The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-03
STATE NOTES.

dispensing with fences because of the
yearly expense required to keep them
in proper repair.
On the 10th Wellsboro was visited
by shower of toads. After the
shower thousands of these could be
seen OH the sidewalks and in the
streets hopping about for places of
safety.
A severe hail storm passed over the
southwestern portion of Pike county,
Pa, a few days ago. Hail stones the
size of walnuts fell to the depth of
three inches, and the crops were much
damaged.
A few days ago Williamsburg,
Blair county, child drank small
quantity of jelly that was boiling hot.
The innocent is but fourteen months
old, and the doctor who was called in
says there is chance that it may sur
vive.
| Ground has been broken in Capitol
Park, Harrisburg, for the purpose of
erecting two public fountains. One
of the fountains will be placed in the
circle between the office of internal
affairs and the Mexican monument,
and the other in the circle on the east
front ofthe treasury department.
On the property of Jacob r.. Hagy,
Lower Merton township, Montgomery
county, on Thursday afternoon last a
young man named John Burk was
killed by lightning; two others were
badly stunned, and horse was killed.
The bolt struck a large tree at the
spring where the three men were at
work, and passed down to the ground,
entering the body of the unfortunate
Burk at his head and passing out at
his feet, tearing off his shoes.
On the 25th of August there will be
a novel and exciting contest-the har-
pooning of whale in the quiet
waters of the Schuykill. Half a
dozen whaling crews from the coast of
New England will be on hand, with
complete outfits, to participate in the
sport. On the following day these
whalers will race in whale boats, two
oars on one side and three on the
other, for medals offered by the Cen
tennial Commission.
The State Legislature, in accord
ance with the requirements of the
constitution, annually appropriates
| 81 600 900 for the maintenance of the
public schools of Pennsylvania. The
school department is now distribut-
ing this amount at the rate of from
$40, 900 to S25 900 day. The amounts
are sent to the various treasurers of q
100 school districts in the state. 1t re-
quires about $50 900 to pay the county
superintendents alone.
Philadelphia, Pa, July 28.-The
Schuylkill Coal Exchange met here to-
day ana endorsed the action of the
Board of Control of the New York
combination advancing prices fifteen
cents per ton on all sizes for the month
of August. 1t was also decided to
suspend operations for two weeks,
commencing August 8. The Lehigh
operators, it is said, have also agreed
to the fifteen cents advance with the
exception of lump coal, which is used
in furnaces.
Philadelphia real estate agents say
that the selling prices of farms in
Montgomery, Bucks, and particularly
| in Lancaster and Chester counties, are
still more depressed than they were Il
year ago. Compared with ten years
ago, in the two former, the deprecia-
ton is one half, and in the two latter
about two-thirds. Old residents of
Chester county say that farms there
to- day sell at no higher prices than
they did forty-five years ago, when
railroads We're unknown and taxes
much less than at present.
The Titusville Courier says: Dur
the thunder shower yesterday after
noon, that passed over our city, a
curious phenomenon took place in the
drug store of E. K. Thompson, on the
corner of Diamond aud Martin streets.
A ball of lightning seemingly ex-
ploded in the store making loud re-
port. A lady from the country was in
the store at the time, who was thor
oughly frightened and at the same
time indignant, alleging they were
playing tricks on her by firing off fire
crackers to scare her.
Peter Van Trulen, Paterson
butcher, was driving out his span of
valuable horses OH Friday week, when
both were suddenly taken sick and
died in few minutes on the road.
| Investigation showed that there could
have been but one cause for their
death. They had been pastured in a
field adjoining potato field, where
Paris green had been freely used to
kill potato bugs, and it is believed that
some of the poison was carried by the
wind into the pasture, and was eaten
by the horses, with the above result.
| - HeNSOOTO hUtttttOT.
Mr.. Henry. Lands, who was a
wealthy farmer, and who suddenly
disappeared from near Lebanon, about
a year ago, and was supposed by some
| to have been murdered, has turned up
at Omaha, Nebraska, and writes that
he will soon be back. There is re-
port going around that he states that
he was kidnapped and sent to Cali
fornia. There are heavy claims
against his estate, and they have been
pushed to Judgment during his alb
sence. 1t will be remembered that
Dauphin county parties were arrested
for his murder, and that extensive eX-
cavating was done at the Elizabeth
town tunnel, to recover his body
RenoUO Record.
In the Manatawny creek near
Griesemersville, Berks county, there
has existed for several years Il club of
Unusual large size which has engaged
the attention of the sportsmen OF that
vicinity for long time. 1t success
fully resisted all efforts to be taken by
either nets, spears, hooks and lines,
shot guns or clubs, until a few days
ago, when it was caught by Mr.. John
Wilman, who was fishing with some
lady friends from Spring City, Ches'
ter county. An examination of the
fish showed that one eye had been
shot out, and that it had also been
pierced through the head with gig.
Its escape and vitality were truly re-
markable. The fish measured l9 in
| chaS i'm lon of n - Ipe0Hinn Times