The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-02-27


Oil City Derrick of Feb. 14th, which only
came into eur hands on Monday last, we
learned for the first time of the death Of
wsll-known native Cambrian, Mr.. John A.
| Christy. which occurred on the morning of
the 18th inst, at his home in Oil City, of
which place he had for many years been one
of the most prominent and respected citizens
and enterpriSing business men, as well as one
of the first settlers. Mr.. Christy was born
and reared in LOretto this county, the date
of his birth being Nov. Esd, 1889, and at the
age of twenty years engaged in the drug
business, which he followed during the
greater part of his life, the first store of the
kind owned by him being located in Ale
gheny City. From thence he removed to the
oil country in 1859, and located in Oil City,
where he opened a drug store in 1862, having
the year previous been married to a young
lady named Miss Hettie Evans, daughter of
one of the oldest citizens of Franklin, Pa.
Since then he has not only owned and con-
trolled thirteen drug stores in different towns
in the oil region, but he is said at one time to
have been the owner OF half interest in an
oil we'll which is credited with having pro-
duced over 400, 600 barrels Of oil. More than
that he served with credit to himself and his
country in the Union army, and was wound
ed and taken prisoner at the second battle of
Bull Run, but was subsequently sent to An
napolis, where he was honorably discharged
on account of disability arising from his
wound At the time of his death he was Sc
nior vice commander of McCalmont Post,
No. $50, G.. \. r., of which organization he
was one Of the original members. His fu-
neral took place on Sunday afternoon sue
ceeding his death, his soldier comrades taking
charge Of the body, which was followed to
the Catholic church and from thence to the
cemetery by an immense concourse OF weep
ing relatives and sorrowing friends. At the
church the last sad rites of religion were per
formed over the remains and an eloquent
and impressive funeral sermon delivered by
Rev. Father Carroll, pastor in charge. De-
ceased leaves wife and three children to
Oh for lf,ua Of SlAara
and father who loved them dearly and pro
vided for them bOuntifully May God in His
mercy grant rest to his soul.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT THE Poor HOUSE.
We are indebted to Mr.. Lilly, Steward of
the Poor House, for the particulars of a most
melancholy affair which occurred in that in
stitution on last Monday forenoon. Eliza
beth Kinney formerly of Munster township,
has been an inmate Of the Poor House for
about ten years, and has reached the ad-
vanced age Of S3 years. Patronella Weak
land, of Carroll township, who is insane, has
been there about four years. On the morn
ing referred to, Mrs. Kinney, Miss Weakland,
an old lady named Mrs Feight, and another
inmate, Ellen Maxim, were all in what is
known as the sitting room. Miss Weakland
asked Mrs. Kinney for some tobacco, and
upon her refusal to give it, Miss w. instantly
seized a poker i'm the coal box and dealt Mrs.
Kinney a terrible blow near the top OF her
head, following it up with FIVE or six other
to the floor and never afterwards spoke, dy-
ing almost Instantly. Her skull was broken
in and her brains ooZed out. Ellen Maxim
attempted to wrest the poker from the infu-
rated woman when she first took hold of it,
but was warned TO keep off, and hence de-
sisted in her efforts to secure it. Mr.. Lilly
was down stairs at the time, and before he
was aware of what had happened, Miss
Weakland passed down stairs into the office
and said to him that he must not whip her.
and while she was repeating her request,
which Mr. l.. of course did not understand,
a messenger came down and informed him Of
the tragedy and its sad result. Mr.. Lilly
states that from some cause Miss W. has en-
teTtaned grudge against Mrs. Kinney for
nearly two years past. The remains Of the
unfortunate woman were inferred in the
almshOuse cemetery on Tuesday. Meantime
the insane murderess, whose conduct has
always been such as to create the impression
that she was entirely harmless and therefore
a fit subject to enjoy the freedom Of the
house and its surroundings, has been locked
up for safe keeping, and will henceforth be
restrained of her liberty. Not being amena-
bic to the law, this OF course is the only pun
ishment that can be inflicted, though 1t is
unquestionabe that she should either be
sent to DiXmont or provided with other
quarters more secure than the Poor House
affords.
A BIG THING OS SPARs.-Our friend DR..
NJ. L. B. C:eery, surgeon dentist of this
place, who. by the way, is credited with
writing the sketches now running through
the columns Of the CarrOlltOwn NeJrS under
the title Of Rafting on the Susquehanna,"
and who has had abundant experience and
is fully competent for such a task, informed
MS the other day that Messrs. Hopkins *
Irwin, of CuTwenSyille, CleaTfed county,
are having eighty-cight spars put into the
Susquehanna river at IMPORTS dam, above
CheTrytree, Messrs. A. G. e w. Renkin of
Gettysburg, Indiana county, being the con-
tractors for the work, which, when com
will no hon of <
UP to the latter part of last week thiTty-five
OF the spaTS had been hauled to the river
while most of the others were on the way,
and it was then expected that il the condi-
tion Of the roads continued favorable the job
would be finished within five days. Some of
the Spars, it is proper TO say, had to be hauled
up hill from where they were made, the
largest Of them requiring the united strength
OF tHentySiX horses to land it at the river.
For the rest of the work eighteen horses
would be needed, but OF the number of men
employed we have no information. Mr.. VIM.
Smith, Of Cherrytree, whose name sounds
familiar, has contracted to run the spars to
Marietta for and in consideration OF the sum
of 81 200 cOod and lawful money. OF course
he will have a spartan band to help him.
/ The last remark is joke-op the spars.
.- 60.
4 COMMITTEE consisting of twelve prom
inent citizens of Altoona, with Hon. John
Reilly at its head, visited Washington last
week for the purpose of promoting the erec-
! JlOn OF q new pOSS-Of1cc IN tnat city Inc
/ committee returned on Saturday night and
reported that Gen. COffroth had not only
rendered them all the assistance in his power,
I but gave them the strongest encouragement.
With him they went before the sub-com-
mittee on public buildings and answered
questions in regard to the population of Al
/ toona how rapidly it was increasing, and
how necessary it WAS to have better post
office accommodations. The subcommittee
agreed to make r favorable report to the full
committee, and did so on Saturday. 1t is
! be reported to the House during the present
week. The estimated cost of the building is
. $50 900, but an appropriation at this session
is not expected of more than Sc, 900 to begin
the work with. The committee also had as
surances that Messrs. Wallace and Cameron
/ would favor the passage of the bill through
the Senate. All this certainly shows a pros
/ porous beginning anu augursiwell.. for the ul-
! innate success Of the new post-office project
Z in the Mountain City, which just now is
booming with mighty boom such as never
i before doomed in that latitude.
{
! Our typographical friend, Col. Theo
/ Burchfield, foreman Of the Tribune job office,
/ Altoona, and 'big Injun me" of the Fifth
4 Regiment, N. G.. P, came to Ebensburg on
! Monday last, accompanied by Adjutant Sar-
! geant and Quartermaster Tom jackson, for
I the purpose of inspecting our local military
organization, otherwise known as Co. A,
! Fifth Regiment, Capt S. w Davis, COM
/ satisfactorily, and She Colonel and his aids
/ were unreserved in their laudatiOns of the
soldierly bearing and commendable appear
ance of our "boys in blue who to the num-
/ Der of thirty, exclusive of officers, appeared
! on said occasion for inspection. After the