Punxsutawney Spirit, 1907-03-16

              By Publishers' Press. if Gity idition A RCH l ~ .> ..m tonight and orthern portion. Sunday partly ■>U(ly; pomlbly showers. . PRICE 2 CENTS PUNXSUtAWNEY, PA.. SATU PAY EVENING, MA 80ME CHANGES ARE RUMORED ON B. R. * P. <■ ♦ ♦ HOT pt'T now IX ♦ ♦ AN ItiCVRATOIt TO ♦ + KEEP HIM WAItM ♦ PROP. AND MRS. HAMMERS ENTERTAIN TEACHERS LEGISLATURE STILL HAS THOUSAND BILLS TO BE REPORTED OUT All Gather at Principal's Home and Make Merry For the Evening. Persistent Story Says Several Division Official* Are to be Changed. HIBERNIANS WILL OBSERVE BIRTHDAY OF ST. PATRICK Capitol Investigating Committee Has Busy Week Ahead Hearing Witnesses. Will Attend Church on Sunday and Partake of Communion. Postmaster Smith Says Conditions Must Be Remedied in Near Future. POOR SIBEVALU MAY MEAN CHANGES IN THE MAIL ROUTES STRANGE DEVELOPMENTS AN INSPECTOR IS COMINO HAVE BANQUET ON MONDAY Bard to Judge Just When Present Legislature Can Secure Adjournment.Prof, and Mrs. A. M. Hammers entertained the teacher* of the Punxsutawney Public Schools at their home laat evening". (James of all sorts were played as a diversion and at a late h«»ur luncheon was served. l'rof. Hammers left this morning for Clear Run where h<* is scheduled to make an address tonight. EGLE STARTS TICKET SELLING CONTEST Councils May Be Asked to Act Upon the Matter in Intereit of Service. BRADFORD, Pa., March It!.—There Is a persistent rumor here and at East Salamanca of important changes in the division officials of the Huffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg to take place sometime this month. Anotln-r report is to the effect that the officials are to withdraw the two fast trains between Buffalo and Pittaburg and Rochester and Pittsburg. This lacks confirmation. Local Order Will Gather at Festive Board and Renew the Old Ties. SPRING AND SOME RUMORS OF SPRING Appearances Are That the Real Thing Has Arrived Little Ahead of Time. LEG IK I. ATI! RE THIS WEEK . . Iii Tli© Senate. Increasing salaries of members of the Legislature to $t,G00 per annum. Commission to inquire into penal institutions. Amendment to Constitution, abolishing spring elections. Creating the office of Assistant Deputy Attorney General. Creating a Legislative reference department.Officer of Troop D Suggests Offer of Prize to Most Success ful Canvasser. {• 4* ******************* sidera bly. ♦ About ore week ago Arch ♦ ♦ McQuown was presented with ti ♦ ♦ thoroughbred beagle houtid ♦ ♦ to which' he took a great fancy. ♦ ▼ During the flood Mr. McQuown ♦ ♦ told his oldest boy to take ♦ ♦ the dog and put htm In some •> ♦ warm spot in the barn. ♦ ♦ The boy secured the dog and ♦ ♦ hunted through the barn from 4* ♦ hayloft to the chickens' nests ♦ ♦ under the liooring, but no ♦ 4* spots could he llnd, until his 4* 4* eye fell on an incubator which 4* 4» struck him as the very thing. 4* •I* He tested the hatcher for size 4* 4* and found that the dog would + 4* • fit in just about right, so light- 4* 4* ing the lamp, he stow- 4* u ed the nnlmal in the small 4* 4* enclosure where the «ggs are 4* 4* placed and went t«» the house, 4" 4» leaving, as lie supposed, the 4» 4* dog in solid comfort and con- 4* 4* li«1«-111 that his father would 4* 4* pat him on the back for his 4* 44 thoughtfulness. 4* 4* \Vh< n he arrived at the 4* 4* foouse his father had gone out 4* and the boy went to bed with- 4* 4* out seeing him.. In the morn- 4» 4* ing, well—In the morning the *5* 4* dog was roasted to death, and 4* 4» other parts were wanned con- 4* THIRTY MEMBERS GAINED IN THE RECENT CONTEST Local Lodge of the Knights of the Maccabees Shows Gratifying Increase. There is no doubt in the minds of Punxy citizens that spring has arrived at last. If there Is a doubt wo would refer you to the gentleman in charge of the Punxsutawney weather works, who made a prediction about six weeks ago that today spring would be hero in all her glory. Besides, yesterday hundreds of robbing arrived from the South and are now to bo seen making themselves entirely at home In any space they take a notion to occupy. All that is needed now Is for the trees to blosoii) and do their share toward making us believe we live in a country that is not frost bitten. Then when toe organ grinder and the monkey go's abroad In the land wo can all rejoice.Lieutenant ICgle, of Troop D, State Poller, manager of "'The Girl I Left IVhiml Ale'' show, which will bo produce.| in the Jefferson Theater April 2 anil 15, has decided to offer a prize <>1' $10 in gold to the person selling th" largest number of tickets for the show. The offer i* open to all persons or firms excepting members of Troop 1), and members of the cast. It was announced by the management today that the box seats would be auctioned off in the Pantall Hotel parlors Monday night, beginning .it eight o'clock, and from the inquiries being made it is evident that the seats will sell as rapidly as hot waffles at a chicken supper. INITIATION LAST EVENING SOME IMPROVEMENTS OVER AT RUBLE Those from the West Kn«l nre: James J. Ktiley, James Madden, Mr. Fitzslmmons, John Summers, John Donnelly. The Adrian committee consists of Robert Maloney, chairman of the whole committee, Thomas Fitapatrick and Frank O'Brien, of Anita. The committee consisting of eight, is divided into two divisions called tiie Adrian and Punxsutawnry committees.Following the custom of years tin- Am lent Order of Hibernians will tomorrow, Si. Patrick's lihy, atti nd communion service at o'clock a. m., at the Roman CathMic Church. With the Punxsuta wney /division will be another from AdrJRn. On Monday nreht the order will celebrate trie anniversary of the patron saint, in titlHig style at the fourth annual banquet to be held at the National Hotel. The festivities will >'t:irt at 0:30 o'clock. A complete program of music is being prepared and' there will be speeches galore. The feast in Itself will be one of the finest ever prepared t'«>r a similar event. President William Caullield, of Walston, expects one hundred and twenty-five members from the divisions of Punxsutawncy and Adrian will be present, and plaUs will be laid for that number. Pennsylvania Begins Work of Increasing Its Freight Facilities at That Place. FLOOD BRINGS DEATH TO FORTY-THREE CASKETS GOT MIKED COMING FROM WEST Body of Aged Maiy Was Taken to Home of Yuhger One In Durfis. ' Wi/lnm M- With thirty new mem born Rained J and a total membership of about 200, | Punxautawney Tent No. '221, Knights of the Maccabees, closed its membership contest last evening in a most [ fitting manner. The end Of th* I contest last evening was the biggest i demonstration ever held In the lo£al tent anil after the class initiation of the degree. team, those present were invited to partake of a tasty lunch at In the several sessions of the probers this week it was declared by one of (he witnesses that there is not a particle of Baccarat glass in the entire structure, although the State paid more than $138,000 for glass of that make. The consulting engineer for the Capitol Building Commission testified that during the construction of the building there were changes of specifications and substitutions of materials, which lessened the cost and cheapened the structure. The representative of the New York Audit Company, which has examined the accounts of the builders and furnishers, hint at startling revelations to be made soon. Altogether this promises to be one of ♦he sensatinal investigations t'.iat have been conducted anywhere. Fifteen hundred bills have been introduced since the beginning of the session, and as there are more than a thousand still In the committees, the House Committee on Rules will on Monday report a day beyond which no bills will be introduced in that chamber. Hereafter all bills that remain on the House second reading calendar more than two weeks will be dropped by order of the speaker, the Intention being to expeuiate business. There is no Indication, however, that the session will close before the last of May. THREE MOM THEN FORFEITS CAME By Publishers' Press. VETOED 11V Till': (iOVEUNOIl Creating Common Picas Court No. 5 in Allegheny County. IIARRISIUTRO, f»a., March 1G.— Next week will be an unusually busy one in all the legislative departments. Tn addition to the sessions of the Legislature, the Capitol Investigating Committee will hold several sessions, beginning Monday night, and there Is promise of startling sensations during the week. Creating- Common Pleas Court No. 4 In Allegheny County. Senate bill authorizing county commissioners to appoint solicitors. APPROVED BY Til ft GOVKHNOlt Empowering cities to acquire real estate upon which to erect municipal buildings. Regulating the catching of game and food fish. Repealing the act relating to fences and appointment of appraisers in Bedford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Washington and Payette Counties. Repealing the act regulating the fees of treasurers in Luzerne and Clearfield counties. date of the commencement of the fiscal year. Prices were awarded 11»r seeuring" the largest number of new members during the contest as follows: A. T,. Bcatty, McOees Mills, tlrpt prize, n leather upholstered rocker; N. I>. Cor< y, second prize, emblematic gold Wflteh. Three contestants hekl a claim for third prize which will be disposed <>f nl a later meeting. 1). (1. ('. Renne P. Kuntz, of Pittsburg, who Inaugurated and conducted the contest, was present at last night's function and assisted the local members In the degree work and the proceedings «>f the evening. NOTED FRENCHMAN COMING TO AMERICA It is said that the citizens whose property abutts on North Flndley Street, have asked time and again for a grade »<• rt.ai they could build decent walks. They do not want the money, but they do want to be on the safe side and before they put money Into sidewalks they want to be sure that they will not. have to tear them up when a new grade Is established. It scorns that It is strictly up to Council to got busy In this particular and have the sidewalks laid. It if* the first stop that should be taken toward beautifying1 the town* even If th«- fact that the citizens will have •heir delivery facilities taken from them has no influence. "This does not mean that we demand brick or flagstone walks. So far as we are concerned we will be satisfied with anything that will keep a man out of the mud. The Elk Itun district is in a frightful condition, while Pine, cherry and Nlrth Find ley streets are almost as bad. These conditions cannot be remedied too soon' and under any circumstances must not be overlooked." Dozens of streets all over Punxsiitawney and scores of sidewalks in various parts of the town are almost impassable on account of the mud and the places where the residents have not provided sidewalks at all, pedestrians have troubles of their own. No class of people have more trouble in this connection than mall carriers and many of them have threatened to resign from the postal service unless conditions are remedied at once. Postmaster S. S. Smith said this morning: "The conditions have been getting worse and worse and unless the people owning property along streets where no sidewalks have been provided get busy they will find themselves compelled to call at the office for their mall. "As soon as the new borough gets down to a better foundation there will be a readjustment of the mall routes. This will mean that an inspector will come here to inspect them. I am sure that 11' conditions have not been remedied by that time he will not permit us to deliver mall at such places. House bill to quiet the title of real estate held and conveyed by corporations.House bill authorizing county commissioners to appropriate money to Grand Army posts for Memorial Day expenses. House bill permitting: the admission of Spanish-American war veterans to the Erie Soldiers and Sailors' Home. House bill providing for the publication of the Pennsylvania Archives. To confer upon street car companies the right to do an express business... common basfi_£tQin which to crrtcutatv th« vnsgrc.i of minora. Reorganization of the Banking Department. v Preventing railway companies from acquiring control of competing street car lines. DILLS PASSED FINALLY 111 tlic Senate House bill creating a commission to inquire into salaries of State Department employes, with a view to equalizing them. In tint Senate. LEGISLATURE NEXT WEEK Two cent fare bill. Increasing the salary of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and his deputy. Appropriating $3,000,000 to public hlghgways. Authorizing agreements between cities and street car companies. Requiring steam and electric railway companies to report their mileage.Commission to revise school laws. In the House. Bond Issue of $50,000,000. Anti-trifct bill. Taxing gas, light, heat and power companies. Creating the office of State Inspector of High Schools. Extending to boroughs created by special acts the powers of boroughH created under the act of 1851. Requiring all corporations operating sleeping cars to light them with electrlcty. In tlic House. Requiring newspapers to publish the names of owners, publishers and managing editors. On last Tuesday three men were lodged in the lockup for being drunk and disorderly and none of them had sufficient money to pay their fine of six dollars and twenty-five cents each, so they were obliged to stay four days with Warden Ferry. Early yesterday morning Burgess Brown happened around and told Mr. Ferry that as they were going out later in the evening it would be a saving for the borough to let them go then. Ferry released the men and they had hardly gotten around the corner when friends arrived with the money for their release, which shows that all things come to those who wait. ' III the House Senate bill authorizing cities of the third class to fix by ordinance the THAW'S ATTORNEYS AFTER WITNESSES The body of Wmitim Murphy who riled in the West. Av.is shipped to his former home in DuUois, arriving: theiv Thursday. When the cask t was opened it was found that the body was that of an old man with a long", flowing heard, while Mr. Murphy was but a young man. Upon inquiry it was found that the wrong; box bad boon taken from the train and contained tho remains of Christopher ('onMin* of Clearfield. The body of the latter was shipped to Its destination, and the proper remains were yesterday morning buried in the St. Catherine's cemetery at Duliois.By Publishers' Press. CINCINNATI, March 1«. — The great Hood which is now surging down the. Ohio l'tiver, in addition to causing untold damage, has exacted a heavy toll of human life, the list to date numbering forty-three. Many of the casualties occurred in the small towns, where the water rushed in suddenly witht»ul any warningFIRE IS RAGING AT M'KEESPORT ■ it is expected that the Ohio will reach a stage of sixty feet here today.EIGHT LOSE UVES III He FIRE Will be One of Many to Participate at Carnegie Institute Exercises. ONE OF AMERICA'S LEADING WORKERS FOR TEMPERANCE JEALOUS MAN KILLS WIFE AND HIMSELF This town is rapidly becoming one of the most important traffic points on the West Penn Division. All eastbound freight is classillcd here, and the new facilities will aid in great measure In preventing congestion here and at other places along this line. Under former conditions only fortyeight cars could be loaded or unloaded at one time; now seventy-two can be worked from the transfer platform. Four tracks, two on either side .have each a capacity <»f eighteen cars. Every modern improvement in freight house and platform building has been used. The floors of the transfer sheds and warehouse are laid diagonally, so that at no time dues a wheel truck run over the edge of the planking. The roofs over the sheds are built in a broad "V" shape, not like an inverted "V" as was formcly the custom. The drainage is down the center. This keeps both the cars and freight dry while loathing or unloading Is in progress. All the buildings are of the most substantial character and are lighted throughout with Nernst electric lamps. Besides the work here the West Pe,nn Division is making extensive improvements between Tunneiton and Bolivar. Double traeks are being: laid to supplant the old single track system. and the line is being straightened. It is expected that all this work will be completed within the year. HLAf KSV ILLK Pa.. Mai . tt  Entirely new freight ha nail ng I itles, practically doubling the capacity of the terminal here, were put into operation last week by the West Penn Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The improvements consist of new less-than-car-load transfer platforms, with handling space of 22,- 000 square feet, a brick office warehouse 50x50 feet, a two-story brick office building for the agent and his force, and new sidings for car load delivery to Hlairsville proper, which brings the freight within five minutes haul of the business center of the town. Fire early today threatened the destruction of tli»' Bridgeport Scott Lumber Mills, the LaUelle Hotel and the residence of Thomas Hill was destroyed, and a number of other building:", were also damaged more or less by lire, the total losses aggregating about $ 150,000. Ey Publishers' Press. WHEELING, \V. Va., March 1 f».— Eight persons are known to have lost their lives, in a tire that occurred at the plant of the Warwick Pottery this morning in the tlooded district. With the exception of Watchman Holmes, all the vltcims were Syrians, who were terrorised by the explosion of gas in the pottery office which was the origin of the lire. The frightened employes leaped into t.he flood which surrounded their home to the depth of fifteen feet and were drowned. Three other Syrians are also missing, and it is probable that they were drowned. The loss to the pottery company will approximate one million dollars. Tho Wheeling Stamping Works were badly damaged. The situation however is very grave, as only a few inches of water rentf in in the reservoir. Several firemen who attempted to enter the building are reported to have been overcome by the smoke. At noon the fire was still burning fiercely.Fire Chief Quinn states that the department will be able to keep the fire confined in the one block if the water supply holds out. By Publishers' Press. PITTSBURG, March 10.—Fire is raging in the four story ltuben Building, located on Fifth Avenue and Walnut Street, Melveesport. The building is occupied by forty offices and twenty-five families. The building is one of the finest in the city. If the fire cannot be controlled and the building saved, there is little hope for the balance of the business section. Only chemical engines are available and Pittsburg has been asked to rush assistance. The water supply lias been turned off owing to the flood, and the fire department i.n deprived of their only real means of fighting the lire. AGED BAPTIST DIVINE GONE TO HIS REWARD NEW YORK, March 10.—Today's recess came as a Godsend to Harry Thaw's hard-pressed lawyers, following after the terrific blows which had been dealt the case of the defense in the last few days of the trial. Thaws attorneys lost no time in getting together to arrange a'new line of battle and making preparations to offset the damaging testimony of Hummell and Smith. 'I he conference between Thaw's law* yers began early today and every available moment will be utilized by Thaw's defenders in preparing their case sur-rebuttal. That the defense may have a bombshell or two of its own to explode in the enemy's camp, became evident today. when Lawyer McPike, Delmas* partner, called at the Criminal Court Building to obtain summons for several new witnesses. That the end of trial seems near, is £ ratifying to everybody. It is now believed that the case may possibly g > to the jury on Friday of next week. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, Mrs. William Thaw and the Countess of Yarmouth. Harry Thaw's sister, all visited the prisoner in the Tombs today. This was the first time that the Countess had met her brother several weeks. Her noticeable absence caused rumors of estrangement with Evelyn. Tae actions of the Countess today sets the reports at rest. No differences exist.CAMBRIDGE WINS FROM OLD 0XF0R0 Sim FIVE KILLED III MINE EXPLOSION special Service' of The Spirit. WASHINGTON, D. <\, March 16.— Paul Doumer, cx-presldent of the French Chamber of Deputies, whom the cable dispatches state will arrive In this country within the next week or two to attend the inauguration of the Carnegie Institute at Pittsburg, is one of the prominent men in public life of France. Though a member of the radical party, he is said to be extremely moderate in his views, with a leaning toward the broader aspects of socialism. M. Doumer is just fifty years of age. He was a medal maker's apprentice at 15, a graduate in mathematics at 1*0. and a teacher of that science at the Lycee of Lofton. In 1888 he was elected a Deputy; In 1895 was Minister of Finance, and from 181)6 to 1 0 2 Governor-General of Indochina. Two years ago he was chosen president of the Chamber of Deputies, and a year later was prominently mentioned as a candidate for the presidency of the republic to succeed M. LoUbet. Personally M. Doumer represents the financial side of pure radicalism, and in particular the income tax. In 189f> he brought up his project of a "global and progressive income tax/' which should take the place of the complicated system of personal taxation. based mainly on rent paid with slfte vexations of doors and windows. The measure was defeated and caused the downfall of the Bourgeois ministry. In which Doumer was finance minister. SORT OF COMPOSITE HIRTHDAY Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and to makdta*'-•«? occasion m ore 'me mora ble for Punxsutawney folk, it Is also the birthday of Garey Snyder, P. J. Mc- Govern and J. 11. Jordan. By Publishers' Tress. LONDON, March 10.—For the first •time in some years Cambridge defeated Oxford in their annual boat race which was rowed on the Thames this afternoon, by four boat lengths. The time made was nearly two minutes slower than the record. ■ttyftns* ilUan Mrs, Lillian M. N. Stevens, president of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was born at Dover, Me., on March 1, 184 4, and vat educated at Foxcroft Academy. Mrs. Stevens taught school in early life and married Mr. M. Stevens in 1867. She assisted In organizing the ..Maine W. C. T. U. In 1874, and was Its treasurer from 1874 until 1877, IMd ha. ever since the latter date been its president Mm. Stevens acted as vice president of the National W. C. T. U. from 1894 until 1999, and on the national organisation. Mrs. Stevens was chosen as national president in Noveml|er» 1898, at St. Paul and has been annually re-elected ever since. Jfi*. Stevens makes her home in Portland, Me. By Publishers' Press. BERLIN, March 16.—An explosion occurring today in a mine at Kleinrossan. In Loraine, caused the death of sixty-five miners and the'Injury of twelve others, some of whom will die. An elevator in one of the mines at St. John, dropped a thousand feet today, killing twenty-two occupants of tho cage. Colllnet reloaded the gun and fired three shots into his breast producing only flesh wounds. Then placing the revolver in his mouth, the murderer ended his life. When found tiie revolver was clutched In his hand. Both husband and wife were divorcees before their marriage a few months ago and Colllnet was Insanely Jealous of the man shr left. BUTLER, Pa.. March lti.—August Colllnet, a glass worker, aged forty, shot and killed his wife aged twentynine and then sent a bullet into his brain yesterday. Colllnet, who was jealous, had been drinking and returning home found his wife asleep in an upstairs room. He fired a bullet into her arm. Before he could shot again the wounded woman *ran down stairs. Shot after shot was fired at the fleeing woman and live took effeot In her body. MEW YORK—-The jury in the criminal branch of the United States Circuit Court disagreed in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rebating $ cases. Judge Holt Immediately charged the Jury. -■ H Fitzwilliam, pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Punxsutawney, is also in attendance Interment ufifl he made in the cemetery at Reynoldsvllle, v Rev. J. E. Dean, one of the oldest and best known Baptist ministers of this vicinity, died at his home near Reynoldsville, Wednesday evening. He had been in ill health for several weeks suffering from a complication of diseases. He was seventy-six years of age and had spent the greater part of his life in and around Reynoldsville, always working for the good of the people and the upbuilding of the church of which he was a member. The funeral services are being held in the Baptist Church at Reynoldsville, this afternpun, ciomductied by the paster, Rov. A. J. Meek. Rev. C. He was well known in Punxsutawney having often conduoed services in the Baptist church here. & ''fp; I VOL 1. No. 154.