davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Shot by an Unknown.
rnE MYSTERIOUS DEATH or GEO. BiCKERr
REFUSING TO EXPLAIN.


Three months ago George Bickert, a
German, who came to this country in
1884, located at Lavelle, Schuylkill
county, boarding with Mrs. David
Stringer a widow. Their relations soon
became intimate and a month ago it
was reported that they had beer mar.
ried. II was known that Bick.
ert had left a wife and three children
in Germany. One night strange
woman was seen to enter the house
where he lived and soon after two shots
were heard. Neighbors entered and
Mrs. S,ringer, who was at the village
store, came with them. Bickert was
found seated in a chair with blood
squirting from wound near the left
nipple and another under the left arm.
In front of him, on the floor, lay pis
tol with two chambers empty. The
unknown woman had evidently retired
by the back door and escaped during
the excitement.
Bickert was conscious and was press
ed for an explanation. He declined to
make any statement and in few MON
ents swooned from loss of blood. Dur
ing the night he died. An officer was
put on the case and his theory
is that the German wife was written to
by some person in Lavelle, who dis
covered his address, and that she came
here prepared to kill and was aided by
confederate.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Fred Douglass's Pew.
MUCH woRRIMENT GROWING OUT OF Ills
GETTING A SEAT IN THE PRE-
sIDENT's CHURCH.

WASHINGTON May 1S.--An effort is
being made to prevent the facts com.
ing to light concerning tho visit of
Fred Douglass to the First Presby-
terian Church Sunday, and the princi-
pal reason seems to be that the Presi-
dent may leave the church and go else
where. There is no question that the
congregation is very much agita,ed on
the subject Of the removal or retent-
tion of Douglass, and decisive steps
will be taken at once, Some of the
members of the congregation have
been urged not to make trouble by
insisting upon the withdrawal of
Douglass, as the object will be accom-
plished quietly.
In fact, it is declared that Douglass
is 30 much worried at the publication
of Sundays episode that he will not
again set foot in the First Presbyterian
Church. He declared that the only
thing to be gained now is his removal
from Office, and the indications are
that good Democrat will shortly
take his place. There is no love for
him among his own people, and they say
that he is only getting his deserts for
trying to force himself and wife upon
the whites. DR.. Sunderland, pastor of
the church, is very much exercised
over the matter, aud declares that an
effort has been made to unsettle the
congregation for personal reasons. On
the other hand, the latter say they will
not tolerate Douglass. Some 60 so
far as to declare that DR.. Sunderland
will have to leave the church if he
persists in acknowledging Douglass.
Thus the matter remains for the pre-
sent
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Sam Patch.

Henry b. Stanton, in his recently
published volume of recollections, says:
! must dispose of one or two little
things in Rochester without recollect-
ing precisely the year in which they
occurred. Sam Patch, the famous
jumper and diver came there in the
fall, we will say, of 1918, and propos.
ed to leap from the falls in the heart
of the village. On the day fixed Sam
appeared. The banks of the river as
far as the eye could reach were lined
with spectators. He was dressed in a
suit of white, and l will state for the
benefit of other fools of the same class
that before he leaped he placed his
hands firmly on his loins, then sprang
from the shelving rock, and went down
straight as an arrow. He came up
feet foremost, and swan ashore amid
the shouts of thousands. A few days
later he proposed another leap again.
He erected a scaffold twenty five feet
high on the brink of the falls, making
the descent l25 feet. On the dav
named another immense throng a
sembled. Mr.. Weed and | happene |
to meet at the foot of the scaffol l..
Patch came dressed as before, AMI,
apparently little ander the influel ce
of liquor. AS he assembled the sc f
fold MIR. Weed left, but remained. As
Patch went down his arms were all in
a whirl, and he struck the water with
a stunning splash. The crowd waiIcl
for hours. He did not rise. The
next spring the mangled remains ot
the poor wretch were found at the OF
OF the falls at Carthage, four miles b
low.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Robbing a Millionaire.

A bold robbery was committed at
the residence of Charles Ray, the mil
lionaire, on Prospect avenue, Milwau-
kee, Wis, last week. An experienced
cracksman visited the house, cut all
the telephone, telegraph, and burglar
alarm wires. and then cut his way
through the rear door. All the fam
lily plate was in the vault, and could
not be reached. After searching the
lower part of the house the masked
robber visited the servants quarters
above, and awakened two girls who
were in the room. He held revolver
at their heads, and made them go down
stairs and call Mrs. Ray, telling her
they were sick. When Mrs. Ray
opened the door the burglar told her
if she uttered a word he would blow
her brains out. She was ordered to
call her husband, and did 80. The
burglar made the women stand in line,
under the penalty of death if they NOV
ed.
) When Mr.. Ray came down he was
ordered to get all cash and jewelry,
which he did, the burglar covering him
with a revolver. Jewelry and money
amounting to nearly $1,000 was hand
ed the robber, which he pocketed, and
then made Mr.. Ray escort him to the
front door and let him out. Mr.. Ray
afterward raised an alarm, but the
thief had taken the 3 o'clock train for
Chicago and escaped.
While Mr.. Ray was going through
his pockets to get his watch, jewelry,
and money little daughter who was
sleeping in the same room quietly left
her bed, gathered her own jewclry
from an escritoire, and, returning 10
her bed, placed it under her pillow.
This was the only jewelry in the house
not locked up that escaped. 1t is said
that the loss is much heavier than re-
ported. Mr.. Ray is we'll known in
Chicago, where he has branch com
mission house. His residence is "bur.
glar proof" and the finest in Milwau.
boo
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

The rebellion led by Riel in Canada
has collapsed with the capture of the
leader, which occurred last Friday
Louis Riel is picturesque character.
Both Of his parents were white, but his
paternal grandfather married full
blooded Indian woman, so that he is
one.quarter Indian blood. His father
was educated for the Catholic priest
hood. but gave up an ecclesiastical life
10 become a leader of half-breed in-
surrection against the Hudson Bay
Company. Riel's mother was sister
of Archbishop Tache, of Winnipeg.
Riel was born at Wolf River, Can.
ada, in 1887. A Mrs. Massoil, of Mon
treal, paid the cost of his college edu-
cation in that city. In college Riel
won the reputation of being a young
man of brilliant promise and he gradu-
ated second in his class. A classmate
describes him as highly moral man,
brave as lion, with physique befit-
ting his character. He is nearly six
feet in height and weighs about 200
pounds. About the year 1858 Riel
went to Minneapolis and he is remem-
bered in St. Paul, Mimi, where he was
for time employed as clerk, by
many citizens who describe him as a
handsome man who spoke English and
French fuently and who had good
knowledge of Latin. ~ 5
When, in 1867, the Hudson Bay
Company transferred its territory for
81, 100000, the half-breed settlers on
the banks of the Red and Assiniboin
Rivers, alarmed lest they should be
driven from their homes, which they
and their families had occupied for
many, many years, but to which there
was often no legal title, organized with
Louis Riel at their head. They demand
ed the right to elect their own legisla-
ture and free homestead and pre-
emption law. The recently appointed
governor of Manitoba was driven from
the country by Riel's forces, and ID was
not until the sum mer of 1870 and the
ARRIVAL of Sir Garnet Wolseley with
British troops that Riel abandoned the
forts which he had seized, and fled to
the United States. tiel was banished
for FIVE years, and this ended the Red
River Rebellion of 1869.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Was an innocent man hanged 2
SENS sATIoNAL CONFESSION REyIyING
THE STORY OF AN ALMOST FOR
GOTTEN CRIME.

PHILADELPHIA, May l8.-The repub.
lication here this afternoon OF a story
from the Boston Herald of this morn
ing, 10 which it was asserted that a
criminal has confessed that he commit
ed murder in this city for which an in
nocent man was hanged, caused some
thing of sensation. The crime which
is thus revived was the murder, six.
teen years ego, of Mary Mohrman, a
bright little girl of seven years, whose
was found in a sack which had been
sunk in pond. John Hanlon, barb
er living near the Mohrmans, was con.
victed' mainly on the testimony of a
fellow.prisoner while in Moyamensing
Prison, Of having murdered the child,
after having subjected her to the gross
est indignities, and he was executed
for the supposed crime.
The Boston paper gives what pur-
ports to be the confession of man
(whose name ii with-holds) that he
murdered Mary Mohrman, and that
Hanlon was wholly innocent Of any
share in the crime. The alleged con-
fession has been according to the
Heralds statement, made to a com
panion OF the murderer, and the names
and evidences of the truth of the story
are said to be in possession of the Bos.
ton paper.
The murder was a mysterious one
and for some time there was no clue to
the murderer, aud although $1,000 re.
ward was offered no arrests were made.
Finally detective who had shadowed
ilanlon caused his arrest, and he was
placed 10 cell with an English con
vict who, as he testified, obtained from
him a confession that he killed the girl.
Hanlon protested his innc ,ence to the
last, To-day ex.Attorney-Gen. Brew
ster, who defended him, said th at dur.
ing the trial he was convinced of Han
Ions innocence. Great interest is
manifested "a. know who the mysterious
personage is who now confesses him,
self guilty of the almost forgotten
crime
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Locnsts IN Illinois.
THE sEvENTEEN-YEAR RAVAGERS PRE-
DICTED BY PROFESSOR REILLY,
.it APPEAR.

CmcAGo, May lS.-The seventeen
year locusts, which Professor Reilly
predicted, seem to have made their
first appearance here. They have
been found 10 large numbers close to
the surface of the ground, and are
moving upwards. The indications are
strong that an unusually large swarm
will appear in short time. Very
extensive apple orchards were planted
by capitalists this spring, and a large
eruption of locusts will almost certain
ly kill them. us .f.ar
Professor Rehly's prediction was to
the effect that the country would soon
be visited by two great broods of To-
Gusts, of the seventeen and thirteeni
year varities, and hat this is the first
time in 22l years that they have APP
appeared in n>conjunction. They will not
prove greatly destructive, and the in
jury they will infiict will probably be
confined to fruit trees. The visitation,
he said, would be prolonged until late
in July.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

political faith, and the dead lock was
not interfered with. Finally, on April
~, a democratic member died, and
three weeks later republican was
elected bis successor. This gave the
republicans 102 votes on joint ballot,
to 100 democrats, and the election Of a
republican was only delayed by the
effort to bring the whole republican
membership into line for Logan or some
other republican.
General bogan served four years in
the lower house of congress as dem
ocrat before the war. After the war
he returned TO the house as a republi-
can, serving two terms. He was then,
in 1871, transferred to the senate, but
at the expiration of his first term, in
1877, was defeated for e-election.
Two years later however, he again
secured seat in the senate for the
full term which closed in March of this
year.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Mr. d. P. Morgan, of New York,
has purchased the elegantly furnished
residence of Senator Don Cameron, in
Washington, paying for it $4,000
cash. Senator Cameron asked $lO6,-
900 for the property, but finally accept
ed Mr.. Morgans offer. He never liked
the house, though he built it to his own
tastes. lie found that he had built
his house too large aud was dissatisfied
with it from the time he first moved
into it. There was quartet of houses
built in the immediate locality of the
Cameron house, facing Scott circle.
They were all built at the same time.
All of them have failed to please their
owners. Mr.. Window, who was sec.
retary of the treasury at the time, built
the house opposite Senator Gamer on 8
lie lived in it but short time. Fol
the past season it has been occupied by
Mr.. Blaine, who leased his own new
house at Dupont circle. Minister Pen.
dleton. then a Senator from Ohio, built
another He has since sold it. Mr.
Robson built short distance to the
north of Senator Pendleton. His house
is understood TO be for sale.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
A Tragic Relic.
DISCOVERY or FRAGMENT on MRS. SUR
RATS sCAFFoLD--THE ExECU-
TIoN RECALLED.

From the Washington star.
After the execution Of Mrs. Surratt,
Payne, Herold and Atzerodt, July 5,
1866, near the old prison in arsenal
grounds, the rough scaffold used in the
execution was torn down and nearly
all the timbers which composed il were
used in the reconstruction of the build
ings on the grounds, most of them GO
ing into the floor of the stables. The
cross piece, from which the ropes we're
hung, however, was removed by the
master mechanic who was employed
there and by him hidden under a big
pile of old lumber. There it lay for
nearly twenty years, entirely forgotten
by those who knew what become of it.
Last week, however, in working about
the grounds, the veritable cross-piece
was found and recognized by the man
who hid it. He was aided in this rec
ognition by the places cut away where
the uprights were morticed to the
cross piece. A close scrutiny showed
even the marks left by the ropes with
which the conspirators were hung. The
wood was soft pine and its fibres were
readily compressed by the ropes. 1t
might be supposed that relics from
this scaffold would be eagerly sought
for by relic hunters, but such was not
the case. There seemed to be a dread
among the usually unscrupulous class
of touching or handling any of the ma
terial, the associations being of too
dreadful nature. Some years after
the execution proposition was made
to assist in a fair given by charitable
organization by having canes and other
articles made from the remnants of the
scaffold, but as soon as the managers
Of the fair learned the origin of the
articles the offer was declined with
rather curt thanks. There is but little
left at the arsenal to remind one of
that memorable occasion. The old
prison, where the conspirators were
confined and tried, has been entirely
remodeled, two complete houses having
been made from it. One is occupied
by General Ayres, the commander of
the arsenal, and the other by the exc
cutive officer The latter is the chapel
part, where the trial was held. In 1867
the remains of the executed conspira-
tors were removed to allow of changes
in the grounds, and were placed under
the flooring in the prison. That por-
tion of the building is now used for a
storehouse. ..........,
The spot where the scaffold stood is
now included in lawn tennis court,
and as the young ladies and gentlemen
gaily disport themselves in the attrac-
tive game of tennis on pleasant after
moons they little think what tragedy
was enacted score of years ago
upon the very spot upon which they
stand.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
a L S o

at O'Clock In the afternoon Of said day on the
premises in Scott township, county and state
aforesaid the following described real estate, to-
wit
AL that certain message, tenement ana tract OF
land situate In Scott township, Col. Co., Pa,
bounded and described as follows, to-wit: Ad-
Joining lands OF Aaron Boone and Peter Hagen
buch on the north, lands OF James Lake and Al
fred Mood on the west, the north branch OF the
Susquehanna River on the south, and lands OF
Aaron Boone, G. w. Creveling & Co., j. X. Faus'
Ruckel & Creveling, and Others on the east, con-
tanning ninety acres, more or less with the ap-
purtenances all In fine cultivation, on which Is
erected two-story brick dwelling house, large
frame barn, wagon shed and outbuildings- large
apple orchard on the premises and good well OF
water at the door. This tract to be sold subject
TO the dover OF $4,000 in favor OF Ell Crevelings
widow and heirs
TERMS OF SALE.-Ten per cent OF one-fourth
OF the purchase money to be paid at the striking
down OF the property; the one-fourth less the ten
per cent. at the confirmation absolute; and the
remaining three-fourths in one year thereafter
with interest from confirmation nisi and deed TO
be delivered to the purchaser at his expense on
payment OF the whole of the purchase money.
Possession to be delivered April l. 1886. No straw
to be removed from the premises The purchaser
to have the landlords share OF the winter grain
sown this fall. All the grain and crops now In the
ground are reserved.
IL. c. KELCHNER, !
L. L. KELCHNER. Executors.
GEo. W. KELCHNER,
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
DEATHS.

DEWITT.-ln Orangeville, on the 10Th
inst, of diphtheria, Harold Conner Dewitt,
aged years, months and 10 days.
FLECKENSTINE.-In Orangeville, ION
the 11th inst, Joseph Conner Fleckenstine,
aged years, month and days.
SNYDER.-In Plymouth, Pa, April 81,
1885, Miss Carrie E., daughter of Frank r.
and Lucy Z. Snyder, aged 10 years,
months and II days. A victim of the Ply
mouth epidemic.
Also, on Wednesday night, May 9th
Emanuel, son Of same, aged about 81 years
OF same disease.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
MARRIAGES.

OHL-YOCUM. On May 8, 1885, by
Rev. s. Mitchell s. Howard Oil, Of
Buckhorn and Mary NJ. Yocum of Blooms.
burg.
E-CAMPBELL.-At the M. l.. Par.
sonage, Muncy, May 16, 1885, by Rev. T.
s. Faus, Mr.. Howard S. Cole, of Derr's,
Columbia county, Pa, to Miss Ida Camp
bell, of Lairdsville, Lycoming county, Pa.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

The executive committee at Ply
mouth reported that on May 5, there
were SAL cases of typhoid fever. Since
that date GA new cases have been re-
ported making 9O5. There have been
So deaths in the past two weeks, leav-
ing $50 cases, 1874 being convalescent.
A majority of the sick are improving
but many are yet critical. Destitute
families to the number of 246, are re
ceiving aid. The total disbursements
lave been $500. There were four
deaths Wednesday afternoon.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

The trial OF Burton and Cunning
ham in London for causing dynamite
explosions in the Tower and West
minister came to an end on Monday,
and resulted in a conviction. Both
men were sentenced to penal servi.
tude for life. When sentence was
pronounced both declared their inno-
cence.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Collector Chase's removal has given
much satisfaction to those who did not
like him. 1t is difficult for revenue
collector to make himself popular with
the public. The office should be abol-
ished, because there is no longer any
necessity for it.-Gazette and Bulle-
tin.
The first part of the above is un-
doubtedly correct, but it has taken the
Gazette and Bulletin long time to
find out that the office should be abol.
ished. Like all other republican Or
gans it thought there was necessity
for all Offices that gave employment to
partisan officials, bnt when its party is
kicked out, and the offices are being
taken from the politicians it finds there
is no longer any use for them.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

The usual semi-weekly conference of
Drs. Shrady and Douglas took place
Wednesday afternoon in General
Grants house. The throat of the Gen.
eral was examined, and the doctors
found no marked change. Some part
OF the swelling below the ear has sub
sided, and less pain is the result. Since
Sunday the general has experienced
none of the darting pains that last week
centered at the ear.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

The Dolphin, a ship built by John
Roach for the government, is likely
not to be accepted, as it has made four
trial trips, and each time has failed 10
come up to the requirements of the con-
tract. 1t will not run over an hour
without getting hot box. Most Of
the contract price was paid the builder
by the republican Secretary of the
navy, but things have changed now,
and no more worthless vessels will be
palmed off on the government. John
Roach has made a fortune out of the
ship bulldog contracts with the gov.
srnment, and his work was always &C
cepted without question, because he
was ever ready to return portion OF
his enormous profits to the party that
made him rich in the way of campaign
subscriptions. The Chambers are not
running the Navy now.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Among the appropriation bills that
passed the house finally on Wednesday,
was that of S6s,OOO for the Danville
hospital.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Gov. Hill of New York has called
the 4th session of the Legislature to
provide for the taking of census, as
required by the constitution.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Ex. Secretary Frelirghuysen died
at his home in Newark, N. J. on We'd
nesday evening, about half past five
o'clock.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

Il. j. Phelps, the new Minister to
England, landed at Southampton last
Friday. and was warmly welcomed by
the authorities.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
Saturday, June 18th. 1885,

Saturday, June 18th. 1885,
at 10 O'Clock in the forenoon of said day the follow
ing described real estate, to-wit:
All that certain plantation, tract or piece of land
situate 10 Centre township Columbia county, Pa
bounded and described as follows, to-wit: Begin =
ming at pine tree In line of land formerly belong
ing to William Sloan and now to Martha sigfried
thence by land now or late OF John HILL south
thirty-two degrees east one hundred and ninety
five perches and eght-tenths to a stone, thence by
lands OF Sarah Conner and estate Of John Conner,
Jr, decd south sixty-three degrees west, ninety
five perches to a stone thence by lands OF Henry
c. Barton and wife north thirty-two degrees west,
one hundred and eighty-nine perches and FIVE
tenths TO pine knot, thence by land OF Martha
sigfried north fty-nine degrees east. ninety-four
perches and eght-tenths to the place Of beginning
containing one hundred and fourteen acres and
twenty-six perches be the same more or less all in
high state Of cultivation, on which is erected
two-story brick dwelling house, large bank barn,
wagon shed and all the necessary outbuildings
A large apple orchard and q well OF good water at
the door.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22

A bill passed the Legislature on
Wednesday appropriating $4,000, for
a temporary hospital at Plymouth.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
FRIDAY, MAY, 22, 1885.

Victor Hugo, he great French poet,
is dying.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
A DMINISTRATRIX' NOTICE.
Apr2i6w
A DMINIsTRAToRs s NOTICE.

IA
ESTATE OF JAMES BARTON, DECEASED.
Letters OF administration on the estate OF James
Barton, late OF the town OF Bloomsbury
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, deceased have
been granted by the Register OF said county to the
undersigned Administrators. All persons having
claims against the estate Of the deceased are re-
quested to present them for settlement, and those
Indebted TO the estate to make payment to the un.
dersigned administrators without delay.
ELI BARTON bloomsbury, ! Administrators
JOHN G. QUICK Rupert, "'0'0
1 GtV