January 3

Is There An Errorless Newspaper?

We don't want anyone to send us any more copies of this paper in which they have found mistakes. If they find a perfect copy, however, we offer a big price for it. If the fool critic who hunts for mistakes in the papers would find them all he will be kept busy. We will be pleased to buy copies of any paper which can be proven entirely free from errors. We will be pleased to find a merchant who never made a mistake in putting up an order; a lawyer who never lost a case for his own errors, a doctor who never wrongly diagnosed a case, a druggist who never made a mistake, a post-official who never put mail in the wrong box, or a woman who never forgot to put in the salt while cooking. Bring on some of your mistakeless paragons who find it so easy to criticize the papers and we will give them the chance of their lives to find out whether they are really human.

New Year's Eve Celebrations

In Emmitsburg the New Year was ushered in with more noise than usual here than in past years. The Emmit Coronet Band gave a midnight concert on the square, detachments of paraders thronged the streets, the tinhorn was very much in evidence, and firearms and cannon crackers were fired at minute intervals. There was a largely attended "watch meeting" from 11 until midnight in the Lutheran Church and at the hour of midnight, bells tolled from several steeples.

The tolling of the Lutheran bell marked the 40th year of faithful service of Mr. James Hospelhorn as the official New Year bell ringer of that church. Mr. Hospelhorn is justly proud of his record, having never failed in his duty during that length of time.

In keeping with an old local custom, bands of "Bellsnicklers" had been on the streets at night for the past week.

Runaway on Main Street

On Tuesday evening a very exciting runaway occurred on East Main Street, when two horses belonging to Mr. Albert Adlesburger, driven by Mr. Allan Gellwicks and hitched to a three-seated wagon, broke loose, tearing the two front wheels from the wagon, throwing the occupants to the ground and badly cutting them about the faces.

The horses then ran up Main Street and collided with the buggy of Mr. Johnson Eyler, throwing Mr. and Mrs. Eyler against the dashboard. The horses then ran to their stable where they were found badly cut and bruised. No one was seriously hurt.

Upon investigation it was determined that the cause of the mishap was the breakage of the King Bolt which released the front gear of the team and threw the occupants out when the buggy fell to the ground.

January 10

Receptions

On Friday evening Mrs. Helen Annan and Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Burton were ‘at home’ to their friends at the Annan homestead, ‘Craggystone.’ The evening was spent in dancing. Refreshments were served at a late hour.

On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. George Eyster entertained a number of ladies at ‘Flinch.’ Delicious refreshments were served consisting of salad, hot biscuits, ice cream, cakes, coffee, and nuts.

Local Hotels To Be Sold

Mr. Edward Rowe has announced that on Wednesday, January 15, he will sell at public sale the property known as the Hotel De Beatty, which sits on the property adjoining the Mountain View cemetery.

Mr. Lawrence Morndorff announced he will sell at private sale the lease, furniture and fixtures to the Hotel Slagle, including its annex, and the livery business connected therewith, including horses, vehicles, harnesses, etc.

Passes 81st Milestone

Mr. Bennett Tyson, familiarly known to every Emmitsburgian as ‘Uncle Bennett,’ was 81 years old last Saturday. When seen by a representative of the Chronicle, Mr. Tyson looked well and hearty and was able to lay aside his cane, the use of which has been made necessary by the recent attack of rheumatism. Uncle Bennett spends a good deal of his time reading, but never lets the day go by without doing some manual labor. He has the congratulations of the whole community on his 81st anniversary.

Knitting Mill Doing Well

The manager of the new Emmitsburg branch of the Union Manufacturing Company’s knitting mill is very much pleased with the progress made here. The manager said he has started many knitting plants, and he declares that the beginners in the local branch were the quickest to learn that he is ever taught. He had nothing but words of praise for all his employees. He also stated that by spring he expected to operate more machines and that meant more local jobs.

January 17

Rocky Ridge Loses Highly Respected Citizen

Early Sunday morning fire broke out in the building occupied by Black and Company of Rocky Ridge, and the excitement and anxiety for his neighbors proved too much for Mr. J. B. Black, not a member of the above firm, and he died shortly after.

Mr. Black was a lifelong member of the Reformed Church and took a prominent part in its affairs. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a leader in local G.A.R. circles. For many years, about 27, he had acted in the capacity of postmaster at Rocky Ridge.

Mr. Black lived across the street from the scene of the fire, which was instrumental in his death. The first intimation of a fire was when Mr. Ott saw flames in the Black warehouse. The family of Mr. William Black slept above the store and their plight would have been very serious had not Mr. Ott wakened them. As it was, they had to escape in their nightclothes. Besides the friends and neighbors who helped hold the fire to the building already doomed, valuable assistance was given by the men who are engaged on construction work on the Western Maryland and are now boarding in the village. The loss is about $7,000, partially covered by insurance.

Lad Killed By Falling Tree

Theodore Fogal, the five-year-old grandson of Solomon Fogal, died Wednesday while watching men cut timber on a local farm. A tree was being thrown over the side of a bank of a race, a wedge being used to facilitate the work. In falling, the tree turned in the opposite direction from that expected and the heavy weight crashed towards the boy.

Realizing the danger the men shouted, but he was unable to get out of the way in time. Had he moved but a short distance further he would have escaped, but instead a heavy limb struck him. The little fellow was knocked to the ground and frightfully injured. He was not pinned underneath the tree, however. The limb struck him on the left side of the head, crushing the skull. The lad had no chance of recovery and was unconscious until his death.

January 24

Charles Zack Dies

Mr. Charles Zack died Sunday in his 69th year. He was born near Emmitsburg and spent his life here. He served in the Civil War, a veteran of the Union Army and was twice enlisted, and fought in the battle of Monocacy Junction and saw other active service. He was a blacksmith by trade and conducted the business in Emmitsburg until seven years ago when he was stricken with sun-stroke and has been invalid ever since. Mr. Zack will be interned in the Lutheran Cemetery.

Debate in Fairfield

Last Friday evening, quite a large audience was instructed in the Fairfield High School at a debate. The question under consideration was: Resolved, that socialism is a menace to our country.

Each side maintained their position with great skill and the 350 people present gave the speakers their undivided attention. During omissions, music was furnished by the Emmitsburg Orchestra. After considering the merits of the debate as presented by the two sides, the judges gave the decision to the affirmative.

Tents For Gettysburg Celebration Ordered

Secretary of War Stimson has approved plans for a mammoth camp to shelter surviving Union and Confederate veterans who will meet at the Gettysburg battlefield next July to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle.

The camp will consist of about 54,000 tents, affording accommodations for between 60,000 and 70,000 veterans. There will also be 200 kitchen tents and a complete divisional field hospital. The camp will spread over 276 acres and will be occupied temporarily by up to 100,000 persons. Congress has appropriated $150,000 for the celebration. Both Northern and Southern states will make appropriations to defray the transportation expenses of their respective veterans.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'