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Written by Compiled by Terry A. Fye
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Monday, 09 March 2009 |
(Considering the widespread interest in genealogy and local history, The Punxsutawney Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of our area's past that reveal the ways life has changed over the past 114 years.
These reprinted reports with their original headlines and spelling from back issues of the local newspaper highlight events, personalities, attitudes, and lifestyles that made the news long ago. This series will appear on Mondays for your reflection and amusement.)
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
(March 20, 1895)
CRAZED BY RELIGION
Too Much of a Good thing Unhinges a Man's Mind
For several weeks the Free Methodists (Holy Rollers) have been conducting meetings at Armagh. Among those who attended the meeting was a young man named Samuel Sweeny, who lived in that neighborhood. The excitement of the meeting was too much for him and affected his mind.
For two or three weeks he has been acting strangely and on Wednesday night he imagined he was commissioned to burn his mother's house. It was with difficulty that he was prevented from putting his supposed commission into effect.
Thursday his mother went before ‘Squire Drips and made information against him charging him with surety of the peace and supposed lunacy.
Constable Anderson Tomb conveyed Sweeney to Indiana Friday at noon and gave him into charge of Jail Warden, Miller for safe keeping.
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A CHILD'S AWFUL FATE
A Little Young Township Girl Literally Roasted to Death
The saddest accident that has come within our knowledge for many months is that of a seven-year-old girl in Young township who was literally roasted to death on Thursday afternoon. The particulars of the affair as related by the father, Julius Griser, a German tenant on the farm of Ex-Sheriff Young, which is located a short distance from town, are as follows:
Mr. Griser was employed in clearing up a tract of land for spring culture and had a large fire built upon which he threw rubbish. Although the mother repeatedly cautioned the child not to go near the blazing heap she could not resist the fascinating effects a fire always has upon children, and went despite the mother's warning.
How long she had been at the fire no one knows. The first intimation the father had of her danger was when she ran screaming in his direction calling piteously to him for aid. The child ran about a hundred feet in the direction of her father who was hastening to her assistance when she was overpowered by the flames and fell exhausted to the ground.
The father reached her at this juncture and at once tore the burning clothing from her body.
Both of his hands were terribly burned during this operation and he was unable to carry the little sufferer home, but had to leave her where she fell while he went to the house to impart the sorrowful news to his wife, sending her out to bring the child in while he came to town in quest of a physician.
As soon as Dr. Beyer, who was summoned, saw the patient he realized that she was past earthly help but did everything possible to relieve her sufferings. The child retained consciousness until the hour of death and although her eyes had been destroyed, she was able to recognize those about her by their various tones of voice. She also inhaled the flames and her left hand was nearly burned off at the wrist.
Five hours after the accident the child died and was buried in the Clayville cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
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(March 27, 1895)
A Clayville Milliner Defrauded
About one month ago a tall, slick looking young man visited Clayville and called at the millinery store of Miss Maggie Niels. He represented himself as travelling for a New York firm and succeeded in selling her a pattern case and several other articles, the whole amounting to about thirty dollars.
His terms were strictly cash when the order was taken. But he was very obliging and gave a receipt for the money in order to secure his patron from losing anything in the deal.
The time for the delivery of goods has long since past and Miss Neil now realizes that she was duped by a sharper. It is said that several other milliners in the county have shared a like fate.
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Telephone Rates Reduced
The telephone company has reduced its rates considerably and we have no doubt but this action will result in a large increase of business for the company. The commercial rates have been reduced from $66 to $36; physicians from $48 to $36; residences from $36 to $30, per year.
Business places. — In the same class telephones for two different parties will be put on the same line for $30 each; three parties on the same line, $27 each; four parties on the same line, $24 each; five parties on the same line, $21 each.
Residence rates.— One telephone $30 per year; two parties on same line, $24 each; three parties on same line, $$18 each; four parties on same line, $15 each; five parties on same line, $12 each.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 March 2009 )
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