The morning news., 1888-08-03
A DESERTED VILLAGE.
The Idle Property to be Purchased by
Capitalists
From the E-e'c Tor.: Times.

From the Ee'U Tor; Times
UAERIsBURG, Jaly 30.-Intcrest in de-
erred village, an abandoned coal mine, an
non furnace which was built at great ex-
i,.nse. and an iron mine whose value was
aanendent on tho Furnaces, all in the valley
# the Lyconling creek, has been revived by
the report that the lnpG idle aud stunned
nropertv is to be purchased by party of
Philadelphia capitalists. A great many
rhousaads of dollars were originally in
vested in the mines and furnaces, and their
nresept ruined and desolate condition fol
lowed one mans unwise love and the
tragedy that resulted from it.
Fifty years ago, as the story is low re-
called, Richard Carter, young miner,
came to America from Cornwall, Eng He
found work in the Pennsylvania coal mines
in Schuylllill county. He was Industrious
and saving, and in few years was able to
engage in business for himself. He made
fortunate Investments, and finally became
largely interested in iron manufactures and
coal production. Twenty years after he
went into the mines il Sc luylkill county he
was recognized as one of The ablest imam
ciers and business managers in the anthra-
cite region. He organized and was made
the president of tao Anthracite bank in
Tamaqua He mqrried into one of the
leading families of the county, and was re-
Cordci aS model husband and father
In 1854 or 1855 Carter, to the astonlsh-
ment of his friends, loaned to man named
John McCauley of Lancaster county, and
whose business reputation was none of tho
best, sufficient money to start in the iron
bu .iness in Luzerne county. NIcCauley had
a daughter, then about 16 years of ago,
bright and prepossessing. The iron bust
ness in Luzerne county. under McCauey S
management, was a disastrous failure. and
cost Carter a fortune. In 1854 company
known As the Red Run coal company opened
a semi i-bituminous mine on the Lycomiug
creek, mile or 50 above the village now
known as Ralston, in LycOming county.
This company also opened a vein of iron
ore which assaved a large percentage of
good metal. Carter became interested in this
company, and in 1856 began the building of
large furnace for the utilization OF the
ore lie transported the stone for its con-
struction from Mauch Chunk, a task OF
great expense and difficulty in those days
1t was understood that McCauley was to
have charge of the iron works, but before
they were completed he died. Soon after
ward his daughter became an inmate of
the Western female college at Wilmington,
Del, although her father died penniless.
The work of opening the mines, construct
ing the furnace, and putting up the dwell
the mining and manufacturing village
went on. In the fall of 1857 the furnace
was ready to go in blast. A
smart, new village, which was
named Carterville, had been built around
it. In November of that year Car
ter went to Philadelphia, presumably on
business connected with his enterprise. He
always made his headquarters while in that
city at the st. Lawrence hotel, on Chestnut
do,r xrI,iIa ha thara ie
last time he was met in the reading room
by young man, a stranger to these in the
hotel. The two sat down together and were
soon engaged In an animated conversation.
They had talked but short time when the
young man drew a revolver and shot Carter
three times as be sat in his chair. Carter,
fatally wounded, fell to the floor, and the
stranger fired two more shots into his body
as he lay dying Carter was dead before he
could be raised from the floor.
The murderer was arrested. He gave his
name as Thomas Washington Smith. In
the developments that followed it was re-
vealed that John McOauleys daughter had
been kept at the Wilmington college at
Carter's expense, and it was charged that
she was the price of the banker and iron
masters strange interest in her father. A
few months before the murder of Carter he
had made the acquaintance of young
Smith, of whose antecedents, except that
he had at one time moved in good society
in Lancaster, nothing definite seemed to be
known. Carter subsequently, introduced
him to Miss McCaulev. Smith fell in love
with her, and not long afterward married
her. They had been married but a short
time when Smith discovered that his wife
was soon to become a mother. He left her
and disappeared, but soon afterward turned
up in Philadelphia where, meeting Carter
obo doc -aA Il