Blair County Newspaper Articles
News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.
Items from The Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,
Thursday, September 2, 1858
LOCAL ITEMS.
DANGEROUS DENTAL OPERATION. - One of the Subjects Since Dead. - On Saturday last Drs. Hirst, Good and Bittner performed a very dangerous dental operation on two individuals from the mountain, above this place. Before proceeding with the operation it was deemed advisable to place the subjects under the influence of chloroform, which was accordingly administered by Drs. Hirst & Good. The first patient exhibited a combative spirit when approached with the fluid, but finally succumbed and two teeth were extracted without further difficulty. The second, which appeared to be the stronger of the two, was not so easily placed under the influence, although he exhibited less spirit of fight. After he had been sufficiently affected to render the operation safe, two teeth were extracted. The first patient soon recovered from the effects of the chloroform, but the second remained in a dead stupor and all efforts to arouse him proved unavailing. The vital spark had evidently fled. He was left for a time with his companion in the office, in hopes that he might ultimately recover, but, sorry as we are to announce the fact, the reality of his situation was made apparent to us, on Monday morning, when we found him to all intents and purposes a dead - rattlesnake.
RED MEN'S PARADE. - We understand that the members of Winebago Tribe, No. 35, I. O. R. M., of this place, purpose having a parade, in full regalia, on Saturday the 11th inst. Invitations have been extended to a number of sister Tribes throughout the State, several of whom will certainly be in attendance. We have no doubt the parade will be a grand one, and be quite a sight to our citizens. If the order only makes as creditable display as it did in Mifflintown, at the parade on the 3d of July, it will be hard to take down. But we have no doubt it will far excel that. A magnificent collation will be served up to the invited Brothers, in Hagerty's woods, below town. We shall publish the programme of proceedings next week.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. - Through the exertions of our excellent Burgess and Street Supervisor, E. M. Jones, the streets and sidewalks are receiving the attention they require. The streets are being graded, and sidewalks laid down for those who will not attend to the matter themselves. Should the work be prosecuted as vigorously for some time to come as it has been, we will be ready for the mud and slush of the fall and winter, as there will then be sidewalks in all parts of the town. The inconvenience arising from the want of good walks has been severely felt, and we are pleased to see that the right spirit is being manifested by our efficient "city fathers," in this particular.
FIGHT IN THE CARS. - When the Mail Train Westward was about leaving this station on Saturday evening last, quite an excitement was created by the cry of "a fight in the cars," which was occasioned by a fellow, who had imbibed a little too much of the "O-be-joyful," attempting to chastise the breaksman [sic] on the hindmost car. The case was soon disposed of, however, on the arrival of Col Cramor, of the Branch train, who ejected the unruly passenger from the car and gave him into the hands of Constable Ely, who placed him in the "Lock up" for a couple of hours.
MASONIC PICNIC. - The Masonic Fraternity of this place intend having a picnic in Beale's Woods, near this place, to-morrow. It will no doubt be a grand affair, if we may judge from the character of those who are taking an active part in arranging the preliminaries. A car chartered for the purpose will convey those in attendance from this place to the woods. We hope they may have a pleasant day and a merry time.
REMOVAL. - We are sorry to notice that by a recent decision of the heads of the departments of the P. R. R. Co., our young friend, J. C. Boggs, Esq., chief clerk of the Freight Department, has been removed from this place to Philadelphia. We part with him with regret, as his proverbially kind and courteous treatment toward all with whom he came in contact, won our respect, and in his removal we lose a good citizen and a pleasant associate. We hope his new home may prove an agreeable one.
NO ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CIRCUSES. - On Tuesday last, the agent for Van Amburg & Co.'s Zoological and Equestrian Company, visited this place, but failing to procure accommodations for the great number of horses attached to this establishment, had to pass on to the city (?) of Tyrone. He indulged in a few strictures on the "airs" put on by our hotel-keepers, nevertheless we believe they can as well afford to do without such custom as the company can without the dimes they would have received, and we are sure the community in general will not regret the loss of their entertainment.
MEETING OF THE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION. - A meeting of the Altoona Fair View Cemetery Association was held in the Town Council Chamber, on Saturday evening last, and a resolution passed placing an assessment of three dollars on each lot. On the payment of the assessment, each lot holder will receive a certificate of stock in the Association, which will be redeemed as soon as the Association has the means, or will be taken in payment for lots yet unsold.
MORE TALL BUCKWHEAT. - On Saturday last, Mr. Glass, residing a short distance from this place, who presented us with a tall stock of buckwheat, a few weeks since, came into our office with another stock which measured six feet and ten inches. This we think will take down anything in the line of tall buckwheat in this "neck of timber."
BOROUGH SCHOOLS. - The public schools of the Borough will not open until Monday next, the Directors having been unable to complete all their arrangements prior to the first instant. Children East of the Railroad will go to the East Ward schools, and those West of the Railroad to the West Ward schools.
NEWRY, August 30, 1858
MESSRS. EDITORS: - I arrived at this ancient village this morning, and after having looked around a little, I now proceed to give you a short sketch of the place and some other things as I found them. I will begin by remarking that this village is one of the oldest in the county, and although surrounded by a beautiful and fertile country, has bid defiance to that spirit of improvement which has manifested itself so commendably in other places. I notice but one house in process of erection, which, although small, will be a neat and handsome dwelling. - One gentleman has torn down the porch in front of his dwelling and erected a new one in its stead. The citizens speak very confidently of getting a railroad to this place in a short time, and indeed I believe they can easily accomplish it, if they but try.
This place has two churches, a Catholic and Lutheran, very neatly built and numerously attended. I had the pleasure of visiting the public school taught by Mr. John H. Black. I found it composed of seventy-two children, all under ten years of age, and a brighter and more interesting group of little children it was never my lot to see before. They were orderly and obedient to their teacher, who never spake a harsh or angry word to them during my stay. Mr. Black's term of school is eight months, half of which will be devoted to teaching all under ten years of age; the other half, all above that age. Mr. Black is a young man of the right stamp. He is affable and courteous, embracing in his character all that is necessary to make a gentleman. He well understands the art of "teaching the young idea how to shoot," and is untiring in his efforts to render satisfaction to the parents and to do his duty to the little ones under his care. In a word, he is a model Schoolmaster.
This place supports two good hotels, one of which I visited, that kept by Landon Reeves, Esq., and called the "Franklin House." I was furnished with a splendid dinner and gracefully waited upon by a young and beautiful female just bursting into lovely womanhood, which delightful fact made me partake of the good things before me with a zest unknown to me before. - The next time I write you, I will be some where else. - PASSIM.
MARRIED.
On the 1st inst., by J. M. Cherry, Esq., Mr. William Robison to Miss Rebecca Hues, all of Morrison's Cove, Bedford county.
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, September 2, 1858, page 3