The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-20
HE WAS a NOTED MAN.
Death of Christian Lcnz at Ship
oensburg.
From he Harrisburg IndoPendent, saturin

dsy- the 18th, at O'Clock D. N, from his
&c. RuxxzL
IN all parts Of Pennsylvania, especially
along all the leading railroad lines that run
into and through the state, among pOliti-
clans. lawyers, legislators, civil engineers.
newspaper nen. and that vast number Of
people who are expecting something ~to
turn up the announcement Of the death Of
Christian Long, Of Cumberland county, viii
create intense interest. He was Gs well
known as any man in the state, while be
made no seeming effort 10 attract attention
from any body. He began life in the Cum
berland Valley, first as a revivalist. a sort Of
local exhOrfeT, in which capacity he was as
sincere as are the class OF men who adopt
s1ch q course to get along and from this
he wen, into the clock business when the
famous ~Yaukee" or wooden clocks were
first introduced as an article Of commerce. /
A controlling Characteristic Of Mr.. Longs
personal organization consisted Of his sctivi-
y which gave him much force as clock
peddier, while the yoIability in the use Of
languages, which he acquired as An exhorter, /
gave him rare advantages as a talksr IN sell
ing his goods. He was in his day credited
with selling clock 70 the owner Of farm
which be LEFT with him IN harvest field. OF
one IN which the uan WIS plOnghing, While
the peddler drove to the farm house where
he succeeded in selling another to the wife
Of the sturdy ye0man. He traded clocks for
Cumberland Yalloy railroad company stock
al q period when that corporation was in
bankrupt condition, many holder Of such
values readily wrapping several shares
for a single clock. a transaction BY which
the WHY peddler secured holding in tia,
company, which in time made him a power
in its control, often enabling him even To
dictate 10 its president and board Of directors
as 10 their action about the time their re-
election was 10 be effected.
When the Pennsylvania railroad company
began 10 reach ont for alliances with other
roads. such as the Cumberland Valley and
the NOrrhern Central, Mr.. Long came into
prominenee. The late John Edgar Thomp-
son, Of the Pennsylvania Central company.
conceived great preference for Mr.. Long as
business man" and used him in Ways
which both best understood in futherance Of
many really vast purposes Of that mighty
corporation Mr.. Long was shrewd in the
fullest sense Of the term-cza;ious in Ian
guage and prudent in executing an order,
qualities which commented him to the great
railrOaGer who used him il many transac-
tons in which he would have been SLOW to
trust more pretentioUs and self-assuming
man.
Asa lobbyist, in Harrisburg Mr Long /
played prominent part, and was success /
fal worker. He was one Of the men identi- /
fed with the famous so-caIled Pittsburgh /
not bribery biz, measure which was de- !
signed to hold the state responsible for the 1
loss Of property destroyed in Pittsburgh 1
during lhestrike Of railroaiers in IS77, in 4
the effort TO secure which much corruption /
Kas alleged, and fJr which several promi- :
nent men from different parts Of the state
were convicted and sentenced 10 the peni- 1
tentiary, but pariored by Governor Hoyt. 1
an act which consigned that really able man I
70 an Obscurity from which be Will never 4
likely emerge Mr.. Long vas involved in /
the same cases, but he managed 70 escape /
being called for trial by fsigning sickness, /
having it IS said, induced physician 10 in
slruct him IN displaying the indications Of a |
paralytie and then taking room in the /
United States hotel, 70 which piacs the late /
Judge Pearson sent a physician 20 examine
hin, who reported that II would endanger |
his life TO force Long into court It vas the
most adroit plan Of '"possum acting any
man ever played. and succeeded in pulling |
the EOol over tie judges eyes.
From that period, and for several years
prior, Mr.. Long deal; largely in western
lands. OF which be bad a large holding in |
several states He also 0Ened large amount /
OF real estate il Harrisburg which ne con
iinGed to own 10 the day Of his death
Mr. Longs leading characteristics consisted
Of desire 10 accumulate He was asaga-
cious man in the true sense Of the word.
Clear sighted, eool headed and untiring be
pursued whatever be desired 10 accomplish
tenaciously exhausting every means 70 reach
his end. Men who knew him best either
respected bis sino1g points Of character o.
hated and feared him When he once gain
ed an advantage he never lost i in foolish
dealing, sGt turned al Of its available forces
70 bis own profit He loved wealth. not for
any comfort OF personal adornment it gave
aim, bUt merely for its power to add to
his gain. as be did when heexhorted At local
rustic prayer MEETINGS in the rural regions Of
Cumberland county, played the accordion
as . clock peddler. carried out the schemes
Of great rsilroaders. or OatEitted 4 profound
Judge, 80 be Eas in al things, a plain man.
covering his deep cunning With disregard
for show Of any kind. but always ready to
grasp the almighty dollar and lay it away
foc his own benefit In bis line Of peculiar
conduct he had no associate, and If ever his
life is written by any one, Christian Long
can Be made TO occupy place in Psnnsyiva-
MA 6GsinesS Affairs II railroading, inancier
ing and legislation Of the period when be
lived such IS 70 othe- man fills His death
viii al the newspapers Of the state with
many quaint stories OF his peculiariries, his
actions and his personal habits. some Of
which viii Be tue, bus the great msjo-ity
viii be the usual exsggsrariOn and coinage
Of the Imagination in writing the obituary
Of such men
Mr. Long was Eell-knoEn throughout
Somerset county, having spent a large por-
ton Of his tine in this place following the
constr action Of the Somerset & Mineral Point
r r, and after that road got into financial
diiiiculties be became one Of its principal
n4ners. He bad nunber Of Other invess-