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100 Years Ago This Month

November 1911

November 3

Class of 1912 Halloween Party

The class of 1912, of the Emmitsburg High School, with the members of the 1913 and 1914 as their special invited guests, enjoyed themselves for a few hours on Halloween in a masquerade party. The judges, Miss Maude Dorsey, Ms. Madeline Fraley, and Messers Jones Baker and Harry Whitmore had little trouble in determining who the robed "spirits" were and upon unmasking found that they had been mistaken in four. The party was made more enjoyable by various songs sung by different ones. Ned Annan received the prize for the best song and Alan Longnecker for sweetest song.

Overcome by Coal Gas

On Tuesday the occupants of Mrs. Adelsburger’s house were made very ill by escaping coal gas. Mrs. Adelsberger was aroused around three clock in the morning when Mrs. Sponseller, completely overcome by the noxious gas, fell to the floor. She then discovered that her sister-in-law, Nannie Adelsburger, was likewise ill and she, herself, was very weak. The cause was not immediately apprehended and during the day their conditions grew worse. A physician and neighbors were summoned and restoratives administered. Dr. Braugher and Stone attended to the ladies.

Mr. Daniel Shorb’s New Barn

On October 26 assisted by a number of his friends and neighbors, Mr. Daniel Shorb raised the frame of his new barn to take the place of the one burned on the evening of August 2. A substantial dinner, prepared by Mr. Shorb, was served with 53 persons assisting at the "raising."

November 10

Emmitsburgian Dies of Overdose of Morphine

Thomas Clagett, son of the late Jessie Clagett, whose peculiarities were accentuated by money recently inherited, died in a Topeka, Kansas hotel on October 30, from an overdose of morphine. Clagett left home about a week previous, in company with his brother-in-law, Roy Hill, from New Mexico, going to Los Vegas and Ranton to hunt bears. They made only a short stay in New Mexico and were on their way home when Clagett took too much morphine

Hampton Valley Telephone Company

The Hampton Valley Rural Telephone Company has been organized, its lines have been staked out and it is thought that the poles will soon be in place. The line will connect with the C&P Company lines in Emmitsburg and extend to Hess’ Sawmill.

Employees to get Pensions

The movement to grant employees pensions to ensure their loyalty is gaining hold. Armour & Co., the big packing concern at Chicago, has started a pension plan for the benefit of its 55,000 employees. They are following the example set in the last 10 years by several other big corporations in this country, including road companies.

Armour & Co. itself has set aside $1 million to start the pension fund. The 55,000 employees will pay 3% of their salaries annually into the fund, and will receive 2% of their salaries at the time of the retirement for each year they have served. Employees, for example who have served the company for 25 years will receive an annual income equal to 50% of their salary at the time of the retirement.

November 17

Mr. Davison has a Bully Time

Mr. Davison is fond of motorcycling. Sometimes he rides double. Last week he had his mother on behind his Wheeler and Wilson. He was bringing her home from a visit to Mrs. Baker when a 15,000 pound bull, genus Durum, jumped from behind a bed of violets along the road. The bull chewed up a tire, combed its mustache with Davidson’s $36 headlight which he recently purchased from Rears, Starbucks and Co., and picked his teeth with a half dozen spokes from this machine. He then allowed the cycling party to return home.

When Mr. Davison first saw the bull he hoisted a signal of distress and made for shallow water. He soon found himself on a sandbank where he pulled the cyclometer off the turbine, released the carburetor from the caboose, and sent the generator up to room 23 for help. But the bull cared for none of these things and went at ‘em with the above results. No one was hurt; not even the bull, but the repairs necessary to get Mr. Davison’s craft in commission will put a dent in the range of $10.48.

Severe weather

The wind on Sunday night blew over a corncrib in Mr. Helman’s yard and damaged many trees in town. On Monday morning barometer registered 16 degrees at 6 AM, a drop of over 40 degrees in 24 hours. This same storm caused 12 deaths in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, and caused a drop of 50 degrees in just a few hours. While it rained here, in the Middle West it sleeted. Much damage was done to telephone lines, knocking out communication to vast stretches of areas. In Virginia, Illinois every public building was demolished due to the weight of ice accumulation.

Business Developments

Beginning Monday the toll rates on telephone messages over the C&P wires between Emmitsburg and Gettysburg will be $.10 per minute. The Emmitsburg Motor Car Co., Messers Wagermand and Zimmerman have purchased a White Steamer. Orders are piling up at the Broom Factory and a busy winter is promised to those engaged in that industry.

November 24

Whooping Cough

The epidemic of whooping cough has been revived since the schools have opened. A number of children living in a country, who escaped the disease in the summer, are now ill. Parents are urged to report any ill children to their doctors so the progress of the epidemic can be tracked.

Will be Sadly Missed

After a long illness patiently endured, Francis Seybold died at his home near town on Saturday at the age of 22 years. Ray, as he was familiarly known, was a young man of great promise with particularly winning personality. He was also athletic, a splendid baseball player. For several years he made a valiant fight against the malady that was slowly destroying his life.

Mrs. Cora May Orndorff, Wife of Frank Orndorff, died at her home at Motter’s Station, after a seven weeks illness of typhoid fever. She was age 37 years 5 months and 2 days old. Mrs. Orndorff was Miss Welty before marriage. She is survived by her husband and 10 children.

Excursion to Baltimore

By Rising Star Council, Saturday, November 25. Train leaves Emmitsburg at 7:55 a.m., Mottter’s, 8:08 a.m., returning leaving Baltimore at 12 midnight. $1.35 round-trip from Emmitsburg, $1.20 from Motters. All day in the city and the night at the theaters, full of good shows. Splendid chance to get ready for Thanksgiving.

Accidents

Mr. Kessler met with a painful accident on Saturday while butchering. The knife he was using slipped and cut a gash of 5 inches long and his hand. Dr. Jamison dressed the wound.

On Saturday night two teams collided on W. Main St. with serious results. After the collision one horse took to the pavement and knocked Miss Fanny Hoke down, but fortunately did her no serious injury. The shaft of one of the buggies stabbed one of the horses. Both vehicles were broken.

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