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Blair County Newspaper Articles

News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.

Items from The Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,

Thursday, August 26, 1858

Altoona Tribune,

LOCAL ITEMS.

THE UNION CAMP MEETING. - The Camp Meeting now in progress in Black's Grove, on the Branch Road between this place and Hollidaysburg, has thus far been well attended. Every train running from this station to the ground, has been well filled with passengers. On Sunday morning last, there were thirteen cars in the train, all crowded to their utmost capacity. Over seven hundred ticks were sold at the office in this place, for the morning train, and quite a number paid their fare on the cars. It is supposed that there were over one thousand persons on the train. Over five hundred tickets were sold at the Hollidaysburg ticket office on that morning. The train made four trips between each station and the camp ground during the day, and was well filled each time. The camp is located on good ground in a very pleasant grove, the only draw back on which is the absence of water. A good supply, however, is furnished by persons engaged to haul it.

During the morning service, every seat on the ground appeared to be taken up, and good order was observed. At 11 o'clock, Rev. Dr. Riley, of Pittsburgh, delivered one of the most beautiful discourses to which it has ever been our good fortune to listen. The Dr. is a powerful logician, a finished orator, a ripe scholar, and bids fair to make one of the most eminent and useful divines in our country. His efforts on Sabbath would lose nothing by comparison with Spurgeon, the London "sensation" preacher.

We observed a new feature introduced by a number of those in attendance at the Camp on Sunday, suggested, we presume, by the difficulty heretofore experienced in obtaining eatables at the Camp Meetings at Tipton and Bell's Mills, which we considered a very judicious precaution against like failures on this occasion - we refer to the introduction of the practice of carrying a basketful or pocketful along. We have no doubt that many would have went hungry all day had they not been thus provided. Although there were three or four boarding tents on the ground, the rush was so great at all of them that it was almost impossible to get a seat at the table, and the rates of fare were so high that many persons could not afford to pay, even should they have been able to obtain a seat. In all directions around the camp we observed parties of from three to a dozen sitting around a log, stump or cloth spread on the ground, partaking of their repast, reminding us very much of the celebration on the 5th of July. - The feature is a good one and we hope to see it universally adopted. It will relieve the tent holders of a heavy charge, as it is impossible for them to feed at their friends who may be on the ground, even though they might feel willing to do so.

Good order prevailed upon the ground throughout the day and evening. In fact, we do not remember of having attended a Camp Meeting at which there was better order observed. - The only confusion or disturbance we noticed was occasioned about nine o'clock in the evening, when, owing to a misunderstanding as to the time the train would leave the camp for Altoona, that part of the congregation from this place rose up and left the ground, on hearing the whistle of the locomotive, while the minister was yet speaking.

According to the arrangement, the camp will break up to-morrow morning.

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT. - We are this week again called upon to chronicle one of those heart-sickening, blood-curdling accidents, which, although common to all localities traversed by railroads, and whose frequent occurrence are calculated to render us callous as to their magnitude and teachings, are none the less shocking to our mind and we can not contemplate them without a shudder. The facts in the present case are as follows: On Sunday evening last, as the locomotive which had pushed the Emigrant Train up the mountain, was returning to this station, when near Kittanning Point, the engineer observed something lying on the track which he mistook for a coat, but which, on approaching nearer, he found to be a man lying between the crossties, the ballast at that place being low and allowing the body to be almost hid between the ties. He immediately reversed his engine and the fireman applied the brakes, but could not check it until the driving wheels had passed over the object. On examination it was found to be a man, and that his head had been almost severed from his body, it having evidently been lying on the rail. Information of the accident was given to several persons residing in the vicinity who came to the spot and assisted in placing the corpse upon the engine on which it was brought to this place and placed in the warehouse of the Company. Upon inquiry the body was found to be that of Cornelius Maher, a miner at the ore bank of Hutchison & Co., on the mountain above this place. - On Monday afternoon, Coroner Funk held an inquest on the body. A number of the witnesses who had seen and conversed with the deceased a few minutes previous to the accident, testified that he was under the influence of liquor, and it is supposed that he either fell between the ties and was unable to get up or that he sat down and fell asleep. What a lesson to those who in the habit of taking intoxicating liquors. Will it be heeded? A verdict in accordance with the above facts was rendered by the jury, entirely exculpating the engineer from any blame in the matter. The corpse was given in charge of Mr. Geo. B. Cramer, who had it placed in a coffin and decently interred in the Catholic graveyard, on Monday afternoon. The deceased leaves a wife and four children to mourn their loss.

SHOP LIFTING. - One day last week, a young lady residing in this vicinity, whose name we withhold out of respect for her relatives, stepped into a store in this place and asked the clerk to show her his stock of shoes. After examining them for some time, she requested that a couple of pair which she had selected should be laid to one side and she would call and get them at another time. When the clerk (who by the way is a pretty sharp one) was putting up the shoes, he observed that one pair, which the lady had examined particularly, and which bore a peculiar cost? mark, was missing. He immediately suspected that they were in the lady's carpet sack, which was lying on the floor, but he said nothing about it, and proceeded to show her some dry goods for which she had asked. - While she was examining these, the clerk slipped round the counter, and watching a favorable opportunity, tread upon the sack. The screeching of the new leather confirmed his suspicions, whereupon he picked up the sack and carried it behind the counter. After the lady had made her selections from the dry goods and was about departing, she looked around for her sack and not finding it, asked the clerk if he had seen it. He informed her that he had, but that as she had attempted to steal the shoes, he, in turn, had stolen both shoes and carpet sack. The fact that she had been detected at once flashed upon her and she gave vent to her mortification in a copious shower of tears. She plead guilty to the offense, and offered many excuses in extenuation, which were found to be false, and which only made the matter worse. She gave in different names and places of residence, but finally her real name was ascertained from another lady who entered the store at the time. Emboldened by having detected her on this occasion, the clerk charged her with purloining four pair of bracelets from the store, some four weeks since. She denied having taken the bracelets, but confessed that she was an accessory, and gave the name of the person who had taken them and also what disposition had been made of them. After lecturing her for some time on the crime and consequences of such conduct, the clerk agreed to compromise the matter, on her promising to return in one week and pay for all that had been taken. We think this should prove a lesson to the young lady, and it is hoped it will cure her of her propensity to appropriate trifles, as we can assure her she will not escape so easily another time. She is hardly sharp enough to perform such operations successfully. We have withheld names this time in the hope that the lady may be reclaimed from the error of her ways, but should the act be repeated we will give full particulars, in order that the storekeepers may keep a watch on her movements.

UP. - The frame work of the fine building being created by Messrs. Lowther & Plack, on the corner of Virginia and Annie streets, is now up and we can form some idea of its dimensions. There will be three large store rooms on the first floor - two fronting on Annie street and one on Virginia street. Two of the rooms will be occupied by the firm erecting the building - one for dry goods alone and the other for groceries, hardware, &c. The other room we believe is to be occupied by our young friend A. Roush, as a drug store. The entire second story is to be fitted up as a Town Hall, and a most excellent one it will make, equal, we believe, to any Hall in the country. We are pleased to announce this fact, as such a room has long been needed in this place, and we feel sure that under the management of Messrs. Lowther & Plack it will be properly conducted.

The parsonage being erected for Rev. J. Twiggs, Pastor of the Catholic church in this place, on the lot adjoining the church is also under roof. It is a fine large building and will add materially to the appearance of that part of the town. - The parsonage and school house being erected by the Protestant Episcopal congregation in this place, on their lot in East Altoona, are also under roof. They are fine brick buildings, and although yet unfinished, externally, add much to the appearance of the town in that locality. Workmen are now engaged in cutting stone for the church to be erected on the same lot, which, when finished, will be the handsomest in the place. It is to be built of cut stone, in the ancient style of architecture.

Other improvements are in progress which we shall note again.

LIBEL SUIT. - We learn that Capt. Bell, editor of the Tyrone Star, has sued Traugh, of the Standard, for libel, and that the latter has been bound over in the sum of %600, to answer at the next sitting of the Quarter Sessions of this county. We think the practice of carrying up such cases to Court in order to establish a character or good reputation, oftener results adversely than otherwise; at least nothing can be gained by it. When we hear of persons going to law to establish their character, we always think of the reply of an honest blacksmith to a friend who was urging him to prosecute a person who had been traducing his character. "No, sir," said the blacksmith, "I will take my hammer and go to work and forge out for myself a better character in one month, than all the Courts of justice could give me in a lifetime." We commend this to the attention of our friend of the Star, and suggest that there were peaceable means through which he could have obtained redress for the wrong done him, which would have been more effectual.

FETTINGER'S IMPROVEMENTS. - We notice that Fettinger, of the No. 1
Literary Emporium, has recently had the front of his store improved by the erection of a new stoop, with railing, and the application of the pain brush to the front of the building. It now presents a very neat appearance. His stock inside also looks remarkably well. He has on hand a large assortment of beautiful pictures, suited to all tastes, with plain and gilt frames to match. His stock of notions is complete and in the newspaper and periodical line he can supply you with almost anything you may desire. Fet. Goes in for improvement, not only in his place of business, but in his stock, which will soon be equal to that found in similar stores in the cities.

SELECT SCHOOL. - The Fall Term of Mrs. King's School will commence on Monday, September 13th. Further particulars will be given hereafter.

A SHAVING OPERATION. - On Monday morning last, our polite and attentive Constable waited upon our barbers, Messrs. Nesbit, Shorter, Pleasant and Ambrose, and delivered them a small piece of writing commencing with a "whereas," informing them that their presence was required before Esquire Good. On repairing to the office they were informed they stood charged with a violation of the Sunday Laws of this State in keeping their shops open on that day. They all acknowledged the corn, and two of them, Messrs. Shorter and Pleasant, "dusted up" the "rino," paid their fines and the costs, amounting to over four dollars each, and were discharged. Messrs. Nesbit and Ambrose were not so willing to "chalk up," and intimated their intention of appealing from the decision of the Justice and carrying the matter up to Court to test the validity of the fine. Even should they be successful in Court, which we very much doubt, it will cost them more than the amount of the fine imposed, which is certainly lawful.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD EARNINGS. - Below, we give the official statement of the earnings of the Pennsylvania Railroad, for the month of July, as well as for the seven months ending August 1st. It will be seen that the expenses of the road have been materially reduced, and that the net earnings for the period named, are largely in advance of the sum realized within the same period last year:

INVESTMENTS IN NEBRASKA. - The late hour at which we received the advertisement of our young friend, Alex F. McKinney, prevented us from noticing it editorially, last week. We take pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to it this week, and recommend Alex. as a proper person to whom to entrust the business which he proposes to transact for those who may require his services. Nebraska is bound to be a flourishing state and Omaha a large city, consequently investments in that vicinity must pay. Let those who hold land warrants or who wish to invest in western lands send on their documents to Alex. and he will attend to them better, perhaps, than most of them could do themselves.

HANDSOME PAINTING. - A few evenings since, our young friend, P. Walsh, exhibited to us a number of specimens of his paintings in imitation of oak, maple and other kinds of wood, finished up in styles for door panels, halls, parlors, &c., which for beauty of design and skill in execution we have seldom seen surpassed. - Walsh is a good painter, as the numerous pieces of work he has finished in this place will attest, and we are pleased to know that he is liberally patronized. Let those who wish fancy painting executed, drop into his establishment and view his samples, and we have no doubt they will demand his services "instanter."

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. - On Monday of last week an inmate of our County Alms House, named Henry McCauly, aged about 68 years, attempted to commit suicide by opening veins or arteries in his arms and legs. In the effort he made no less than twenty-seven incisions, some of them half an inch deep and an inch-and-a-half long. He had gone out from the house, as he was accustomed to do, in the afternoon, and remained out over night, and was not discovered until next morning. His mind is evidently deranged. He says he did not mean to kill himself, but inflicted the wounds to relieve a pain in his head. - Register.

FIRE AT DAVIDSBURG. - A fire accidentally occurred in the Foundry owned by C. E. Craine, Esq., at Davidsburg in this county, on the evening of the 18th inst. which consumed the building and many of the patterns of the establishment, making a total loss of some $1,000 or $1,200. Messrs. Crotzer & Smith who had the establishment rented, share the loss with Mr. Craine. - Register.

PERSONAL. - On Wednesday afternoon we had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of J. F. Campbell, Esq., editor of the Blairsville Record, who was on a visit to this place. We found him "all our fancy painted him" - good-looking, affable, jovial, altogether such a man as we wish we could always meet in our brethren of the corps editorial. Circumstances would not permit us to accompany and show him the "elephant" of our Mountain City, but as he was accompanied by a couple of the fair sex, we presume he enjoyed a pleasant time of it.

SUDDEN DEATH. - A woman named Mrs. Wiley, wife of a German laborer of that name, living over the hill in this place, died suddenly on Friday evening last, a few minutes after rising from her supper table, of disease of the heart, as it is supposed. - Register.

MARRIED.

On the 23d inst., by Rev. A. B. Clark, Mr. Martin Gates, of Centre county, to Mrs. Sarah Stevens, of Altoona.

DIED.

In this place, on the 15th inst., of Bronchial Consumption, Miss Mary Ann McCormick.

Thrice within a short time has death entered the little circle of which the deceased was a member. First a daughter and sister, a lovely christian, was called, cut down like a rose in full bloom, by the same fell destroyer, consumption. Then death laid his hand upon the husband and father. His sickness was protracted and painful, afflicted as he was by cancer. Now the third time the Master comes and lays his hand upon the elder of the two remaining daughters and sisters, leaving the widowed mother and a sister and brother to mourn their loss. But they mourn not as those who have no hope. The deceased had for a considerable time been a consistent member of the christian church, and died in the full triumphs of the christian's faith. Her last words were, "Lord Jesus come quickly." The evidence of a peaceful death and the index to a happy, glorious immortality. - COM.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, August 26, 1858, page 3