davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
A Terrible

New YORK, September 2S.-The
Sun this morning publishes a letter
from Roseville, Pa, dated September
26, giving the details Of a tragedy
which occurred in that village on
Friday last. The facts in brief are,
William Russell, a widower, living
near ROseville with his daughter, IN
PRODUCED into his house a young girl
named Mary Stokes, who was the
occasion of some scandal, and whom
be told his daughter he would marry,
fixing the wedding-day for last Fri
day. His daughter %thereupon an
~nouneed her intention of quitting the
house, and on Friday, after her faith
er left hume with the avowed purpose
of getting married to Mary Stokes,
she started for R~oseville, leaving be-
hind a letter of farewell. On reach
ing the village she met q young man
named Horton Hurst, to whom she
had been sometime before engaged,
bnt owing to her fathers opposition
the match had been broken off. He
induced her to marry him that day,
and the ceremony being performed
the young couple and their friends
were ~partaking of dinner at the viii
lage tavern, when Russell burst into
the dining-room, and grasped Hurst
by the throat, and seizing a knife,
made several thrusts at the Young
mar. Hurst pushed his assailant
back, and, drawing a revolver warn
ed Russell to keep away, but without
and just as the pistol was dis
charged the newly,made wife sprang
between her husband and father. the
ball entering her brain, and killing
her instantly. Hurst. seeing hat
she was dead shot himself in the
head and fell lifeless by her side.
Russell has been nlaped in iaiI
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

UNDER Democratic rule in Penn
sylvania the farmers and household.
ers paid 81, SOC, coo a year of State
tax, and the great corporations al
most escaped taxation on their vast
wealth. In 1866 the Republican
party urged the repeal of all State
tax on the farms and homes of our
people, and the taxation OF corpora.
tons ia their stead. The railway
monopolies ordered their creatures in
the Legislature to defeat this ius,
law. In obedience to this command.
Cyrus L. Pershing, afraid to offend
the railroads and too cowardly to
stand by the farmers, ran away from
the House Of Representatives and
lodged" the vote.-See Legislative
Recood ls6e, page 2Sl.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

WITHIN the range of human recol-
lection no more unexceptionablc can
didates were ever presented for pub
lie suffrage, than. the present Republic
can nominees-Hartranft and Rawle.
In 1872, when the Democrats and
Liberals combined to defeat Hartranlt
with the hope of carrying the State
for Greeley, he was SO bitterly abused
and so outrageously villifed that
thousands Of Republicans were driv-
en- away from his support. He was
elected, but so fierce had been the
fight against him, that many of the
best men in the State had serious
misgivings as 30 the proPriety Of his
election.
How different is the case now. AT
ter three years Of trial so perfect hiss
be made his record, so upright and
acceptable has been his administra-
ton. that no one with the slightest
claim TO character dare say aught
against him. The Erie Convention
composed of the bitterest of his polit-
zeal enemies could not utter 4 word
to his disparagement, and the most
reckless of the Democratic journals
and speakers are forced to concede
his eminent integrity, and the purity
and ability Of his administration AS
to his colleague on the ticket-Mr.
Rawle-his character is likewise ad-
mitted by the opposition to be above
reproach. With such candidates,
with no chickering's within our ranks,
and with a united and harmonious
party, all we have to DO is to press
forward, rally out the voters and
victory is assured.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

ton cost we have no means now Of
learning bat if the upper section
cost 1881, $40 more than the esti.
mates, the lost of the whole line
must have exceeded the original
figures by more than q million.
1t is unnecessary to say that the
canal, when finished at this heavy
cost, would not held water. The
fact ~iIl be accepted as a matter Of
course. 1t was not made for use,
but for the enrichment of contractors;
and the cost of repairing it so as to
make it passable vas left to those
who followed them.
Even Governor Bigler was led to
complain of the extravaganza cost OF
this improvement. In his message
of 1858 he said:
"The estimated cost OF completing
the North Branch Canal, al the peri
cd already named, was s772,0S0.-
One million dollars have since been
paid, and q sum exceeding $3.50, 900
is still required to pay for its COM
pletion.
Among the contractors who enjoy
ed the benefit of the outlay of State
money upon the North Branch canal,
was Victor d. Piollet, the Democrat
lie candidate for State Treasurer. He
was one of the leeches who fattened
upon the State, and be was not salts
fed with one contract, nor with two,
but he must needs have eight. He
was the boss contractor-the head OF
the Ring of Canal Contractors who
sucked the life blood of the State
and grew rich out of the money
which the taxpayers have since had
to pay.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

IN the enthusiasm that is rapidly
awakening 10 behalf Of Hartranft and
Rawle, our local ticket must not be
forgotten.
The Republicans Of this county
have never had g better set Of candi-
dates offered for their SURFACES, and
certainly none more worthy and de-
serving. Our nominees are all excel
lent men, capable beyond doubt Of
creditably filling the positions for
which they have been nominated,
and all of them have been for years
efficient workers in the ranks. They
are each and all of them entitled to
the hearty support of be entire Re
publican party of this county, and
we urge upon our friends to see that
they get it. This is no time for split
ting tickets or for giving compliment
tary votes. The ticket, the whole
ticket, and nothing but The ticket,
should be the watchword Of every
good Republican. No trading, no
scratching, is the only sure method
Of obtaining a complete, old-time vie
tory. Let not our certain triumph
be alleged by any after regrets, let
us have a clean vote and a rousing
majority for the whole ticket.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
DEATH OF THE "IRIsu GIANT"
Pioiiet rs a Canal Contractor.

The construction Of the canals oil
this State, when the Democratic par.
ty had undisputed sway, afforded a
grand opportunity to the leecbes who
tat:en upon public blood. They fas.
tened themselves upon the State al
every exposed point; aud the public
works, when flashed, were found to
have cost more than double what
thev should have done. They were,
besides, so poorly constructed that
the expense of repairing them and
keeping them open absorbed nearly
the entire annual revenues.
These public works cost the State
about $40, 600, 900. The Board OF
Canal Commissioners was exclusive.
ly Democratic, aud nearly every con.
tractor in their employ was a Demo
crat. The fortunes of many leading
Democrats 10 this State were made
through the fat contracts awarded
them as partisan %favors, and at least
uail vi lht 6Ndic ucus VI ~tuuSN u
MIA vas incurred to enrich the con-
tractors who built her canals.
The North Branch Canal is al H.
lustration of this fact. 1t was an ex-
tension of the main line from the Sus-
quehanna to the New York line,
along the banks of the North branch
of the Susquehanna; and the original
estimate of the cost of its completion
was much below the actual cost. At
the time work was suspended upon
the public works, in lS4l, the sum of
S2,4s4,939 had been spent upon it,
and when work was resumed thereon
in lS49, it was estimated that ST.
4l4,ll6, would finish it.
Yet The 6nal cost of the section
Pittston to the State line,
ninety-two miles in length, was $4,-
230, 99s. What the section of the
lire from the SusquehanBa to Pitts
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

staff, John Megraw with Gov. Hart
ranft. The aids followed and then
came the central Hartranft clubs and
the old grand central colored club of
Pittsburgh. Next came the South
side clubs consisting of the Twenty
sixth ward club and the South Side
central club preceded by the aids on
horseback. The Allegheny clubs
came next in the same order, includ-
ing the Young Mems Republican
club, the colored club, the Fourth
ward minute men and the Third ward
clubs. The minute men had with
them a wagon containing fire works
which were put off along the route,
adding to the display. With the Al
legheny colored club, Professor S. A.
Neale, B. Pulprcss, Esq, and other
prominent colored men rode in an
open carriage.
The procession passed over the
route laid down, and the Governor
was greeted with cheers everywhere.
At many points on the route red fire
was ignited and with the movements
of the fifteen hundred torches a splen-
did spectacle was to be seen, espe-
cially on Fifth avenue below Wylie
avenue. Altogether, for q first gen.
eral demonstration, it was a success,
and those participating are deserving
Of credit. Other clubs are being or
ganized, and uniforms have been or
dered, so that the next demonstration
will be a much greater one.
Gov. Hartranft attended divine
service yesterday morning, and in
the evening visited the Hon. I. j..
Bingham at his residence, Mt. Wash
ington. To-day the Governor will
call upon his friends in the central
part OF the city.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

PERsHING, while a member of the
Legislature, did not vote for the ap-
preparation of a single dollar for the
support of the brave soldiers who
were fighting for the preservation of
the nation. Eartranft was in the
field battling manfully for the defense
of the free principles of the republic,
while PershiDg was 10 the Legisla-
ture utteriDg his bitter complaints
about the unconstitutionality of the
legal tender act, the draft, and the
emancipation proclamation. The lit
tie Copperhead sympathizer was echo
ing the cry Of the more rampant reb-
els for "the Union as it was and the
Constitution as it is" No one who
remembers the events Of the dark
days of the war, when there was
mourning in nearly every home for
those who had sealed their devotion
to their country with their ll)od,
but.knows hat baleful influence the
"Const tutional Democrats" exercised
by their ~croakings over the unconsti-
tltional acts of President LINCOLN.
PERsuIYG vas among the leaders Of
the horde Of Copperheads vino by
their sympathy, speeches and acts
prolonged the He was of the
party who in 1864 resolved that the
''war was a failure" He was among
the number who were preaching
peace, when peace could have brought
nothing but division, shame and de-
struetion to the nation. HARTRANFT
barred his breast to the storm of rebel
shot and shell. PERsHING, remain
ing in safety at home, encouraging
traitors to butcher Union soldiers by
his speeches and by this act of OBJ.
struction. No one thing encouraged
the South more than expected help
from the North, and the old Demo-
cratic leaders stimulated the leaders
of the rebellion to persist in the hope
that MCCLELLAN would be elected.
and the war closed through their in
terventicn. Let the soldiers of Penn
sylvania and their friends compare
the records of the two candidates,
and the let them decide who best de-
serves their votes.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
AnotherScarefn Georgia.

NEW YORK, October 2.-Dispatch-
es from Jonesboro, Georgia, report
trouble again brewing between the
whites and blacks, growing out OF
the conviction and sentence of George
Speer, a negro, to be hanged for out
raging a white girl. subsequently
to his conviction another negro, who
had committed a similar crime, was
found dead, and Speer's friends claim
he is innocent, and that both crimes
vera committed by the dead negro.
On Monday night the armory of q
militia company was broken into,
and twenty-one guns distracted.
Twenty of them were afterwards
found, hidden in a school house be-
longing to the colored people.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

How do the citizens Of this Con-
monwealth like the spectacle present.
ed Of a Judge on the bench running
for q political oficeY Such a degra-
dalton of the judiciary has never be-
fore been witnessed by the people Of
this State. The purity Of our Judges
has always been the pride and boast
of Pennsylvania. 1t has hitherto
been held by men of all parties, that
Judges on the bench should be free
from all political entanglements,
scorning TO use their position for
their personal benefit, and above and
beyond suspicion. And now we are
faced with the humilisting exhibit
ton of Judge Pershing tenaciously
holding on to his present position,
and ventilating his political views
from the bench, from whence only
untrammeled and unbiased legal
opinions should emanate.
1t was the political judges, con-
trolled and manipulated By Boss
Tweed, that brought such corruption
and disgrace upon the STATE of New
York; and what right have we to
anticipate any better or more honest
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

desports itself on the streets, and the
city is taking on its wonted gay ap-
pearance. And what is better, the
health of the city is improving daily
as it becomes cooler. TIE babies
don't die so rapidly now, aDd the
sick poor begin to crawl out to find
life in the bracing air we now have.
New York is delightful now, and will
be more so in a week or two.
PIETRO.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
A Town Destroyed.

ST. LOUIS, October "A CORE
spondent of the Globe Democrat at
Los Cruces, New Mexico, says a
tremendous water spout suddenly ap-
peared in the hills about one mile
back of the town at $50 P. NJ, on
tie 18th of September, and before
the citizens had time to comprehend
the impending calamity, it was upon
them. The tall, dark column, COM
posed of water and dust, approached
with such velocity that in less than
ten minutes from the time of its OBJ
servance, and before ten dollars worth
of personal property could be saved
by any one, sixty-three houses had
been hurled to the ground. The
streets were soon covered to the
depth Of four or FIVE feet with water,
and the current was of such great
strength that bouldsrs Of Q large
size and corresponding weight were
carried away. Two hours later the
rain fell in torrents and continued
several hours. In all the wreck and
ruin of falling houses and rushing
waters, strange to say, not a single
life was lost. On Sunday, the 18th,
the entire population were our repair
ing the damage as much as possible,
in order that that the homeless might
be housed and cared for. The work
vas kept up on Monday, and every
body began to look cheerful, when,
at 4 O'Clock, another water spout
made its appearance from the exact
spot where its predecessor was first
noticed, and came On with equal
celebrity. Sixteen houses fortunate
enough to soap the first visitation
were tumbled down and their con-
tents destroyed. This flood lasted
three hours. The damage done by
these storms will figure up $l50,0OO
at least.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
President Grant.

OMAHA, October l. President
Grant, accompanied by his wife, Co.
lionel Grant and wife, ex-Secretary
Borie and wife, Secretary Belknap,
Gen. Alvord, and a number Of other
distinguished men, arrived this morn
ing from Dcs Moines. They were
Hospitality entertained by the citizens,
and together with committee of the
Merchants Club, were driven around
the city and to the barracks. A pub
lie reception was held by the Presi-
dent in the Court room. The Presi-
dent and party left for Colorado this
afternoon.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

The public debt statement just
Published, shows that during the
month Of September the national
debt was reduced three million, three
hundred and forty-two thousand, FIVE
hundred and sixty-two dollars 49,
3i2, 1922. And yet our Democratic
fciends are unhappy, because the e.
nancial affairs of the country are not
properly managed.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
Another Riot at Toronto.

TORONTO, October 3.-The pilgrim
age of Roman Catholics from church
to church took place to-day. After
forming at their respective churches,
they marched to st. Michael's Cathe.
dral. After q short service there
they proceeded along Adelaide street
to st. Mary's Church, Bathurst street,
a distance of a mile and a half. From
tiis point part of the procession re-
turned east by Front street. Others
dispersed on account of the process
sion being accompanied by the police
and a large body of military, who
were ordered out for the occasion,
and a change in the route of the pro-
cessiop. The disturbances was
much less than expected. AS soon
as the march from the Cathedral be-
gan, stone throwing, &c, commenced.
The police charged on the assailants,
firing several shots. On the march
up Adelaide street, several attacks
with stones, &c, were made, and at
Bathurst street, quite a number OF
shots were fired. One or two police
and a number Of Others were seri-
ously wounded. No one was killed,
as far as known. About two thous-
and were in the procession. The
crowds at some points was estimated
at 5000. All's quiet now, 8 p. NJ.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

AT the time when greenbacks were
absolutely necessary for the prosocu-
ton of the war the Democratic par
ty denounced and derided them, and
did everything possible to break
down the financial plans Of the Gov.
eminent. Now, when the honor and
prosperity of the country demand a
speedy return to specie payments, the
Pennsylvania Democrats demand the
indefinite imitation o. the paper cur
rency. That is to say, when the
country was engaged in a great war
they did what they could TO destroy
the Government, and now they are
doing what they can to dishonor it.
Such is modern Democracy.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
The Andrew Johnson Obsequies.

NASHVILLE, October 2.-The me-
mortal pageant in honor of ex-Presi-
dent johnson, was a full and CON-
plete success, without disturbance or
accident. The procession commenc-
ed to move at 2:30 p. m. 1t was the
largest turnout of the populace ever
witnessed in this city. 1t was made
up of military, civic, mechanic and
literary societies, and was two hours
in passing the capitol. The streets
designated as the line of march were
crowded with people at an early
hour. At 2 O'Clock there were at
least 10000 people on the streets
All the public buildings and a large
number of business houses and pri-
vate residences were draped in
mourning. The Presidents salute
of twenty-one guns was fred at sun
rise from Capitol Hill. The bells of
the city and Edgefeld tolled from I
to 8 O'Clock a. m. During the move
ments of the procession minute guns
were fred, and one every fifteen
minutes through tie day, closing
with a national salute of thirty-seven
guns at sunset. Ex-senator Fowler
delivered the memorial address at the
this evening.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
ColIision-Three Men Killed

CINCINNATI, O., September 20
The Peoria express, on the Hamilton
and Dayton Railroad, which left
here at I O'Clock last evening, was
run into by a freight train at Hamll-
ton, Ohio, demolishing the sleeping
car. The only persons injured were
three young men named John Shuler,
Andrew Wertz and Henry Deemer,
who were stealing a ride on the plat
form of the sleeper when the freight
train struck it. Wertz was killed in-
stantly, and Sbuler died shortly
after. Deemer is still living, but
there are no hopes of his recovery.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
New YORK, September, %, 1875.
POLITICAL

To select candidates for positions
so responsible as Governor of a great
State, and State Prison Inspectors,
Canal magnates, etc, would seem to
require the best men Of q city so In
terestedI in good government as is
New York. A glance at a list of the
delegates to the Democratic State
Convention at Syracuse from a ma
|jority of the districts in this city is
enough to sicken one, and make one
doubt whether, after all, the idea of
self-government is not failure. Who
are the delegates? The men of char
acter, those who have q stake in the
city and State? Not q man of them.
In one list of thirty delegates pub
lished last Monday morning, twenty
eight of them are Irish keepers of the
lowest drinking-houses and bucket
shops in the city, whose places are
the resort of thieves, prostitutes, and
ruffians, and all under the ban of the
police. These men, who would be
thieves themselves but for the fact
that it is more profitable and safe to
plumber thieves than to be actually in
the profession, go to Syracuse to rep
resent the Democracy of New York,
and to make State officials. The
party is worthy of its representatives
and the representatives are worthy of
the party.
Morrissey, who was kicked out of
Tammany, was possibly the least OBJ
jectionable of the lot; but be has men
in his delegation for whom hanging
would be too good.
The Republicans of Ohio and
Pennsylvania, who are ore-headed
over tri6es. and are, by their apathy,
fastening the Democracy upon their
States, ought to live here awhile that
they might appreciate fully what
Democratic rule means. They ought
to live for a year or SO under the
domination of Irish rum-mill keepers,
of rufians, thieves, and blacklegs;
they ought to pay the taxes we have
to pay, and put up with robbery of
the most barefaced description; they
ought to live under q government run
entirely in the interest of one class,
and that the worst one, and they
would go home ready and willing to
take of their coats and go to work
for the only party that makes a pre-
tenee of decency and honesty. Were
| a citizen of Pennsylvania l should
esteem q visitation of yellow fever as
a less damage to the State than q
year Of Democratic rule, for as it is
here so it has been everywhere that
that party has had power.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

When Pershing was in the Legis-
lature he was a hard money nan and
made a three hours speech against
greenbacks and national bank notes.
In his letter accepting the nomina-
ton for Governor be still insists that
be is in favor of hard money, but
also in favor of an unlimited paper
currency. Is be honest? Is be a
fair man? Can be be in favor Of
both If be is not honest in this
matter, can be be trusted 10 any
thing? Is such a political shyster
worthy to be Governor of this great
State!
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

Col. MCCLURE has sent bis man,
Andy Curtain, to Ohio to take the
stump for the Democratic rag baby.
Think of Pennsylvania once honor
ed war Governor advocating the
election of a pro rebel ticket Oh a re-
ppdiation platform! Poor Andy
All the result of keeping bad com.
pany
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-06

EX-STATE TREASURER KEMBLE, in
a letter published in the Philadelphia
papers, hits Senator WALLACE square
and hard. Nj. WALLACE having un-
dertaken to criticise the Funding Bill
of February, 1861, as a "specious
pretext which increased the ~intere
on The State debt from FIVE to six psf
cent, mir. KENBLE says that be
drew the bill and submitted it to
Senator WALLACE, one of the best
lawyers in the State, for his revision.
Mr. WALLACE returned it without
any alteration and voted for it in the
Senate with every other Democrat in
that bodyl Either Mr.. WALLACE has
a very bad memory, or be has pre-
sumed on the bad memory of other
people. Probably he concluded that,
as it is now the Democratic fashion
to 60 back upon the past records of
the party, be may as well be obIiyi-
Gus Of bis, also.