NEWS: Cambria Freeman; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA; Feb 1908

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 21 Feb 1908
Volume 42, Number 7


Local and Personal

Miss Susan Price of Cambria Township, who had been ill of pneumonia, has suffered a 
relapse and is again in a critical condition.

Miss Grace Gibson, who works in the Bell Telephone office in this place, is confined to 
her home in the West Ward with neuralgia.

Miss Mary Ann Wherry, one of the oldest residents of the county, is critically ill at her 
home in this place.  She is 90 years of age.

Barber T. A. Cassidy of Spangler spent Saturday evening and the greater part of Sunday 
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. V. Cassidy of this place.

John Elder, J. Edgar Evans and Edgar Shoemaker have returned from North Carolina 
where they were looking after their interest in gold mining.

Mrs. Regina Callan suffered a slight stroke of paralysis at her home near Loretto on 
Saturday. Her recovery is hoped for.  She is the mother of Burgess Thos. F. Callan of 
Cresson.

Among the many visitors to Ebensburg on Wednesday Mr. S. S. Scott of Blandburg, a 
brother of Prof. Will Scott of Pittsburg.  While here paid THE FREEMAN office a pleasant 
visit.   

A son of Mr. and Mrs. William Strohmyer of Chest Springs fell and broke his collarbone 
as he was coming out of the school house Friday. Dr. J. A. Murphy of Loretto reduced 
the fracture.

Miss Thecla Shoemaker, who was taken to the Pittsburg Hospital on last Sunday to be 
operated on for appendicitis, was at last accounts resting after her trip to recuperate 
strength to undergo the operation.

The ten-year-old son of Solomon Hildebrand of Jackson Township received a dislocation 
of his right arm on Friday last while wrestling with a companion at the Klinefelter school 
house.  Dr. J. C. Wakefield adjusted the dislocation of the arm.

Miss Bessie Shoemaker, daughter of Mr. H. A. Shoemaker of this place, who was 
operated on at St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburg, for appendicitis several weeks ago was 
able to leave the hospital on Sunday last, but is not yet able to return to her home.

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Schwab of Loretto drove into Ebensburg today in a cutter drawn by 
a team of the finest horses in Cambria County.  Mr. Schwab, who is President of the 
Grange National Bank of Patton, is also one of the best judges of horseflesh in this 
county, and has been for several years endeavoring to induce the farmers of the county 
to breed the finest stock obtainable.


Vintondale Items 

Bruce Adams, shipping clerk for the Vinton Colliery Company, is visiting his parents at 
Clearfield.

Miss Ella Shaffer was pleasantly surprised the other evening when a number of her 
friends called on her unannounced.  The party spent a very enjoyable evening.

The new Electric Theater here is doing a rushing business.

The mines here were in operation all last week.  They worked only about a day and half 
the preceding week.
  

St. Boniface News 

The Grammar School has been closed for several days on account of the illness of the 
principal, F. W. Lumadue.  Following the advice of the attending physicians, he was 
removed to his home near Patton on Wednesday where it is hoped he will soon recover 
and be able again to resume his work in school.

Mrs. Charles McTaggert, who has been ill for some time, was operated on by Drs. Rice 
and Hagey on Tuesday.  The operation was a success and the patient is reported doing 
well.

Miss Elizabeth Krius, who attended the funeral of George Glaser at Wilkes Barre on 
Tuesday, returned home Thursday.

Cecelia Becker, daughter of Charles Becker, is seriously ill.  Eczema and grip are said to 
be the causes of her illness.

William Quinn is now employed at No. 6 mine Patton.


Cutting Affray at Puritan 

On Sunday morning last State Constabulary men Nugent and Lehman of Portage 
brought to jail in this place Andy Mickze, Mike Yonce, John Mollizs and Peter Frok, 
charged with assaulting John Faiman with knives in a fracas at a wedding at Patton on 
Saturday night last and on Monday another man was brought up on the charge of 
participating in the same crime.  At the same time Frank McKiern was brought up from 
Portage, charged with assault and battery.


A Sleighing Party

The following named persons constituted a sleighing party to the county seat Thursday, 
stopping at the Bender Hotel for dinner:

L. M. Rose; Mrs. Ella Joes; Jordan H. Rose; J. J. Reighard and wife; C. F. Edwards; Ida 
M. Edwards, Clayton Rose; Floyd Walters, Master Howard Rose; Harry G. Rose and wife, 
all of Mineral Point; D. W. Brallier, wife and daughter, Vinco; Martin M. John of 
Johnstown.


Tumor Removed that Weighed 45 Pounds

Mrs. Henry Wayland of Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County, Wednesday at the St. 
Nicholas Hotel at St. Nicholas, submitted to an operation for the removal of a tumor that 
weighed 45 pounds. The operation was performed by Drs. Wheeling, Blair, Dunsmore 
and Thomas, all of Cambria County, and is believed to have been a complete success.


Badly Injured in Log Camp 
Watson Evans, of this Place, Meets with Accident while at Work near Vintondale [and 
Fred Hawk]

Watson Evans, a logger in the lumber cap of Sheriff Webster Griffith, near Vintondale, 
was brought to his home in Ebensburg Monday evening suffering with internal injuries 
and with recovery doubtful as the result of an accident in the woods Monday afternoon 
about 1:30 o'clock.  Evans lay unconscious in the snow for almost two hours before he 
was found by other woodsmen.  Dr. A. J. Comerer of Vintondale was called and revived 
him after much effort. Evans suffered much from exposure and bruises.

The unfortunate lumberman was injured by being hit in the abdomen with terrific force 
by the end of the tree, one end of which was still fastened to a stump.  Evans was busily 
engaged in hauling out logs all day and was trying to pull the tree loose from the stump 
when the accident occurred.  He fastened his log chain to the end of a tree and started 
his horses off without getting from behind the log.  The chain slipped and the tree 
rebounded, striking Evans in the abdomen and hurling him many feet.  The horses were 
thrown to the ground but did not move after regaining their feet.  Evans was found 
about 4 o'clock just in time to save him from freezing to death.

About 2 o'clock the same day, Fred Hawk, a logger in the same camp, met with an 
accident in practically the same manner, which will confine him to his bed for the next 
few days.  He was injured internally and suffered with bruises from being hurled against 
a stump when his log chain slipped from the end of the log.  Hawk was given attention 
at once by some men working near him. He is a married man about thirty-five years old.  
The accident to Hawk took place within a half mile from where Evans was so severely 
injured.  He was taken to his home at Belsano on Monday.  


Has Dislocated Shoulder

Jack McCormick, formerly proprietor of the Franklin Hotel of Spangler, received a 
dislocation of his right shoulder Sunday morning.  Mr. McCormick fell while stepping 
from a street car.  He was returning home from church at the time.  Dr. J. A. McMillen 
set the arm.


Destructive Fire in Barnesboro
Woman Cremated
Son Injured
Property Loss $90,000

About 2 o'clock Tuesday morning a disastrous fire broke out in the tailor shop of 
Theodore Adamowski in Max Freidman's building on Philadelphia avenue, Barnesboro.  
The flames quickly spread and a Mrs. Luxemberg, who, with her son, Joseph, a jeweler, 
lived in the second story of the building, smelling smoke, awakened the latter and sent 
him down stairs to investigate.  He found the Adamowski establishment a mass of 
flames and quickly returned to his apartment to aid his mother to make her escape from 
the building, but the fire having by this time broken through to their apartments, the 
aged lady was nowhere to be found.  Again and again he rushed into the building in the 
vain attempt to rescue his parent until compelled, it is said, by persons present to desist 
from what would have resulted in nothing less than the loss of his life.  As it was, he is 
quite severely burned about the hands, chest and face.  He was immediately taken to 
the Memorial Hospital in Johnstown where he is doing well.

The flames soon communicated to other buildings, the pretty residence of Harry 
McMillen soon becoming a prey to the flames, as did also his undertaking establishment 
and several other buildings, including the Globe Hotel, owned and managed by M. C. 
Weakland.

The property loss foots up $90,000 on which there was some insurance. The losses so 
far as known are Max Friedman & Bro., two large buildings, including department store, 
loss $60,000, insurance, $7,000;  Harry McMillen, residence and undertaking 
establishment, loss $4,850, insurance $3,150; M. C. Weakland, Globe Hotel, loss 
$20,000, no insurance; Theodore Adamowski, tailoring establishment and stock, loss 
$1,500, insurance $1,500; Mrs. Luxemburg and son, household goods, loss $1,000, 
insurance $500; John Musser, hardware establishment, loss $2,500, insurance $1,300; 
James Roberts, electrical supplies, loss $1000, insurance $500.


Dr. Ferguson Again in Trouble 

Dr. F. F. Ferguson of Gallitzin, who at June term of court last year pled guilty to a 
charge of selling cocaine contrary to the laws of the State and in whose case sentence 
was suspended at that time is again in the toils of the law, this time on a charge of 
criminal malpractice on the person of a young married woman who has been for some 
time separated from her husband. The crime, which Dr. Ferguson strenuously denies, is 
alleged to have been committed some time last year and the supposed author of the 
young woman's trouble was found dead along the lines of the northern branch railroad 
of Cambria county several months ago with his head severed from his body.  That it is 
now believed was a case of suicide out of remorse for the trouble he had caused.

Dr. Ferguson was arrested on Tuesday on an information sworn out by County Detective 
James L. Berkebile, Constable Evans of Ebensburg, making the arrest.

Dr. F. N. Bradley, brother-in-law of the accused physician, went on the bond of the 
accused for his appearance at March term of court.


Two New Cambria Lawyers 

In court at Ebensburg on Wednesday on motion of Attorney William Williams, George A. 
Foster of Johnstown and Alfred Shoemaker of Ebensburg were admitted to practice 
before the Cambria County bar. It was also announced that Lloyd Adams of Johnstown 
and Leonard Jones of Ebensburg have passed the preliminary examination.


John B. Daley 

The mangled remains of John B. Daley, a prominent resident of Lilly, were found about 
7 o'clock Saturday evening some 300 yards east of Benscreek station.  He was identified 
by a book found on his person and his body was later removed to his home by 
Undertaker Lowery.  The manner in which Mr. Daley met his death is not known but it is 
thought he was hit by a train while walking along the tracks towards his home.  The 
funeral took place Tuesday.


George Glasser

Michael Endler and Anthony Burkhart returned home Monday from attending the funeral 
of George Glasser who died recently in Wilkes-Barre.


Johnstown, Pa., Feb. 20

Blinded by a snowstorm, Mahomet Farl, age twenty-five, an Arabian and [Ahlas] 
Pitzkalli, age twenty-two, a Hebrew, were struck by a train near Witmer and instantly 
killed.  Ahlas's body was cut into several pieces.  The men lived at Portage.


Doings of 50 Years Ago! 
Mountaineer, Feb. 18, 1858

On the second page is an account of teachers' county institute in Jefferson, now 
Wilmore, which for that time was quite an elaborate affair.

Besides the County Superintendent - S. B. McCormick - the following named teachers 
took part in the exercises of the institute:  Miss G[rest of surname missing], Messrs. 
Thomas Vickroy, R. A. McCy (sic), J. A. Kirkpatrick, A. H. Sembower, B. F. Slick, A. J. 
Barker, D. J. Jones, Elias Paul, [first name missing] Rindlaub.

Other teachers of the county whose names do not appear in the account of the 
proceedings of the institute which was quite a creditable affair were present.

On this page appears an account of a visit to the poor house, then a new institution. 
There were sixty-five inmates and everything was reported to be in good order except 
the furnace which was not furnishing sufficient heat.  One inmate – a graduate of 
Maymooth College, Ireland – regretted his lot, saying, "It is hard to begin life in a 
college and end it in an almshouse."

The following item will also be of interest:
  County Officers – The following is a correct list of the officers of Cambria County for 
the present year:
  Assembly – George N. Smith, President
  Judge – George Taylor
  Associate Judges - Richard Jones and G. W. Easley
  District Attorney - T. L. Heyer
  Sheriff - John Roberts
  Prothonotary - Joseph McDonald
  Register & Recorder – M. Hasson
  County Treasurer - George J. Rodgers
  County Surveyor – H. Scanlan
  County Commissioners – A. Little, Thomas McConnell, John Bearer 
  Clerk to Commissioners – G. C. K. Zahm
  Coroner – Peter Dougherty
  Directors of Poor – E. Glass, William Palmer, David O'Hara
  Steward of Poor House – James McDermit
  Physician of Poor House – William Lemon, M.D.
  County Auditors - Daniel Cobaugh, Edward Farren, Rees J. Lloyd
  Mercantile Appraiser – C. D. Murray
  Superintendent of Common Schools – S. B. McCormick

The following condensed items will be of interest:

Editorial Changes: - H. C. Devine Esq., Senior Editor of THE DEMOCRAT AND SENTINEL 
has retired. The paper will, in future, be conducted by C. D. Murray, Esq.

Col. Bowman of THE TRIBUNE publishes a card in which he states his intentions to 
associate with him as co-editor, Jas. M. Swank, Esq.  Mr. Swank formerly owned and 
edited that paper and is the author of Editorial Brevities.

Mr. James F. Campbell has taken charge of THE BLAIRSVILLE RECORD.  Mr. Campbell 
has much experience as an editor.  He formerly published THE MOUNTAINEER in this 
place.  THE RECORD presents a neat appearance and is ably edited.

"Died" at Cattawissa, Pa. on Friday the 12th, inst., Mr. David Ritter, aged about 63 
years.

The deceased lived for many years in this community.  He built and owned Eliza Furnace 
on the Blacklick and was well and favorably known in this community.

Eliza Furnace is still standing on the outskirts of Vintondale. George J. Rodgers of 
Ebensburg was associated with Ritter in buying the land on which the furnace was built, 
but withdrawing from the partnership, a man named Irvin of Huntingdon County 
became associated with Ritter in the enterprise.  The furnace was finished in 1846, at 
which time ex-sheriff John A. Blair of Ebensburg worked at building a boarding house 
near the furnace.  Isaac Crawford put up the bellows on the fanhouse.

The venture was not remunerative, the pig metal having to be hauled through Dilltown, 
Indiana County, to the canal at Nineveh for shipment to Pittsburg.  Some of it was 
hauled to Hollidaysburg.  Financial embarrassment followed, brooding over which, Irvin 
hanged himself on his farm in Huntingdon County. Ritter continued the business until it 
was finally abandoned in 1847.  To the Vinton Colliery Company is due the credit of 
preserving this old landmark as a monument to the iron industry of the Northern 
Cambria.

Two items about potatoes contain the following information:   

"Potatoes were first introduced into Europe in 1586, fifty years after the rot commenced; 
80 years after its introduction no good seed was to be had.  In 1696 new seed was 
imported from Peru, [faded] years after this, the rot again commenced and in 1779 no 
good seed was to be had. In 1797 new seed was again imported and it did not get into 
general use until 1802 or 1803.

Another item says the potato was introduced into Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh, and 
planted on his estate near Yonghall, near Cork in 1586. Some years afterward seed was 
shipped to Virginia, from which the potato was first introduced into Ireland and was the 
means of averting a famine in that colony. [several sentences cut off from this part]
potato, it is said, is a native of South America, having first been taken to Europe from 
Quito, when the tubers were called papas. Early in the sixteenth century they were 
introduced into Spain, the Spanish calling them potades.

It is said that potatoes first became known to the Irish as the result of a cavalry 
excursion of Irish Cavalry against the English, the hoofs of the Irish horses in a charge 
across Raleigh's potato patch tramping out some of the tubers which the Irish 
appropriated.

A poem in blank verse by Miss Mattie Griffith – whoever she was - entitled "The 
Deserted" is an admirable literary production almost a column in length.


Lieb-Lantzy 

The banns of matrimony between Peter Lieb and Annie Lantzy, daughter of John D. 
Lantzy of St. Nicholas, were recently published for the first time in the Catholic church in 
St. Nicholas.