davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23

I'm Florida, where Ponce de Leon failed
to discover The Fountain of Perpetual
Youth, Joseph Jefferson seems to have
found it, declares James S. Metcalfe, in
"The Ladies' Home journal for July.
s.He is a picturesque figure. His ruddy
cheeks and bright eyes give the lie to his
seventy-two years. He is slender, but
not with the leanness Of age. His hair,
mostly black, .streaked only here and
there with gray, and in length showing
a wholesome contempt for the fine art OF
the barber blows about in the breeze.
His fingers are as quick and deft at Knot
ting a line or adjusting a sinker as those
of boy on the banks of a stream and
he enters into every detail with boyish
landseape painting, writing and the care
If plants. In none of these pursuits does
he claim professional skill. but he brings
to them something more than profession
al zest Mr.. jefferson is very abste-
nious man. In eating, as in other things
except occupation in the open air-he
evidently believes in moderation as a
means to well living and long living. He
did not join in our after-luncheon smoke,
stating that If he had not given up to-
bacco a good many years ago he felt
sure that he would not be with us now.
Whatever the secret of his long and USE
ful life, 1t is safe TO say that every one
Of his countless friends and admirers
would be glad to lengthen it by a fulfill
ment of his own Rips favorite benedic-
tioii: Here's his health and his familyssr
any may they live long and prosperS
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
NOT A CASE OF MURDER
DR.. Converse Decides That
Heat and Alcoholism
Killed EngIer.

County Physician Converse examined
the body of William Engler, yesterday,
at the morgue. There were no cuts nor
bruises on the body. DIR. Converse re-
ported to Chief Murphy that death was
caused by heat and alcoholism.
Engler's body was found in an old canal
boat at the foot of Henderson street,
Friday night. Six persons were arrested
at the time, as the police were under the
impression that Engler had met with foul
play. Theeprisoners, Frank Tighe, no
home: John McInerney, of No. 1877 Moni-
tor street: William Leheay, of No. 1l9
Grand street; Kate Mum, of No. 4S Tenth
avenue, Manhattan, New York City; Mar
garet Jennings, no home, and Stella Bren-
nan, of New Haven, Conn, were held un-
til this morning, when they were dis
charged.
Engler had been drinking with these
companions in the cabin when a fight
arose Tighe got in a quarrel with
Engler and after going off the boat threw
a brick through the cabin window a6
Engler. The brick struck Engler. knock
ing him down. According to the police
reports. Engler was so drunk that he
could not get up. The heat of the cabin
combined with the condition he was in,
caused death.
Engler's father was at one time IA
nous ice-skater. The dead man came OF
a good family, but his life was wasted
He lived on the boats for thirty years
and lived by selling fish,
Undertaken Moran took charge of the
body for burial today.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
TROUBLE OVER SEWER.
GreenviIIe People Say Ocean
Avenue Pavement Was
Not Properly Replaced.

The following petition, signed by forty
six citizens and property owners o.
Greenville, was received by Mayor Hoo:
today and referred to the Board of Stree
and Water Commissioners, to be acted
upon at this afternoons meeting:-
To your Honor, Edward Hoos. Mayor
of Jersey City
The undersigned property holders
and taxpayers, residing on Ocean ave
nue., between Bidwell and Bostwiek
and vicinity, do respectfully petition
your onor to investigate the condition
of said Ocean avenue. caused by the
opening of said avenue for building a
sewer. The pavement has never been
properly replaced, leaving hummocks
and gullies, where connections have
been extended to the curve. Also
where the pavements have been re-
placed the blocks have been laid in
coal cinders instead of gravel, as the
law requires. The dirt has never been
removed and lies several inches deep
on the roadway, which on windy day
is blown into the houses and stores.
The sidewalks are, and have been
for weeks, obstructed with paving
blocks, making travel dangerous to
pedestrians.
We trust your Honor will give this
matter immediate attention to the end
that relief may be afforded to
Your Humble Servants.
Along with the petition the Mayor sent
the following communication to the Street
and Water Board
July %, 1901.
Honorable Board of Street and Water
Commissioners.
MISUNDERSTANDING to the enclosed
petition l beg to say that from per-
sonal investigation l know the COM
plant to be a just one and l sincerely
trust that you will take prompt and
proper action in the matter. This hot
weather is enough to endure and to
tolerate this nuisance is shameful to
say the least. l do not think there is
any other city in which the people
would permit such condition of af-
fairs to exist
EDWARD HoOS.
Mayor.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
WATER VERY Low
High Service Supply Will
Probably Last Four
Days More.
SLEEVE PLACED OVER BREAK
Engineer Van Keuren Says
People Are Not at All
Wasteful.

Water went down five inches in the
reservoirs at High Service yesterday,
leaving only one foot and seven inches
supply for the High Service district at
the rate lost yesterday. 1t is anticipatsd
that the work of repairing the break in
the main under the Hackensack will be
completed by Thursday. That's the an
ticipation of the divers, who are working
under thirty-eight feet of water. Green
vile and lower Jersey City are supplied
from water below the suction valves,
from above which the High Service dis
trict is supplied.
Chief Engineer Van Keuren says that
his appeals to the people of the city not
to waste any water have been nobly re-
sponded to, as is shown by the fact that
whereas the water in the reservoirs fell
between fourteen and fifteen inches on
Saturday last, yesterday--wash day--lt
fell only five inches.
The Engineer still advises great caution
and intimates that there is yet danger of
a water famine, although twenty-four
million gallons are being run daily into
the reservoirs from Belleville, West 1o-
boken and Bayonne.
The Merit Chapman Wrecking Com
pany yesterday placed the sleeve over the
break in the main under the Hackensack
River, but while it is pronounced an ex-
cellent fit some delay has been occasioned
by the necessity of Strengthening the TWO
sagged ends of the broken main.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
STILL MISSING.
No Trace Has Yet Been
Found Of Young Mrs.
Petersen.
POLICE ARE NONPLUSSED
Theory That She Is Lost Ex-
ploded By Her Con-
tinued Absence.

| Mrs. Susan Petersen, wife of William
| Petersen, of Little Ferry, who mysteri-
ously disappeared Saturday evening from
| a Cortlandt street ferryboat is still miss
| ing. The police of all the surrounding
cities and Mr.. Petersen and his friends
have been diligently searching everywhere
but without obtaining the slightest clue.
The case becomes more mysterious as
the absence of the young wife is pro-
longed. 1t was at first supposed that Mrs.
Petersen had become lost in. the maze
about the ferry, either on the New York
side or on this side of the river, but this
theory is now being abandoned for the
reason that at the most only a few hours
would be spent in aimless wandering by
any rational person.
Then some assistance would be sought,
but nowhere does there appear to have
been any inquiry made of a woman an
swering Mrs. Petersens description.
The theory that Mrs. Petersen fell over
not generally accepted, because at the
time she was aboard the boat, seven
O'clock in the evening, there were great
many other passengers aboard, and mad
she fallen from the boat, especially from
awaiting the return of her husband, She
would have been noticed without a
doubt.
Mr.. Petersen has worried himself into a
condition that is beginning to alarm his
friends and it is feared that unless some
trace of his wife is found soon he will be
seriously affected.
The story of Mrs. Petersen's disappear
anoe was told in "The News yesterday
She and her husband were on their way
home to Little Ferry from New York.
When on the upper deck of the Cortlandt
street boat Mr.. Petersen left his wife and
went to the lower deck to have his shoes
shined. Instead of returning to her, as / e
said he would do, he left the boat from
the lower deck and went upstairs in the
depot to meet his wife. He could not
find her and while he was looking for her
in the station the ferryboat returned 10
New York.
Mrs. Petersen weighed 175 pounds, was
nineteen years old and had fair hair and
complexion.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
DOESN'T WANT HER SOCKS
Paterson Girl Tries to Com
pei Deserving Lover to
Marry Her.

According to the affidavit of Miss Mar
celia Donleyy, of Paterson, who is TWEEN
ty-two years old and was educated in a
convent, she spent much money buying
fancy waistcoats, embroidered suspenders
and jewelry for Albert J. wilkins, who
had promised to marry her. This prom
ise he broke, she declares. and now she
has brought suit to force him to lead
her to the altar He has sent most OF
her presents back.
Wilkins is an electrician who formerly
was employed in Paterson, but now lives
in Bayonne. Miss Donlevy left the con-
vent at Madison last January, having
spent five. years there. Although she
has several thousand dollars which was
left to her by her parents, who died a
few years ago, and will receive much
more, she took position as clerk in a
candy store. There she first met Will
kins. In February, according to the
young woman's story, he asked permis-
sion to pay court to her. She gave con-
sent.
Their courtship was a most pleasant
one, she says. She gave him her watch
to wear and presented to him gold chain
and diamond-studded charm. She YVES
proud of Wilkins and she gave him dia-
mond stud, an opal ring, cuff buttons and
numerous costly little trinkets. AS she
told a reporter, she wanted him to look
as well dressed as any other man. Will
kins, she understood, moved in the best
society of Paterson. She went SO lar,
she AYERS, as to buy for him clothes,
neckties. embroidered euspenders and
fancy waistcoats
Why she said, 81 have even spent
as high as rs cents a pair for fancy col
ored socks for him"
According to Miss Donlevy he daily
avowed his love and asked her to hasten
the day Of the marriage, which she
fixed for last Memorial Day. Wilkins
told her, she alleges, that he had no
money with which to purchase proper
clothes for the ceremony, and she drew
s125 from her bank account and gave it
to him
Then came a hitch in the propose
marriage. Miss Donlevy is a member of
the Catholic Church. while Wilkins is q
Protestant. Finally the Young woman
agrfeed to be married by a Protestant
minister she declares. On Memorial Day
silk dress and sat waiting for the brid-
groom. Wilkins sent word that tie mar
riage would have to be put off until later,
as he was working. He went to her
boarding house that evening, according to
the girl, and said that ne had no money
with which to pay the minister. Miss
Donlevy showed him S. Wilkins asked
her to go to Newark Miss Donlevy con-
tinres:-
when we reached there Wilkins said
1t was too late to be married that night
and suggested that we put off the
wedding until the next day. When morn
ing came he said that the ceremony would
have to be put off again. On the follow
ing Saturday he promised to marry me.
but again asked for a postponement.
Then 1 asked my lawyer to interfere, and
Albert told him that he had never prom
ised to marry me-"
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
LOOKING FOR SISTER MAcDALEN
Old School Friend Think Her Mind
rs Affected.

The Organized Aid Association is look
ing for Sister Magdalen, who, as told in
sThe News" came here in the costume
of a Sister of Charity of the Episcopal
Church and applied to the Organized Aid,
saving she was homeless and without
funds She was sent to the Door of Hope
as there was no home in the city for
homeless women, pending an investigation
of her story. She left the Door of Hope
one morning saying she would return.
Later an exnressman called for her trunk,
saying Sister Magdalen was waiting at
the Erie Depot Where she went nobody
seems to know.
1t has since developed that she was no5
friendess and that she came here to see
an old school friend, Mrs. Wright who
lives on Magnolia avenue, and who IS
now desirous of locating her. Mrs.
Wright had not seen her since they were
in school together in Toronto, Canada,
when Sister Magdalen was Miss Maggie
Keefer, of Strathroy, Canada. Her
parents were then people of means,
though later they lost their fortune and
Miss Keefer went to England as COVER
ness She has a sister, Mrs Johnson,
in Toronto, Canada, with whom she lived
for some time.
Mrs. Wright seems to think that some
trouble has unbalanced Miss Keefer's
mind as she acts queerly whenever her
family is referred to. Mrs. Wright is
anxious to locate her old school friend
because she thinks she may have dis
appeared raysteriously from home and
that Miss Keefers people are now look
ing for her. Mrs. Wright has asked the
Organized Aid to assist in the search.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
KElLER's EYE OPERATION

Within a few days an operation will be
performed on the left eye Of Rev. John
Keller, of Arlington. Splinters of bone
caused by the bullet from Barker's revol-
ver will be removed by specialists. On
the success of the operation will depend
the rectors sight, the right eye having
been destroyed
According to the friends of the clergy
man no attention will be paid to the open
letter addressed to Keller by the recent
mass meeting of Barkers friends. They
resent the attempt to force him to action.
steps will be taken at the proper time,
they say.
Mr.. Keller was much benefited by his
trip to Sea Girt. He preached Sunday the
first complete sermon since the shooting
in the chapel of the Trinity Mission. o!
which he is pastor.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23

minished or affected. The reduction IN
such case applies to the par
ticular property over assessed and leaves
wholly untouched the larger question as
to the total value of assessable property
in the district. The correctness of your
Judgment as to the total valuation in
Weehawken is quite consistent with in
dividual instances of over assessment in
that town. If the opposite view should
prevail it would lead not only to endless
confusion but fatal Irregularities in the
very serious business of levying and coll
lection taxes. 1t may be said that
it is possible for the State Board to so
far reduce assessments in taxing dis
trict as to render it impossible without
over assessing, to apportion the total val
uation of property in the districts as ad-
5usted and corrected by you; and that
the possibility of such an extreme case
warrants the claim made by the assessor
of Weehawken for a reduction in the
present case. There are two conclusive
answers to this contention In the first
place the extreme supposed case does not
exist. In the second place it never can
exist except ON the unassumable condl-
tion that either this Board or the State
Board should prove incapable of prop
erly performing the responsible duties in
trusted to it.
The assessors in some districts OF this
county in their efforts to acquire or main
tain popularity with the taxpayers of
their district seem to have deliberately
adopted the policy of grossly undervalu-
ing property. Your Board is consequently
compelled in the discharge of it's duties to
increase the ratables in such districts. In
the present year this has been done IN
the cases of seven taxing districts. The
amount of ratables as increased by you IN
these districts should be notice to the
several assessors as to. what you conceive
to be the true. or at least the fair, valua-
tions of their ratables.
If these assessors are given to under
stand that these additions will he annual
ly made by you until they return valua-
tions according to your views they will
probably come to the conclusion that they
may as well do what the Law requires
them to do and make just and adequote
assessments. When this is done there will
be no further need of added percentages
Respectfully,
(SigneD JOS. M. NOCNAN.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
FATHER DEAD, BROTHER KILLED

Especial to "The Jersey City News."1
BORDENTOWtN, July %, 19o1.-The body
of William Gaskiil, who had been miss
ing from his home at Yardville for two
weeks. was found yesterday among black
berry bushes, about one-quarter Of "a mile
from his home. The body was badly de-
composed One arm had been torn off by
dogs.
At almost the hour of the finding of
Gaskill's body his son Joseph, twenty-one
years old, working at .<orris Brothers
wooden mills, at Groville, was caught in
the betting and thrown against ma
chinery He sustained a compound frac-
ture of the skull besides injuries of the
arms and legs. He was brought to Bor-
dentown, and DR.. ". II. shipps attended
his injuries.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
YESTERDAY WAS HOT
But 1t Wasn't So Much the
Temperature as HUI
midity.

The highest point reached by the mer~
curry in the street thermometers in this
city was SO degrees at APO O'Clock yeste1-
day afternoon. The humidity was then b1
per cent, but it seemed far greater. The
official Thermometer here marked "a de-
grees at o'clock yesterday morning. By
10 it had risen to so. and the humidity had
dropped from SO at o'clock to 76. From
then up to o'clock in the afternoon
there was steady rise and the list OF
prostrations began to grow.
With the setting of the SUM- the neat be-
came less oppressive, and while the nu-
midlty was greater than it has been on
any night since the killing temperature of
late June the general meteorological cor
eition did not compare with the conditions
endured in the Western States.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
NEGRO SLASHER HELD

Maxwell Chambers, the negro who cut
his wife and mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary
White, at the latter's home, No 3i4
Seventh street, because his wife refused
to return to his home with him and his
mother-in-law interfered with him, last
Thursday night, was this morning held
in 81 1000 bail by Police Justice Hoos for
the action of the Grand Jury.
Mrs. Chambers and Mrs. White ap-
peared in court to press their charges of
atrocious. assulat and battery. They Were
swathed in bandages and they looked as
though they had gone through thresh-
ing machine.
Counsellor Joseph Smith appeared as
Chambers's counsel and made strong
plea for his client. with the result that the
bail was fixed at the lowest possible
figure
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
MORE COMPANIES.

Especial to "The Jersey City News.')
TRENTON, July 90, 19O1.-An amended
certificate of Incorporation Of, the Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming Valley Rapid Tran
sit Company, was filed at the Secretary
of States office yesterday. The capital
stock is $6,500000.
Other companies incorporated yester-
day were: The Lehigh Valley Transpor-
tation Company, capital stock S1,250,O 600;
tie Frauen-Sterbekasse ''Einigkelt" Won
Hudson County, to promote the decent
interment of its members and to extend
charitable relief; the model Hat Company,
capital stock 100000; the Coronet Silk
Manufacturing Company, $50 O0o; the C. E.
Kelly Company, So, 900; Van Ripper & Co..
s15, 600.
The American Mining and Engineering
Company increased its capital stock from
$780, 0U0 to $500 900.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
DEAD WIFE AVENGED.

The man WI was found in a street in
Bayonne with face mutilated and tongue
cut out and whose name was yesterday
given as George McCreedy, has been iden-
titled as one McVety, who served a term
of twenty years in State Prison, minus
time allowed for good behavios, for pour
ing kerosene oil on his wife's clothes and
setting her on fire, which resulted in her
death.
The late Judge John A. McGrath de.
Tended him, and through appeal had his
original sentence to Imprisonment for life
changed to twenty years sentence. lie
had been employed rs helper by Con-
tractor Michael T. Connolly. He either
fell off or was thrown from one of Mr..
Connolly's trucks passing through Bay
onne.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
MONSTER TURTLE CAUGHT

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News.'o
MAYS LANDING, July %. 1901.-Sports-
men Harry Moore and William Smail-
wood, of this place, while fishing at the
mouth of the Great Egg Harbor River,
hooked mammoth sea turtle that re-
qulred their combined efforts to land after
a hard fight for nearly one hour.
Eventually Smallwood dealt the turtle a
terrificblow over the head with an oar,
and they finally hauled him into the boat.
When weighed the turtle tipped the beam
at eighty-seven pounds, and is probably
the largest ever caught in inside waters
with hook and line.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
RUSHING THE BIG SEWER

The contractors who are building the
big six-foot sewer on Grand street, from
Fairmount avenue to the old Mill Creek,
are rushing the work. The pipes have
been laid to within fifty feet of Pacific
avenue.
Some delay was experienced during the
recent hot spell, as the men could not
work in the trenches. An extension of
forty days was granted by the Street and
Water Board last week, in which to COM
plete the work 1t is expected that. the
sewer will be finished by September.
For three months the Bayonne and
Newark ears have used the Pacific ave-
nue. route in going east.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
HEALTH OFFICER HURT

Especial to "The Jersey City News."]
vTNELAND, July 90, 1sO1.-While at
tempting to board a train at Franklin
vile yesterday afternoon William NJ.
Ruhl, a city official of Vineland. fell un-
der the wheels. One foot was cut off and
his leg broken in two places. He was
brought to Vineland and sent to the JEFF
ferson Hospital, Philadelphia, in critical
condition Mr. Ruhl is secretary of the
yineland Board of Health. He is step
son of MAYOR Mason.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
BUILDING THE DAM

Engineer Edlow S. Harrison for the
Jersey City Water Supply Company said
today that the contractors men are now
hauling stone from the qaarries to the
site for the dam h-eross the Rockaway
River and Old Boonton.
The contract, as amended by the city of
Jersey City. is now in the hands of the
lawyers representing the syndicate which
will finance the scheme. When they have
approved of it it will be signed and then.
said Mr. Harrison, the work will move
along rapidly
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
' cry Respectfully,
"EDWARD IfOOS. Mayor"
PERSONAL

Herman Rohlfs, the Democratic COM
mitteeman of the Ninth ward, will sail
Thursday to visit relatives in Germany.
Mrs John Watson. of Pacific avenue, is
spending the summer in Connecticut.
Collector Robert Davis will go, next
week, to join his family at AGRA, n. Y.
Mrs. William Brnkerhoff, of Summit
avenue, is at present staying with her
daughter at Amherst, Mass.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
CAUGHT AFTER FOUR MONTHS

action of the Grand Jury by Justice Muir
ply in the Second Police Court today, on
charge of rape preferred by Detective
Gallagher, who has been looking for him
for four months. The complaining wit
ness is Madelina Mullfca, a five year old
Italian girl of No. 347 Palisade avenue.
Farila was a bootblack on Exchange
place. He left the State four months ago
and went to Waterbury, Conn.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-23
FELL FROM FREIGHT CAR

Frank Cannon, thirty-two years old.
of No. IL West Side avenue, while at work
at Pier of the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Railroad, Yesterday fell
from a freight car and received injuries
about the back. He was taken to st.
1ary's Hospital, Hoboken.