carried no Insurance and will lose about
$5,000.
W. H. Moore, the grocer, oned the
building he occupied and was the heav
iest loser. Practically all of his house
hold goods and most of his stock was
burned. His loss will total about
$15,000, with but $2,500 Insurance.
H. T. Peters lived over the Velvet
Ice Cream and Candy store and his
household goods were ruined by fire
and water, as were the fixtures and
stock In the store. His personal loss
will exceed $3,500, with small Insurance.
The building occupied by the candy
company and Butler's barber shop was
High SGtiool
. , Bulletin i
ft
Editor-in-Chief, MARGARET FRAMPTON
Senior Reporter, . Ada Earlev
Junior Reporter JANE SMITH
Soph. Reporter, Hazel Hoffman
Fresh. Rep. Guv Postlethwaite
December with all its festivities is
upon us. We feel its presence and en
joy its influence. It is a season when
we should think of giving rather than
receiving and should look about the
world to see what acts of kindness and
charfty we can do. It is also a time
when we should lay aside all our dis
putes and disagreements and put on a
friendly aspect. If we but bear In our
hearts that happy expression of kind
ness and good cheer, it will echo and
re-echo in the hearts and spirits of our
friends. May we all feel on Christmas
day, "Peace on earth, good will toward
men."
Mr. Eckels, of Pittsburgh, was a
school visitor on Thursday.
Mr. Crlasman, of Brookvllle, visited
our school on Tuesday.
Rev. McKay attended our chapel ser
vice Monday morning.
Mr. Dlllman wu on the sick list last
week.
A picture of Miss Frances Wlllard
will be presented to the school by the
W. C. T. U.
BURNED BUILDINGS
ownod jointly by Mr. Potors and James
T. Butler and the damage caused by
fire and water may reach $5,000, with
$1,000 Insurance.
James T. Butler estimates the dam
age to his barber shop and fixtures at
$150. No Insurance.
The building adjoining on the east
was the property of M. M. Fisher and
was damaged to the extent of $400, with
no Insurance. F. E. Rodgers ocoupled
one of the rooms with his cigar store
and had about $50 worth of Btock In
jured. Owing to the compact wooden build
ings In that section of Main street, In
surance rates were prohibitively high,
which accounts for the small amount
carried by theoroporty ownors.
While the fire was raging, the ther
mometer stood below freezing and the
firemen suffered much from cold and
wet. With commendable thoughtful
noss hot coffeo and buns wore prepared
at the homo of J. Van Roed and sorvod
to the firemen at their posts. It was
an act keonly appreciated by the mon.
Brockwayville Has
A Destructive Fire
While Reynoldsville's Fire was
Raging Brockwayville1,
Also Suffered.
Atone 6'olock Sunday morning 41 fire
broke out in Brockwayville which re
duced four buildings to ashes causing
a loss of about $6,000, partially covered
by Insurance. The lossos are as fol
lows: W. H. Olmstead's grocery $2,500;
G. W. Hornlng's blacksmith shop
$1,500; Thomas Campbell's dwelling
81,500, W. D. Hlghfield's household
goods $500. The firemen responded
promptly to the fire alarm and could
have saved all the properly but black
smith shop but there was no water.
A Dangerous Operation
Is the removal of the appendix by
a Burgeon. No one who takes Dr.
King's New Life Pills is ever subjected
to this frightful ordeal. They work so
quietly you don't feel them. They cure
constipation, headache, biliousness and
malaria. 25o at Stoke & Felcht Drug
Co. drug store.
An announcement about a new flag
will be made later.
The savings deposit for last week
amounted to $2.41.
Three games of basket ball in one
week: Punxsutawney Monday, Falls
Creek Thursday, Clearfield Friday.
No tardiness in room No. 7 for over a
month.
The following teachers bad no tardi
ness last week: Miss Schultze, Miss
McEntee, Miss Myers, Miss Lewis.
Mr. Neeley, of DuBois, sold a great
many postcards of R. H. S. last week.
Watch for Durno the 22nd.
It is the effort that deserves praise,
not success. Nor is it a question for
any student whether he is cleverer than
others or duller, but whether he has
done the best he could with the gifts
he had.
And from the wood-top crawes the
crow.
Teacher What are you chewing?
Pupil Gu-gum.
Christmas vacation begins Friday.
Exams are over.
Game between Punxsutawney and
Reynoldsville was another defeat. At
the end of the first half we were ahead
by one score. The second half ended
in favor of Punxsutawney with the
score 27 to 14. The soore of game be
tween Reynoldsville and Clearfield was
13 to 14 ia favor of Clearfield. The
game between Falls Creek and Reyn
oldsville ended with the score 30 to 18
In favor ot Falls Creek. It was not the
high school team.
B. P. O. E. MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Centennial Halt Beautifully Decorated
Music, Eulogies and Address
Excellent.
It Is the custom of the Bonevolent
and Protective Ord A of Elks to hold
either private or public memorial ser
vices the first Sunday of December
each year and this year the sorvlce was
public and was hold In Centennial Hall
last Sunday afternoon. The ball was
beautifully and elaborately decorated
with Elk colors, white and purple, and
palms, elk heads, flags, &o. The ser
vice was interesting and Impressive.
Charles M. Mllllron, Exalted Ruler of
Lodge 510, presided. The services con
sisted of music by orchestra, opening
ceremonies of Lodge, opening ode, in
vocation by Dr. A. J. Meok, diubIo by
orchestra, eulogy by Lawyer G. M.
McDonald, solo, Mrs. J. P. Eddy, ad
dress by Prof. J. J, Lynch, of St.
Marys, closing coremonlos of Lodge,
bonod lotion by Rev. John F. Blaok,
selection by orchestra. Mr. McDonald,
our townsman, who eulogized the de
parted brother Elks, performed his part
of the servloe hi a very creditable man
ner. Prof. Lynch gave an Interesting
and fine address. There was a large
audlenoe present. ?0 '
1 m i
Jefferson County
School Teachers
Some Interesting Data About
Their Number and Range
1 Of Salary.
We five counted the school toachors
In eact' district In Jefferson county, as
shown' y the liBt furnished in the De
comber School Herald, and find the
whole number to be 302. If every teach
or attends the county Institute, as they
Bhould, they will make a fair sized
audience In the opera house. Eleven
districts are boroughs and twenty-two
are townsblpB. Punxsutawney borough
has 42 teachers, the largest number,
and Worthvllle borough has one teach
er1, the smallest number. Wlnslow
township has 30 teachers, the largest
number in any township, and Clover
townsnlp has 3, the smallest number In
any township. The lowest salary paid
Ib $40 a month and the highest 225, paid
the superintendent of the Punxsutaw
ney schools. Other principals get
187-50, $168.67, $118.75, $115, $100, $80,
and $05. The principal of the Punxsu
tawney high school gets $100, Brook
vllle $85 and Reynoldsville $85. Many
teachers get $50, and a few get more.
Brookvllle Democrat.
FIRST REAL COMIC OPERA.
"Gingerbread Man Co." With Sixty
People Coming to Punxs'y
Saturday, Dec. 12th.
When such towns as WUUamsport,
Reading, Johnstown and Altoona say
"If the beet musical show ot the sea
son" you may accept it as the truth.
After breaking all records for Thanks
giving week at the Garrick Theatre,
Philadelphia, the "Gingerbread Man"
will come to Punxsutawney, Saturday
evening Deo. 12th. As their date falls
on Saturday, the regular $1.50 prices
have been eliminated and the prices
for this engagement will range from
25o to $1.00. Special return cars to
Reynoldsville after the performance
has been arranged for. Tickets now on
sale at National hotel, Reynoldsville.
The Cost of Barrels.
The farmer with his potatoes and his
apples, the miller with his flour and
meal, the hardware man with his nails,
the cement manufacturer, and the many
other users of the faithful slack barrel,
that combination of staves, hoops and
heading, which hi not intended to hold
water or something stronger in fluid
form, used forest produots last year
having the enormous value of $15,800,
253. The average man would little sus
pect that the humble barrel plays so
important a part in the expense ac
counts of the American farmer and
manufacturer, yet figures compiled by
the Census in co-operation with the
United States Forest Service develop
this Interesting truth. Moreover, sta
tistics taken directly from reports from
950 cooperage mills In all parts of the
United States show an Increase of
$1,569,688, or 11 per cent, in the value
of last year's product over that of the
previous year.
Trunks, suit cases and traveling bags
at Mllllrens.
The only place to buy your home
made candy Is the Reynoldsville Candy
Work.
See the new winter underwear al
Mllllrens.
Municipal Ownership And
Purchase of Steamer Asked
By The Citizens Last Night
Life Crushed Out
By Fall of Coal
Henry Scheetz, of Rathmel,
Caught Beneath Five Feet
Of Top Coal.
At 2.30 p. m. on Thursday, December
3, 1008, Henry Scheetz, a coal minor,
was orushod to death by fall of top coal
In the "Shlnobono" mine, part of the
Big Soldier mine. Scheetz and his
seventeen year old son, Henry Scheetz,
Jr., bad been working In a room which
they worked out, bad taken their tools
out of the mine, the track bad been
torn up and Mr. Scheetz went back
Into the room to knock 'out a couple
of posts. His son and . two track lay ors
cautioned him not to go back Into
the room, as it was dangerous to go
In, and It was not necessary for him
to go, but he laughed at the others and
went In and unexpectedly, before be
had knockod out any of the posts, the
top coal foil on him crushing hla life
out. It took over an hour to get the
body of Mr. Soheotz from under the
coal and rock, which was about five
foot deep. Decoascd resided near
Rathmel and the body was taken to
his late residence.
Funeral service was hold In the
Church of God at Rathmel at 3.00 p.
m. Sunday, conducted by Rov. Dr. A.
J. Moek. The funeral was large. The
Knights of Pythias of Rathmel, of
which Mr. Scheetz was a member, at
tended the funeral In a body. Inter
ment was made In Beulab cemetery
boslde father of deceased, George
Scheetz, who died about twelve years
ago. Hughes & Fleming had charge
of the funeral.
Henry Scheetz, Sr., was born In
Germany June 7, 1809, and was thirty
nine years old last June. His parents
moved to Reynoldsville when Henry
was a Rout nine years old. He remained
a resident of our town until several
years ago. His mother, Mrs. Gertrude
Scheetz, still resides here at oorner
of Hill and Fourth streets. Deceased
Ib survived by wife and two children.
List of Jurors
From This Section
Drawn for Term of Court Com
mencing January nth,
1909.
Following Is list of jurors drawn from
this section of county for term of court
commencing January 11, 1909:
GRAND JURORS JAN. 11.
Reynoldsville Samuel Miller, Wm.
Broad; McCalmont twp Simon A.
Piter; Washington twp Albert Smith;
Wlnslow twp A. A. Stewart.
PETIT JURORS-JAN. 11.
Reynoldsville C. R. Hall, Harvey
S. Deter; West Reynoldsville C. O.
Anderson, A. R. Schuckers; Henderson
twp John W. Zufall, Simon F. Lott;
McCalmont twp John Pomroy, Wm,
L. Ltngenfelter; Washington twp
John Moore, Edward Wetser; Wlnslow
twp James Sarah, A. C. Murray.
TRAVERSE JURORS JAN. 25.
West Reynoldsville P. J. Ward,
Michael O'Brien; .Henderson twp
Wm. T. Plfer, William SifT, Andrew
Hoffer; McCalmont twp W. M. Mad ill,
Matt Stewart, John Straitlff ; Washing
ton twp Abner Anthony, George
Smith; Wlnslow twp James Deemer,
Elijah Trudgen; Falls Creek D. B.
McConnell.
Marked for Death.
"Three years ago I was marked for
death. A grave-yard cough was tear
ing my lungs to pieces. Doctors failed
to help me and hope had fled, when my
husband got Dr. King's New Dis
covery," says Mrs. A. C. Williams, of
Bao, Ky. "The first dose helped me
and improvement kept on until I had
gained 58 pounds in weight and my
health was fully restored." This medi
cine holds the world's healing record
for coughs and colds and lung and
throat diseases. It prevents pneu
monia. Sold under guarantee at Stoke
& Felcht Drug Co. drug store. 50o and
$1.00. Trial bottle free.
Committee to Wait on Council
and Solicit Immediate
Action,
INTEREST IS SHOWN
Measures of Far Reaching Im
portance Spring From Lack
Of Fire Protection. Debate
Spirited and Free.
At a citizens' meeting held un
der the auspices of the Business
Men's Association in the I. O. O.
F. building last right steps of
far-reaching importance were
taken for the future protection
of Reynoldsville property from
fire and to serve their interests
in the way of securing municipal
ownership of the water system.
There was a representative attend
ance of local property owners and bus
iness men. After the routine business
of the Association had boen disposed of,
President Breakey opened the meeting
of the citizens for which a special call
bad boon Issued. Its purpose was to
discuss the recent conflagrations in
Reynoldsville and the causes which
made thorn possible, viz., lack of water
at the time of dlscovory. The discus
sion was thorough and fair. If. the
faults of the wator system and Its man
agement were shown up, it was also
given full credit for the efforts it has
made to prevent a water famine. The
heaviest censure was directed againt
the company's action in shutting off
the water at night without providing a
watchman at the tank to turn on the
water instantly in case of fire alarm. A
committee was Instructed to confer
with the fire protection committee of
town council in regard to this.
A motion was made that a committee
of five be appointed to wait on the town
council and urge, tbe immediate pur
chase of a fire engine. It carried and
the committee appointed was, Charles
M. Mllllren, chief of the Hope Fire Co.,
W. H. Bell, Andrew Wheeler, Mayor
S. M. McCrelght, W. T. Cox and G. T.
Woodford.
It was mentioned that failure to shut
off tbe natural gas at tbe curb Saturday
night had caused a number of gas ex
plosions or fires which made the work
and danger to the firemen much great
er. Tbe above committee was also in
structed to see what could be done to
prevent this In tbe future.
The matter, of advocating municipal
ownership of the city water system as
a means of securing cheaper and better
service was taken up last and called
forth some Interesting facts and figures
regarding the local water plant, its
value, earnings, charges and service.
The debate was free and spirited and
ended in the practically unanimous ad
option of a resolution urging tbe town
council to take the necessary steps to
secure public ownership of the water
works property.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.
Property Changes in Jefferson County
Put Upon Record.
C. Syphrit to Andrew G.'Olsen, for
10.59 acres coal in Wlnslow township,
1500. November 20, 1908.
David H. Young to The Woodwork
Supply Co., for land in Reynoldsville,
12,280. October 23, 1908.
Glnseppi Mazza to Carlo Macano, for
undivided one-half lot In Wlnslow
township, tl. October 6, 1908.
Carlo Macano to Glnseppe Mazza, for
undivided one-half interest in one-half
lot in Wlnslow township, 11.00. Oc
tober 5, 1908.
Church of God, by trustees, to Rath
mel Presbyterian church, for lot ia
Wlnslow township, $400. November
10, 1908.
W. S. Blalsdell, by attorney, to John
Bly, for 5 lots in Sykesvllle. 1162.60.
September 14, 1907.
Flora C. Mowrey to J. Walter Moore,
for tract in Washington township, to.
November 12, 1908.
Stoke & Feloht Drug Co. 'a Is the
place to go for toilet gifts if you want
extra yalue for your money this season.
Subscribe for The Star. II a year.