|
Written by Publisher
|
|
Monday, 06 April 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
(April 10, 1895)
A Mother's Sorrow
Thursday afternoon, says the DuBois Courier, as the Clearfield and Mahoning train arrived from Falls Creek a woman stepped from the ladies car carrying in her arms the remains of her dead infant.
The woman had been on a visit with friends at Instanter, Elk county, and was on her way to her home at Munson. Her child had been taken ill on the train and died between Falls Creek and DuBois.
The poor woman was weeping bitterly at the station and as she was a stranger among strangers and was anxious to get to her home she proceeded on her way at 2 o'clock, when the train left for Clearfield, carrying the dead infant in her arms.
•••
Attempt to Wreck a Train
A dastardly attempt was made last night to wreck engine 106 on the Eleanora branch. The engine carried, besides the regular crew, the paymaster of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal and Iron Company, who was on his way to pay the men at the mines, and but for the timely discovery by Joseph Zufall of the obstruction on the track, the villains no doubt would have been successful. There is no question but the object was robbery.
Constable Chambers arrested three Italians who had recently been discharged, on suspicion and took them to Eleanora for a (hearing)...
•••
(April 17, 1895)
The police raided a disorderly house on South Penn street on Monday night. Three women and two men were taken into custody. They were taken before the Burgess for a hearing, the women each being fined ten dollars and costs and the men $7.25 each and twenty-four hours imprisonment in the borough lockup.
•••
A number of the citizens of West Mahoning street, and various other portions of the town, have removed the fences from the front of their properties, thereby adding greatly to the beauty of their appearance. If there is one thing more unsightly than another it is a ragged pailing fence, and it seems to be almost impossible to keep a certain class of people from pulling them off.
•••
TRAMPS REFUSE TO WORK
Two Valiant Knights Who Are Willing to Suffer for Their Principles
Some of our neighboring towns have enacted borough ordinances to the effect that all persons found begging from door to door and who cannot give reasonable accounts for so doing, shall be arrested and made to perform work upon the streets. The object is to discourage tramps from visiting such places.
Of course these knights of the road are a nuisance, but as to whether the operation of these borough laws will prove effective is a matter of question. The experience of the city of Franklin, Pa., in this respect may prove interesting. A recent dispatch from there says:
"The two tramps who caused so much excitement Thursday by doing little when they were put to work on the street were taken from the jail this morning by Overseer B. Earks and given another trial.
The second trial proved as disastrous as the first, for the tramps did not do anything and so far they have not even taken a pick or shovel in their hands.
Shortly after 6 o'clock the men were taken to Bell's stone quarry where they were to break stone. On arriving at the quarry the tramps sat down on stones and this is about all they did all day long. They even refused to move the ball around, and when they were being put on the wagon to and from the quarry they would not lift the balls on the wagon and the overseer was compelled to do the work.
The tramps were left in the quarry until 6 o'clock this evening, and their appetites at this time were ravenous not having had anything to eat since breakfast and that being a very small meal. Although it rained during the day the tramps were kept in the open and were thoroughly drenched. Mayor Forbes has given orders to the overseer to bring the men out again Saturday morning."
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 April 2009 )
|
