NEWS: Selected items from the Morning Tribune, January 3, 1899, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ ___________________________________________________________ Selections from the Altoona Tribune, Tuesday, January 3, 1899 SONS OF AMERICA. They Hold Their District Convention with Camp 402, Juniata. A VERY INTERESTING SESSION Rules of Order for the Government of Future Conventions - Election of Officers and Adoption of Resolutions THE FIRST MEETING AT BLUE KNOB The twenty-sixth semi-annual district convention of the several camps of the Patriotic Order Sons of America in Blair county was held in the hall of Washington camp No. 402, at Juniata, yesterday, commencing at 10 o'clock a.m. District President T. H. Nicewonger, of camp 60, called the convention to order and presided over its session. Representatives were present from camps 31, 54, 60, 130, 311, 317, 402, 643. The only camp which sent no delegates was 425, of Claysburg, and the severe weather probably accounted for its absence. District President Nicewonger appointed the following officers to assist him: Junior Past President, Harvey Burtnett, 402; vice president, O. G. Ritchey, 31; chaplain, Joseph Price, 130; financial secretary, H. A. Lantz, 54; master of forms and ceremonies, Oliver Ross, 402; conductor, T. V. Morris, 402; inspector, John Wicker, 311; guard, F. S. Taylor, 327; sentinels, F. D. Ickes, 60; J. C. Diehl, 643. The following officers held over from the last convention: Secretary, B. F. Barnes, 54; treasurer, W. W. Yon, 31. District President Nicewonger appointed the following committees: On Resolutions - W. H. Schwartz, 31; J. W. McAuliffe, 130; R. Kensinger, 311. On Credentials - Daniel Lafferty, 402; Thomas Havelin, 31; J. W. Heller, 402. On Press - B. F. Barnes, 54; G. E. Ar-de, 3--; C. H. Marshall, 402. . . . HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS The Grist of News as It Comes from the County Capital. The following letters remain in the postoffice at Hollidaysburg, Pa., uncalled for, January 2, 1899; Emma J. Myers, Tenna McLaughlin, Lamson E. McClure, Grant Stains. Once cent must be paid when calling for any of the above letters. - E. Gibson Barr, Postmaster. Frank Wire, the Franklin township smallpox victim, is experiencing no distressing results from his affliction. He has sent word to his physician, Dr. Robert C. Irvin, that he is able to walk about his house, and expects to set to work to cut a load of cordwood, this week. The number of burials in the Presbyterian cemetery during the year 1898 was 31, as follows: Adult males, 13; average age 46 1-13 years; females, 10; average age, 61 7-10 years; children, 8; average age, 1 year 8 3/4 months. This is the smallest number of deaths since 1891. In the last fifteen years there have been 518 burials - adult males, 184; adult females, 193; children, 141. Mrs. Mary Reamey, of this place, died suddenly of apoplexy on Saturday last. The deceased was in her 62d year and was a sister of Miss Ada Hildebrand, of Hollidaysburg. The funeral services will be held at the residence of a brother- in-law, Mr. A. R. Metzger, No. 804 North Third street, Harrisburg, this afternoon. The interment will be made at Harrisburg. The county commissioners made the following annual appointments, yesterday: Clerk to commissioners, W. S. Hostler; assistant clerk, David B. Lindsay; janitor, W. H. Westover; assistant janitor, Miss Will Clark; jail physician, Dr. R. W. Christy; county solicitor, J. Horace Smith, esq., (three-year term); druggist for jail, Dr. P. W. Snyder; superintendent of Industrial Home at Martinsburg, Miss Grace S. Varner. Justice C. G. Lowry furnishes the following record of deaths of adults in Hollidaysburg and vicinity in 1898: Mrs. William Williams, Mrs. Ann Patterson, William Cartright, Hiram Knox, William Higgins, Hugh Smith, Mrs. Martin Horning, Mrs. Matilda Smith, Miss Blanche Stewart, Jacob Snyder, Patrick Finn, Levissa Kellerman, Mrs. Joseph Riddle, William Baker, Mrs. Lena Lane, Adam B. Fox, Robert Kirkup, John Vasey, James Malone, Homer Lindsay, Jonathan Stouffer, Mrs. Mary Kelch, Dr. D. S. Hays, Albert Royer, Mrs. Robert Kirkup, Edward Lingafelter, Mrs. Jacob Kephart, Mrs. Barbara Zanker, Mrs. Thomas Rooney, Charles McLaughlin, Miss Elizabeth Feoppel, James Kratzer, Mrs. Hauser, Miss Johnson, James Ounkst. The annual meeting of the Judson Bible class was held last Sunday morning. From the reports of the officers we glean the following figures, which show the past year to have been one of unusual prosperity: The membership, at the beginning of the year was 85; this had been increased to 91 on December 31. Thirty-two new scholars were added and the total enrollment was 114. The largest attendance on any one Sunday was 90, the smallest 36; the average for the year was 52. One member, Mr. G. R. Curtis, has an attendance record of 303 Sundays without a break. The officers for the present year are: T. H. Suckling, teacher; Thomas P. Lloyd, secretary and treasurer; George R. Curtis, librarian; Robert Rollins, assistant librarian; Miss Sara E. Rollins, organist. Professor I. D. Metzger has charge of the music and Mr. Reuben Huff is the violinist. The singing is led by an excellent choir. The class will begin its 56th year in May. What a Returned Soldier Thinks. Harry B. Ober, late of the Third United States light artillery, is registered at the Schmidt house, Mr. Ober enlisting in the United States service at Cumberland, Md., in November, 1895. His company was quartered in the barracks at Washington, D.C., in drill until the fall of 1896, when they were removed to the Pacific coast and stationed at San Francisco, Cal. Three days before the declaration of war with Spain they were ordered east, by way of the Southern Pacific railroad, and after a short stop at Chickamauga, passed on to Tampa, Fla., where they joined General Shafter's army of invasion of Cuba. The Third participated in the engagements at El Caney, Sibony and entered Santiago after the surrender, after which it joined General Miles's expedition to Porto Rico. Mr. Ober has all praise for General Miles, but no love for Shafter, and thinks Roosevelt and Wheeler the real heroes. BELLWOOD BRIEFS Stephen Helsel paid a flying visit to his parents at New Washington over Sunday. Mrs. Rose Neff, of Hastings, with her two little children, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Elmira Hoover. James F. Dengate, who was seriously injured at Charleroi, Pa., several weeks ago, is now able to be out doors, though somewhat the worse for wear. Miss Hannah Raugh, who has been wrestling with the grip during vacation expects to be able to resume her place in the school room to-day. Rev. A. A. D. Gramley occupied the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday morning owing to the effects of a siege of the grip on Rev. S. D. Wilson. TYRONE TOPICS Charles H. Clarke, of the Third National bank of Jersey City, spent yesterday with his Tyrone friends. Mine Host C. M. Waple, of the Central hotel, gave his usual annual set-out to his friends yesterday afternoon. The Woman's Christian Temperance union will meet this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of Mrs. S. S. Housel, 202 West Tenth street. John Tolbert Harris, of the baggage department at this station, was in Harrisburg yesterday to undergo examination for the position of a locomotive fireman. Master Ward Williamson, a young son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Williamson, of South Lincoln avenue, near Eighth street, is lying very ill with pneumonia with slight hope of recovery. J. C. McCoy, of Sisterville, W. Va., who has been visiting his sister and brother-in-law, Rev. and Mrs. W. W. Rymer, 1400 (?) North Pennsylvania avenue, in this place, departed for his home yesterday morning. Mrs. John McCann, of 1228 North Logan avenue, on Sunday morning received a telegram announcing the death of her father, Oliver House, at his home in Bennersville, Berks county. Mrs. McCann, accompanied by Miss Hermie, daughter of H. C. McCann, left Sunday at noon, to attend the funeral. Mr. House was upwards of 80 years old. Miss Catharine Montiers died at the home of her brother, Charles Montiers, on South Lincoln avenue, at 12 o'clock Sunday night, of pneumonia, aged 30 years. The deceased came here from Philadelphia last week, and on the way contracted a cold, which on Saturday developed in a severe case of pneumonia. She is survived by her parents, two sisters and four brothers. The remains were taken last evening to Philadelphia for interment. The death is a sad one. Just two weeks ago Mr. Charles Montiers's wife died of the same complaint, and Miss Catherine's mission here was to take the motherless children to the home of the grandparents in Philadelphia. The husband and brother in his double affliction has the heartfelt sympathy of our people. Drowned While Skating. Special to the TRIBUNE. HUNTINGDON, Pa., January 2. - Al. Jones, aged about 30 years, of Alexandria, was drowned in the Juniata river near his home to-day while skating. It was known by the members of his family that the young man was disporting himself on the ice, and because of his failure to return at the luncheon hour some apprehension was felt concerning his safety. A search was immediately instituted. Lying on the ice and beside a great hole the young man's gloves were picked up, and this circumstance confirmed the fears of the Jones Family that Al. was dead underneath. A more vigorous search by a crowd which had been considerably augmented in numbers by this time resulted in the finding of his dead body some distance down the stream. Great fears are expressed as to the safety of a companion of Jones whose name as yet has not been learned at this place. The two started out together, and as the companion cannot be found, it is believed that he, too, met a similar fate. LOCAL BREVITIES. W. A. Prideaux, of the Medico-Chirurgical college, Philadelphia, is visiting friends in this city. Miss Mary G. Ross left yesterday morning for Brooklyn, N.Y., to take up her studies at the Pratt institution. John Maher, the Houtzdale man who [was] arrested while suffering with delirium tremens, was much better today. He will likely be sent home today. Mr. Elwood G. Mateer, who has been spending his Christmas vacation at his home, has been confined to his bed since Saturday with a bad attack of la grippe. Councilman Robert McDowell, who has been confined to his residence for some weeks past, is now able to be about again, a fact which his many friends will be pleased to note. O. D. Cope, a prominent inspector of the Westinghouse Air Brake company, in company with Mr. George F. Jacobs, spent New Year with friends in Altoona and Hollidaysburg. James Rafferty, a yard brakeman residing at 2511 Seventh avenue, had his right hand caught while making a coupling yesterday. Two fingers were crushed and one was dislocated. He was treated at the hospital. Charles Weidle and a companion named Mrs. Woods were arrested last night by Officers Irving and Johnson on the charge of drunkenness and fast driving. The woman was released on security early this morning. General Superintendent F. L. Sheppard and family departed for their new home in Newark, N.J., on fast mail last night. They occupied private car No. 160. Mr. J. M. Wallis, the incoming general superintendent, arrived on fast line last evening and stopped at the Logan. Mrs. Hannah Schaffer died on pneumonia at her home on Fifth avenue, Pittsburg, yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. She was aged 67 years. She leaves these children: William, Mary and Mrs. D. C. Brunton, of Pittsburg, and H. A. Schaffer, of this city. The funeral will take place on Thursday morning. Mrs. J. L. Fullmer, 211 Willow avenue, has received a telegram saying her sister, Mrs. Minnie Hamilton Brown, formerly Minnie Shaner, of Allegheny City, Pa., was burned to death at her home in Ellen Dale, South Dakota. The remains were taken to Cincinnati, where the funeral will take place from the residence of D. P. Shaner, a brother of the deceased. Mrs. Fullmer will not be able to attend the funeral, being confined to her home with a severe attack of the grip. Death of Mrs. Jane Crotty. Mrs. Jane Crotty, relict of Maurice Crotty, died at the home of her son-in- law, Michael Keough, 2100 Eleventh avenue, at 11.50 p.m. January 1, of la grippe. She was aged 71 years. Funeral services will be held at the house Wednesday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. Interment in Oak Ridge cemetery. P.O.S. OF A. Officers At the regular stated meeting of Washington camp No. 31, Patriotic Order Sons of America, held last evening, the officers whose names were printed in this paper a week ago were duly installed into their stations by District President T. H. Nicewonger: C. B. Ritchey, who has filled the president's station very acceptably during the last six months, was likewise installed as junior past president. At the regular meeting of Washington camp No. 54, Patriotic Order Sons of America, also held last evening, the same officer installed the following officers for the ensuing term: President, B. F. Barnes; vice president, H. E. Durburow; master of forms and ceremonies, William F. DeArment; recording secretary, H. A. Lantz; assistant secretary, F. Council; financial secretary, D. S. McLaughlin; treasurer, J. W. Ickes; chaplain, A. G. McLaughlin; conductor, R. S. Fleck; inspector, J. H. Barnes; guard, D. H. Young; right sentinel, C. W. Boring; left sentinel, J. E. Myers; trustee, D. H. Young.