June 2

Emmitt Band In Memorial Parade

The newly re-organize coronet band of Emmitsburg made its first public appearance leading the Memorial Day parade. The band made a favorable impression. This is the first time this band has played since it was broken up by the world war.

The parade was held under the auspices of the Francis X. Elder Post of the American Legion. A large number of the members of this post where in line. Several veterans of the Spanish-American war, and of the Civil War also took part. The procession was augmented by two squads of the Sons of the Veterans of Gettysburg and by 200 members of the Thurmont Lodge of Odd Fellows as well as members of the Vigilant Hose Company and by number of school children.

The procession formed at the square and marched to each of the five cemeteries. Small girls were given bouquets of flowers and flags, which they placed upon the graves of the veterans of America’s wars buried in each cemetery. The procession then proceeded to Fireman’s Field, where a program was rendered.

Gasoline Tax Now In Force

The state tax on gasoline commenced on Thursday. The tax is one cent a gallon to be paid by the wholesaler. The tax will doubtlessly be passed on to the customer. The revenue is to go towards the deficit of more than $1 million in the maintenance fund of the state road commission.

Decoration Day in Harney

Decoration services were held in Harney on Wednesday evening. It was estimated that the crowd was as large as it was at Taneytown, and if anything the parade was larger. The service was held in the Lutheran Church, which did not hold more than about half the people. The American Legion, with a full firing squad, was present and added greatly to the service. The Taneytown band was also present to enliven in the occasion. The ladies aid Society held a festival, on the church lawn, immediately after the decoration services.

Shot Through Neck

Walter Stambaugh, of near Jimtown, was accidentally shot through the neck Monday afternoon by Oliver McCormick. It is stated that the boys were playing with a revolver, a 32 caliber. One of the boys had supposedly removed all the shells from the gun, and while Oliver was doing some fancy stunts with the gun, the thing discharge, the bullet entering Stambaugh’s neck, missing the bone and came out on the opposite side. It is said the boy made light of the accident for a time, but he later began to suffer and was brought to Thurmont where the wound was dressed.

June 9

Harney School Ends School Year

The Harney School closed on Friday. We are informed that all did well in their examinations; nearly all made promotions to higher grades. We are sorry that our school is not graded higher so that those who have passed the final test in all branches taught could be taken further under the very able instruction a Professor Freezer, instead of being compelled to quit school, simply because their parents aren’t able to bear the expense of sending them off somewhere to high school. We have many very bright pupils who would make good in the higher branches, and if given the opportunity with doubtlessly become shining lights in the educational world.

Child injured

One day last week one of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shield’s little girls while playing about the house pulled from a table a crock containing two cans a Lye dissolved in two quarts of water. The child was looking up and evidently had her mouth open when the crock upset and a quantity of the Lye went into her mouth. She was severely burned and has been in serious condition since the accident.

Gets Electric Shock

Last Saturday afternoon while Mr. Frailey of Catoctin Furnace was working on an electric light in his store, he received a severe electrical shock. The current was so strong that he was unable to release his hold on the bulb and not until he broke the cord did he get relief. He was thrown over a ice cream cabinet and against a glass case. It is stated that three of his ribs were fractured and his left arm cut by the glass, six stitches being required to close the wound. He lost quite a great deal of blood before a physician could reach him.

Guardian Hose Company Future Questioned

A meeting of the citizens of Thurmont has been called for Tuesday evening at the Fireman’s room in town Hall, the Guardian Hose Company at one time ranked in efficiency as one of the foremost volunteer companies in the state. However the interest in the company has steadily waned until at present it can scarcely be mentioned in the same breath as a fire company. Save for the faithfulness of a few of the officers what apparatus that we have would have been worthless long ago.

One property holder, when asked to come to the meeting on Tuesday evening, refused to come, at the same time remarking, "it (the fire company) isn’t worth a damn anyway." It is possible that there maybe more truth than poetry in that statement, therefore it is necessary that all, especially property owners, should see to it at once that it is made in efficient organization.

Should a fire start in one end of the town, with the weather condition similar to those at the time of the Creagerstown fire of a few years ago, we would be little better off in the matter of protection then our sister town did.

June 16

Drowned In The Monocracy

Taneytown was saddened last Saturday afternoon, as it has not been for a long while, when the news came to town that Earl Sauble had drowned while bathing in the Monocracy, where he had gone in company with friends. The drowning occurred shortly after their arrival.

The rest of the party could swim, but Sauble could not, and he was warned to be very careful, as the channel was deep and that he should not attempt to cross. Not appreciating the full danger, he waded in and suddenly dropped beneath his depth. He began to struggle to regain his footing and two of his companions made efforts to save him, but we’re unable to do so.

The alarm was spread, and help was summoned from town, and with the assistance of John Danny, who dived, the body was brought to the surface and taken ashore in a boat. Efforts were made at resuscitation, but as nearly 2 hours had elapse, there was no hope for success.

The victim was is about 19-years old, in the prime of youth, popular, and a very valuable helper on the farm. He was another sudden victim in the diversion that has taken away so many young men under very similar circumstances, which illustrates the great danger of deep water bathing, even to those who are good swimmers.

Heavy Rains Fall

An unusual amount of rain has fallen in this locality, the first downpour coming Friday evening. The first rain caused streams to rise and gave the ground a good soaking, adding the growing crops immensely.

The second fall rain began Sunday evening about 5 o’clock. This rain came from the southwest and it was accompanied by very heavy thunder. After the first heavy shower, another storm came in and rain fell in Torrance for some time. Rain fell continuously until after 10 o’clock and at times that thunder was very heavy.

The heavy fall of water put the streams all out of their banks. Hunting Creek, which runs through Thurmont was unusually high, some persons claiming the amount of water to be equal to that of the Johnstown flood of 1889. The municipal electric light plant was in danger of being put out of commission, the water being but a few inches of running into the door. It is stated that the water ran across the State Road nearly a foot in depth just south of town.

A washout occurred on the trolley line with several lengths of track away. Trolley service was interrupted from Sunday night until Monday afternoon.

Power was lost in Emmitsburg as well and Tom’s Creek was reported to be out of its bank Sunday evening. Because of the absence of light it was found impossible for the Rev. Higby to deliver the sermon to the graduates of the Emmitsburg high school.

Roadside Advertising Sign Law

The law prohibiting the placing of advertising signs within the right away of any public highway of the state has been amended. On June 1, the State Road Commission assumed responsibility for the enforcement of the law on state highways, while the State Board of Forestry will continue to enforce the law on other than state roads.

The law prohibited advertising signs within the right of way, was enacted in 1914, and shortly there after the State Board of Forestry appointed June 20 as Signboard Day. On that day, through the cooperation of civic associations, Boy Scouts, many thousands of advertising signs where torn down. The movement thus inaugurated for the purpose of beautifying our highways by the elimination of unsightly advertising upon trees, fences, and other structures within the right of way of the highways has been universally commended. Signboards outside the right away, which were enacted with the written Consent of the owner, are exempt.

June 23

Scholarships To Graduate

Hereafter all graduates of Saint Euphemia’s will be awarded free scholarships to Mount St. Mary’s or to St. Joseph’s College. The announcement was made by Reverend J. O. Hayden, head of Euphemia’s school during the recent commencement. This does not apply to just one or two students, he announced, but to all who have fulfilled the requirements.

Fairfield Ask Road Be Maintained

A petition asking that the State Highway Department to maintain what was formally a State Road over Jack’s Mountain, while the Department is making repairs on the stretch of roadway from Fairfield to Zora, was presented to the Highway Commissioner by a delegation of more than 50 residence of Fairfield and Hamiltonban Township.

On April 20, the Highway Department relinquished responsibility for the road from Fairfield across Jack’s Mountain, and took over what is now known as the ‘lower road’ from Fairfield to Zora and started repairs on the stretch of about 4 miles. However, while the Zora Road is under construction, as it is at present, traffic, for the time being, must go by way of Jack’s Mountain.

The latter road was formally maintained by the state, but in recent years, has not been kept up. The township, likewise, has spent nothing for repairs on this road, with the result that in dry weather, the road is deep in dust, and in wet weather is almost equally impossible because of mud. On the Jack’s Mountain slope, the road is covered with stones and numerous gullies cross it, making it nearly impossible to travel upon.

Injured By Horse

Thomas Sweeney of near Thurmont, had a narrow escape from serious injury last week. He was riding a horse while the potato fields of Rouzer’s farm was being worked. For some uncounted reason the horse reared and fell backwards, landing on Mr. Sweeney. He was rendered unconscious for a short time. Later he complained of being unable to move his legs. He seems a present to be regaining his usual health and spirits.

June 30

Marines March North

The march of 5,000 of Marines from Frederick to Gettysburg last Sunday created more excitement in and around Thurmont and Emmitsburg then anything since the coming of troops during the Civil War.

These Marines, fully equipped for service on short notice, camped at Frederick Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Heavily laden trucks began to arrive over the State Road in Thurmont, and the buzz of motors in the air announce the coming of one or more airplanes all bound for Camp Haines, located about a half mile north of Thurmont.

Everybody from the small boy to the age veteran was up and out to await and see the soldiers. Sunday school and church attendance suffered severely. Every porch along the state road was crowded with people watching the passing trucks.

At 1:45 the first column of 3,000 Marines on foot arrived. They were 45 minutes in passing. After those came the artillery, heavy trucks, and field pieces drawn by caterpillar tractors.

Probably no better site from the onlookers standpoint, could have been selected for the camp. The road runs between two hills, the Marines occupied the one to the east. On the hill to the west were hundreds of people and automobiles. A band concert and moving pictures were held in the field in the evening. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed this entertainment. Early on Monday morning the Marines broke camp and started on the last lap of the hike to Gettysburg.

In Emmitsburg, five venerable veterans of the Civil War, four of them Union men, and the fifth a Confederate, with two large flags at either side of their group, where gathered in front of the town fountain, facing the troops as they came up the road to welcome them. They were: Marshall Hoke, 80; James Hostilehorn, 76; John Mentzger, 84; Thomas Fraley, 74; George Ryder, 78.

Hoke, Mentzger and Fraley were in Cole’s Calvary, Company C, 1st Maryland Calvary. Hostilehorn was in Company S, 1st Maryland Calvary. They operated during the Civil War in North Mountain, Berkeley County, West Virginia. Hoke was on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief.

Rider fought with an independent Confederate unit, known as the Second Battalion of Maryland Calvary. A six veteran in Emmitsburg, who watch the procession from his home porch, was Alexis Keepers, 80, another survivor of Cole’s Calvary.

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