Newspapers

Old Newspaper Articles Concerning Blacklick Township

DIED
On Monday last, at the residence of his mother in Jackson Township, of Dysentery, Mr. JAMES REED in the 21st year of his age.
Mountain Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Nov. 7, 1850

MARRIED
At Loretto, on Tuesday, May 6th, by the Rev. Mr. Gallagher, Mr. ROBERT BRADY, to Miss SARAH At Loretto, on Sunday, May 11th, by the Rev. H. Gallagher, Mr. ROBERT LITZINGER, of Ebensburg, Pa., to Miss MARY ANN CANNON, of Indiana, Pa.
Mountain Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, May 15, 1851

DIED:
At her residence in Blacklick Township, Cambria County, on the 21st of May last, Mrs. MARGARET DAVIS, consort of James Davis, aged fifty-six years seven months three weeks and four days
Mountain Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Jun 10, 1852
MARRIED.
On Thursday, the 5th inst., by Watson Thompson, Esq., MR. ALEXANDER RHOADS, to MISS ALABINA DUMM, all of Blacklick township, Cambria county.
Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Feb. 11, 1857

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT--We have just been informed that a young man named Peter Meakin, who resides in Blacklick township, while chopping down a tree, this morning, cut himself in the leg, and that he died this afternoon
Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Mar. 25 1857

MARRIED.
On the 26th inst., by Rev. L.R. Powell, MR. JOHN FULMER, of Carroll township, to MISS HARRIET WAINSWORTH, of Blacklick township.
Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, SEP 2, 1857

OBITUARY
DIED--At his residence in Blacklick township, in this county, on Wednesday, the 30th inst., Mr. JAMES DUNCAN, in the 58th year of his age.
Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Sep. 30, 1857

DIED
We were pained to learn that an interesting grand-child of Mr. Edward Jones, of Blacklick township, was burned to death on Monday, the 21st inst., at the residence of its parents a few miles from this place.
Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Dec. 23 1857

Hotel Destroyed by Fire
The hotel of Mr. Enoch Rees, situated on the Indiana road, about six miles from this place, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night of last week. The family escaped with difficulty but a traveller who occupied an apartment difficult of access, was burned to death. His remains, burned to a crisp, were discovered amid the smouldering ruins of the building next morning. He was a young man apparently about 21 years of age. We have not learned his name. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Rees' loss is very heavy. All the furniture in the building was consumed. No insurance. Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Apr. 13, 1859
MARRIED
On Saturday the 3d inst., by the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, Mr. David Powell Sr. of Cambria township, to Miss Mary Rees, of Blacklick township Cambria County. Democrat and Sentinel, Ebensburg, PA, Sep. 14, 1859

Cambria County, Chapter XVIII, Blacklick Township

Blacklick Township is bounded by Carroll on the North, Cambria on the East, Jackson on the South, and Indiana County on the West, containing a population of about 650 inhabitants.

The Township is broken. The Laurel Hill, which runs parallel with the Allegheny Mountain, is an unbroken chain, for some hundreds of miles, and which is nearly of equal altitude, loses itself, or to use a more homely expression, "dies out," in this Township. On the Southern line of the Township, this hill still retains a considerable elevation - on the Northern line no traces of it are distinguishable.

It is watered by several branches of Blacklick Creek, which flow through the Township, in a Southwesterly direction, affording an abundance of water-power.

The soil along the streams is very broken, and not generally susceptible of cultivation. There are a few good farms in the Township, though the land is much better adapted to pasturage than grain growing.

Perhaps no portion of Cambria County is richer in undeveloped mineral resources than Blacklick Township. It abounds in immense veins of iron ore, which the inconvenience of a market, and the want of adequate protection, have prevented from being operated. Besides, she has exhaustless beds of bituminous coal. One half the coal consumed in Ebensburg, is mined in this Township.

The village of Belsano, situated on the Turnpike Road near the center of the Township, contains a population of some fifty inhabitants. It has a store, a Justice's office, and fortunately, no tavern.--The Post Office is here; -- and here the elections are held. Eliza Furnace, situated partly in Indiana County, on the waters of Blacklick Creek, at one time gave a home market to the neighborhood; but has, for several years, been entirely abandoned, and is fast going to destruction

The principal public road is the Ebensburg and Indiana Turnpike Road, which was viewed as a great "institution" in its day, but has lately been deprived of its privilege to take tolls, and reduced to the character of a common Township road.

There are besides, public roads from Duncan's Mill to Mechanicsburg; from the Turnpike to Eliza Furnace; from near Belsano to, the lower Duncan's Mill, from Bethel to Gillan's; and other public roads.

That. portion of Blacklick adjoining Cambria Township is principally settled by the Welsh and their descendants; a few Irish families are settled in the Northern portion; but the great bulk of the population is original Pennsylvanians. The Methodist and United Brethren persuasions seem to prevail; yet there are many Baptists, and some Disciple families in the Eastern portion of the Township. The regular Methodists have a fine church near Belsano, while the Baptists have a venerable log building, known as the Bethel Meeting House.

Blacklick Township was not settled at quite so early a date as some other portions of Cambria County. Griffith Rowland was perhaps the earliest settler of the Eastern portion of the Township; while the Duncan's made the first opening on the Western side. William Reed, one of Harrison's soldiers during the war of 1812, immediately after its close, settled in the wilderness, and opened a fine farm on which his aged relict still resides.

I once traveled on horseback over an old, abandoned road leading from near the dividing line on the Reed and George farms, to the "Stone Turnpike" at Dillon's Tavern. I found an old, dilapidated bridge over the Blacklick, so rickety in its appearance that I was feign to escape its dangers by fording the stream. Not far from this bridge, the road passes thro' a defile of very rugged character; but what struck me as most singular, an immense rock, which had been cloven in twain by some convulsion, arose on either side of the road perpendicular, and some fifteen feet high, barely leaving space for a wagon to pass through the fissure The day was hot and sultry, yet while passing through this singular gap, I felt as cool as if in an ice-house. I am not certain whether this is in Blacklick or Jackson - it must be near the line between them.

In this Township resides Mr. Jacob Campbell, somewhat distinguished as a controversialist. He first appeared among us in the employ of the engineer corps of the Penna. R.R. Co., when they made their first exploratory survey under Chas. G. Schlutter, Esq. He afterwards occupied rooms in the Ebensburg Academy, at which place his productions are dated. He afterwards retired to a residence in the country, and has not since resumed his pen. This circumstance has indeed a belief in the minds of many that Mr. Campbell was not the real author of the articles that appeared over his name; but without venturing an opinion as to the correctness of this theory, it might be sufficient to refer to a large number of authors, ancient and modern, who have arisen, culminated, and declined, within an amazingly short period.

Every variety of game may be found in this Township - even deer and bear are, not unfrequently captured within its limits. The Panther or American catamount, is still sometimes seen in the forest.-A few years since, Abraham Longenecker, Esq., was treed by one of these animals which was only prevented from ascending by a most singular expedient. He was, however, kept at bay until the "Squiro" was relieved from his unenviable position.

Jonathan Oldbuck
Monkbarns, July 5, 1860

The Alleghanian, July 12, 1860.

Changed
The Post Office at Belsano, this county, has been removed to Bethel Station, three miles in this direction, and Mr. Enoch Reese appointed Post Master.
Alleghenian, Ebensburg, Pa., November 7, 1861

The Draft for Cambria County - List of Names Drawn
35th Sub-District of the 17th Congressional District
Cambria and Blacklick Townships

104 names in wheel and 36 drawn:
William A. Makin, Thomas G. Davis, Oliver Reed, Richard J. Roberts, Robert Litzinger' John O'Harro, Peter Long' Samuel R. Rees, William Calor, John Fibert, William R. Jones, Christian Shinafelt, Lewis J. Jones, Luther Styles, Abner Lloyd, Amos Rowland, Owen Rowland, Richard W. Gittings, Rowland R. Davis , John Hasson, Jr., Elias D. Powel, George C. Rager, Charles Homan, Evan Bennett, John A. Jones, Morris J. Evans, John F. Boring, John Shealer, John Murray, John Blickendoof, Richard W. Price, William Martz, Benjamin W. James, David B. Jones, Samuel Thomas, William H. Davis
Alleghanian, August 27, 1863

MARRIAGES
Reed-Roland
Married on the 12th inst., in Ebensburg, by Rev. J. S. Lemmon, Mr. Oliver Reed and Miss Lizzie Roland, both of Blacklick twp., this county.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, May 19, 1864

Major Robert Litzinger has been appointed Post Master of Strongstown borough, Indiana county.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. May 26 1864

Fire!
On Sunday last a house in Belsano this county owned by William Simmons and tenanted by Mrs. Rager was burned to the ground. The most of its contents were saved.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, June 16, 1864

Bethel Post Office
The post office at Bethel, this county, has been discontinued. The mail matter for that point will hereafter be distributed through the Ebensburg post office.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa., Thursday, September 1, 1864

MARRIAGES
Pringle-Bryan
Married on the 13th inst, by Rev. J. S. Lemmon, at the residence of Mr. Adam Makin, Mr. John Pringle of Wilmore and Mrs. Emma Bryan, of Belsano, this county.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, October 27, 1864

DIED: In Blacklick township, this county, on the evening of the 1st instant, Mr. John Gillan, aged 47 years.

DIED: Of dysentery, near Belsano, Cambria county, on the 22d ult., MARGARET ANNE, and on the 24th ult., Thomas Lemon, children of G.W. and Mary A. Wilkinson, the former aged 3 years, 6 months and 11 days, and the latter one year, 7 months and 22 days.

The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 12 Oct 1865

HOUSE BURNED--We are sorry to learn that the house occupied by Mr. John Cameron, in Blacklick township, was totally consumed by fire on Saturday. The contents of the house were also nearly all destroyed. The flames originated from a stovepipe which protruded through the roof, to do service instead of a chimney. No insurance.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 11 Jan1866, Vol. 7, No. 13

DIED--On Saturday, March 3, in Ebensburg, Mrs. ----- White, of Blacklick township, aged 63 year
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 8 Mar 1866.

DIED--On Friday, 30th ultimo, at the residence of Col. R. Litzinger, Strongstown, Indiana county, Sarah, wife of Mr. John Lloyd, of Ebensburg, aged about 27 years. The remains of the deceased were brought here on Saturday, and on Sunday were followed to their last resting place, in Lloyd Cemetery, by a large concourse of sorrowing friends.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 5 Apr 1866

MARRIED--March 29th, by Rev. A. Baker, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. C.D. Shinnefelt, of Ebensburg, and Miss Sarah Nips, of Blacklick township.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 12 Apr 1866

MARRIED--On the 27th of April, at the residence of Mrs. Sarah Davis, High st., Ebensburg, by Rev. A Baker, Mr. William Bracken and Miss Lizzie Duncan, both of Blacklick tp., Cambria co
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 2 May 1866

SUDDEN DEATH-We are pained to learn that on Saturday last Mr. Adam Makin, living near Belsano, this county, dropped dead in his house. The deceased was apparently in good health up to the moment of his death. He was much respected by all who knew him.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, PA, 15 Jul 1869, Vol. 9, No. 49

Mrs. Nipps
An old lady named Nipps died in Cambria township on Tuesday last at the remarkable age of 94 years.
Cambria Freeman, Friday, March 9, 1877, page 3 col 1

NIPPS, Susannah (Hoberstick)
Susannah Nipps, supposed to be the oldest resident of Cambria county died on the 5th inst., aged 95 years.
(Indiana Progress, Indiana, PA, Thursday, March 15, 1877).

Ivison Post Office

Through the efforts of A.T. Pindle, Esq., a special post-office, called "Irinson" (sic) has been established by the Post Master General, in Blacklick Township, this county and Abraham H. Longnecker has been appointed Postmaster thereof. The new office is located about three miles from Strongstown, Pa., on the public road leading from that place to Nicktown and Carrolltown, and will be supplied semi-weekly with mail service, from the Strongstown post-office. Quite a large community will thus be afforded much needed and convenient mail facilities. This makes the third post-office that Mr. Pindle has had reinstated and established within a few years past, namely, Belsano, Pindleton, and the present one, Irinson (sic).

Cambria Freeman, June 17, 1887, p.3

BRUIN DIED HARD

AN EXCITING BEAR HUNT IN THE WILDS OF PENNSYLVANIA

Johnstown, Penna., Dec. 8 - There is a very wild region of the country close to the dividing line of Indiana and Cambria Counties, in the Blacklick Township, this county. At the head of the north branch of the Blacklick, a small stream which courses down the mountain side, the country abounds in beech trees, laurel, spruce, and dense underbrush. This particular strip of land lies between John W. Duncan's red mill and the old Ritter furnace, and whenever a man proposes to penetrate the thicket his friends predict a fatal ending. Wild beasts of every species hold high carnival there, and, if reports are true, several hunters' bones are sure to be found somewhere within the confines of this region.

However, this may be, there are still a few Cambria County hunters who have no fear of the dangers lurking in the fastnesses of Blacklick. Two weeks ago a hunting party was organized in Blacklick Township. It included Davis Bracken, a veteran hunter, George Bennett, J. S. Bennett, Peter Detwiler, and Franklin Bennett, the latter enjoying a good reputation for being a sure shot. All of the men are brave. The object of organizing was to invade the Blacklick region and hunt for game. Their weapons consisted of a smooth-bore shotgun, a muzzle-loading rifle of small caliber - 150 bullets to the pound - and several axes. There were also two hounds.

Their time for hunting came sooner than they expected. On the 1st of December Bracken's dogs tracked a bear, and after a long chase ran it into a large laurel patch in the Blacklick region. Old man Bracken knew what the yell of the hounds meant, and at once summoned his neighboring hunters with his tin horn. The men responded to the call with alacrity, believing that there was fun ahead. In this they were not mistaken. They made a detour of the laurel patch, and under the leadership of Bracken they were stationed at different points. The blowing of the horn was a signal to enter the thicket. The dogs were sent on ahead and soon had the game located. It was a bear.

Franklin Bennett was the first of the party to get his eye upon Bruin. He found him perched upon a limb of a young spruce tree. He looked fiercely at the hunter and the hounds. Bennett was not unnerved, and being in possession of the muzzle-loading rifle, he sent a bullet into the head of Bruin. The bear fell to the ground and Bennett and the dogs rushed to the spot. But the animal was not dead. Raising itself on its hind legs it made a vicious strike at the hunter with its right paw. Bennett escaped the blow, but one of the dogs was sent howling to the ground 10 feet away. The bear then took to his heels, and the dogs in hot pursuit, soon had him treed again. Bennett reloaded his gun and came upon the scene. Suffering from an attack of "bear fever," another name for excitement, he regained his composure a few moments later, and, drawing a bead on his bearship, once more brought him to the ground. Even this did not kill the beast, which was now savage and growled fiercely. He started on a run, and the dogs attacked him from the rear. Once the bear stopped and showed fight, but he soon realized that he could not cope with trained hounds, seeing Bennett coming up he again took refuge in a pine tree.

For a third time Bennett fired, and the animal dropped to the ground, but was still alive. It howled with pain and manifested its anger by savage growls at short intervals. Bennett could no longer retain his nerve. He was provoked at the non-effectiveness of the rifle, and, taking the weapon at the muzzle end, he was about to attack the bear by beating it over the head, when he heard Bracken's tin horn in close proximity. When the men came up the bear, dogs, and Bennett were standing at equal distances apart. Bruin scarcely moved, the wounds he received seeming to have quieted that uneasiness so manifest among his family. Detwiler had the shotgun of the party, and when he arrived upon the scene he fired. The shot, however, did not take effect. Then followed an exciting time. The bear made a mad rush at George Bennett. The man protected himself with an axe. He dealt the animal a terrible blow, which sent it on its hind legs. By this time Detwiler had reloaded his smooth-bore with a large bullet, and, handing the weapon to Franklin Bennett, the latter sent a fatal bullet into Bruin's brain. The bear fell over dead.

All the hunters gathered around the animal, not knowing how soon he might revive, and after they had cooled from the excitement they chanted a song of triumph composed by Davis Bracken. This procedure is one of Bracken's eccentricities, and he claims that it brings good luck in the next hunt. The men took the carcass to Bracken's house, where they dressed the game. It was found that only one of the bullets from Bennett's gun had penetrated the animal's brain, the other two glancing off. The bear weighed 175 pounds, and was about two years old. It was remarkably black, very fat, and had thick and glossy hair.

The dead animal was brought to this city two days later, and is nearly all sold by this time. The success which the hunters met on this trip has excited their courage, and they feel hopeful of securing more game in the wilds of the Blacklick region before the Winter is over.

(New York Times, Dec. 9, 1888, p. 7)

DIED--Mr. Samuel Miller, of Blacklick township, died one day last week from pneumonia, caused by a relapse from the grip.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 21 Mar 1890

OBITUARY
Mrs. Mary Brallier
The subject of this notice died at her home in Belsano, Cambria County, on Monday afternoon, January 26, 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years three months and fifteen days. Mrs. Brallier was born in Bedford County in 1803. There, in 1823, she was married to Emanuel Brallier, and they removed in 1840 to Belsano, where they lived ever afterward. Mr. Brallier died December 9, 1882, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. They lived on a farm and reared a large family of children, eight of whom are still living, as follows: Samuel, whose home is in Jackson township; Elizabeth, widow of John Gillin, Hudson, Iowa; D.S. Brallier, of Altoona; Dr. J.L., of Lykens, Pa.; Mary, wife of William Stuver, Rosedale; L.R., Rosedale; Hannah, wife of Levi Good, of Blacklick Township, and Ellen, wife of Robert Ferguson, of the same township. Dr. Emanuel Brallier, who died about two years ago in Chambersburg, was another son. Mrs. Brallier was a member of the German Baptist Church, and will be buried from the house of worship of that denomination, a short distance from Belsano, at 10 o'clock to-morrow (Wednesday) morning. Mrs. Brallier was a model wife, a devoted mother, and a noble Christian woman.
The Tribune, Johnstown, Pa., Tuesday, January 27, 1891

Obituary.
DUMAN--Died at the home of his parents in Blacklick township on Sunday, February 28th, 1892, Windeline, son of George Duman, aged 21 years. The deceased was the youngest in a family of ten children and leaves to mourn his death an aged father and mother, two sisters and four brothers, George, the eldest, living in Nebraska, and his wife, being on a visit to friends, was present at his death. John and Andrew are both married and live in Blacklick township, and Mrs. John Nellen lives in Indiana county. Henry and Lizzie are at home and single. The deceased was a favorite with all who knew him and his presence will be greatly missed. He contracted the disease which caused his death by visiting a friend, who is now well, and on his return home was prostrated in a few days, and notwithstanding he received the best care and medical attention, death came in eight days. He was a pious and devoted Catholic and during his illness received the last rites of the church. He was buried in St. Nicholas' cemetery on March 1st. May he rest in peace.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 11 Mar 1892

Mrs. Henry Funk, died at her home in Ebensburg, on Wednesday morning, March 18th, in the 75th year of her age. The deceased was a daughter of Edward Jones, deceased, an older settler of Blacklick township. She was married three times, her first husband's name being Rager; her second husband's name being Leidy, and her third husband being Mr. Henry Funk, of this place, who survives her; also four children by her first husband and five by her husband. She is also survived by one brother, Philip Jones, of Blacklick township. The interment will take place to-day, (Friday) when the funeral will leave the house at 9 o'clock, A. M., and proceed to the Dunkard cemetery at Mundy's, in Jackson township, the deceased having been a member of the Dunkard church.
Cambria Freeman, Mar.20, 1896

Local & Personal
Miss Laura Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.M. Green, died at the home of her parents, at Twin Rocks, on Friday, August 18th, 1899, aged 17 years and 13 days.
Cambria Freeman, Jul. 21, 1899.

Mr. David Rowland, an old and respected citizen of Belsano, died at his home in that place on Thursday, September 30th, 1899, in the 76th year of his age. The deceased was a native of Wales and came to this country when a young man. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Evan, of Erie, Pa., and Isaac, of Lorain, Ohio, and one daughter, Emma, wife of Reuben Adams, of Moxham, this county. One brother, Owen Rowland, of Iowa, formerly of Ebensburg, also survives him. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, the remains being interred in the cemetery at Belsano.
Friday, Cambria Freeman, Oct. 6, 1899

Mr. J.T. Crawford, of Bethel, will remove his saw mill to the vicinity of Patton, where he has contracted to cut 1,200,000 feet of lumber.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 17 Nov 1899

Mr. James Mardis, a former resident and native of Blacklick township, this county, died at his home in Lowden, Cedar county, Iowa, on the 17th day of November last. The deceased was a brother of the late Joseph S. Mardis, of Belsano, and removed to Iowa about 1865.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 15 Dec 1899

Marriage Licenses.
The following marriage licenses were issued by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court for the week ending Thursday, January 4, 1900:
-Albert D. Wells and Minnie J. Hite, Belsano
Cambria Freeman, Jan.5, 1900

Mrs. Susan Thomas, relict of the late Lewis Thomas, of Cambria township, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Jane Wagner, in Blacklick township, on Thursday, January 11th, 1900, aged 87 years.
Cambria Freeman, Jan. 19, 1900

Applications for LIQUOR LICENSE!
Notice is hereby given that the application of the following persons for Liquor Licenses have been filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Cambria county, Pa., and will be presented to the said Court for its consideration on Monday, Feb. 19, A.D. 1900.
Unless specially designated below, the residences of the applications (as stated in the petitions) are at the places for which application is made.

BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP
Edward L. Keane, Commercial Hotel, Nant-y-Glo, retail
Wm. L. Stephens, Main st., Belsano, retail

Cambria Freeman, Feb. 2, 1900

Mr. Stanton Davis, of this place, who has been prospecting for coal for some time past, has discovered and opened up, above water level, on the lands of Davis Bros, on the Blacklick, a mile and a quarter east of Nantyglo, a four foot seam of coal. Davis Bros, have 1,200 acres of coal in a body at that location and since the opening of this vein several eastern parties have been negotiating for it.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 23 Feb 1900

Mr. James Wright, one of Charles McFaddens bosses during the building of the railroad down the Blacklick, stopped off at Twin Rocks on Monday with 18 Italian laborers. The men went to work in the mines in that region but the general belief is that as soon as the weather permits the extension of the Blacklick railroad will furnish the men with employment at their regular occupation, that of railroad building. Cambria Freeman, Mar. 2, 1900

The Vintondale Lumber company is grading its railroad cut through a heavy seam of fire clay on the lands of W.R. George, near the White mill. Mr. George has some eastern capitalists interested in the clay. The prospects are pretty good for a tile and brick works to be erected in the near future.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, PA, 16 Mar 1900

Funeral of an Italian woman and babe
The funeral of an Italian woman and babe took place here on Tuesday morning, the interment being made in the new Catholic cemetery. The deaths occurred at Twin Rocks.
Cambria Freeman, April 6, 1900

Mr. George Mardis, of Blacklick township, has opened up a vein of limestone on his farm and intends to burn a kiln for the purpose of testing its quality. If it proves good he will continue the business.
Cambria Freeman, April 27,1900

Mercantile Appraisers's List For the Year 1900.

Dealers in Foreign and Domestic merchandise, Brokers and keepers of Eating Houses, Billiard and Pool Tables, Nine and Ten Pin Alleys and Opera Houses in Cambria county are hereby notified that they are Appraised for Mercantile and other licenses for the year 1900 as follows:

Blacklick township.
Courtwright, M.B. & Co., general merchandise
Davis, Montell, general merchandise
Farabaugh, H.A., grocer
Hite, J.B., grocer
Holmes, Geo. E., grocer
Keane, Edw., cigars
Moody, H.C., grocer
Michaels, Isaac, general merchandise
Selders, F.W., grocer
Twin Rocks Mdse. Co., general merchandise
Wright, James, grocer

Forest fires burned up a considerable amount of fencing on the farm of Samuel George, in Blacklick township, a few days ago.

The town of Twin Rocks was in great danger from forest fires on Monday and it required the united efforts of the whole population to ward off the danger. The town escaped but it had a very close call.

Miss Gussie Wissinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wissinger of Blacklick township, died at the home of a married sister in Conemaugh, at an early hour on Wednesday morning, from typhoid fever. The deceased was about 20 years of age.
Cambria Freeman, Friday May 4, 1900.

Funeral of Miss Gussie Wissinger
The funeral service of Miss Gussie, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I.N. Wissinger, of Bethel, occurred at the Bethel Baptist church on Friday, May 4th. The sermon was preached by her pastor, Rev. Elias Rowland, from the text found in Rev. 3.4: "They shall walk with me in white for they are worthy."

Miss Wissinger was a very fine young lady and much beloved by all who knew her, especially by those who knew her best, as was manifest on the day of the funeral when tears were freely shed and flowers profusely lavished over her remains. She was highly educated, quite pretty in appearance, and possessed a very loving and attractive disposition. She had a host of friends, and when her unexpected death was reported it was a great shock to the whole community. She was a little past nineteen years of age and it seemed so sad that one so lovely should have been called away from us so young. She loved her Savior dearly and was every (sic) active in His work and now she has gone to her reward. The disease of which she died was appendicitis; she was sick for only about a week and at the home of her sister, Mrs. William Griffin of Conemaugh, whom she was visiting. Much sympathy is felt for the family in their great affliction.
Cambria Freeman, May 11, 1900

One day last week Charles Duncan, of Blacklick township, near Vintondale, was returning from a business visit to Johnstown accompanied by his wife. They were driving along, chatting on the way, when Mrs. Duncan noticed that her husband had not replied to her for some time. She became uneasy and on importuning him to speak, he pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote upon it, not be alarmed, that he did not feel ill but was unable to speak. They pursued their journey home, but since then Mr. Duncan has not spoken notwithstanding everything that medical skill could suggest has been done for him.
Cambria Freeman, May 25, 1900

Harry McHugh Accident Twin Rocks
Terribly Mangled by Electric Motor
Special to the Inquirer.

EBENSBURG, Pa., July 31. - While Harry McHugh and two companions were at work this afternoon on one of the electric motors of the Blacklick Mining Company, at Twin Rocks, the current was turned on and the motor started. McHugh was drawn under the motor and his right leg torn and mangled in a horrible manner while his two companions were badly crushed and bruised. McHugh's leg was amputated, and it is believed he will recover.
(The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 1, 1902, Volume 147, Issue 32, page 3)

Smith & Courtwright
Messrs. Smith & Courtwright are opening up the coal on what is known as the Moore syndicate on the Blacklick, and it is expected that they will be ready to ship coal from one of their operations within the next sixty days. They have secured about twelve hundred acres of coal land and intend to put in three other operations in order to work the coal to the best advantage.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, January 16, 1903.

On Monday, the court appointed J. L. Elder, J. J. Evans and John L. Edwards viewers to lay out a road from Ebensburg to Vintondale through Nantyglo and Twin Rocks.
Cambria Freeman, March 6, 1903

A band of Italian workmen who have been putting in a sliding on the Blacklick Extension in the neighborhood of Twin Rocks are mourning for one of their countrymen--perhaps not so much for their countryman as the thousand dollars or so he skipped with several days ago. The name of the missing man is Carl Talisero and there was due his men about $1,080. He received a check for the amount and went to Cresson to get it cashed but forgot to return, the result of which is as angry a band of Italians as is told found anywhere. They are vowing vengeance on Talisero and if he comes within range, there is likely to be a lynching.
Cambria Freeman, April 3, 1903

Pennsylvania.-From May 10 to 14 fires burned over wide areas in Pennsylvania, devastating the country around Altoona, between that city and Johnstown, and west of the latter place in the Laurel and Chestnut ridges. For sixty hours lumbermen and mountaineers fought the flames without a rest and managed to save the villages of Dunlo, Vintondale, and Twin Rocks, which were in imminent danger. Houses were destroyed in Westmoreland county, and timbered tracts in Cambria and Somerset counties were burned over, involving the destruction of much standing and sawed timber. Near Bradford, on the northern boundary of the state, fires again broke out on May 13, after $1,000,000 worth of property had been destroyed by fires on April 30. Here the greatest trouble was to divert the flames from oil wells. Near Ormsby fifty oil rigs were burned and a family is missing. It is feared that the members perished. Forestry & Irrigation, Volume 9, National Irrigation Association (U.S.), American Forestry Association 1903

DAVIS BRACKEN
Davis BRACKEN died of typhoid fever at his home near Belsano Sunday evening, September 13th at about 8 o'clock. He was about sixty-five years old and leaves a wife and four sons and four daughters. He had been a member of the M. E. Church, Belsano for more than thirty years and was an excellent citizen. The Rev. A. B. Shaw, of Ebensburg, conducted the funeral services. The sermon was preached in the Belsano M. E. Church Tuesday at 3 p. m. Johnstown Daily Tribune, Friday Sept 18, 1903

Coroner E. L. Miller on last Tuesday went to Twin Rocks to investigate the death of Thomas Coy of Belsano who was killed Tuesday while engaged in erecting a large stack. After looking over the ground and ascertaining the exact manner in which the accident happened the coroner decided that an inquest was unnecessary, as death was purely accidental. Coy was 27 years of age and is survived by his widow and a son, two years old. The remains were interred Saturday afternoon in the Evangelical church cemetery at Belsano.
Cambria Freeman, October 2, 1903.

The New Town of Big Bend
A Jewel Down the Blacklick which is Developing into Importance

Large Coal Operations Located There - The Picturesque Big Bend in the Blacklick Creek - Daily Output of Coal to be 2,000 Tons - Town Population to be Will be 3,000 Souls - Many Lots Sold

Nestling snugly down between the Blacklick hills, ten miles by railroad from Ebensburg and two below Nantyglo lie the new town of Big Bend and the several large coal operations which will sustain it. We took occasion while in the vicinity recently to inspect the developments now in progress and were perfectly amazed at their extent and at the possibilities of the locality.

Big Bend is a picturesque and romantic spot, the Blacklick creek here curving between walls of rock, in places a hundred feet high and forming a huge horseshoe before returning within a few hundred yards of its course down the valley. This gives its name to the town - "Big Bend." The flat lying between the arms of the bend is occupied chiefly by the tracks and improvements of the coal companies operating here, the town lying on higher ground to the northeast. The flat in the bend of the creek was the site of one of the early day projected iron furnaces of Ritter and Irwin, called, we believe, Eliza Furnace, and the foundations of some twenty "furnace houses" are yet to be seen.

A coal bank was long operated here by the tenants of the Moore farm, the coal supplying the farmers in the vicinity and much of it hauled to Ebensburg. The thickness of the vein and the purity of the coal attracted the attention of Eastern capitalists and a lease was obtained on 1, 000 acres lying back of the opening and a charter taken out by the Big Bend Coal Mining Company, the stock being held in Philadelphia. Mr. W. C. Shiffer is the superintendent on the ground, and having removed his family there, is installing one of the finest operations in the region. Two parallel drifts start at the site of the old Moore opening and are now in about 1,000 feet. The output of the mine is already several cars a day, and when the property is fully developed will be at least 1,000 tons daily. The coal is now hauled to the tipple by means of a stationary engine and as soon as the power plant is completed it will be hauled by electric motors and the coal mined by compressed air mining machines. A large stable, office and other buildings have been erected and a permanent bridge built across the Blacklick creek. A double-track siding 2,300 feet long connects the tipple with the Ebensburg and Blacklick railroad near Twin Rocks station.

A quarter mile around the returning arm of the bend, a hundred feet up on the side of the bluff in plain sight, is the drift of the Commercial Coal Mining Company, Mr. William Smith, General Superintendent. This is an entirely new opening and is intended to mine coal from the 1,000 acres known as the "Moore Syndicate" land, now owned by said company. It is only in course of development, although a mountain of excellent coal has already been taken out and lies in a large mound ready for shipment when the tipple is completed to the railroad track. The tipple is an immense one in which there will be 150,000 feet of timber when completed. It crosses the creek at the height of 75 feet above the water and is probably a hundred yards long. This opening, as well as that at the Big Bend, is on the "B" or "Miller" seam, which is here found at its best.

At the east end of the tipple lies the electric plant for the two companies, which is in course of construction, the boilers being already installed. They will furnish steam for the 300 horse-power engines. Grading is proceeding here also for two railroad tracks from the Blacklick road on which to store and load cars. Two parallel drifts are being driven and developments will be pushed until capacity of 1,000 tons a day is reached.

A portion of the land formerly known as the Moore Syndicate has been laid out in lots, the Public Road from Belsano to Johnstown constituting the main street, and a large portion of the town site has been cleared of trees and underbrush and streets and alleys laid out. On this ground the new homes are being reared and the wilderness is rapidly being transformed into a thriving little city. Here the 600 workmen to be employed by the industries with their families and the various businessmen will reside.

The town site slopes gradually to Coal Pit Run, furnishing excellent drainage, and now presents a scene of busy activity by reason of the building developments in progress. Twenty-five tenant houses are completed and a number of others are in progress. They are of the best type of houses built in the county for miners, containing five and six rooms, weatherboarded and plastered, wired for electric light and piped for water, which will be supplied to the entire town by gravity from a near-by mountain stream, and the power for lighting will be furnished by the central power plant at the mines. The houses being painted in different colors, present a different appearance from the usual blocks of houses in mining towns. The Coal Company has erected a fine large residence for Superintendent W.C. Shiffer, and have, in course of construction, a large store room and office building, fifty by seventy feet. James Dunn, the pioneer of Nantyglo, has secured two lots and has under contract a fine business block, Lewis Donofsky, the Nantyglo merchant, has nearly completed a fine store building, and Everett C. Davis also of Nantyglo, has purchased a lot, and, it is understood will soon build a business house on it; L. C. Van Scoyoc is doing a flourishing butchering business in his building erected for that purpose, and E. P. Shoemaker has the foundation completed for a large building; Carl Tailrace, Andrew Edny, Simon Adams, John Reynolds and others, have purchased lots and will construct buildings as soon as laborers and materials can be had. Leander Bush, formerly of Blacklick Township, will erect a fine residence on the lot purchased by him at the upper end of town. W.C. Shiffer has charge of the sale of lots on the ground and Fred D. Barker, Esq., at Ebensburg.

It is estimated that in the course of a year or two Big Bend must have a population of 3,000 people and arrangements for meeting the demands for building lots have made, choice locations now being offered at very moderate prices. It is intended to make this a town for the people and not merely a company plant, so locations are sold outright without any strings to them and every effort is being made to diversify the interests of the place. Everything about the town indicates an abiding belief in its prospects and permanence by its projectors who have spent large sums of money on it.

At the mines of Charles McFadden, adjoining Big Bend on the South, several hundred men are employed; Seldersville, a thriving village, adjoins it on the North, and taking into consideration the number of men to be employed at the different mines and the persons to be engaged in merchandising and other pursuits it looks as though Big Bend would in a short time be the banner town of the Blacklick coal region.

Mountaineer Herald, October 22, 1903

It is understood that Ed Carbey will apply for a license for the new Shoemaker Hotel at Big Bend. If "Ed" launches into business for himself his many friends will wish him success.
Cambria Freeman, January 8, 1904.

Vintondale Lumber Company Defendent
The Vintondale Lumber Company Limited of Vintondale is defendant in a suit for $7,300 brought by J. L. Edwards and J. P. Davis, committee for Ebenezer L. Edwards. The plaintiffs own over 600 acres of land in Blacklick township, through which the lumber company has been granted permission to lay tracks connecting its mill with a branch of the P. R. R. The track was of the standard gauge and a standard size locomotive was operated upon it. There was no spark arrester in the track, it is said, and as a result of fire falling to the ground, timber to the value of $7,300 was destroyed. The plaintiffs will be represented by Attorneys William Williams, P. J. little and S. L. Reed.

Wants $30,000 Damages
Mrs. Mary Ann Coy of Belsano, Blacklick Township, has brought an action of trespass against the Commercial Coal Mining Company, a concern organized about a year ago and which is putting in an immense operation at Big Bend along the Ebensburg & Blacklick Railroad. The suit is brought to recover damages in the sum of $30,000 as a partial recompense for the killing of Thomas J. Coy, while he was in the employ of the above named company. It is alleged that on Oct. 1, 1903, Mr. Coy with a number of fellow workmen was engaged in erecting a large smokestack over one of the company's boilers at Big Bend when a chain broke and the stack fell, crushing Coy to death. The company is charged with supplying a defective chain. Mrs. Coy is left with a two- year-old son and damages are asked for herself and the child. S. L. Reed, Esq., of Ebensburg is Mrs. Coy's attorney. J. L. Mitchell of this place is said to be one of the heaviest stockholders of the company.

Smallpox at Belsano
A case of smallpox has recently been discovered at Belsano. The victim of the malady is Mrs. Cassie Adams, aged forty-five years. All necessary steps to prevent the spread of the disease have been taken. Mrs. Adams is employed as a housekeeper in the home of Joseph Vasbinder, whose wife died some time ago and left him with a child about six years old. The patient has been ill but a few days and it was discovered two days ago that she was suffering from smallpox.

Cambria Freeman, February 5, 1904.

Rev. Thomas J. Hurton, pastor of the different Catholic churches along the Blacklick creek, including those at Vintondale, Nant-y-Glo and Twin Rocks will end his pastorate in that section on July 7. It is the intention of Father Hurton after being relieved, to visit his old home in Ireland for about three months after which he will return to Philadelphia and begin his labors at a church in that city, to which diocese he belongs.
Cambria Freeman, June 3, 1904

Big Bend will Celebrate
A Fourth of July celebration will be held at Big Bend, near Twin Rocks, on Saturday, July 2nd and Monday July 4th. The program contains all the usual accompaniments of a royal good time and the public generally is invited to attend and enjoy not only the celebration but the sociability and good cheer of the people of our hustling little "burg." Those who have sold tickets are requested to return the stubs before July 4th so that the numbers may be entered in the lot drawing contest.
Cambria Freeman, Jul. 1, 1904

Greist-Smith
Harry Greist of Big Bend and Miss Mary Smith, daughter of William M. Smith, the well known coal operator of this place, were married at 5 o'clock Wednesday evening at the residence of the bride's parents by the Rev. Samuel Craig, pastor of the Ebensburg Presbyterian Church. Mr. Greist is employed as a civil engineer at the Commercial Coal Company's operations in Big Bend and the young couple will make their home at that place.
Cambria Freeman, November 4, 1904.

MARRIAGES
Marriage Licenses
William H. Hite of Belsano and Fannie S. Rutledge of Big Bend.
Frank V. Kline of Nicktown and Mary R. Rutledge of Big Bend.
Cambria Freeman, December 2, 1904

McHugh-Weakland
In the Church of the Holy Name on Sunday last bans were published for the first time for the marriage of Miss Flora Weakland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Weakland of Ebensburg, and Miles McHugh of Twin Rocks. Mr. McHugh is a son of Edward McHugh, a well known mine superintendent in the north of the county.
Cambria Freeman, Feb 17, 1905

Poor House Names of Deceased for 1904
A. T. Pindle
Cambria Freeman, Feb 24 1905

Disastrous Blaze Belsano, March 4
A disastrous fire began at Belsano at 7:30 tonight. The flames were discovered in the house of Henry Goldberg who left Belsano recently after the death of his wife. Though no one was living there the house
contained considerable furniture over which there was a dispute as to ownership. The blaze could not be checked as the village has no adequate water supply and a bucket brigade was the only means of fighting the fire. The new Belsano hall was soon on fire and was soon destroyed. This building cost $1,000 and was owned by John Miller a miner at Holsopple. The houses of Charles Glass and Thomas Wilson were badly damaged. It is impossible now to estimate the loss.
Cambria Freeman, March 3, 1905.

MARRIAGES
Marks-Izora from Belsano
On the morning of February 23, Mr. C. E. Marks, son of William and Louise Marks of Belsano and Miss Maggie Izora, daughter of Solomon and Mary Paul of near Belsano, were united in the holy
bonds of wedlock by Squire A. J. Waters of Ebensburg. Mr. Marks is engaged in the lumber business in Huntingdon county where he and his wife will reside.

Davison-Wagner from Belsano
Minnie Pearl Wagner, the daughter of Uriah and Margaret Wagner of Belsano was united in marriage to William Davison, son of Thomas Davison of Big Bend on Saturday evening, February 25th at the home of the bride's parents. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. A. Sites, pastor of the Belsano U. B. Church of which the contracting parties are members.

Cambria Freeman, March 10 1905

Sues Lumber Company for $1,000
John Nipps, through his attorneys, S. L. Reed and P. J. Little, has entered suit against the Vinton Lumber Company for $1,000 damages. Nipps claims the defendant company neglected to provide proper spark protectors for their engines which they operate on a narrow gauge railroad which runs across his property in Blacklick township, and which is used for hauling lumber to Vintondale and that
as a result his woods were set on fire May 6, 1903, resulting in the destroying of his fences and much valuable timber.
Cambria Freeman, April 28 1905.

Dead at Big Bend
Mrs. Mary Rodgers, wife of Thomas Rodgers, of Big Bend, died in childbirth Monday night at 7:30 at the age of 19 years. Her maiden name was Farmer. The interment took place in the New Catholic Cemetery at Ebensburg Thursday morning. Much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved husband.

William Fisher of Big Bend was lodged in jail here Monday, charged with cruelty to animals and violations of the livery laws. The plaintiff is a liveryman at Big Bend.
Cambria Freeman, May 5, 1905.

Mrs. Margaret Hite
Margaret, wife of Louis Hite, died at her home in Blacklick township Monday night of lung trouble. The deceased was 49 years of age and was a daughter of John Lambraux, deceased, having been born and reared in Blacklick township For a number of years she had been a sufferer from asthma, but of late complications developed which resulted in her death. She is survived by her husband and eight children, as follows: Benjamin of Ebensburg; William of Big Bend; Ivan and John, at home; Minnie, wife of Hiram Moore of near DuBois; Alice, wife of Mont Putt of Belsano; and a younger daughter at home. The funeral took place Wednesday at 10 o'clock. The services were conducted by the Rev. Sites, pastor of the United Brethren church at Belsano and interment was made in the M. E. cemetery at Belsano.
Cambria Freeman, May 12 1905.

The Soldier Dead
Heroes of the Civil War at Rest

Following is the list of the soldier dead interred in the various cemeteries in this vicinity.

Belsano Cemetery, U. B. Church
Joseph J. Williams
Andrew Marsh
Asa Eastman
Peter Strasbaugh
Chas. Strasbaugh
George Shearer

Bethel Cemetery
George Campbell
William Larimer
John Patterson
Thomas Mahan
Luther Stiles
Enoch Reese
Moses Davis
John J. Jones
Peter Wagner
Simon H. Hilty

Belsano Cemetery, M. E. Church
William Reed
William May
William Quinton
Samuel Reed

Beulah Cemetery
Edward Mills
James Mills
Thomas Evans

Dunkard Cemetery, Blacklick Township
William F. Black
Fred D. Hill
Henry Rager
Wm. Campbell

Cambria Freeman, May 26 1905

Isaac Mahan a prominent citizen of Pindleton was in town yesterday on business. Mr. Mahan keeps in close touch with the developments in his community and he stated yesterday that a "great boom" is now on in the community in which he lives.

Attorneys S. L. Reed and Clifford D. Jones have taken up quarters in the Davis Building and Walter Jones, Esq. will also soon occupy an office therein.

Cambria Freeman, May 26 1905

Death of Mrs. Margery Ferguson
Died at the home of her son in Ebensburg, Wednesday, June 14th, 1905
Mrs. Margery Ferguson, in the 91st year of her age. Deceased was the widow of John Ferguson who died January 15th, 1901. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Ireland, March 19, 1815, and came to this country when about two years old. She and her husband resided in Blacklick township until his death. Since then she has made her home with her son, Robert Ferguson. She is survived by Mrs. Mary E. Rowland, wife of Amos Rowland and Robert Ferguson, both of this place. Also the foster children and Mrs. Ellen Hammaker of Altoona, and Thomas Green of Expedite. Interment in Baptist cemetery, Bethel, Friday afternoon. Cortege will leave at 1 p.m. for Bethel Church where services will be held and of which she has been a member for many years.
Cambria Freeman, June 16 1905.

Henry Falkimer of Blacklick township was in town Tuesday exhibiting the skin of a rattlesnake which he killed Monday near the operations of the Keystone Coal Company at Pindleton. The snake measured 5 feet 6 inches in length and 13 rattles and a button are shown at the end of the tail. Mr. Falkimer has refused an offer of $10 for the snake skin.
Cambria Freeman, July 21, 1905.

Poor Director Stricken
John Davis, a County Poorhouse Director and one of the best known residents of this place, was stricken with paralysis Saturday evening while returning home from a lecture given at the local opera
house, became absolutely helpless by Sunday evening and on the advice of his physician was, on Monday, removed to a Philadelphia hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be critical. Mr. Davis has not been well of late and on several occasions is said to have had premonitions of approaching paralysis. The final attack came so suddenly, however, that he had to be assisted to his home Saturday
evening. The stricken man was for many years a resident of Blacklick township, having moved here about a year ago. He is a brother of Daniel, Joseph and David Davis, of this place.
Cambria Freeman, August 4,1905

In Jail on Serious Charges
Twin Rocks Pair Worked off Old Gag on Vintondale Landlord and are Now "Up Against It"
Isaac McKinnon and Mrs. Lees of Twin Rocks were brought to Ebensburg Saturday morning and lodged in the jail here to await trial on serious charges preferred by landlord Doss Kemmerer of Vintondale. From all accounts, McKinnon had been boarding at Twin Rocks with Mrs. Lees for some time. Not long ago it is alleged in the information, Mrs. Lees appeared at the hotel conducted by Kemmerer and after being served with dinner, stayed around the hotel, remarking that she was expecting her husband. It is alleged that late in the afternoon McKinnon appeared and the two registered as man and wife and secured a room where they remained all night. Kemmerer alleges that he became suspicious after the departure of the couple and an investigation showed that they were not married. He accordingly brought suit, charging the woman with adultery and causing the arrest of McKinnon on similar charges. At a preliminary trial the defendants were held for court and have been lodged in jail until December. Mrs. Lees, the woman in the case, is a daughter-in-law of Andrew Lees, a well known hotelkeeper at Carrolltown roads.
Cambria Freeman, September 29 1905.

Attacked on Road Near Twin Rocks
Joseph Louther, a timber inspector for the PRR, is at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Peter Toner of Minersville, nursing a broken jaw sustained when he was attacked by highwaymen at Twin Rocks on last Thursday. The robbers attacked Mr. Louther as he was walking along a public road east of ..... Twin Rocks and in spite of his vigorous efforts to fight them off, finally felled him to the ground and rifled his pockets of $90.
Cambria Freeman, Oct 20 1905.

MARRIAGES
Marriage Licenses
John H. Overman of Belsano and Minnie F. Glassford of Penn Run.

New Registry Law
After January 1 of next year every birth and death in the State of Pennsylvania must be reported to the officer in charge of the district wherein it occurs and certificates issued by the proper authorities. The late assembly appropriated $2,000 for the establishment of a central bureau of vital statistics to be under the supervision of the State Board of Health and have charge of the state registration of births and deaths. The state will be divided into registration districts, one for each city, borough and township.

The new department will relieve the assessors of a portion of their work as theretofore they have attended to, the registration of births and deaths, receiving a fee of five cents for each man.

A state registrar, a medical practitioner for at least 10 years will be at the head of the department and a local registrar will preside over each district. All deaths must be promptly reported to him and no person can be interred until a death certificate has been issued, giving the name, age and occupation of the deceased, cause of death, parent's names and address, etc. Each birth must also be reported and a certificate issued. In case of plural birth, a certificate must be issued for each child. The local registrar provides all blanks and receives a fee of 25 cents for each birth and death recorded. The state registrar gets a salary of $5000 per year with $8000 for four assistant clerks and $5000 for incidental expenses.
Cambria Freeman, Oct 6, 1905.

Death of Venerable Summerhill Woman
Mrs. Rebecca Flemmer Sharp, the oldest resident of Summerhill, expired suddenly at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. William Nipps, between 9 and 10 o'clock Wednesday night of last week, after an illness of a few hours. Mrs. Sharp was able to be about the house all day Wednesday, taking ill soon after supper. She was aged 93 years.
Cambria Freeman, November 3, 1905.

Father and Daughter First Meeting in Many Years
Mrs. Grace Hook of Ivison, Pa., was pleasantly surprised Saturday the 21st of the month by a visit from her father, Aden Swan, of Eagle Rock, Venango county, Pa. Twenty-one years ago his wife died, leaving him with three little children. The youngest (Mrs. Hook) being two years of age, he left in the area with a family and went away to work, being away all winter. In the spring he came back to see his child and the family had moved away and taken the child with them. From that time until the above mentioned date he never could find any trace of the people or his child. Mrs. Hook soon expects a visit from her only brother, Raymond Swan, who is a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Cambria Freeman, November 3 1905.

Late News of County
The meat market of V. J. Burns at Big Bend has changed hands, Thomas Burns being the purchaser.
Cambria Freeman, December 8, 1905.

Death of Mrs.Charles Anderson
Mrs. Charles Anderson, died at her home near Belsano Saturday night at 9 o'clock, leaving to survive her her husband, Charles Anderson and seven children. Interment was made Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Belsano in the United Brethren Church yard, she having been a member of that church. The deceased was aged 53 years and was a good woman. She resided three years ago at Vintondale where she was well known.

Mrs. Ellen Ferguson
Mrs. Ellen Ferguson, wife of Robert Ferguson of this place, died at the Ferguson home last Friday at 2:30 o'clock from paralysis at the age of 59 years, having been born in Blacklick township, Cambria county, Jan. 24, 1847. Mrs. Ferguson was the youngest of 12 children born to Emanuel and Mary Brallier. Of this large family but one member survives, Mr. Levi Brallier of Dale.On March 31, 1874, the Rev. Samuel Mills performed the ceremony which united in marriage Ellen Brallier and Robert Ferguson; during these thirty-two happy and prosperous years, four children were born to bless this union. Bertha and Gertrude, at home; Jesse E. of Naples, S. D.; and John B.. of Sioux City, Ia., all of whom survive to mourn the loss of a loving and devoted mother. The funeral services were conducted from the Baptist church Monday afternoon, the Rev. Dr. J. S. James of Altoona and the Rev. H. S. Replogle of Johnstown officiating. Interment was at Lloyd's cemetery. Those who bore the remains to their last
resting place were: A. J. Darragh, Lester Larimer, G. D. MacBain, Herman Apel, Daniel J. Davis and Sherman Clement.

Cambria Freeman, April 6, 1906.

Miss Gertrude Lord, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Asbury Lord, of Nantyglo and Elmer Empfield, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Empfield, were married at noon Wednesday at the home of the groom in
Belsano. The Rev. P. J. Chilcote, pastor of the Methodist church at Belsano, officiated. Many guests were in attendance, some of them from towns other than Belsano and Nantyglo where the principals to the marriage reside. Miss Lord's marriage recalls a peculiar freak in the changing of names. The bride's mother's name was Miss Sarah Christ. She married George Lord.

The home of Uriah Wagner near Belsano was totally destroyed by fire last Sunday morning.

Cambria Freeman, April 20, 1906

Local Happenings
Some time Tuesday night robbers broke into the PRR freight station at Twin Rocks in charge of Agent George McCreary and removed a quantity of candy and canned goods. There is no clue to the identity of the thieves. Cambria Freeman, April 27, 1906.

Fire near Belsano
Fire destroyed the sawmill of Harrison Wheeler near Belsano Friday night, entailing a loss of probably $3000, on which there is not supposed to have been any insurance. It is believed the blaze
started from the engine. Mr. Wheeler who is from Williamsport, was cutting up the timber he purchased last fall from G. C. Mardis.

Edwards-Decker
Last Tuesday evening, Mr. Oscar Edwards of Belsano with his lady friend, Miss Bertha Decker, of the same place, drove to the county seat and were happily united in marriage by the Rev. G. Meade
Dougherty, of the M. E. church of this place. The ceremony was performed in the parlor of Hotel Bender in the presence of some acquaintances of the contracting parties. The young couple begins wedded life with the best wishes of a large circle of friends.

Cambria Freeman, June 1, 1906.

Mr. Geo. C. Mardis of Belsano was among the Ebensburg visitors Monday and paid us a pleasant call while in town. Mr. Mardis returned recently from Philadelphia where he underwent an operation for
appendicitis which, we are pleased to note, proved very successful.
Cambria Freeman, July 20,1906.

Marriage Licenses
James M. Roles and Bessie C. Nipps, both of Blacklick Township.
Cambria Freeman, July 27, 1906.

DEATHS
Death of Mrs. Charles Anderson
Mrs. Charles Anderson, died at her home near Belsano Saturday night at 9 o'clock, leaving to survive her husband, Charles Anderson and seven children. Interment was made Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Belsano in the United Brethren Church yard, she having been a member of that church. The deceased was aged 53 years and was a good woman. She resided three years ago at Vintondale where she was well known.

Mrs. Ellen Ferguson
Mrs. Ellen Ferguson, wife of Robert Ferguson of this place, died at the Ferguson home last Friday at 2:30 o'clock from paralysis at the age of 59 years, having been born in Blacklick township, Cambria county, Jan. 24, 1847. Mrs. Ferguson was the youngest of 12 children born to Emanuel and Mary Brallier. Of this large family but one member survives, Mr. Levi Brallier of Dale. On March 31, 1874, the Rev. Samuel Mills performed the ceremony which united in marriage Ellen Brallier and Robert Ferguson; during these thirty-two happy and prosperous years, four children were born to bless this union. Bertha and Gertrude, at home; Jesse E. of Naples, S. D.; and John B.. of Sioux City, Ia., all of whom survive to mourn the loss of a loving and devoted mother. The funeral services were conducted from the
Baptist church Monday afternoon, the Rev. Dr. J. S. James of Altoona and the Rev. H. S. Replogle of Johnstown officiating. Interment was at Lloyd's cemetery. Those who bore the remains to their last
resting place were: A. J. Darragh, Lester Larimer, G. D. MacBain, Herman Apel, Daniel J. Davis and Sherman Clement.
Cambria Freeman, April 6, 1906.

DEATHS
Child Edwards
A two-month-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Edwards of Belsano died Friday and was interred at Bethel Saturday.

Run Down by Train
Isaac Ryder, an employee of the Shumaker Coal company at Nantyglo was killed at ten o'clock Tuesday morning while at work along the tracks of the company, shoveling off slate which had been washed down by the recent rains. A train of loaded coal cars ran over him without warning, the unfortunate man being injured so badly that he died a short time after having been run down. The deceased was 30 years of age and is survived by his wife and four children: Leora, Minerva, Brace and Blair. Four sisters also survive as follows: Miss Maggie Ryder of this place; Miss Minerva Hayden of South Fork; Mrs.
Annie Rummel of Berringer, Pa.; Mrs. Lizzie Cunningham of Freeport, Pa., and a sister residing in West Virginia. The body was taken in charge by Undertaker Evans of this place.
Cambria Freeman, August 24, 1906.

MARRIAGES
Miss Gertrude Lord, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asbury Lord, of Nantyglo and Elmer Empfield, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Empfield, were married at noon Wednesday at the home of the groom in
Belsano. The Rev. P. J. Chilcote, pastor of the Methodist church at Belsano, officiated. Many guests were in attendance, some of them from towns other than Belsano and Nantyglo where the principals to the marriage reside. Miss Lord's marriage recalls a peculiar freak in the changing of names. The bride's mother's name was Miss Sarah Christ. She married George Lord.

The home of Uriah Wagner near Belsano was totally destroyed by fire last Sunday morning.

Cambria Freeman, April 20 1906.

Local HappeningsSome time Tuesday night robbers broke into the PRR freight station at Twin Rocks in charge of Agent George McCreary and removed a quantity of candy and canned goods. There is no clue to the identity of the thieves.
Cambria Freeman, April 27, 1906.

Thought Bees were After Him
Peculiar Hallucination of Young Man Recommended to Dixmont

William T. Edwards, aged twenty-one years of Blacklick township, who has suffered for months from the terrible hallucination that he was pursued by swarms of bees was adjudged insane here Tuesday by a commission composed of Dr. F. C. Jones, A. J. Waters and Attorney Philip N. Shettig. He had been confined for the past few days in the hospital ward at the County Jail to prevent him from injuring himself. The case is particularly sad because an elder brother of the young man was committed to Dixmont for similar reasons a little more than a year ago. Cambria Freeman, August 24 1906

Mrs. Annie Morrow and little daughter of Pitcairn are the guests of Mrs. James McBreen.
Cambria Freeman, August 31 1906

Mr. James McBreen, the Iceman, is suffering with a severe attack of neuralgia which has settled in his face.
Cambria Freeman, Sept 7 1906

NEWS
Items Local and Personal

Engineer Hamilton has moved his office from Ebensburg to Big Bend and will hereafter make his headquarters at that place.

Belsano Man Suffers
Stroke of Paralysis While Taking Cows to Pasture
William C. Clawson, a veteran of the Civil War, suffered a stroke of paralysis Friday morning while driving his cows to pasture. Mr. Clawson, who is quite an aged man, fell to the roadside and was carried to his house by friends who found him there. He is still unconscious and his relatives have little hope for his recovery.

Sites-Mardis
Wednesday evening of last week at 6 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Mardis, in Belsano, a very pretty wedding took place when their daughter, Margaret E., was united in marriage to the Rev. William A. Sites of Harrisburg. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. J. I. L. Ressler, Presiding Elder of the United Brethren church, the ring ceremony being used. Miss Bertha M. Mardis, sister of the bride, was maid of honor while William L. Lines of Vintondale was groomsman. The wedding march was played by Miss Tessie Reed. It was a goldenrod wedding and the spacious apartments of the Mardis home were decorated with that beautiful autumn blossom. Among those present were Mrs. H. M. Sites and daughter, Miss Lulu of Harrisburg, mother and sister of the groom; Mrs. E. M. Reed and daughter, Miss Tessie; Miss Lyda Glasser of Indiana and W. E. Lines of Vintondale.
Cambria Freeman, Sept 14, 1906.

Late News of County
Father Davis who has been at Twin Rocks and Vintondale for some time has been transferred to Frugality, Amsbry and Baker's Mines. Father Quinn of Altoona will succeed him at Twin Rocks and
Vintondale.
Cambria Freeman, September 21, 1906.

Green-Wagner
Announcement has been made of the marriage of C. H. Green of Cardiff and S. A. Wagner of Seldersville at Cumberland, Md., September 5th.
Cambria Freeman, October 5,1906.

Pindleton Notes
Diphtheria is prevalent about Nant-y-Glo and in the vicinity of Belsano and several children had succumbed to the dread disease.

Shot His Arm Off
Young Man While Out Hunting Rabbits Yesterday Afternoon Accidentally Discharges Gun and Contents Enter His Right Arm
Will have to be Amputated
While out hunting rabbits near Ebensburg late yesterday afternoon, George Mahan, son of Isaac Mahan of Pindleton met with a serious accident that will cost him his right arm near the elbow. With the
assistance of a companion who was with him, the unfortunate young man was able to reach the office of Dr. F. C. Jones of this place, where the wound was temporarily dressed, after which the young man was taken to the Altoona City Hospital. The arm will have to be amputated, the physician stated. Mr. Mahan is about 24 years of age and was only recently married. November 16 1906 Cambria Freeman

MARRIAGES
Roehm-Bennett
A very pretty home wedding took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Bennett of White Mills, near Belsano on October 24th when their daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, was united in marriage with Frederick A. Roehm of Parker's Prairie, Minn. The wedding was a very elaborate affair, there being over 200 guests present. The bride was attired in cream silk and carried bride's roses. She wore the usual long bridal veil which was caught up with a beautiful wreath of white roses. The bridesmaid, Miss Anna Kussarow of Allegheny, wore white and carried white roses. Wilda Williams, a little niece of the bride, acted as flower girl and ring bearer. She was attired in cream silk. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Chilcote of Ebensburg at 11 o'clock a. m., the ring ceremony being used. George Roehm, a brother of the groom, acted as best man. An elaborate dinner was served immediately after the ceremony. Those present from a distance were George Roehm of Minnesota; Miss Kussarow of Allegheny; Mrs. James N. Neely and daughter of Blair county; Mr. and Mrs. George Bennett of Johnstown and a number of friends from Indiana. The couple received a large number of beautiful and useful gifts, consisting of silverware, cut glass and linens. After an extended visit in Buffalo and Niagara Falls and other points of interest the couple will go to housekeeping at Dubois where the groom is having a handsome residence erected and is employed as a locomotive fireman for the B. R. & P. Cambria Freeman, November 16, 1906

Jury Commissioner Albert C. Hines of Blacklick township is spending several days in town on business. Cambria Freeman, January 4, 1907

While W. G. Wilson of near Belsano was visiting at the home of a neighbor last Sunday evening, his house took fire and was burned to the ground. All the household goods were lost, together with a sum of money. Mr. Wilson is of the opinion that the house was set on fire by burglars. He says there was not a bit of fire in the house when he left it. Cambria Freeman. January 11, 1907

Peach & Smathers Hotel
The new Peach & Smathers Hotel at Big Bend, which is said to be one of the finest in this section, will be opened to the public Saturday. Mountaineer Herald, Ebensburg, PA, 31 January 31, 1907

Mrs. R. M. Brooks, who teaches the primary school in Big Bend, spent Thursday and Friday with her sister, Mrs. A. E. Bender, being on the sick list.
Cambria Freeman, Feb. 8, 1907

Big Bend Assault
Two Foreigners Committed to Jail to Await Trial for Unprovoked Attack on Fellow Countryman
Before Squire James Dunn of Nantyglo on Monday last were brought John Scraul and Andy Chestnut in charge of Constable Charles Stiffler of Nantyglo who were charged on an oath of John Slodisky with felonious assault and battery. The parties are all residents of Big Bend. The assault was committed on the night of January 29th and the defendants had been in hiding ever since until run down by Constable Stiffler who found Chestnut at Vintondale a few days after and succeeding in locating Scraul at Cresson last Sunday night, where he arrested him after a desperate struggle. The assault, it is said, was unprovoked and the prosecutor would have been killed had not timely assistance arrived. Beer bottles and a smoothing iron were the weapons used and Slodisky was unconscious when rescued. In default of bail the Squire committed the defendants to jail for trial at Court. Constable Stiffler took them to Ebensburg on Monday. Cambria Freeman, Feb. 15, 1907

Joseph W. Harrison, elected justice of the peace at Expedite last spring, was in town yesterday and lifted his commission. May 3 1907 Cambria Freeman, May 3, 1907
The cornerstone of the U. B. Church to be erected at Big Bend will be laid Sunday, May 13, with appropriate ceremonies. Cambria Freeman, May 3 1907

Philip H. Jones
Philip H. Jones of Blacklick township was the sole survivor of the old Cambria Guards (Company A, 11th Pa. Reserves) who was here and marched in the ranks of the veterans on Decoration Day. In 1861 the Cambria Guards left Ebensburg one hundred strong and participated in almost every battle fought by the army of the Potomac. Mr. Jones was at the battle of Gettysburg and took part in the famous charge from little Round Top when the rebels were driven back over the wheat field by the Devil's Den. Little Round Top was a strategic point and the 11th Reserves were ordered to hold it at all hazards and Col. Jackson and his brave boys held it against great odds. All honor to Phil Jones, may he live to take part in many future Decoration Days.

MARRIAGES
Marriage Licenses
George Shanon of Twin Rocks and Mary Rable of Nant-y-Glo.
Cambria Freeman, May 31 1907

MARRIAGES
Marriage Licenses
Robt. L. Speice of Nettleton, Pa., and Clara May Reed of Twin Rocks. Cambria Freeman, June 21, 1907

Spiece-Reed
Robert Lee Spiece and Miss Clara Reed of Big Bend were married at the home of the bride in Big Bend at noon Wednesday. Only a few friends and relatives of the couple witnessed the ceremony. After the Wedding dinner had been served, Mr. and Mrs. Spice (sic) left on a 10-days' honeymoon in eastern cities. They will reside in Big Bend on their return. Cambria Freeman, June 14 1907 DEATHS

Died in Pittsburg
Samuel George, for fifty-nine years a resident of Blacklick Township, this county, where he was born, died Monday night in Pittsburg, where he moved about two years ago and had been living a retired life. He was aged about sixty-two years. Mr. George was married to a sister of Dr. M. B. Shultz of Johnstown, who survives him, with the following children: William, James, Samuel, Irvin and Mrs. George Wareham, Pittsburg; Mrs. Montell Davis, of this place; Mrs. Merton Edwards and Sarah George, of Belsano. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the late residence of the deceased in Pittsburg and interment was made in a cemetery in that city. Cambria Freeman, June 14 1907

B. F. Marsh, a well known resident of Big Bend, on Monday, accidentally shot himself in the right leg near the knee. Mr. Marsh was hunting for a stray cow and carried a revolver in one hand. The weapon was discharged in some manner and inflicted the injury mentioned. Dr. Cummers of Vintondale dressed the wound and Mr. Marsh is resting quietly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. P. Shoemaker of Big Bend. Cambria Freeman, Aug 2, 1907

Daughter Rowland
A little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rowland of Nantyglo died Tuesday at the parent's home in Nantyglo and the funeral took place at Bethel Thursday morning. Cambria Freeman, Aug 9, 1907

John Barijona was brought to Ebensburg Monday morning and after a preliminary hearing before Squire A. J. Waters, was committed to jail to await the outcome of the injuries of another Italian whom he shot Sunday night at No. 4 Commercial mine near Vintondale. The prisoner's victim was given temporary treatment by Dr. Vedder of Big Bend and was sent to Johnstown Monday afternoon.

Rich-Gilson
Mr. Sylvester Rich and Miss Margaret Gilson, both of Blacklick, Cambria county, were united in marriage Monday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock at the residence of the Rev. John Feltwell at 923 Seventeenth street, Altoona. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Feltwell. After visiting a brother of the bride, the couple will reside at Black Lick where the groom is employed.
Cambria Freeman, Aug 16, 1907

Childs Terrible Death
Strayed from House and Strangled to Death in a Granary

Merl, the six-year-old son of Mrs. John Hoffman, of Belsano, this county, met a terrible death several days ago when he was strangled to death in the granary in the Hoffman barn. It is supposed that the lad in attempting to get some grain from the granary bins was unable to reach down over a board which held the cereals in the bin and crawled partially through when one of the heavy boards dropped suddenly, pinning his throat to the floor. The lad was found by his mother, who had started a search for him after discovering his absence. He was the last of a family of four children, the other three having died some time ago. The funeral took place Saturday, interment being made in the Belsano cemetery.

S. L. Reed, Esq. and wife, who have been absent at Atlantic City for the past 10 days, returned home Sunday.

Cambria Freeman, Aug 23, 1907

Mrs. G. W. Shenefelt and daughter, Sarah of Pittsburg, are guests of the M. E. Parsonage. Mrs. Shenefelt is a sister of Rev. Chilcote. Cambria Freeman, Sept 6, 1907

Twin Rocks Miner Meets with Accident
George Motto, aged nineteen years, is at the Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, with terrible burns about his face, neck and shoulders. Motto is employed at a mine, about two miles below Twin Rocks.
He was on night shift on Monday and was filling a five-pound can of powder preparatory to going to the mine. A spark from the lamp on his cap fell into the powder and caused an explosion. It is thought he will recover. Cambria Freeman, Sept 13, 1907

Building Storage House
E. P. Shoemaker, the well known wholesale Liquor dealer at Big Bend, has started work on a large vault and storage house to be conducted in connection with his present establishment. This unit is to be of concrete and when finished will be one of the finest storage houses in Cambria county. Mr. Shoemaker is also erecting six new dwelling houses at Twin Rocks, adjoining Big Bend. The dwellings are all double houses. These are nearing completion and will be rented in the near future.

Child Burned to Death
Stella Cramer, the 3-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cramer, near Twin Rocks, was fatally burned at her home Friday afternoon last, as the result of setting fire to her clothes with matches during the absence of her mother who had gone for a bucket of water. The child died three hours after the accident and was the only one in the family.

Death of Mrs. McConnell
Mrs. Mary McConnell, beloved wife of Frank McConnell, who lives in a lumber camp near Twin Rocks, was summoned hence by death Monday morning at 8 o'clock after an illness of only 10 days. She was aged 48 years. She is survived by her husband and two children, Mrs. Charles Bohn of Altoona and Frank C. McConnell of Tyrone. The funeral took place at Pine Station Wednesday. Osman & Co., the undertakers of Ebensburg, prepared the body for shipment.

Owner of a Monster Hog
The list is open for entries of fat hogs. Charles Troth and his brother, James, who reside at Needleton came forth today and placed their names at the head of the list. They have a hog which tips the beam at exactly 650 pounds. This porker they will chance off tomorrow on 150 chances ranging from 1 cent to $1.50 per chance. Cambria Freeman, Nov 15, 1907

Miner Killed at Nant-y-Glo
One miner was killed and another painfully injured by a fall of rock in No. 4 mine of the Commercial Coal Company at Nant-y-Glo Saturday morning. The dead miner was badly crushed and lived but a short time after the accident. His companion was struck by some of the falling pieces of rock and will be off duty for some time. It is stated that the men had been warned not to work in dangerous places without propping up the roof and that they had failed to heed the warnings given them.

Died in the Hospital
Peter Perinotti, one of the Italians who was so badly burned in the powder explosion of Twin Rocks last Friday night, died at the Memorial Hospital in Johnstown at 10:15 Wednesday evening. This is the second death as a result of the explosion. The other victim is expected to recover.
Cambria Freeman, Nov 29 1907

Victim of Mine Explosion
Charles Bolia, the last of the three foreigners who were seriously burned in a mine explosion near Twin Rocks, died about 1 o'clock Saturday morning at the Memorial Hospital. He had been burned severely about the head and the body. Cambria Freeman, Dec 6, 1907

Edward Moody
After an illness of several months Edward Moody, a well known citizen of Blacklick Township, died Sunday morning at his home in Belsano at the age of 60 years. Death was due to Bright's disease and other complications. He is survived by his wife and five children as follows; Bessie, Benjamin and John, at home; Mrs. Harry Young of Johnstown; Mrs. McDonald of Monongahela. In former years Mr. Moody was a prominent lumberman but latterly had led a retired life. The funeral occurred at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Burial in the M. E. Cemetery at Belsano. Osman & Co. of this place having charge of the arrangements. Cambria Freeman, Dec 13, 1907

Busy Days in the Lumber Camps Down Along the Blacklick
These are busy days in the lumber camps down along the Blacklick and at other outlaying mountain points. The fall of snow Saturday gives the operators of the jobs a good opportunity to move their many sawlogs from the rough and steep hillsides to the sawmill landing miles away. Scores of sturdy men and dozens of teams have been engaged at high wages and sent into the woods where there is great activity in all the camps. From early in the morning until late at night these men and horses, equipped with bobsleds, chains, axes, grabs and canthooks, like soldiers marching to war, make the woods a veritable battlefield as they cut and slash, roll and slide, trail and skid sawlogs from the rugged forest, which is no easy task but as a matter of fact, woodmen generally are used to hard knocks and go about performing the hardest kind of manual labor with comparative ease, exhibiting a peculiar adaptability and fascination for the work that is surprising to one not familiar with life in the back woods. The forests of Cambria County and elsewhere as well are being depleted of their wealth rapidly, owing to the great demand and increasing prices of lumber. Cambria Freeman, Dec 20 1907

Mixed Fire with Powder
Loganstown, situated about one mile from Carrolltown and Twin Rocks, another mining village in this county, since New Years' Day have been the scenes of disastrous powder explosions, which, in addition to wrecking two houses, may cost the lives of three men. Two of the latter, at least, are likely to die. In both case the explosions were the result of carelessness on the part of the miners who occupied the houses.

The explosion at Twin Rocks occurred at five o'clock Thursday morning in a boarding house conducted by Andy Kruper. Two men who came to this country only three months ago were in a room by themselves filling the five pound cans with powder from regulation twenty-five pound cans. One of the men set his lamp on a window and a spark from this dropped into the open can of powder. The explosion following blew out one side of
the house, tore off a portion of the roof, broke every window and set on fire the clothing of the men. Dr. W. A. Prideaux was called to attend the men, both of whom are probably fatally burned.

The explosion at Loganstown was even greater than that at Twin Rocks. Mike Chuncik who boarded with Mike Brosko was lying on a cot smoking a cigarette Wednesday afternoon about 1:45 o'clock. He unconsciously tossed the sump of his cigarette into an open can of powder which exploded and set off another can. This happened upon the second floor of a two and one-half-story building. The ceiling was blown down and a portion of the roof collapsed when the walls of the house spread. Mike Chuncik was blown down a flight of stairs. His clothing was blazing and he ran outside, rolling himself in the deep mud of the road. When picked up he was unconscious. Mike Chenesko carried him into his home where Dr. E. F. Arble dressed his injuries. The man's body is burned from his hips up. Little hope is entertained for his recovery.

It is said that $500 in paper money was burned. Houses for some distance around were shaken by the detonation. Three other foreigners were painfully but not seriously burned. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., January 3, 1908

Badly Injured in Log Camp
Watson Evans, of this Place, Meets with Accident while at Work near Vintondale [and Fred Hawk]
Watson Evans, a logger in the lumber cap of Sheriff Webster Griffith, near Vintondale, was brought to his home in Ebensburg Monday evening suffering with internal injuries and with recovery doubtful as
the result of an accident in the woods Monday afternoon about 1:30 o'clock. Evans lay unconscious in the snow for almost two hours before he was found by other woodsmen. Dr. A. J. Comerer of Vintondale was called and revived him after much effort. Evans suffered much from exposure and bruises.

The unfortunate lumberman was injured by being hit in the abdomen with terrific force by the end of the tree, one end of which was still fastened to a stump. Evans was busily engaged in hauling out logs all day and was trying to pull the tree loose from the stump when the accident occurred. He fastened his log chain to the end of a tree and started his horses off without getting from behind the log. The chain slipped and the tree rebounded, striking Evans in the abdomen and hurling him many feet. The horses were thrown to the ground but did not move after regaining their feet. Evans was found about 4 o'clock just in time to save him from freezing to death.

About 2 o'clock the same day, Fred Hawk, a logger in the same camp, met with an accident in practically the same manner, which will confine him to his bed for the next few days. He was injured internally and suffered with bruises from being hurled against a stump when his log chain slipped from the end of the log. Hawk was given attention at once by some men working near him. He is a married man about thirty-five years old. The accident to Hawk took place within a half mile from where Evans was so severely injured. He was taken to his home at Belsano on Monday.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., February 21, 1908

Death of Mrs. Margaret Empfield
Mrs. Margaret Empfield, one of the oldest residents of Cambria County, died Wednesday evening at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Empfield of Belsano, aged 90 years. Mrs. Empfield's illness was thought not serious as she had been enjoying good health and helped to celebrate her 90th birthday Monday. The following day she was much interested in the golden wedding celebration of her son, Thomas. The strain apparently weakened her, for she declined perceptibly Tuesday night and Wednesday. Mrs. Empfield's husband, G. W. Empfield, died eleven years ago and she is survived by the following children: Thomas S. of Belsano; Abram of Kansas; Sue, wife of Amos Black of Kansas; Wheatly of Ebensburg; Mattie, wife of Judson Reese of Pindleton; Margaret, wife of Isaac Mahan, near Belsano; Jane, wife of William James of Ebensburg; Mrs. Abbie Bowen of Washington Street, Johnstown; John Empfield of Turner Street and Harry Empfield of Windber are grandchildren. Mrs. Empfield was a member of Belsano Methodist Episcopal Church and her pastor, the Rev. Chilcote, will conduct the funeral services Sunday. Interment will be at Belsano. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., February 28, 1908.

Local and Personal
Mr. Christ Shenafelt is we regret to learn, very ill. Mr. Shenafelt is a veteran soldier who was shot through the head and his old wound troubles him greatly. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., March 13, 1908

Death of Mrs. Thomas M. Reese
Johanna Reese, wife of Thomas M. Reese, was found dead in her bed about 4 o'clock Thursday morning, March 20, at her home at Bethel about five miles West of Ebensburg in Blacklick Township. Mrs. Reese had been an invalid for the past 25 years and was subject to epileptic fits, one of which is thought to have caused her death. The deceased was nearly 56 years old, the daughter of John and Mary Jones, well known residents
of Blacklick Township. She was born and reared on the farm where she died. Mrs. Reese is survived by her husband and two sons - Lowry of Jeannette and Howard, at home. The funeral was held at 10 o'clock Sunday morning with services at the house. Interment followed in the Bethel cemetery. Mrs. Reese was an ardent church and Sabbath School worker until recently when her healthy failed.

C. D. Shenafelt Unimproved
Mr. Shenafelt was a member of Company F, One hundred and thirty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers and at the battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862, was shot through the head, the bullet entering under the right ear and tearing its way to the left check was taken out there. The missile which Mr. Shenafelt still has in his possession is a Minnie ball, somewhat flattened near the point and near the base. It shattered the left jawbone somewhat and this is what now gives Mr. Shenafelt trouble.The condition of the health of Christian D. Shenafelt of Julian Street, West Ward, remains unchanged.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., April 3, 1908

NEWS
Local and Personal

I. N. Wissinger of Blacklick Township was in Ebensburg on Thursday and paid The Freeman a very pleasant visit. Mr. Wissinger has been a Freeman subscriber from the time of its establishment. He now lives on a farm purchased by him some time ago.

Mrs. S. Lemon Reed returned to her home in Ebensburg last week after a stay of several days in Johnstown with Mr. and Mrs. Philip Evans, her relatives.

John Dolock, a Slavishman from Twin Rocks, was brought to jail Monday morning. Squire J. W. Harrison committed him for court on a assault and battery charge.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., April 24, 1908

Real Estate Deals at Nant-y-Glo
Rev. Father M. C. O'Connor, rector of St. Charles' Catholic church at Nant-y-Glo, has bought the property of Dr. Wm. H. Heyser on the corner of Roberts and Caroline Street, the consideration being $2,900. Dr. Heyser has sold out on account of ill health and will in the near future take his departure for Georgia in hopes that a residence in the South may be beneficial to him; and his many friends in that place earnestly hope that his expectations may be realized. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., June 26, 1908

Ebensburg Young Man Shot to Death
Burleigh Makin Found
Dead in Spring Run Near Winterset With Bullet Hole Through His Head
Many Different Stories are Prevalent as to How He Came to Meet His Death on Tuesday
Squire Waters Conducts Inquest!
On Wednesday afternoon last Oscar Hamilton of this place, a track repair hand on the Ebensburg and Cresson branch, while working on the railroad about three-fourths of a mile this side of Winterset, having occasion to go to a clump of weeds near the line between the land of John R. Davis and that of Eli Gettys, saw the body of a man lying on the left bank of a run from a spring with his feet in the water of the run, and thinking that the man was drunk, went to his side to arouse him when he was horrified to see a ghastly bullet wound in his head and calling his fellow workmen to the spot, an investigation was hurriedly made and word was telephoned in to District Attorney Leech, who immediately went to the spot and had the remains of the young man, who proved to be Burley Makin, the seventeen-year-old son of Robert Makin, of this place.

The young man, it appears, had been out hunting ground hogs. By his side lay a double barrel breech loading 12-gauge shot gun with a loaded cartridge in the left barrel, there being no hammer on the right barrel, which was empty, so the theory that the shooting was accidental or suicidal was at once dismissed and it became apparent that the unfortunate young man met death, whether accidentally or otherwise, at the hands of some other person.

Inquiry revealed the fact that the young man had been seen on land of Eli Gettys by Paul Gettys - a son of the former - about 4 o'clock on the previous afternoon, after which young Gettys went to pick potato bugs in a field near by, at which he was joined by his mother sometime after and about 4:45, hearing a shot in the woods near by, Paul said
he saw a man carrying a gun and running as if he were wild in the direction of where the body was found. Mrs. Gettys also said she saw the man, having his gun pointed upwards when she heard the shot and saw smoke issuing from the muzzle of the gun, and when she saw the man
running she thought that he had shot something and paid no further attention to it. Paul also said that he had called to the man he saw to get out, as there were cattle in the woods and shooting was not allowed there. The remains were brought to town to the undertaking establishment of Jeff Evans and District Attorney Leech immediately
notified Coroner Miller, who authorized Squire A. J. Waters to hold an inquest; and the same evening the following jury was empanelled: John F. Tibbott, Chares Hasson, W. A. Knauer, Oscar Hamilton, Joseph J. Davis and F. J. Wills.

After viewing the remains of the deceased at Evans' undertaking establishment where Drs. Jones and Bennett had previously made the autopsy, the jury retired to the office of Squire Waters, where
several witnesses were examined.

The first witness examined was Paul Gettys who told how he had seen the young man as heretofore stated and Mrs. Gettys repeated her story as has been already narrated. In answer to a question propounded by jurors
Hamilton and Wills, if they did have a 32-calibre rifle, both gave a negative answer. The question was propounded for the reason that both these jurors had seen young Gettys using a .32-calibre rifle shooting blank cartridges to scare crows some time ago.

Dr. Jones and Bennett next arrived and the former gave an account of the result of the post mortem examination which the latter corroborated and which was to the effect that death had been caused by a gunshot wound penetrating the brain, the bullet having entered the parietal bone at the left side of the back of the head and passed out of the same bone on the right over the right eye, the size of the missile, judging from the holes in the hat behind and in front, was a .32-calibre bullet. The hat, a soft white felt one, was found under the body of the deceased. It would have been possible, both physicians said, for the victim to have walked a considerable distance after he had been shot. No other marks were found on the person of the deceased. Rigor mortis had set in, showing that the victim had been dead more than eight hours.

David Ludwig, a young man of this place, testified to having seen the victim going in the direction of the Gettys farm past Ludwig's dam about 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

Oscar Hamilton detailed the finding of the body and F. J. Wills also testified as did several others after which the jury on due consideration decided to take a recess until 8 o'clock yesterday evening.

In the meantime Constable Richard Evans went out to the Gettys home and brought in a .32-calibre Stephens rifle, which, notwithstanding the positive denial of Mrs. Gettys and her son that they had no
such weapon, was found upon the premises that night by Constable Richard Evans and brought into the office of the District Attorney the following morning.

At the concluding session of the inquest last night from which all citizens were barred, including The Freeman reporter, Eli Gettys, the owner of the land on which the shooting occurred, was first
examined. His son Paul was next called.

As far as your reporter can learn, the burden of the testimony given at last night's hearing by Mrs. Gettys was to explain the discrepancy of her sworn testimony of the previous night by saying that she did not know that the weapon in question is a rifle but only a target gun.

After having heard the testimony, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to his death as the result of a gunshot wound inflicted by some person unknown to the jury.

The funeral of the victim of this sad occurrence took place from the home of his bereaved parents in the West ward this morning after services at the home by the Rev. F. L. Sigmund, pastor of the Baptist church in this place, interment being made in Bethel cemetery.

Besides his parents, Burley Makin is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Alvin and Lawrence; Emma, the wife of D. F. Fahner of Barnesboro; Theodosia, Mabel, Ida and Agnes, who reside at home.

The entire community is in hearty sympathy with the afflicted family in their terrible bereavement. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., August 7, 1908

Funeral of Burley Makin
The funeral of Burley Makin took place Saturday, after services at the late home of the deceased, by the Rev. F. T. Sigmund of the Baptist church. The remains were interred in Bethel cemetery, six miles west of Ebensburg. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. August 14, 1908

Another Murder in Cambria County
John Goloch was fatally stabbed by Andy Pastur, another Slav, in a free fight at Twin Rocks Saturday night last and died of the effects of his wounds in the Memorial Hospital, Johnstown, Wednesday morning last. Pastur escaped after the affray and has not as yet been apprehended. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., August 21, 1908

Forest Fires
Forest fires have been spreading throughout the county for several weeks but have become more dangerous this week. Since Monday Ebensburg has been overhung with smoke. Wednesday night it was impossible to see more than 50 yards through the gloom. Smoke from the big fires west and east of town hung everywhere in heavy clouds. The Bostert farm and the Elder and Hartmann farms were endangered by the fires Wednesday afternoon as was the Davis farm, west of Ebensburg. The fires were numerous along the State road this week and much damage was done. For a week flames have been menacing the large tract of timber down the Blacklick owned by Sheriff Webster Griffith of Ebensburg. A force of men has had a strenuous time beating them back. Unless rain falls in a short time immense damage will be done everywhere in Cambria County. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., October 16, 1908

Joseph Bennett of the White Mill has moved to town.

Miss Lola William of Ebensburg has accepted a position of stenographer in the office of the Blacklick & Yellow Creek Railroad.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., November 20, 1908

TWIN ROCKS MINING CO.
THE BIG FOUR COAL MINING COMPANY TO SOON OPEN UP AT TWIN ROCKS

The Big Four Coal Mining Company is the name of a new coal corporation which will shortly commence the shipping of coal from Twin Rocks. A total of from 125 to 150 men will be given steady employment. The commencement of operations means better times in the north-county town

The company is not opening another mine. It has just purchased an old but valuable working which was shut down in 1903 because, it is alleged, the Pennsylvania Railroad company discriminated in the placing of cars. The mine is that formerly known as McFadden No.1 and was the property of the Blacklick Coal Mining company. It is said that owing to the fact that it could not get a sufficient number of cars, the Blacklick company was compelled to shut down. A great quantity of mining machinery of all kinds has been lying idle since that time, while a three and one-half to four foot vein of semi-bituminous coal has been absolutely unworked. The coal is said to be the best in Blacklick.

The Big Four people now have a force of men at work repairing the tipple and getting the plant in shape to begin the shipping of coal. A spur from the Big Bend branch of the Pennsy runs right to the tipple.

The new company was formed Aug. 28 at Nantyglo. The officers, who are also the incorporators, are as follows: P.F. McEvoy, president; Matthew B. Nairn, secretary; T. F. Burns, treasurer and Martin McDermott, superintendent.

Mountaineer Herald, October 22, 1908

Couple in Jail
Serious ChargesAgainst Man and Woman He Had Been Living With
M. E. Walker of Clearfield County and Catharine Layman were brought to jail here several days ago by Squire George Holmes of Belsano, both seriously charged. The woman has a child with
her. Walker is said to have a wife and family residing at Clearfield but has been living with the Layman woman at Belsano, it is alleged. Cambria Freeman, Feb 12 1909

Mrs. H. E. Meckley has gone to Pittsburg with her father, C. D. Shinafelt, who wishes to consult a specialist in relation to his health. An old wound received at the battle of Fredericksburg in the Civil War is causing the trouble. Cambria Freeman, Feb 19 1909

Longnecker-Rhodes
Blacklick, April 22
Samuel Longenecker and Miss Blanche M. Rhoades, both of Blacklick, Indiana County, were united in marriage April 14th by the Rev. P. J. Chilcote of Ebensburg. After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Longenecker returned to the bride's house in Blacklick where they were greeted by scores of friends. They received many handsome and useful presents. After supper the boys from town did not
forget to give them a serenading. The Blacklick and Keystone band furnished the music. Mr. and Mrs. Longenecker expect to reside in their new home in Grafton which is just being completed. Their friends extend their best wishes. Cambria Freeman, April 23, 1909

Big Bend's Big Blaze
The Big Bend Hotel, the jewelry store and dwelling of John Struzak, the general store and dwelling of B. Shaddon, the clothing house of Tenauer & Beerman, the shooting gallery of Harry McHugh, and the bowling alley and poolroom of Steve Balog were reduced to ashes Monday morning by a fire of unknown origin that broke out shortly after midnight. The total loss is about $36,000 and the principal business section of Twin Rocks is wiped out. The individual losses and amounts of insurance are as follows:
Big Bend Hotel, loss $18,000; insurance $11,000.
John Struzak, loss $3,000.
B. Shaddon, loss $2,000.
Tenauer & Beerman, loss $8,000; insurance $4,500.
Harry McHugh, loss $3,000; insurance $1,500.
Sara Donofsky, two buildings, loss $2,000.
Mrs. D. D. McHugh, loss $1,500.
The exact starting place of the fire and its first discovery are not known, but there is in circulation a story that the blaze was first seen in the jewelry store of John Struzak by a man lying in a room of the Big Bend Wholesale building across the street at about 1:30 o'clock Monday A.M.
The Struzak family was out of town at the time of the fire.
The Dauntless Fire company of Ebensburg, was appealed to and responded as quickly as the P. R. R. would get them there with the new gasolene engine and hose carts. Our boys, however, were delayed by transportation facilities and arrived upon the scene too late to be of much assistance.
Mountaineer-Herald, Ebensburg, PA. Thursday, May 20, 1909

Burned to Death
Behind the line of guards ever vigilant, protecting the secrets of the "mill of mystery," a powder mill on the Yellow Creek Railroad near Belsano, Peter Overman, a resident of that little town, was so badly burned Saturday that death relieved his suffering in a few hours. And from behind that grim and ever watchful line of guardians not a word has come concerning the accident.
The mill is one of secrets, a formula known only to those employed making possible the manufacture of a powder which will not explode under ordinary circumstances. A guard watching by daylight and by electric light when night has fallen guards the works from the secret formula.
Overman was burned while at work. He is survived by a widow and seven children. Mountaineer-Herald, Ebensburg, PA. Thursday, May 27, 1909

A Correction
The Overman Family Correct an Error
Belsano, Pa., June 1st, 1909
Editor Mountaineer Herald.
Dear Sir; In your issue of May 27th, your account of the accident to the death of one of your subscribers, viz. Mr. Peter Overman, contains several errors which we would like to have corrected. His wife passed away almost 15 years ago, (your account states he left a wife). His married children are: Mrs. Tom Cramer, Mrs. Emerson Stevens, Mrs. John McCullough, (all living near Belsano) and John Overman, of Wehrum. His single children are Miss Millie Overman, (Belsano); Miss Laura Bell Overman, Cookport; and W. Alfred Overman, at home. The accident occurred Friday morning, May 22nd, at 10 o'clock and he lingered till Saturday evening and passed peacefully away at seven twenty-five.
He leaves a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn their loss. Rev. R. M. Hamilton from Center County, formerly of the Belsano U. B. church came on to conduct the services which were held at Spruce Creek, Indiana county.
Kindly correct the error and oblige.
The Overman Family
Mountaineer-Herald, Ebensburg, PA. Thursday June 3, 1909

Seventeen Killed in Mine Explosion

Letgo in Lackawanna Mine at Wehrum on Wednesday Morning Robs Men of Lives

Over a Score are Badly Hurt

Wehrum, June 23

Seventeen dead and 22 seriously injured, one of the latter fatally.

That tells the complete story of the explosion in the mine of the Lackawanna Coal and Coke Company here this morning.

The rescuing parties are satisfied that all of the dead bodies and living coal diggers have been taken from the ill-fated pit. If any man or men remains on the interior there is absolutely no chance for his or their being taken out alive.

Mine Inspectors Louther, Blower and Williams are making an inspection of the entire opening.

That there was a gas explosion in the Lackawanna mine this morning, between 7 and 8 o'clock is the opinion of some of the mining experts who have seen the interior of the pit. Yet two weeks ago a mine inspector gave the place a clean bill, reporting absolutely no sign of gas. Supt. Johnson of the Lackawanna Company's local operations said this afternoon:

"I do not know that the explosion this morning was the result of an accumulation of gas. We have never had any of this dangerous stuff in our mines here. The accident may have been the result of an explosion of coal dust, caused by a blast in one of the headings. We will not be able to say definitely just what caused the disaster until a thorough investigation is made."

A veteran coal miner and expert "gas man," who refused to allow his name to be mentioned said:

"It is singular that in mines reported free from gas the most disastrous death-dealing explosions occur. But this is usually the case. I believe a pocket of gas was released in this mine. The naked lamp of a passing miner did the rest."

Be the cause what it may, the explosion today resulted in death to 17 men and serious if not fatal injuries to a score more. The list of dead is as follows:

Joe Merriott, age about 37, single
Mike Litton, age 32 years, single
Alex Shaftok, age 26 years, single
Charles Jorda, age 30 years, single
Lovey Louis, age 27, single
Ernest Marokey, age 27 single
Dominick Litton, age 32, married
Tony Getest, age 29, single
Tony Totena, age about 30, single
Charles Digamio, age 24, single
Charles Folby, age 30, married
George Kowash, age 26, single
Simon Raminsky, age 32, single
Kastic Sebic, age about 30, single
George Lemon, age about 30, single
Chas. Lorey, age about 26, single

Not however until some of the injured men at the Spangler hospital are able to talk will the story of the explosion as it actually occurred be known. Some of these men must know the cause of it, it is declared, tonight by experts. Some of them must have been in the immediate vicinity of the letgo. And it is believed that what is now much of a mystery will be cleared up when these men are able to talk.

The explosion was the result of one of two causes. Either a fall of rock released a
pocket of gas and a naked lamp did the rest or a dynamite blast exploded the coal dust.

Over two weeks ago Mine Inspector Joseph Williams went through Mine No. 4 and inspected it. He failed to find the slightest trace of gas, as his report will show. Officials of the Lackawanna Company declare that no gas was ever known to exist in the opening and for that
reason they are inclined to believe that the explosion was due to a letgo of coal dust.

Despite the non-gaseous condition of the mine, the company had a great many of the Davey safety lamps in storage here. Immediately after the explosion these were brought into use. In fact so many of them were given out and were being taken below that expert miners ordered that the local officials recall a number because of the danger attendant upon the use of so many in the ill-fated pit.

Naked lamps were used almost exclusively in Mine No. 4 from the time it was opened until today.

There were quite a few morbidly curious people in Wehrum, but not as many as would be expect under the circumstances. Although news of the explosion was general in Johnstown before noon there were people residing only a mile from Wehrum who had not heard of it at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and who, when told, expressed unbelief. This is not remarkable, however, in view of the fact that there were men in the mine who were also in ignorance until told by members of the rescuing party.

The rescuing parties did good work at Wehrum. Word of the catastrophe had been sent to Vintondale, Possum's Glory, Ebensburg and other towns. At Vintondale was Charles Hower, until
recently superintendent of the Vinton Colliery company's operations at that place, and one of the most experienced superintendents in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hower was just about to start to Johnstown where he expected to take a train for Fairmont, W. Va., having an important engagement in that city. But, hearing of the explosion, Mr. Hower postponed his trip and hastily calling several experienced mine men, he started overland for Wehrum. He took with him George Blewitt and William Williams, experienced "gas men," or miners, who hold gas certificates and Mine Foreman Pardos. All four of the party arrived at Wehrum about 9 o'clock and from that time until 6 in the evening, they were tireless in their work of rescue. It was Blewitt who came to the surface at six last night and declared that in his opinion that there were no more bodies or living men in the mine.

"I have not yet decided when I will hold the inquest," said Coroner Hammers Wednesday evening. "It will not be for at least a week however."

The coroner spent the afternoon in inquiring into the explosion and securing the names of men who will be able to throw some light on the disaster.

Chief Clerk Goodwin said that the company would assume charge of the burial of the 17 unfortunates. A number of these will be interred in the local cemetery, while several other bodies will be shipped to other burial grounds.

Relatives of the victims are endeavoring to inform other relatives and friends in other localities of the accident, but were hindered greatly because of there being but one telephone line out of Wehrum. The operators, however, gave excellent surface, considering the handicap.

The following is a partial list of the injured who were taken to the hospital at Spangler in a special train, many being known in Ebensburg:

P. F. Burns, tracklayer; has wife and three children
William Burns, motor foreman; wife and five children
Cal Hughey, spragger; wife and two children
Chris Frazier, track foreman; wife and seven children
Fred Thomas, assistant foreman; wife and one child
Frank Delegram, trackman and single

Some of the men in the Spangler Hospital are seriously burned about the face and
hands while others are suffering from the effects of the afterdamp.

Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., Friday, June 25, 1909

Twin Rocks Coal Company Exempted
Not Held ResponsibleBy Jury for Death of Andrew Joseph, Found in Mine

Twin Rocks, Aug. 11
"Andrew Joseph came to his death on August7th from some natural cause unknown to this jury. The company by which he was employed was in no way responsible, either directly or indirectly for his death." Such was the verdict rendered by the Coroner's jury at the inquest conducted yesterday at the cemetery here into the death of Andrew Joseph, forty-six years old and married, who was found dead last Saturday in No. 3 Mine of the Commercial Coal Company at this place. The inquest was held at the instigation of John Strizak and in behalf of friends of the dead man. His friends did not believe that a crime was committed and his life willfully taken and the cost of the investigation will have to be borne by them instead of the county. Coroner J. C. McMillen wanted the case thoroughly investigated as indicated by the large number of witnesses he called. Cambria Freeman, August 13, 1909

DEATHS
Nipps Infant
An infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Nipps of Horner Street died soon after birth Saturday and was interred Sunday. Cambria Freeman, August 20, 1909

Lemon Reed Gets Good Census Place
Ebensburg people will be interested in learning that Attorney S. L. Reed of this place has been named by President Taft as supervisor for the census in the sixteenth Pennsylvania district. The job is good for one or probably two years and is worth $2,500 a year. It is considered a fine position and was being eagerly sought for by a number of men, but Mr. Reed landed the place. Cambria Freeman, Sept 10, 1909

Squire Performs Ceremony
Squire A. J. Waters Monday morning performed the ceremony which united Lawrence Stiles of Nicktown and Jennie Landy of Belsano. The young people drove into town and after the ceremony had dinner at the Mountain House. Cambria Freeman, Oct 8, 1909

THIEVES GET $1,000 IN TWIN ROCKS JOB
Post Office and Express Agency Looted by Burglars Early Sunday Morning
DYNAMITE USED ON THE SAFE

The combination postoffice and express office at Twin Rocks, near Vintondale, was entered by thieves early Sunday morning, the burglars securing $1000 in money, checks and stamps. There are no clues.

Entrance to the office was gained by prying a door open. The robbers dynamited the safe but the explosion failed to awaken the nearby residents.

Postmaster Edward A. Nipps was in Pittsburgh Saturday but was called home at once.

Indiana Evening Gazette, November 8, 1909

Married by SquireWaters [Kick-George and Berkley-Davison]
Squire A. J. Waters of Ebensburg Tuesday and Wednesday officiated at two weddings. Tuesday Andrew P. Kick of Summerhill and Miss Dora V. George of Croyle Township were married and Wednesday Israel L. Berkley of Johnstown and Miss Alda M. Davison of Blacklick Township were united in marriage by Squire Waters. Cambria Freeman, Nov 5 1909

Elijah Mahon Hurt
Elijah Mahon of Ebensburg had a narrow escape
from death Saturday at Cardiff when a pile of boards on which he was standing toppled over and he was buried beneath a number of them. He was brought to his home in Ebensburg where Dr. F. C. Jones is attending him. Cambria Freeman, Nov 26, 1909

Venerable Spangler Resident is Dead
Charles Farabaugh, 79 years of age and in point of residence probably the oldest in northern Cambria County, died Sunday morning at his home in Spangler of old age. He was taken suddenly ill Saturday and sank until the end came. Mr. Farabaugh was born in Germany and came to this country 58 years ago. He was married near Nicktown to the late Matilda Hines, who died four years ago. For more than 59 years he resided in Blacklick Township, taking up his residence in Spangler five years ago. The surviving children are: Augustine of Latrobe; Henry of Huber Street, Johnstown; Mary, wife of John Glancie of Conemaugh and Elizabeth, wife of Tony Kosee and Charles, William, Joseph and Albert Farabaugh, all at home. One brother, Leonard, is a resident of Brown County, Minn. The funeral took place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, services being held in the Catholic Church at Spangler. Cambria Freeman, Dec. 3, 1909

In Johnstown Hospital
Ira Wagner of Twin Rocks was operated upon yesterday at the Johnstown City Hospital for hernia. His condition is reported as being favorable. Cambria Freeman, Dec. 17, 1909

COMET SEEN AT TWIN ROCKS.
Station Agent McCready and Other Sure They Witnessed Phenomonon.
Special to The Tribune.
Twin Rocks, April 14. Station Agent George H. McCready and others are sure they saw Halley's comet in the heavens here yesterday morning and again this morning, and many others are going to lok for the phenomonon to-morrow. It was yesterday morning between 4 and 5 o'clock that Mr. McCready looked to the southwest of town and saw a strange star in the heavens with a double tail, rising much like the sun. It was close to where the sun rose a little later. He told his experience to many friends, and they scouted the idea of being able to see the comet with the naked eye, but a number who looked for it this morning were convinced.
Johnstown Tribune, Johnstown, Pa., April 14, 1910.

Trespass Notice
Supt. Davis of the Blacklick and Yellowcreek Railroad Company, owning the old Vinton Lumber Company’s road running from Rexis along the North Fork of the Blacklick Creek, has had trespass notices posted along the route of the railroad. No reason is given by Mr. Davis of the posting of the notices. Cambria Freeman, April 15,1910.

Big Bend Nickelodeon
C. R. Jones, proprietor of the Ebensburg Nickelodeon, has purchased the Nickelodeon at Big Bend. Cambria Freeman, April 22, 1910

Belsano Pastor to Travel
Belsano, April 26
The Rev. G. W. Eminhizer, pastor of the United Brethren Church, and wife expect to attend the Laymen’s Greater Missionary Congress in Chicago May 3d-6th and visit their son’s home in Indiana Harbor, Ind. They expect to return home about May 12th. The Rev. Eminhizer’s pulpit on May 1st will be occupied here at 11 o’clock and at Big Bend at 3 o’clock by the Rev. A. C. Ford of Heilwood. Cambria Freeman, April 29, 1910.

Killed under His Train near Vintondale
Vintondale, August 5
While switching at Commercial No. 4 Mine near here, on the C. & C. Branch about 2 o'clock this morning, David Conrad, aged 27, was killed beneath his own train. He was found by other trainmen shortly after the accident. The body was cut in two from under the right arm to above the left shoulder. Undertaker Krumbine shipped the body to Altoona this afternoon. The deceased was married, one child surviving with the wife. Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. August 12, 1910

Elisha Mahan Injured
Elisha Mahan, a well known resident of this place, who is foreman for Webster Griffith at his lumber operations near Cardiff, fell from a lumber pile at that place Monday and was severely injured. No bones were broken, but Mr. Mahan has many cuts and bruises and it is feared that his worst injuries may be of an internal nature.
Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa., August 26, 1910

Big Bend Mining
The Big Bend Coal Mining Company have erected a new office. The death of Wm. M Smith, who acted as general Manager to this company and the Commercial Company brought about several changes. Formerly both companies had their offices together under one management; now the Commercial office is under the charge of Superintendent W. C. Smith, while recently appointed Superintendent Harrison is in charge of the Big Bend Office.
The Mountaineer Herald, Ebensburg Pa., August 31, 1911.

Belsano Fire
Fire recently consumed a barn, three cows, a calf, a mule, wagon, bobsleds, two buggies, a sleigh, harness and some feed owned by Simon Adams of Belsano. The origin of the fire is unknown. The Adams
residence, which is only a short distance from the barn, was saved by the fact that a breeze carried the flames and heat away from the house. A small stable caught fire, but was saved by a bucket brigade. Mr. Adams carried no insurance. Cambria Freeman, February 2, 1912.

Crushed Leg Amputated
Jacob Blanco, a Twin Rocks miner, had his left leg so badly crushed at work Wednesday that amputation of the member was necessary after the injured man had been taken to the Memorial Hospital Wednesday evening. Blanco is 42 years of age. Cambria Freeman, February 2, 1912.

Death of Mrs.Charles Sawyer
Mrs. Ella Rebecca Sawyer (nee Meisel) died at the home of her mother, Mrs. Mary Meisel at Expedit on Friday, April 12, of Bright's disease. The deceased was born in Carroll township, May 8,
1874. She was aged 38 years, 11 months and 4 days. On October 12, 1898, she was united in marriage to Charles A. Sawyer, who survives with the following children: Philip, Laura, Florence and Donald.
Also the following brothers and sisters: Stasia, Katharine, Nettie and Grayce, at home; Mrs. John Malone and Philip Meisel of Ebensburg; Mrs. Frank Hertzog of St. Benedict and Albert of Pittsburg. The funeral of the deceased was held from the Church of the Holy Name on Monday at 10 o'clock after solemn high mass of requiem. Burial was made in the Catholic cemetery in the family plot. Cambria Freeman, April 19, 1912.

Blacklick Township Light, Heat and Power Company - Johnstown, PA., May 22, 1912. Capital $5,000. Manufacturing and supplying light, heat and power, or either of them by electricity to the public in the township of Blacklick, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and to such persons, partnerships and corporatins, residing therein, or adjacent thereto as may desire the same.

NEW TOWN FOR BLACKLICK REGION
BUSINESS BOOM FOR BELSANO IS PROBABLE

Belsano, Dec. 23 -- Since the recent activity of the Manor Real Estate & Trust Company of Philadelphia here when several thousand acres of coal land were taken over by the Quaker City concern acting in behalf of eastern coal interests there has been speculation as to the future of Belsano and the surrounding territory.

The town of Belsano being situated on the side of the Alleghenies some distance from the Blacklick stream gives a hint that a new town will be built up on the north side of this place. Twin Rocks, now located on the south side of the Blacklick is a flourishing town and with another settlement on the north local business men are already having visions of a big business boom.

When the representatives of the Manor company left Belsano after taking over the big tract of land they were reticent about discussing the future plans of the purchasers. However, it is learned upon good authority that early operations are being contemplated with likelihood that Belsano will witness the opening of a gigantic coal field by the early part of next summer.

The fact has from time to time been noted that practically all the desirable land had been purchased. That the company is determined not to leave an acre untouched is demonstrated by the fact that the concern is hot after several local land owners who have held out during the recent transactions and have refused to sell. The Manor company's representatives express themselves as being anxious to close up deals at the earliest possible date.

While none of the stories are official, there is a persistent rumor that the Southern Cambria Street Railway company will extend its lines through this territory, touching Nantyglo and Twin Rocks en route. This would also be a big boost for local business.

The Peoples Gas company has a big force of men working near here and there is a likelihood that gas will be supplied the community from these wells. All the coal companies in the territory are enjoying big business, new homes are being erected and many new improvements are being contemplated for the next year.
Mountaineer Herald, December 26, 1912

Incorporation of Curry Mining Company
Curry Coal Mining Company - Expedit, Pa., October 12, 1916. Capital $5,000. Buying, leasing or otherwise acquiring coal and coal lands; mining, shipping, manufacturing into coke, and selling coal, coal and the products thereof.

Incorporation of Swatera Coal Mining Company
Swatera Coal Mining Company - Twin Rocks, Pa., July 18, 1917. Capital $10,000. Treasurer, Charles McFadden, 3rd, 4032 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Buying , leasing or otherwise acquiring coal and coal lands, mining, shipping, manufacturing into coke and selling coal, coke, and products thereof.

LARGE MINING COMPANY INVESTS AT TWIN ROCKS
E. E. Goss closed a deal recently for the sale of the Mountain Quality Coal Co. Mine at Twin Rocks to the C. A. Hughes Company of Altoona, who are preparing to operate the mine on an extensive scale. The mine will be connected with the C & I Railway, work on the tramway and tipple being now under way. This will give them shipping facilities on both roads. A number of new houses will also be constructed for the employees in the vicinity of Seldersville. A big, first-class mining plant will be put in which means much additional prosperity for our neighboring town. The C. A. Hughes Co. is a big concern and has other extensive mining interests.
Nanty-Glo Journal, May 17, 1923

OPENING REAL ESTATE OFFICE
P. M. Kinney of Twin Rocks has rented office rooms in the new Union Bank building where he will conduct a general insurance and real estate business. Mr. Kinney was a former coal operator at Twin Rocks but sold his interests there last spring to the Hughes Coal Co. of Altoona. He expects to move his family here as soon as suitable arrangements can be made and will make Nanty-Glo their home.
Nanty-Glo Journal, February 2, 1924.

EXPEDIT MINERS ON STRIKE
Big Bend and Twin Rocks have been having labor troubles of their own this week. The mines there raised the wages of the men a few months ago to the 1924 scale, but announced a reduction to the old scale at the beginning of the new year. As a result practically all the men walked out. Several meetings have been held by the strikers and an attempt is being made to perfect an organization. The Hughes mine agreed to continue paying the higher scale Wednesday, but the men demanded recognition of their union before returning to work, and are still out. A few of the men returned to work at the Big Bend and Commercial No. 3 mines, but only a small proportion of the usual force as yet. A strong effort is being made to unionize all the mines there.
Nanty-Glo Journal, January 6, 1927.

HUGHES COMPANY MAKES AGREEMENT WITH MINERS
The labor situation at Big Bend and Twin Rocks, where the miners went on strike when given notice of a reduction in wages, last week, is somewhat improved, some of the companies having adjusted their troubles with the men. The Hughes Coal Company, which has one of the largest operations there, make an agreement with the union officials, Sunday and resumed work with a full force, Monday, on a union basis, The Hughes Coal Company mines at Lilly and elsewhere in the county are unionized and their recognition of the union at Big Bend is in line with the general policy of the company. It was expected that the Jackson and Stanwix mines, the latter formerly known as the Shiffer mine, will also recognize the organization and pay the union scale. Mines of these companies at Hastings and Beverdale are unionized and strong pressure is being brought from those sources to bring the Blacklick mines into line. With these three mines paying the 1924 scale it will make it more difficult for the other two to hold their men down to the 1917 scale. The strike has been a peaceful one, no disturbance or violence of any kind marking the walkout. It is to be hoped that all differences may be speedily ironed out and satisfactory working conditions for all concerned be continued.Nanty-Glo Journal, January 13, 1927

TWIN ROCKS MAN DIED
Joseph Staffon, aged 46 years, 5 months, and 13 days, died at his home in Expedite at 5 o'clock Saturday morning. He was a native of Austria Hungary where he was born on August 10, 1880. A wife and four children survive. Tuberculosis was the cause of death. Funeral services were conducted in St. Charles' Catholic church, Tuesday morning, and burial was in the church's cemetery.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., January 27, 1927.

SEVENTEEN HURT IN TRUCK WRECK
Load of Men Spilled While Being Taken to Work on A Contract Job
Seventeen Nanty-Glo and Belsano men were badly injured, some of them quite seriously, last Thursday morning, when a canvas top Chevrolet truck, belonging to the Davis Bros. Lumber Co. With Frank Gamber as driver, upset twice and was badly wrecked as it skidded and upset twice at a curve on a steep hill beyond Nicktown. The men were being taken to Emeigh where the Lumber Company has contracts to build barracks and repair some of the company houses of the Cherrytree Coal Co. There were eighteen men on the truck at the time. Wilmer Pearson being the only one to escape injury. He summoned help and the injured men were taken in another truck to the Spangler hospital where their injuries were dressed. Seven were able to return to their homes after receiving attention at the hospital, and ten remained for further treatment.

The injured were as follows: Alvie Folckemer of Belsano, a carpenter aged 18, skull fractured; condition serious. Raymond Clawson of Belsano, aged 30, skull fractured. John Hazy of Belsano, aged 30, skull fractured. Regained consciousness after being in hospital several hours. George Bennett of Nanty-Glo, aged 53, abrasions about head, contusions of hips and a few ribs broken. Frank Gamber of Nanty-Glo, driver of the truck, aged 19, suffered servere lacerations of left leg. Peter Kinzey of Nanty-Glo, aged 42, fracture of right shoulder. Merle Ross, of Nanty-Glo aged 23, bad cut over right eye. Joseph Strenko of Nanty-Glo, aged 21, severe contusions of face and the shoulders. Clay Cunningham of Nanty-Glo, aged 49 severe abrasions and bruises about body and rib broken. Charles Hoffman of Belsano, aged 51, sprains of elbow and muscles of left arm and contusions of left hand. Returned home after treatment. Elmer B. Gottshall of Twin Rocks, aged 58, lacerations of head and contusions of chest. Taken home after treatment. George Pearson of Nanty-Glo, aged 19, lacerations of head, face and the hands; brought home after treatment. Walter Lindrose of Nanty-Glo, lacerations of face and contusions of left arm and both legs; brought home after treatment. Robert Rodkey of Nanty-Glo, aged 34, contusions of chest and left leg; returned home after treatment. Harry Makin of Belsano, aged 41, lacerations of head and contusions of both thighs and back; brought home after treatment. William Lindrose of Nanty-Glo, aged 26, suffered sprains; taken home.

It is said that the truck started to skid at the curve on the down grade, and that the driver was unable to throw it into second gear. The truck was completely wrecked.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., October 20, 1927.

ROBBED GARAGE TILL
Some long-fingered caller at Geo. Lanzendorfer's garage in Twin Rocks entered an office and tapped the till for about $30.00 Sunday afternoon, while the proprietor was busy in another part of the building. State police are working on the case and will likely locate the thief.

BAD BOYS DAMAGED SCHOOL
A couple of bad small boys got into the Big Bend School building at Twin Rocks, sometime Saturday or Sunday and entering Miss Dorothy Beck's room did a lot of mischief. The black-board was about demolished, desks and other furniture were marred and broken, school books were damaged, a desk bible was torn up, walls defaced, etc. The little miscreants were apprehended by the authorities, this week and it will cost their parents at least $150 to repay the damage done. Good doses of hickory oil frequently and properly administered may cure the lads of what ails them.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., April 17, 1930.

EARLY MORNING FIRE SWEEPS TWIN ROCKS BUSINESS SECTION
Six Buildings Destroyed, Several Persons Injured and $50,000 Loss Results While Four or Five Fire Companies Battle Raging Flames in Neighboring Town.
Six buildings were burned, six persons were injured and losses around the $50,000 mark resulted from a fire starting in the Julius Levinson store in the business section of Twin Rocks at about 2 o'clock Monday morning. The Levinson building and contents including the stock of merchandise together with all their household goods and clothing in the living apartments on the second floor; the store and living apartments of Thomas Giordano; a tenant house belonging to Giordano and occupied by William Hicks and family; an empty store building owned by the Commercial Coal Co., and a building owned by Raymond Livolsi of Johnstown and occupied by Domenick Ricciardelli as a store and residence, were completely destroyed, and the brick store building owned and occupied by James DeFrank as a residence and barbershop was gutted by the flames.

The fire had a good start in the basement and store room of the Levinson building before the family sleeping on the second floor were awakened. Exit by the stairways was cut off by the flames and the occupants were forced to leap from a second-story porch to a roof below, and thence to the ground in their night clothes. In jumping to the ground, Miss Margaret Epoch, employed as a domestic in the home, fell and fractured the bones of both forearms, but turned and caught one of the younger children tossed to her by Mr. Levinson, and carried it to safety across the street. Mrs. Levinson and daughter, Freda, jumped from the front part of the porch, a greater distance, and were considerably jarred up, the former fracturing her left ankle. Mr. Levinson also split a bone in his right heel when he jumped to the ground. The injured were brought to Nanty-Glo and were given treatment at the office of Dr. Dunnick, later being taken to Memorial hospital where an x-ray examination revealed the extent of their injuries.

In addition to members of the Levinson family, Thomas Giordano sustained laceration of the scalp when he fell down a stairway while carrying one of his children out of the building, and two Conemaugh firemen suffered minor but painful injuries while engaged in fighting the fire fiend.

Some of the neighbors were awakened by the calls for help of the Levinson family, and Mr. Giordano helped give the alarm by firing a revolver into the air a number of times. William Herrick was aroused at the Dugan Hotel across the street and sent in a alarm to Nanty Glo, the local fire company responding at once. Later calls for help were sent to neighboring towns and fire trucks from Conemaugh, Franklin and Ebensburg were rushed to the scene, and these as well as Vintondale firemen and Twin Rocks volunteers rendered aid in checking the conflagration. Strings of hose had to be laid to the creeks some distance away to secure sufficient water.

The property losses are variously estimated and are only partly covered by insurance. The Levinson loss is the heaviest, running around $25,000 on the building, stock and household goods, partly insured. Giordano's loss was about $4,500, covered by insurance. The Livolsi building was insured, but the occupants, Mr. Riccardelli and family, carried no insurance. The DeFrank loss was about $6,500, with $3,000 insurance. The Commercial Coal Co. building was probably worth $2,000 or $2,500. These estimates do not cover original cost, but are approximately near present day values.

Firemen were greatly handicapped in fighting the flames at Twin Rocks by lack of water. There was no pressure in the mains and holes had to be dug through the ice and into the creek bed before sufficient water could be pumped to throw a stream. Twin Rocks people could remedy this condition by damning back the water at available points in the stream flowing through the town.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., January 22, 1931.

Last Express Train
The last regular passenger train over the P.R.R. branch through here will be run Saturday afternoon at 3:45. A truck from Cresson to this point will carry express after that date, being due in Nanty-Glo at 11 a. m. each week day. The express offices at Twin Rocks and Vintondale will be closed and service discontinued after Saturday.
The C. & I. Railroad is also petitioning the public service commission for permission to discontinue passenger service over their lines.
Nanty-Glo Journal, August 27, 1931

Razing Old Hotel Building
The old Shoemaker Hotel building, one of the landmarks in Twin Rocks, is being torn down. The structure was purchased by Nolo Parties recently who are razing it and taking the material to that place for use in other building operations.
Nanty-Glo Journal, October 20, 1932.

FIREMEN WENT TO TWIN ROCKS
The fire company was called to Twin Rocks shortly before noon, Friday, when a two-room house back of Felix Lasurdo's store caught on fire. Clothing and other contents were badly damaged by firemen extinguished the blaze before the building was burned. Two of the Nanty-Glo firemen, Joseph Cruley and Bob Empfield, were badly frost bitten in making the run, the former having his ears frozen and the latter his nose.
Nanty-Glo Journal, February 6, 1936.

Buys Tarr's Roadside Stand
Charles Mistretta of Indiana has taken over the road house and picnic grounds near the county line on Route 422, between Belsano and Strongstown formerly know as Tarr's Grove, and has changed the name of the stand to "Charley's Grove." He advertises dancing every Wednesday and Saturday evening, Bob Hayes and His Music Makers from Johnstown being the orchestra engaged for this coming Saturday night.

Mercantile Appraiser's List for the Year 1935
Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Merchandise, Brokers and Keepers of Eating Houses, Billiards and Pool Tables, Nine and Ten Pin Alleys, Opera Houses, itc., in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, are hereby notified that they are appraised for Mercantile and other Licenses for the year 1935, as follows:
The license is due on the 1st day of May; if not paid to the County Treasurer before Sept. 1 of each year suit will be brought to recover the same within thirty days. Act of June 14, 1901. Remit promptly to Harve Tibbott, County Treasurer, Ebensburg, Pa. And enclosed statement.

BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP
ADAMS, S. Ward ... Genl Mdse;
ALMADY, Nick ... Grocery;
American Stores Co. ... Grocery;
Big Bend Supply Co. ... Genl Mdse:
Cardiff Supply Co. ... Genl Mdse
Commercial Coal Co. ... Supplies;
DAERR, Nick ... Gas & Oil;
DUGAN, Mike ... Tobacco;
EDWARDS, Merton ... Genl Mdse;
Fairlawn Store ... Grocery;
HAHL L. I. ... Gas & Oil;
KOVACH, Steve ... Genl Mdse;
LIND, Gust ... Gas & Oil;
LOSURDO, F. A. ...Genl Mdse;
LUCHICK, Jno. ... Gas & Oil;
LUDWIG, Jno ... Confections;
MILLER, Merville ... Coal;
MILLER, Ralph ... Gas & Oil;
MISTRETTA, Charles ... Confections;
ORR Motor Co. ... Gas & Oil;
SHADDEN, B. ... Genl Mdse;
SZUNYAGH, Frank ... Tobacco;
VIZI, Joe ... Grocery:
VOLESEN, Metro ... Shoes:
Nanty-Glo Journal, June 27, 1935.

ESCAPED FLOOD IN BIG BEND MINE
Night Shift Driven Out by Water from Adjoining Closed Mine
On Tuesday evening near 10 o'clock the second main of Big Bend Coal Co. Mine became a surprise pool of water. While at work, Lewis Nevel and James Pasoke broke through the wall into a water pocket in an adjoining abandoned mine which had been stored in the old workings for over six years. It was so sudden that a display of cool-headedness and quick thinking on the part of the men was the only thing that spared their lives. No one was seriously injured, although they were forced to wade in water up to their chins. A few were swept off their feet by the rush of the water, but were soon helped to safety by their fellow-workers.
The flooded section of the mine employs nearly 100 coal diggers. About 25 were working at the time. It is damaged very extensively and it is doubtful when it will be put into operation again. The entire mine will be closed at least three weeks while the water is being pumped out.
The Big Bend Coal Co. Mine has been working steadily for five days a week for several years, having some good contracts to fill. It is operated by the Emmons Interests of Philadelphia, which also has other operations in the county.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., April 8, 1937

C. & I. Railroad Orders New Cars
The Cambria & Indiana Railroad Co., which operates mostly in Cambria and Indiana counties and which has extensive holdings in and near Nanty-Glo, has given orders for 800 steel cars of 50-ton capacity each, which will cost approximately $1,840,000, or about $2,300 each.
An order for 500 of the steel hopper cars has been given to the Cambria Plant of the Bethlehem Steel Corp. at Johnstown. Contract for 300 more of the cars has been awarded to the American Car & Foundry Co. of Huntingdon, West Virginia.
These orders will increase the new car equipment of the C. & I. to 1,100 during a period of one year. Last year 300 new cars of the gondola type were manufactured for the company. With these latest orders, the company will have expended more than $2,500,000 during the past year for new equipment.
The C. & I. Railroad transports coal from a large number of mines in the two-county area, including the rich coal fields of the Nanty-Glo, Revloc and Colver sections. Extensive improvements have been made about the mines here in the last few years, and are now being made at Colver, which, with present prospects of better business conditions justified the railroad officials in anticipating greater tonnage for shipment.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., September 2, 1937

June 23, 1944: Deadly Tornadoes Hit Southwestern Pennsylvania

A family of tornadoes followed nearly parallel paths during early evening hours of June 23, 1944, developing over hilly terrain in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. The storm rampage ultimately killed forty-five people in southwestern Pennsylvania, and five more died in western Maryland (Flora 1953, 117). Violent tornadoes also took a terrible toll in West Virginia, killing 104 people (NOAA). There were 846 injuries, and property losses exceeded $5 million.

Four violent tornadoes were on the ground at almost the same time between 6:30 and 9:30 P.M., moving southeast at speeds of thirty to forty miles per hour. A review of the June 1944 tornado outbreak (Grazulis 1993, 915) places the first in a series of devastating tornadoes in Armstrong County in southwestern Pennsylvania around 5:30 P.M. The twister traveled southeast from Rural Valley to Twin Rocks, damaging fifty homes and farms and causing three injuries.

As the storm progressed into Indiana County, another fifteen homes were destroyed and two people died. Damage extended into Cambria County, though was possibly due to a downburst by that time. The F3 storm had a damage path that extended thirty miles, causing nineteen injuries. Around 6:00 P.M., a smaller storm touched down in northeastern Ohio and was responsible for eight injuries as it passed Palmyra.

Gelber, Ben, The Pennsylvania Weather Book, 2002.

Kerosene Smoke Fills Custard Stand in Belsano Sunday
Mike Shutak finished repainting the interior of his Belsano custard stand recently, and he'll have to do it all over again.
A small kerosene heater in the establishment used to keep the chill off his new paint job ran out of oil. The smouldering wick quickly filled the small building with smoke and a call from Baldwin's Service Station was made.
Eugene Stephens, a member of the Nanty-Glo Volunteer Fire Company, was called to investigate the fire about 11:30 o'clock at the Route 422 location. Upon determining the cause of the smoke, he notified Nanty-Glo firemen not to send their equipment. However, the siren did sound in the borough.
Damage amounted to about $100, Shutak said. This included some ice cream cones, paper cups, dishes and other serving containers that cannot be used due to smoke damage.
Nanty-Glo Journal, Nanty Glo, Pa., April 16, 1959.

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