davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
Held His Feet to the Fire.

HrSrINeDoS, January 35.-A dastardly
Outrage was perpetrated in Henderson town
ship this morning, which will probably re-
suit in the death of the victim. Henry Mer-
rits an old woodsman. About | @ clock
three masked men entered the humble hut of
Mr.. Merritts and demanded 10 be shown
where his supposed wealth was concealed.
For several years Merritts has been engaged
in the numbering business and had acecumu-
lated about $1,000, which was secreted in the
basement of his dwelling.
His assailants bound and gagged him and
failing in their efforts To extort confession
by these means they held his bare feet to the
fire and otherwise maltreated him in the
most shocking manner Finally, becoming
unconscious, his assailants left him and
searched the hut for his hidden wealth.
Beneath the flooring they found over sl,50o
hidden in u -four sack. But this was all
they secured, as the other money belonging
to him was hidden short distance from the
house Merritts was found this morning
still bound and gagged, and owing To his
advanced years it is thought the maltreat-
mcilt he received will result in his death.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
Victims of Lynchers.

Plymouth, y. C., Jan. 27.-Lynch law ran
riot here last night, and this morning the
people were Mortified 10 find that three negro
prisoners had been taken from the county
Jail by crowd of masked men, conveyed TO
piece of woods on the outskirts of town,
tied 10 trees and shot to death. This morn
ing their bodies were found ia the position
in which the lynchers left them, securely
bound TO the trees and riddled with bullets.
The lynching party gathered at the 3ail
shortly before midnight and demanded that
the iailer should deliver to them Jack Blount
his brother Matthew Blount and Patterson
Spruitt, who had been charged with the
murder of John Dawson. a peddler, of Cres-
well, in this state The jailer refused but
was overpowered and was was forced to per-
nit the men 10 be taken away.
When the woods were reached. the victims
begged piteously for mercy, but no attention
was paid to their outcrics, except the stern
reply thai they would be given a moment to
pray. Then the lynelers. who were various
ly armed with sboiguns, muskets and pis-
tolls, began their bloody work and fired vol
ley after volley until the prisoners were dead
Matthew Blount. one OF the three victims,
was a preacher of some local notogiciy and
had previously lost an arm.
The crime for which the three men were
thus summarily made TO suffer occurred on
Jan. 1. On that day John Dawson. the ped
dler whom they were supposed to have mur-
dered. was walking down the country road
on his way 10 the house Of neighboring
farmer. Patterson spruitt happened to pass
By in his cart, and when Dawson asked for
a ride be consented and the two drove some
distance. Before they reached the end of
their journey they came up with the two
Blounts. The three negroes determined to
rob Dawson and murder him. They over
powered him, carried him off TO secluded
spot, choked him to death and then endeav-
ored to hide h.s body, on which they found
only one dollar as the reward of their crime.
They were arrested and Sprui,t made con-
fession that Preacher Blount had committed
the murder and the other brother had strip
ped the dead mans person of the money.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
Oil in Illinois.


CARNI, lIL., January 27.--The Bridley-
Mclaughlin Company has been boring for
coal on farm Ia miles southwest of this
village. When tie drillers 90; down SO7 feet
they struck a good vein of coal Water be
ing needed. the drillers went down LOO fe e
fer an artesian well. The water smelled
strongly cf gas, and so the boring continued
% feet further down. When the drills were
Withdrawn from the vol last Tuesday even
ing, water spouted 20 feet ia tbs air. The
stream was brownish in color. but RAPIDLY
turned to yellowish green An oil man
who saw the change of color rushed frantic
ally about extingaishing the ERE and yelling
at the top of his voice that the men had
struck oil. A neighboring gully was danaed
up and the oil turned into lis pocket.
The well is now flowing 80 barrels an
hour or 500 barrels day There are 1900
barrels OF petroleum in tie gully. Tanks
will be erected next week and II is thought
that within week thousands Of men will
be engaged in developing the new field. The
gravity Of the oil. is IS per cent and il is
well suited for illuminating purposes. The
roar Of the escaping gas can be heard for
mile.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Is the Massachusetts, House on Thurs
day the Constitutional Prohibition Reso
luton was passed, in concurrence with
the Senate, by a vote of 100 to 20, with
one pair, being six more than the neces
sary two-thirds. A proposed amendment
TO substitute the word alcoholic" for ''in'
toxicating" was rejected-Ss TO l37. The
amendment will have to be passed by q
two-thirds vote in both branches next
year before its submission to the people
ar the polls.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

SECRETARY BAYARD declares that the
Presidents gift to the Pope was that of a
private citizen. All the same it was pre-
senied in the name Of the President OF
the United States and not Grover Cleve-
land. His Holiness in return blessed
the country and its President, and placed
the gift among those received from
Kings. Mr. Bayard must be both stupid
and blind that he can't recognize this
undisguised BID for the catholic vote.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

The bill giving the widow of General
John A. Logan pension of $1,000 a yeal
passed the Senate after debate, by 8
vote of 81 10 :. A similar bill'was then
passed increasing to $1,000 a year the
pension Of the widow of General Frank
y. Blair.
The Senate passed the bill increasing
the pension for total deafness TO $50 per
month and allowing proportionate ra-
ting for partial deafness. Mr. Quay stat
ed that the increased expense would not
exceed 100000 year
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Tue magnitude of the strike in the
Pennsylvania coal regions may be judged
from the fact that, instead of 100000 tons
of coal, which is toe ordinary January
product, the output this month will be
next to nothing, and the 100000 wages
which the company would have paid to
its miners for their months work will be
entirely withheld from them. Such de.
privations as this cessation of wages must
involve make the condition of the miners
a most pitiable one, but they are evident
ly determined to suffer good deal OF
hardship rather than surrender.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
Murderer coffey's Body cremated.

PIrrsBURs, Jan. 27.--The remains of Ed
ward Coffey, the murderer and suicide. were
taken from the county Jail, where he killed
himself to SIMPSONS Crematory on Sixth
Avenue. They were placed in the retort and
the ashes have pot yet been removed. 1t is
stated that cofey's motive in committing
snicide was 10 remove the odigm of an
execution from the name of his two sisters,
who are to become nuns.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

somerxr rcnunrfu
faesea afofJu
Of
ne
.fihon
ofssc
Dumhaali
the OFFS
an
nnn
from
hanI
S1t Peter Duuaa Sif
hers
dalsta
! -
A'' Drxs,s Nxvxps GAB.iEL
e'lay
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

MR. McN.xEs, the Republican leader
in Philadelphia, who will be delegate
TO the National Convention, insists that
he is for George w. Childs for President
and will vote for his nomination, not.
withstanding Mr Child's positive refusal
10 be a candidate and declaration that he
would decline the nomination if tender
ed him
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
A UDIToR's NOTICE.

Notice i hereby given that the guderis1e =.
Andiior duiy appointed by the Orphans Enl4
Of Somerset County % aaj'isi the elaius ot llc9
W. Burkholdcr aud wife as creditor. 0f Wiiiiar
Burkhoder. decd aud also go distribute the re-
idue Of the fund IN the hands % Priscilla Blts,
holder. Administrator Of said deceased l1 aal
among those legally entitled thereto. n0itce +
hereby given to an parties Interested That Hl-
SIT M my Office in the Hnnnugh af Slmer-ei- pl
Tuesday the 2ith of January 4. D. i,s l%
appQutmenf. when and WheEe al partics ir.ei
este. can attend
LR sCGlT
defls Aulitlr
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

they will md honorable employment that will
not take them from their homes and families.
The profits are large and surs for eyery industri-
Gus person many nave made and are now max
for any one 10 make O. and upwards per drv who
Il willing TO work. Either sex. young On old I:
capital not needed we start you. everything
new no special ability required you. reader
can do IL as well as any one. Write To as al once
for full particulars which we mail free. Addres
srfxsoS Co., Portland. Nd. janIl ,nS-lyr.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Last week witnessed the most exten'
siye cold wave Of recent years BE
ginning in the far northwest where Its
terrible effece is shown by the number OF
people frozen TO death, j. swept over the
entire country. Railways eveywhert
have been blocked, and inconven-
ience and suffering have followed.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

TuoEBE, who failed in his contest for
Speaker Carlisle's seat, will be candi-
date again next fall, when the working
men Of his district win have an opportu-
nity to right the wrong committed by the
Democratic majority in Congress
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Tnr Chicago fR;er-Ocean says: One OF
the appropriate songs Of the Democratic
campaign will be to the tune of " Uncle
Ned .:
He had no wool on the top Of his head
In the place where wool ought to grow
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Auditors thief fpenusy
th
a In
dadju
ctof and
that
The Naslman
for
One hundred
dthseefJ
Eand
Auditors and they did oezb
N and is kherxoa
rhandan day Jan
ay,A d,
s sHoBER
-
i1SSr Atf
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

The President should have waited un-
I'll June before attempting to shear the
sheep of the United States. Ii was bad
blunder.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
INVENTION Ia. .syoIrti.on.sd ias VOL.

INVENTION has reyolutionlzed The world
ittVLN fOtf during the last half century
Npt the least dlnnug the wonders of inventive
prosrcss Is Il method and system OF work that
can be performed all Oyer the country without
separating the workers from their homes. iay
young OF old DO special ability required cipi-
tal not needed you src started free. IN; ihi'
out and return % rs and we viii send yon IRE
something Of great yaiae ana importance % yof
That viii start you IN business, which VIII bang
YOU IN more MONEY right away than ANYTHING
else in the world. Gr1Ni 0HT1 Efe AidIpss iurE
< Co. Augusta Ne ianll-sTlgr
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
1tttst -
DENNIS MEYERS,
Clerk

OUTSTANDING STATE AND COUNTY TAXFS f :
- set County, Pa the 2nd day of January d 1sc
and owing by the Collectors OF the different Boroughs and
of said County, as follows: 0"nsl +
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Number remaining in house lst Jan ss. 50
Deaths.
The names and ages Of those who died
during the year are as follows.
Francis Fuller, died January ., lsS7, aged
90 years.
Sophia Shank, died March Il, 1887, aged 50
years.
Charles Miller, died March s5, 1857. aged II
years.
Daniel G. Smith. died April Il, 1887. aged
SO years
catharine Young, died July Is, 1857. aged %
Rosa Menscr, died August II. 1857. aged "a
years.
Patrick Brazler, died September y. 1887.
aged 30 years.
William Rose, died September y, fss7. aged
70 years
Caroline LenhaFt, died October IL, 1851, aged
d3 years.
There was warrant for " 6. Smiths
commitment issued. but he died before he
was removed 10 the Poor House.
Preaching.
Religious service were held twelve times
during the year, by Rev. Appleton Bash
also funeral service was held at each death.
something that rarely occurred in former
years.
Tramps and Vogronts.
No, tramps fed and lodged during yr 80 3i5
meals furnished them..... .......... 60I
iodglnSS.--..-..--....--- 80
WILLIAM W. BAKER,
Steward
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
prLE TO ACCEPT or REFUSE.

To John Schrock. Mury Ellen Schrock inter
married with IT, Kimmel Of Rock Rapids
Lyons Co.. Iowa. sadie schrnck interfnaJried
with -- Hutton and Eliza Schroek inter-
married with ". ". Lent, Of Waterloo. Black
Hawk County Iowa
1ou are hereby notified % appear al an Or
phans Court to be held at Somerset on Monday,
the 9TH day Of February next % accept OF re-
iuse 10 take the real estate of Jacob G. schroes.
deceased. Of Somerset Township Somerset Co.
Pa. al the appraised valuation, or shoR cause
why the same should not be sold
Sheriff. Office RS MCMILLEN
Somerset. Jan. Is. 'Ss Sheriff
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
DUE TO ACCEPT Or REFUSE.

DuLE To ACCEPT OR REFUSE.
To- J. Anderson. residing In Fayctte Co. Pa
Noah NJ. Anderson, residing in Greene Co.
p; Howard Anderson residing in Councils
vile, Fayette Co, Pa /; Lucinda Morrisor
and Mary Elizabeth Morrison, residing In
fayette County, Pa Clark Morrison. ThoIn a
Morrison. George Morrison and Margaret n
termarriei with - Fleming, residing IN
westmoreland County. Pa
You are hereby cited to be and appear nj 4
Court Of Common Pleas to be held al soinerset in
and for Somerset County. on Monday the g7tf:
day OF February, 1883. then and there To accept
or refuse TO take the real estate to Wit tract
Of land situate In Lower Turkeyf,ot Township
Somerset County. Pa. adjoining lands OF Jacob
n Noon, Lorenzo d. Mc>air. and Others. con
tanning 107 acres more or less at The anpraise,l
value thereof or show cause why the same Should
not be sold according 20 law
aherins Once. r. s. McMILEx
somefset, IA JAM IL, B5.J Sheriff
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

ALTHOUGH the storm in northeastern
Pennsylvania has been severe, nobody
has been frozen to death 80 far as reports
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

REPORT OF TIE COUNTY AUDITORS OF SOMERSET co. Ia.
Receipts and Expenditures Somerset County, Pa from s First Menday
Of January, 1887 to the First Monday Of January 1888
County Pa
" County, o
RECEIPTS DIR.
and
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01
Receipts During the Year 1887
Disbursements During the Year 1887

Balance in Treasury .-.-......-.....-. SiB 80
Resources December 81, 1877.
Am IN Treasury y...-..--.--...-....-.s 1i3 N
Outstanding On dnplieatcs......... I.Ji ~ S20.s Il
Liabilities December 81 1897.
Jacob Malst part Of insurance ...ss1W
Danl Altlather. fill of 1900 s1ga 0
Resources IN excess Of liabilities. s7s q
REMdPES.
An insurance Of 500 on a barn DESTROYED ty
hre for lie Tresslcr, of Larimcr Twp. j. in HiiE
ton, and = thercisIc NOT reported in Ihe above
statement
JdC HfSSER. President.
nc. SHdRTIENDRfB BER sec'y.
EJ WALKER Treasurer
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

n
7IiTo Amount OF Ito right hsndc column
= To amt of Borrowed money
so Reed for purch sold by "
~ :. for School records sold ps&
81 z" Error mileage OF srefu nd
sS Duplicate township
;. :. :. !. Mating sold by Commissioners
SIS Railing :.
s1
- Due at last settlement Judgment T.
Refunded by Men error in order No 7si of 81
.
Bal scnrocs, County,
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

Resources Of Co. Dec 81, - 6s In,I ~
during year Sc ss- 20 S7a-
, 1888-11-23

said the trembling voice; 4 will light q
candle
Some seconds passed, then the dismal
glimmer OF u tallow candle lit up a room
which struck me as tolerably spacious
The beggar had slipped behind me.
and now heard the sharp click Of the
key in the lock
II had expected to find a sordid. mi8cf
able hole. fitted out witt a broken stool
and a bundle of straw in the corner for a
bed. instead of which the room was fur
nished with a certain degree OF luxury
and the hoor was covered with rich car
pet
What does this mean? l asked iii
stupor You have deceived mel
Il turned toward the door The old
man had vanished, a,man in the vigor Of
life, a whitecwig in his hand, his face GOV
cred with penciled wrinkles, looked up III
me and laughed
You look surprised. be said, in a
hooking tone There are miracles still
in on days. you see My good legs have
come back TO me, and my crutches-lOok
theref
"Ho pointed toward the corner near the
door.
Well. what do you want of me?' !
asked, resolutely enough
&C." want you to lend me yopr watch.
III IlAAAltlIAl1 AAAD hiNhA AAAtAg
shappens to be at the jewelers. just now
and yours looks like a tolerably good ono
ri warrant it keeps good time
After all, it was but one man., and n
struggle man to man demands but ordin
airy courage.
But my pseudo graybeard drew a re
volver from his pocket.
No said he, holding the muzzle to
my face, the watch and the purse first
.T H., InaIr Mathematical, o,l ,w-rr,
at letting myself into such an absurd trap
almost suffocated me; but what could ]
do against this man armed2
"All at once an idea occurred to rae,
Imp of Satanl I'll catch you yet"
called out a gruff voice behind the beg
gar.
"Instinctively he turned around.
seized the opportunity to rush upon hin
and snatch the revolver from his hands
My turn now said l, holding the
revolver under his nose. Open thai
door this instant or / will blow out your
brainsl'
The robber looked at me with a stupid
air. He was a resolute fellow without a
doubt, out the revolver and the mysteri
Gus voice together were too much for
him. Growing savagely like a bulldog
he opened the door and slammed it vic.
lently after me.
Feeling my way along l found the
staircase, and with some difficulty gained
tho street. | directed my steps at once
toward the Strand. arrived a half hour
late at my theatre, where reigned the
greatest inquietude at my non-appear
ance.
Il kept the revolver as a tribute Of
war And you see," continued Toole.
how my little talent of veutriloquism
that night helped me out Of an ugly
scrape. From the French of Alfred de
Sauveniere.
, 1888-11-23
Lear,,s Raft Served Science.

When the great Leary raft went to
pieces off Nantucket last December no
one thought of regarding it us anything
except an unqualified disaster entailing
serious pecuniary loss on the owners of
the raft. However, this view was very
erroneous. for it is now found hat real
and permanent good has resulted from
the accident. The raft was composed of
thousands of logs, and of course when it
broke up each log became what may be
termed a special observing station for the
photographic Office Since December each
log that has been observed has had its
position noted by passing vessels. and
now, after the lapse of several months,
tho office at Washington has compiled
these observations and issued n carefully
prepared pilot chars. This chart. which
represents tho courses which the logs
took after tho raft was broken up. and
tho points in midocean in which they
were found, shows at q glance the general
direction of the currents, IL gives an
object lesson - the mariner that could
scarcely h. u given in any other
way.
OF e. 4se .4r Leary's contribution to
science was an involuntary one, but it
has been no less valuable on that accouut,
and has advanced the study of ocean cur
rents in q way that no one deemed posi-
BILE before the disaster occurred. One of
the peculiar features of the affair is that
what happened was just what the scien
lists desired, but it was rather too ex-
p~ensive IN experiment to be made volun-
tarily. Thousands of floating logs on the
Atlantic meant too much danger for ship
ping to permit of the government placing
them there. However, no serious disaster
has curre from collision with any of
these logs, and the wreck of the great log
raft has therefore been both instructive
and harmless, except to the gentlemen
who owned it.--Galveston News.
, 1888-11-23
IDEALS.

oh, daughter Of my dreamsi Have 1 not known
Thee save in upsubstantial fancy wrought
From nothingnesss The offspring of a thought
So long remembered that thy face hath grown
AS real as every wayside copse or stone
Along my patn.~ Thine eyes deep blue nnd
fraught
With poesy. Thy lips mine own have sought
So oft in vain. Art thou a dream aloneg
Nay surely. have drunk of Lethe's stream
And ! forget, once ere this life began
l knew thee, loved thee, in unmeasured space,
With an undying passion, so supreme
That still mid al the strife and toll of man
I seek in vain thine unforgotten face.
Sydney Herbert Pierson In The Journalist.
, 1888-11-23

n
1t was actually dark when Maj. De
Lancy's dog cart turned into the gateway
of his pretty little place.
They don't expect you, but they will
he pleased to see you, nevertheless, he
said. Stay. there is one of the game
keepers; drive IN and I'll speak to him
and be after you in a minute" and the
major jumped out.
Charles Vane alighted before the hail
door, which almost Immediately opened,
and in another moment two soft arms
we're about his neck,
You dear, dear old pet, cried a silvery
voice, Il have been watching for you for
an age; how late you are, and how glad !
am to see you" and she not only gave him
q hug. but a very decided kiss.
Then she recoiled a little.
George, never will forgive you'll" she
cried; you have been cutting your mus
tache. 1t is not half the size it was. and
it was such a beauty"
Maj. De Lancy was crossing the lawn,
and his footsteps gave back no sound.
He broke into a hearty laugh, and there
was a suppressed chuckle from the direc-
ton of the horses head, where stood the
groom hidden by the darkness.
Don't alarm yourself, Rosie" said her
brother, Il nave not shortened q hair"
For one moment the girl stood, as 1t
were, spell bound. TIL next she pushed
Charles Vane aside with strange power
for sue soft arms.
through the lighted hall like a sky rocket.
Charles Vane was a long time making
Rose forgive him for what was after all
no fault of his, but he could not forget
the touch of her ripe lips nor the pressure
of her rounded arms. and he was very
patient and persistent with her.
He liked her all the better. perhaps, for
her spirit and the annoyance she felt, and
made up his mind to conquer the antag
onism with which she met him after the
contretemps.
When she did forgive him she did it
royalty.
And Maj. De Lancy forgave him. too,
when he confessed that beautiful Rose
had consented to be his wife.
Sir Percy Vane, Charles father, was
asked down, and there was no doubt
about Roses power to wheedle him. He
was totally mashed"
For her sake he paid off every penny of
her iiance's debts, and, moreover, prom
ised a liberal allowance to enable tho
young man to marry 81 don't express a
wish, my dear" he said. before he took
his leave. that you will make my boy
hapPy-you couldn't fail to do it-but l
earnestly hope he will make you 50. | am
glad to think that when | pay the debt OF
nature, Charles viii bring such a Charm
ing mistress to the dear old place"
"Miaiorl' cried Charles. excitedly. I'm
deuccdly obliged to that fellow for per
sonating You. If he had not done SO |
should never have come down with you
into Yorkshire, and l should never nave
met Rose. Sale Lloyd in Boston
Herald.