Enforce the Ordinance

The attention of the Burgess and Commissioners is directed to the unsanitary conditions of some of Emmitsburg’s alleys. An inspection will reveal an unhealthy and unsightly state of affairs. In addition to rubbish and waste of all kinds, garbage and filth may be seen in not a few localities. This means disease. It also means, if allowed to continue, that the health and pleasure of many is to be made subservient to the indifference of a few. The town authorities have the power to put a stop to it and they should.

Boozer’s Crash Into Pole

A five-passenger touring car was badly damaged after crashing into a telephone pole on the state road at the base of Payne’s Hill, near Thurmont, early Saturday morning, John Cool suffered a broken nose and badly cut face. Benjamin Topper, who was running the car, was bruised and shaken up. Basil Sanders, John Wetzel, and Robert Ridenour were cut by flying glass. The accident was attributed to booze.

The occupants of the auto, all members of the Emmitsburg chapter of the Former-Former Boozers Association, were returning from a ‘shine run’ in the mountains. According to Topper, the occupants got to sampling the ‘supply’ and he "plain forgot that he was supposed to be steering." "I never had to worry about steering with ‘Old Luke (his horse)," said Topper. "I tell you now, autocars are going to put an end to a man’s constitutional right to drink and drive. No wonder womenfolk like them so much."

It is estimated that it will cost about $350 to repair the damaged auto, which was the property of the New Slagle Hotel Garage.

House and Barn Fire

Early Monday morning fire, supposed to have been of an incendiary origin, destroyed the farm house, stable and shed on the farm of Walter Hess, about 3 miles from Emmitsburg. The loss is placed at about $2,000. Nothing remains of the property but the walls of the house, everything else having been completely burned to the ground. Charles Hess, a brother of Walter Hess, discover the fire at 2:30 in the morning. At that time the roofs of the buildings were falling in and it was impossible to save any of the structures. At 11 o'clock the night before, the house, which was untenanted, was intact and there was nothing to suggest that a fire was imminent.

July 9

Emmitsburg Has a Big Fourth

"Made to order" could well have been applied to Saturday, which, although the third, was Emmitsburg’s Fourth of July. It was an ideal day in every respect and people for miles around came into town to enjoy that always-enjoyable annual event: the Firemen’s Picnic.

Bunting and flags adorned every house in town; equipment and vehicles of all sorts were decorated; men had on their Sunday best and the woman the most becoming apparel. Early in the morning the crowd began to assemble. "Home duties" were temporarily given up, plows were left in the fields, stable doors were locked and everybody was "out and gone to the picnic."

The streets were lined with pleasure seeking folks when the parade started. There were people on the sidewalks, steps, porches and the windows, as the Vigilant Hose Company, the pride of the Emmitsburg, came swinging into Main Street to the gayest kind of music.

Under the cover of the pavilion, flag decked, cool and stocked with everything to supply the inner man, sat the feminine contingent, hundreds strong, doing what women do best - serving food and spirits to men.

At night the grounds were electrically illuminated and big crowds came again. The dance floor was crowded and the pavilion filled. Out on the diamond boys set off canon crackers, and in the outfield, firemen sent hundreds of rockets into the air. It was a day that will not soon be forgotten here.

War Tablets for Fountain

At a meeting of the civic league, held several months ago, the matter of replacing the war tablets at the fountain in the square was discussed. Immediately upon the decision to ask for duplicates of those destroyed a year or two ago, the battlefield commission was communicated with and the result is that within a short time new markers will be placed in position, this time inside the coping and closer to the fountain.

Chicken Thieving Nearby

Mr. Krise Byers of Greenmont was awakened by noises from his henhouse Sunday night. Despite the fact that the intruders made a hurried getaway, several of his hens went with them. Mr. Byers fired two shots at the thieves and they replied with two more, however, none of them were dangerously near him.

Accidents

A bicyclist riding near town without a light on his machine collided with a prominence citizen of this town on Tuesday night, inflicting painful but not serious injuries to the pedestrian. The victim was on his way home and there was nothing to indicate the approach of the bicycle (lights on bicycles are required by law). He did not realize the danger until the collision occurred.

On Saturday night, what might have been a very serious accident when Messers. Charles Long and Robert Burdner were driving on West Main Street. Coming towards them was another vehicle occupied by two ladies, who evidently did not realize their close proximity to Mr. Long's team. The latter endeavor to turn out but it was too late and their wheels came together, throwing the men to the ground. The woman’s buggy was slightly damaged but fortunately no injury was done to the ladies. The accident only proves that womenfolk do not have the necessity attention span to ever be allowed to drive an autocar.

July 16

Three A Minute

Last evening, about 7:15, three runways occurred on Main Street within one minute. The first one was a team belonging to the Slagle Grocery Store. This was brought to a halt by Mr. J. Stewart Annan. The second was a loose horse belonging to Mr. Zimmerman. The animal came uptown at a "two-ten clip" scaring everybody - especially the express team of the Emmitsburg Railroad - which took off in the opposite direction. Fortunately none of the horses were hurt.

Egg Thieves are busy

Egg and chicken stealing has again broken out in the vicinity of Thurmont. Five crates of eggs were stolen from Ross Eyler, a huckster, last Friday night. The track of a one-horse spring wagon was followed to the Blue Ridge Summit Lane, and it is now thought that the thieves are hiding in the mountains.

July 23

Felonious Assault

Thomas Little, who lives near Mount St. Mary's, was giving a hearing yesterday morning before Squire Shuff, on a charge of alleged Felonious Assault upon Miss Mary Barry, who lives about a mile from Emmitsburg on the state road. The alleged attack took place on the highway near the old cover bridge, Wednesday evening about 6:30.

Little, who was drinking heavily, had been following Miss Barry for some distance along the road. Becoming alarmed at the man's faction, she turned and remonstrated with him, whereupon, it is said, Little seized her, and forced her to the side of the road. Miss. Barry managed to break away from the fellow by choking him and beating him on the head with an umbrella she was carrying.

Two persons were approaching by this time and Little ran around the bridge and hid along the creek. Several hours later Officer Hahn arrested him at his home. At the hearing Ms. Barry appeared very nervous from the encounter and her face was all bruised and swollen. She was inclined not to press the charge against her assailant if he would promise to leave town, but Mr. Schuff said State law must take its course and fix the defendant’s bail at $1,000.

Lightning Stuns Family

Lightning struck a farmhouse near Emmitsburg, Tuesday night, passing through two rooms, rendering one person unconscious and stunning three children who were asleep in the bed. A nickel plate of a horse harness was melted and furniture in both rooms was badly damaged. The bolt struck a chimney, and after passing through the room where the children slept, tore through the floor into the kitchen. The father of the children, who was sitting on the porch, was hurled from his chair, and rendered unconscious.

July 30

Freight Service Needed

Pending the awakening of sufficient interest in our community to get the extension of the Frederic trolley into our midst, why can't we induce Mr. Sheets to put on a larger bus to Thurmont to provide freight service to and from Thurmont?

Mr. Sheets now maintains an auto service that is very good and in a great measure is a splendid way for people to get quicker service to and from Frederick, but he can't take the place of a trolley with its frequent stops. We must have the trolley. Anyone to second the motion?

John Dukehart

Mr. John Dukehart, a lifelong resident of Emmitsburg, died suddenly at his home on Frederick St., Tuesday night. The cause of his death was heart trouble, from which ailment he had been a sufferer for number of years. Mr. Dukehart was born near Mount St. Mary's in 1861. He was a coach maker by trade, a vocation which he followed successfully for many years.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'