Punxsutawney Spirit, 1908-12-31

              NE WYE AH DANCE Refuse To Allow. Night Rider's Wife To Testify In His Behalf VOL III—NO.88 TROOP 1BIKS BURNED WATCH NIGHT meeting AT M. E. CHURCH Accused of Most Inhuman Act liy Twelve ami Fourteen Yenr Old Daughters. Wm. MATHUES EXPIRES VERY SUDDENLY huh accused of crime NUMBER OF DEAD IN ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVE NOW SAID TO BE OVER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND our FOB BIS GAME alities In Messina At 135,000. Naval Officials Estimate Casu- ill WElL OB THE FLEE! Young Peoples Societies ol the Town Will Be Guests ol Christian Endeavor. Recently Convicted Man Dies Unexpectedly at His Home In Media. GREATEST CATASTROPHE III HISTORY MB HELPED CAUSE DEATH GOOD MUSICAL PROCRAM ARRANGED Only live inhabitant* of tli<» City of Itcggio di Calabria Are Accountetl For. i:iji n io\ \\ h i, roLLou. UoMK. Dec. 31.—A naval official Hy United Press. Of the four companies comprising the State Police force, Troop I), stationed at :liih place, Is the only one that has not been burned out at some time or another. The troop Is commanded by (''apt. J. P. Robinson, formerly Captain of Troop D. Upon his return home Captain Reese received official notice that the barracks of Troop 13, stationed at Wyonjing, near Wilkes Harre, was totally destroyed by lire Tuesday night of last week. The flames spread so rapidly that the troopers were barely able to escape. All of their personal effects and equipments having' been lost. Escape. Stole Policemen Under Captain #1. F. Kohl it sou Have Narrow J. L. Reese, Captain of Troop D. State Police, who spent the Christmas season with relatives and friends in Pittsburg, has returned home. Mrs. Reese, who accompanied him. remained in Pittsburg to be at the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Louise Da we, who is (|uite ill. RESQLUIIOfl Of RESPECT It was early yesterday morning that Davis' twelve-year-old daughter went to her grandmother's home crying. She refused to say what the trouble was, saying her father had threatened awful tings if she ever told. Mrs. Courter practically forced the child to tell of the terrible crime, and sending for tin- fourteen-year-old girl, had her corroborate the Story of the younger. The girls stated that Davis hail been guilty of the Inhuman crime repeatedly sine,, the death of his wife last May. I late hour yesterday afternoon the | Conemaugh police authorities had not taken into custody George Davis, an electrician living in the rear of Second Avenue, •Conemaugh, who was charged with incest before Squire W. H. ('rum yesterday morning by Constable V. T. Kissell, on the instance of Mrs. David Courter, mother-in-law of the man, in behalf of Davis' twelve and fourteen-year-old daughters. Davis had always borne a good reputation and the whole town is wrought up over the matter. Tiuliaiia County School Teachers Pay Tribute to Professor \. M. 11 a ii nners. OPPOSE TIFT CLUBS FLEE! WILL VISIT IDE SCENE OF EARIHUKE Mr. Hamilton has invited Col. Noah Sea nor, of I'lumville, and Col. Q. S Reams, of Hig Hun, to join him in the chase later in the season. Mr. Hamilton recently secured, on trial, a Norwegian bear hound from the Stock wood kennels, Louisville. Ky., which he took with him *on the trip. The breeders of the animal guaranteed Mr. Hamilton that in • he event of his hunting where there are any bear the dog will tree and keep treed, until his arrival, the first oJd bruin in the lot and that he will continue to ;nv bear as lung as there are any left. They further guarantee that this particular dog can and will take up and follow a "scent" a.ivthing under two days old, and stay with i; until he tree* the bear. T. M. Ilamillon. of 1'Jkln, Out Tor licar—lias a Hound (•uarautecd (o Cit't Them. T. II. Hamilton, of Klkin, Indiana County, today left fort for the wilds of Clinton and Potter counties to hunt bear. CHARLES P. TAFT HAS WITHDRAWI FROM FIGHT t» rran« an ports. The .ships have l/*en ordered to pass through the ranal as expeditiously as possible, coaling at Port Haiti, and then, according to their itinerary, disperse to various Medi- Everybody is reported well on board the battleships. Since leaving Colombo ten days ago the ships have enjoyed line weather and held to a ten knot speed. Christmas Day was celebrated with special dinners for the officers and men. Tropic greens brought along for that purpose were run up to the mastheads. Special evolutions went suspended until two days after Christmas to give all hands a little time for celebration. Christmas greetings were passed along from ship to ship hy wireless.SUEZ, Dec. 31.—Hear Admiral Sperry's fleet, due. here the morning of January 3, passed Peritn, at the entrance of the Red Sea, at noon yesterday. The Yankton, which left Colombo after the fleet and steamed past them, arrived at Perim at one o'clock this morning, and began coaling. She will join the Heet as soon as this work is finished. Puts iii to Coal—Christ nuts Celebration. Ships Pass Perim Where York ton "Whcrras, The teachers of the county have been deprived of his companionship and example, anil the patrons of the schools Hi his knowledge :ind skill as ;in educator; therefore, he rt "Whereas, Prof. Hammers was one o«- tin- most prominent and illuHtrions t'-achers of this county and state. the f'iend, helper and co-lahorer of the highest and the humblest tracer i:i the county, and "Whereas, Prof. A. M. Hammers has been en lied away from his earthly labors by death, whose summons uo mortal can defy, and, Among the resolutions passed by the teachers of Indiana County at their Institute last week, was the following: "The Past Year in Poetry and Music," assigned to the Central Presbyterian Rndeavor Society. Quartette, Misses Putney and  : , Mr. Beck and Mr. Her- I'rognun "yhe past year in Science and Discovery," assigned to the First Presbyterian Endeavor Society. Solo—Schubert's Serenade, William ('oulter. Schedule — Literary and musical 8:30 o'clck to 10 o'clock p. m.; Social bout', 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock; Devotional ••'.xcreises, 11 o'clock to 1L' o'clock midnight. Following is the schedule'and program:will be the guests of the members of the Epworth League of the First I Methodist Episcopal Church, where a m watch meeting will be held. A fine musical and literary program mm has been arranged to take place in tKl the church auditorium, after which mSr the audience will be entertained In yr the Sunday School department by the young ladles of te Epworth League. Refreshments will be served and suitable diversions introduced which will insure a pleasant and profitable evening for all who may attend. Following the social hour the audience will return to the church audi- ; torium for devotional exercises, which | will be continued into an<f will be i:i the nature of a welcome to the New Year, 1909. Christian societies of Punxsutawney This evening, beginning at 8:30 o'clock, all of the Young People's "The Past Year in Commerce and Financial Industries'"*. First Baptist Church. It has also been earned from a:i authoratlve sour* e that President Itoosi-velt will send an urgent message to Congress as soon as it reassembles, asking for a liberal appropriation for the benefit of the earth- Plans to this effect are being dls(usned between the heads of the Navy and State departments, and if entirely acceptable to the Italian government orders t«> that effect will be issued.WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 31.— The American battleship licet, which is aou passing through the Red Sea, will probably be sent to the scene of the earthquake disaster in Italy. quake victims. The licet Is expected to arrive in "Resolved. P»\ the teachers of Indiana County, at this their 57th annual institute, that by his death the teachers of the county lose one of the most gifted and learned members of their profession, one who was ever The four nun, together with Architect Joseph M Huston, wore to have been placed on trial on April 5 next *o answer the charge of fraud In the furnishing of desks for the new capitol. 'I his case Involves an alleged fraud of $2r..577 on a hill of $61,- 000. were acquitted The s;ime defendants were placed on trial later to answt r a charge of defrauding the State in a metal furniture contiaet. On this charge :hey In Mareh of the pres« nt year former State Treasurer Mat hue.--. former \Uditor (Jeneral William IV Snyder, James M. Shumaker, former Superintendent of Public Grounds and Huildings a id Furniture Contractor John 11 Sanderson, were convicted of ronspiracy in defrauding the State out of $19,308 in a contract t"r wooden furniture. The cause of his death was given by his physician as pneumonia, but it is generally believed that this illness was superinduced by Mr Mathues' tribulations which were brought upon him by the llarrisburg capitol graft cases, and his recent sentence of two yea:s in the ; eniteptiary for his part in the alleged conspiracy. MEDIA. Pa.. Doc. 31.—William Lincoln Matrues. who was elected in 190;? as State Treasurer of Pennsylvania, and one of the most widely known politicians In the eastern section of the State, succumbed suddenly from a relapse from pneumonia at f»:25 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home on Kast Fifth Street. At bedside at the time of his death was his wife. sons. Paul and Samuel; Dr. Carles H. Schoff, his physician, and Miss Dennie, a trained nurse from a Philadelphia hospital. Mr. Taft declared firmly against the "Taft club" proposition. Should it become expedient at some future time to encourage the organization of "independent" Democratic element of the South, he believed such organization* should be called exactly what they are, "Independent." This subject was under consideration today at the initiative of John Hays Hammond, who was willing to undertake to extend the influence and organization of the National Legion of Republican clubs throughout the Southern States, preferably under the style of "Taft Clubs." quietus upon the desire which was beginning to develop into activity to organize "Taft clubs" throughout the South. Mr. Taft doubts the wisdom of encouraging at this time political activity in any form. In this view he la heartily seconded by National Chairman Hitchcock. AUGUSTA, Ga„ Dec. 31—Presi- dent-elect Taft has effectually put a ROBBERS OFT $5000 Only llvt the city's 17,000 lnhab- Hants have yet been lur.ouuted for. These unhappy wretches reached Cattanzaro and Paimi half demented by flight. They wore scarcely able to talk intelligibly, but their Incoherent stories are sufficient to confirm the horrible fate of the city. The* continued and ominous absence of details concerning Tiegglo <1 i Calabria proves to be due to the fact that not only the city itself but its whole population, with the exception of a mere handful, has disappeared. The corpses which were carried to sea by the tidal waves are beginning to be washed up from the straists and hundreds are floating on the surface and lining the shores. The need of food In Messina is still desperate and hunger-erased people used knives on each other a number being killed before the authorities could stop the combats. Before night it Is expected that 60.- 000 survivors will have been landed In Messina. Houthern Italy and the northern coast of Sicily are today one huge hospital. After three days of herculean effort the work of the rescuers is at last bearing appreciable fruit. now at Messina, estimates that th< dead will reach 13fi,000 today, and the total deaths ITT..000. The figures of this greatest of modern catastrophes have grown so steadily that the government is now prepared for any estimate. COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 30.— Charles P. Taft fulfilled expectations today by formally announcing bis withdrawal from the Ohio Senatorial contest. His action practically assures the election of Congressman Burton, for acompanying the announcement was a statement that the Hamilton county delegation, Includin Cincinnati, will vote solidly for Burton. Mr. Taft says his withdrawal is for the sake of party harmony. Mr. Tuft's withdrawal was followed, an hour later by the formal announcement to the same effect by Senator Poraker, who was regarded as Burton's last dangerous rival. 37 DEAD MINERS RECOVERED IiOss Will I'rolwibJy lie HcUvccn I'orty-flw and Sixty—Resellers him* Hard. "The Past Year in Missionary Work/' United Brethren Church. "Religious \Vork and Revivals," .Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. All are cordially invited to attend these services. Solo Ray Bowers "Political Issues and Important Political Events of the Past Year." Reformed Church. C. Jenks. "The Past Year in Literary and Scholastic Attainments," the English Lutheran Young People. MISS ELLA BLGSE MARRIED labors, and who sym pa tft i zed w 11 h them In their work and that the town and county have lost an illustrious son and citizen, whose upright patriotism and public spirit was ever an Inspiration among his fellow-citizens for good, but while we mourn his loss as teachers and 1 ti some measure understand the great bereavement to his family yet we know that He who doe til all things well can make no mistake and we can say with the sage of old, 'I know that my Redeemer lives and that He shall stand upon the earth In the latter days and although worms destroy this body, yet. in my flesh I shall see God.' Prof. Hammers ha.s gone to his reward. 11 is work lias been well done. L«t his life be an example and Inspiration to us who remain that we may live better, wiser, nobler lives than before."Admiral Sperry's fleet will be able to land twelve thousand men to assist in this work. The fleet's arrival in that part of the world Is regarded as most opportune, and will enable the United States to give in a most effective way a practical demonstration of the sympathy this country has towards the stricken tlalians. Reports from the stricken district arc to the effect that there is a great need of ships in which to carry away the injured and homeless, and a scarcity of men to help In the exploration of the ruins for bodies, as well as t«> police the towns and assist in sanitary measures. *hrough the canal as rapidly as possible and then coal at Port Said. They will enter the Mediterranean about January 5th. PRAISE FOR OLIVER The citizens woro aroused ami a lively exchange of shuts follow. <1. Some of tin- robbers kept the townspeople at bay for two hours while the gang worked on the bank's vault. When they finally succeeded In obtaining the money the gang rode off under heavy (ire. The robbers erected a barbed wire barricade around the bank and while some members of the gang went to work on the safe. others stood guard. one was hurt. MUSKOGEE, Okla., Dec. 30.—Five robbers dynamited the bank at Wellston, ok la., east of here, yesterday, and after exchanging many shots with the citizens escaped with $".,000. No For many years William L Mathins was r« cognized as one of the political h i'l. 1 «>: Pennsylvania and his power in Delaware County | olities was supreme until the expose of the capitol frauds by his successor as State Treasurer. William II Berry, also of Delaware County. It was then that Mr. Mathu«\s threw off the mantle of Itepubllea:i count} chairman and-retired "temporarily," as he stated, until he eould be vindicated. On December is Mathues. Snyder, Shumaker and Sanderson were summoned before Judge Kunkle at llarrisburg to receive sentence. Kach was sentenced to pay "J.'.OO tine and the costs of the prosecution and undergo imprisonment for two years and separate and -olltiry confinement In the Has t rn IVnlt- itiary." Pending an appeal to the Superior Court the defendants were released on $25,- 000 bail each. MAY fit MfAI TMIH0W MEETING OF CHORAL SOCIETY 1>K. HULL NOT V CANDIDA 1 i: The brattice crow is working as rapily a.s possible to reach the unexplored sections. The olllclals of the mine this morning said that forty-five men had lost their lives in the explosion, but the miners declare that at least sixty are dead. BLUEFIELD, W. Va . Dec. 31.— Tlie work of eploring Lick Branch Colliery, in which a disastrous explosion occurred Tuesday, continues, and today a total of thirty-seven dead have been recovered. Hy I'nited Press. BRIDAL COUPLE ARE SERENADED WASHINGTON, 1». C. Dec. 31.— r>|lii i;il announcement was made today by Mgr. Falconlo, the United States Papal Delegate. that the Pope has granted a special dispe mation permitting Roman Catholics the world over t'l eat meat tomorrow. Dr. George 11. Hell, whose name, at Tuesday night's Republican caucus, was suggested for the office of Chief Burgess, has authorized The Spirit to state that, although he appreciates the compliment tendered in his absence, he is not and will not be a candidate for the office. Upon their return they will go to housekeeping in one of the dwellings on the Chapman farm. The young couple left (Immediately after the wedding for a twoweeks' honeymoon trip to points in New York. Miss Ella Blose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Addison Blose, of near Hamilton, and D. F. Chapman, son of James Chapman, of near Georgeville, Indiana County, were married at the Chapman home yesterday morning at 8:30 o'clock, by Rev. Sheets, pastor of the Georgeville Methodist Episcopal Church. of I). T. Chapman, of near Georgeville. Hamilton Girl Becomes the Bride Professor Hamlin E. Cogswell, of the Indiana State Normal, has been engaged as director. All members should make their best endeavor to foe present, as this first meeting means much to the success of the society. members are urged to be present and a cordial invitation is extended to outsiders who are interested in cantata work and the higher class of music. January 5, at eight o'clock p. m. All The Punxsutawney Choral Society will meet in the First M. E. Church, The Pleasure Dancing Club will hold a special dance in the West End Hall New Years night.—-1 imi; \vi:vtiii:ii WASHINGTON, D C., Dec 31 — Following is the forecast issued from the United States Weather Hurcau today: Fair and much colder tonight. Friday, fair and continued cold, with a minimum temperature of ten degrees tomorrow morning. The Heatties, jugglers, also a big bill of two reels of pictures and illustrated song by Mrs. Coleson. Special matinee New Year's afternoon. I. INDIANA. Pa.. Doc. 30.—Mlas Adelaine O. Karl and Herbert L. Longwell had just been married at the bride's home yesterday when as they emerged from the house, they were captured by friends and placed in a carriage drawn by a team of mules. To the music of horns and other noise-muking instruments the bridal couple were drawn to the railroad station, where they took a train for Pittsburg. The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. J. \\\ Carey, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of 1 ndiana. "imvs* WO \IN KOWOKK AITKIt \ YIOOKOfS FVCHIT. The Pennsylvania Emergency Volunteers Will Ask for Pension of the election will be the closing: within ninety days of forty-two Hit - loons and six mail order liquor houses. The Anti-saloon League has pledged \$10,000 to aid in enforcing the law after the saloons are closed. The light has been one of the bitterest ever waged In Virginia. jority of eighty-six votes. The effect ROANOKE, Va., Dec. 30.—In a local option election here yesterday the "drys" were victorious by a ma- Ti:iii:(.IC\l'll Ol'I KATOK WKD8. # Evidence Introduced yesterday mad* it evident that half the Hcelfoot Lake ! opulatlon spent the night of the murder with he other half. The State not only admits this but will offer additional proof to substantiate it. But the State's theory varies from that of tile defense. the night of the murder, October 1 Tile State « ontends that the various male heads of families, knowing that they were going out to kill Rankin and Taylor that night, took their wives to the houses of friends In order <that the women might not be left alone in the lonely lake homes. Almose every witness introduced by the defense is a relative of one of the indicted men. The defense explains this by saying that residents of the •lake region have intermarried for years until nearly all families are connected by marriage ties. When the defense offered t<> examine Mi's. Hud Morris, wife of one of the eight Indicted men, the State objected and was sustained because the only alibi she could testify to would be in behalf of her husband. The defense then put Mrs. Bob Hoffman and Mrs. Sam Applewhite on the stand and Mrs. Hoffman testified to an alibi for Sam Applewhite and Mrs. Applewhite for Bob Hoffman, both women alleging that the Hoffmans were the guests of the Applewhites riders for the murder of Captain Quentin Rankin. and the court ruled that under the laws of Tennessee a wife could not testify for or against her husband. for her husband was raised today in the trials of the eight alleged night UNION CITY. Tenn., D. » . 30. The oucstion of whether a wife can testify Miss. Carrie Barnett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Barnett, of doe, and Frank McCardle, B., H. & p. telegraph operator at Cloe, were married at the home of the bride last night at 9 o'clock, by Rev. Rodkey, pastor of the t'loe M. E. Church. The young couple this morning left on the early train to spend a week In Pittsburg, after which they will go to housekeeping in Cloe. on page 1! After the great earthquake of 2 783 the town was almost entirely rebuilt, and it presented a more modern aspect than some of the other towns, and had wide streets which were studded with numerous handsome It was again captured in 270 jy the Romans, and it underwent manv vicissitudes of conquest in the Middle Ages. Totlla, the Goth, captured it in 549 A. D., the Saracens did likewise in 918, the Pisans in 1005, Robert Guiscard in 1060 and the Turks in 1552 and again in 1597. I., of • Syracuse, and destroyed It was one of the oldest settlements in Italy, and in antiquity i*s name was Rheglum It was originally a European colony and was peopled in 72 3 B. C., by fugitive Messenians-. !t rose to great prosperity In the old days, but suffered from war, and In 3K7 B. C. was captured by Dionysii Rcggio, called Regglo di Calabria, was the capital of the province of the same name. It was an arcliieplscopnl see and had a population of 16,- 000 inhabitants. The region around Mon'eleono was badly affected. The village of Stefanieoni, the inhabitants of which number 2.500, was practically destroyed. Only live persons were killed, but many were injured. Five hundred dead have been recovered at Seminara, near Reggio. Dagnara had a good trade In wine. Palmi was celebrated for its orange groves and olive plantations. At Palmi, live miles further to the northeast, the ruin is utter. It is .a place of 10,500 population Estimates of the number killed vary from 500 to 1,000 and nearly half the survivors are more or less badly hurt. Bagnara, a town of more thin 7.500 people, about sixteen miles northeast of Reggio, on the Bay of Oloju, has been practically destroyed. The dead may number 1,000 there. The city of Reggio, which has 17,- 000 Inhabitants, is a heap of ruin*. Thousands are killed, and it is believed many hundred injured persons are imprisoned in the ruins. NAPLES, Dec. 31.—Latest Information received here says Reggio is :i vast sepulchre, having been utterly destroyed. No part of the province escaped the awful calajo.ity. It is reported here that the. Prefect of Reggio was killed, and that an Inspector-(»eneral from the Home Office in Rome has been sent to replace him. The Prefect is the chief civil official of the province. (Conti i ret.| Inucd on pago two. "Some have urged that we must have another Knox—another great lawyer and another great orator. Not necessarily. Spooners, Knoxes, Roots, Lodges and Culbersons are few, and that is why they stand out so brilliantly. Besides, it is not es- "Some have sneered because Mr. Oliver is wealthy. Is that discreditable? I yet t«» learn that to be born without means, to work hard for 30 or 4ft years, to contend Lime and again against adverse fortune, to survive the reverses inevitable iri a period of industrial development and transition, and at hist to achieve a comfortable position in life, should be held objectionable. Mr. Oliver is not of the sudden rich, but quite the contrary. He has not oppressed, he has not crushed others, and he has resorted to no unlawful or Improper methods for his own aggrandizement. "It is now nearly two weeks since the candidacy of George T. Oliver for the United States Senate was first seriously considered, and a week since the Allegheny county legislative delegation unanimously indorsed him in caucus. During this time, as a friend of his. 1 have paid some attention t«» ncw.sfmper comment on the subject, and especially to such of it as was unfriendly. It Is of this that I think something should 'be said. PITTSBURG, Dec. 31.—The Hon. John \V. Crawford, of the Forty-fifth district, senior member- of the state senate of Pennsylvania and chairman of the Allegheny County legislative delegation, is taking a keen interest ::i the candidacy of George T. Oliver for the United States Senate. Discussing the situation yesterday, Sen. Crawford, who recently was re-elected for a fourth term, said: Interest in |Nttsbtirjjer's Candidacy. John \Y. Crawford is Taking a keen Continued on Pago Two. Seetion one provides "that any person who in response to the Calls of the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania made in September, 1862, or June, 1863, who served in the Pennsylvania Militia in defence of the State of Pennsylvania, during the Invasions of Pennsylvania lay the Confederate Army in the years of 18G2 or 1863, and who shall have been honorably discharged from said service, and who shall have been a resident of Pennsylvania when entering said service, and who shall be a citizen of Pennsylvania at the time of making application for a pension, shall upon the approval of each application as hereinafter provided be punishment of fraud." payment of pensions rind expenses incident thereto, and providing for the The Spirit has been favored with a communication from the Pension Committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Volunteers, enclosing a copy of a pension bill which the society will submit to the Pennsylvania legislature at the coming session. The measure is entitled "An Act to provide for the payment of pensions to men who volunteered for the defense of the State of Pennsylvania, in response to the calls of the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, made in September, 1862, or June, 1863, and who served in the Pennsylvania Militia during th<j invasions of the State of Pennsylvania by the Confederate Army in the years of „ 1862 or 1863, and who are citizens of Pennsylvania at the time of making application for same — fixing the amount of pensions, creating a Pension Board, making appropriations for 1 ' J PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA., THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1908 PRICE TWO CENTS JOHNSTOWN, Dec. 31.—Until a i:\ih\g tins \\i:i:k fflbe Ihtfdltttauifte!) Hpifit. !- i Va ude v i I le—Si a r Thea t re,