May 3

Burned While Fighting Fire

Bradley Stull, of Mountaindale, who was badly burned one day last week while fighting the forest fire in the Catoctin mountains, has developed blood poisoning and was taken to the Frederick City Hospital for treatment.

Stull was burned while fighting the fire along Fishing Creek. It is understood that he was trapped between a double line of fire and his clothing ignited. Several people went to his assistance and distinguish the fire. He was compelled to walk more than 3 miles to his home before receiving treatment.

His leg, from his ankle to his knee, was badly burned. Blood poisoning set in and it was deemed necessary to take him to the hospital without delay. Stull, who is advanced in years, was on duty most of the week fighting the fire.

Taneytown Election Returns incumbents

The corporate elections for Taneytown on Monday lacked interest, with all the current council members being re-elected with a small vote. Burgess Albert Ohler, Commissioners Allison, Bankerd, Long, and Stauffer were all reelected without opposition.

Citizens Urge Work On Harney Road

A number of citizens from Harney went to Westminster on Monday to urge the completion of the Harney road. They say that there is not more than one and three quarters miles to be built, and then the road would then be good from Taneytown to Gettysburg. Of course, as usual, the commissioners said that money is the issue and it cannot be done this year.

This may be true; there are other things that are also true. It is certain that if every dollar spent could, or would, be converted into $.75 worth of honest work, actual road mileage could be greatly increased; certainly $.25 on the dollar should be sufficient for any necessary graft. We have often heard it remark by close observers that a dollar did not, at the highest calculations, do more than $.50 worth of work.

But let this be as it may, it is the general conclusion of nearly all, that it would pay the County big to have a man on every job to look after the work according to the contract, and make a daily or at least weekly report on the progress made. We are informed that this is done in many states and counties and the results have been better and more lasting work. This, at least, would be one step nearer the line of true businesslike principles.

Spring Isn’t Happening

Spring is trying to function in a traditional manner, but the cold nights and cold breezes continue to delay the growth of crops. Many farmers are predicting a short hay crop.

How Radio Code Is Recorded

A machine that would take down telephone conversations in the absence of anyone in the vicinity of the instrument was placed on the market a number of years ago, but was not successful financially. A similar machine is now being developed to register radio broadcasts. It is quite possibly physically to construct a machine that will register radio conversation. The day may be near when a whole concert can be received during the absence of the owner of a set and reproduced at his pleasure.

May 10

S’More Snow

Between the hours of one and three o’clock Thursday morning a severe wind and rain storm shook buildings, rattled and banged shutters and made our metal roof sound like a load of scrap iron hurrying over a dilapidated wooden bridge. Wind, rain, hail and snow, all made their appearance and their present felt. A light covering of snow was visible on the mountains when daylight came. One inch of snow was reported from Highland, about 10 miles west of Thurmont.

Many small branches were broken from trees, leaves almost covering the street at places. It is said that thunder and lightning was seen and heard during the night.

Six Girls Compose Fairfield Graduating Class

With the graduating class composed entirely of girls, Fairfield High School undoubtedly set a record this year. Those in the class are Esther Brenizer, Edna Kittinger, Elizabeth Newly, Emma Necly, Nelly Sanders and Elizabeth Seabrooke. The 14th annual commencement exercise will be held Tuesday evening, June 5.

In connection with the ceremony, an announcement will be made that beginning next year the eighth grade work of the Fairfield Grammar School will be combined with the high school in order to relieve the congestion existing in the grammar grade school. It is believed that the proposed arrangement will also be a benefit to the pupils from the rural sections who attend the grammar school at Fairfield, and making a step between the grammar and high school less difficult.

An Appeal For A Clean Town

The Civic Club is aiming to make Thurmont an ideal one in every respect, and at this time, especially so, as to cleanliness and sanitation, and to this, the Town Commissioners have promised to place receptacles on the street corners as receivers for all kinds of litter and refuse. After such receptacles are placed, we appeal to the children and adults to deposit all debris in the receptacles instead of throwing it haphazardly on the streets and pavements. We have a fine, neat, orderly town, as is noticed and remarked by visitors. Let us all have sufficient local pride, not only to keep it so, but to make it more so, for the sake of health and to satisfy our aesthetic natures.

May 17

More Mountain Fires

A fire in the Catoctin Mountain, three miles west of Catoctin Furnace was sighted on Monday afternoon. The heavy rain on Tuesday afternoon put the finishing touches on the work of the firefighters.

The fire near Catoctin Furnace started in a remote section of the mountain and was very difficult to reach. There were reports of several smaller fires but the locations of these could not be ascertained. The fires are in the same localities as the fires of last week and incendiarism is suspected.

The County Commissioners Monday afternoon offered a reward of $100 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone starting a fire in the mountains.

The Fire Warden said that failure of persons to notify wardens of the existence of a fire is punishable by a fine of $10. He added that he had heard of the Monday afternoon fire two hours before persons residing in their immediate neighborhood had informed him. He also said the law provided that owners of timberland on fire are not released from fighting the flames.

Women’s Club Holds Meeting

The regular meeting of the Emmitsburg Women’s Club was held Thursday in the auditorium of the new high school with an attendance of 75. The Emmitsburg club was formed only a comparatively short time ago but is rapidly growing to be one of the biggest and most active of the Frederick County clubs. Three new members were added to the list at the last meeting, making a total membership of 66.

The New Midway, Libertytown, and Walkersville clubs were asked to send members to attend the meeting and all responded by sending delegates. During the meeting refreshments were served by seven Emmitsburg High School girls. Some of the finished work of the club was also shown, including gowns, aprons, hats, wool and organize flowers, &c..

Meanwhile members of the Former-Former Boozers Association, met at their super secret still in the train station warehouse to sample their last batch of ‘hooch’. Member of the association pledged $25 to help boozers in Woodsboro to upgrade their still to meet the growing needs of hard working men in that community under the condition that if the Emmitbsurg still is ever discovered and destroyed by revenue agents, Woodsboro would share its ‘supply’ with hard working men in Emmitsburg until a new still can be made up and running.

Radio Set Installed

In keeping with the progress of the day, Thurmont residents are installing radio sets in their houses and places of businesses. Perhaps the first installation was the home of Mr. Charles Gall, the next at the home of Mr. Charles Waters, and one at the home of Mr. O’Toole: the two last named were placed Monday of this week. This writer, along with others, enjoyed listening for the first time to a concert broadcast from somewhere. Having no codebook was the reason for not knowing were the music came.

No doubt sets will be purchased by other persons around the town and before long many will be enjoying entertaining friends and at the same time receiving entertainment themselves.

May 23

Emmitsburg Will Decorate Graves

All ex-service men are most cordially invited to assist the members of the Francis Elder Post 75 of the American Legion of Emmitsburg in a street parade and the decoration of the graves of the dead. The parade will form at the Square at 9:30 a.m..

Decoration Day in Taneytown

The customary Decoration Day observance will take place in Taneytown next Wednesday afternoon.

There will be the usual parade of school children, ex-servicemen, and the various lodges, to the three cemeteries. Music will be furnished by the Taneytown town band. The parade will start at 1 p.m..

Members of the American Legion, soldiers of all wars, and members of the lodges, are requested to enter the parade. Officers of the various Sunday schools are to marshal their children and to give announcement on Sunday of the event. Flowers should be delivered at the high school building no later than noon.

All places of business are requested to close until after the program in the Opera House. We know this is a busy time, but it is hope that the community will show its interest in keeping up such observations and encourage the few who will take an active part in the arrangements for the day.

After the program in the Opera House, a game of baseball will be played between Taneytown and New Midway.

Koons’ Brothers Store Robbed

Sometime early on Tuesday morning robbers entered the general store of Koons’ Brothers in Taneytown and made off with all the men suits in stock, a lot of shoes, about 10 watches and a lot of jewelry and other merchandise.

Entrance with made by cutting out a lower panel from the side door opening on the backyard. The door is unused and is up about three feet from the ground. Empty boxes were piled up under the sill in order to work on the panel. As none of the other doors were unlocked, it is evident that one worked on the inside and passed the goods through the opening to another on the outside. A lot of suit hangers were left in the yard and a portion of the goods, perhaps due to someone passing, or some noise that scare the robbers away before they had finished the job. The plunder was likely carried to the alley in the rear and a quick getaway was made by auto.

Another Crash Finds Victims

It is estimated at about 400 persons, some women, the majority of the laboring classes, with deposit ranging from $50 to $400 will lose every penny in the collapse of the banking firm of Annan, Horner & Company, members of which are being investigated in bankruptcy proceedings.

The affairs of the old time banking firm, which many years ago held a fine reputation, have been before the authorities for several months following the filing of suits by depositors who sought to recover their savings. All sorts of litigation started and bitter feeling was aroused among supposedly good friends. Affairs in the community were gradually coming into an unhealthy state, the town was getting a bad name for unfair methods and the good people had to suffer.

At a hearing in Frederick, conducted by trustees for the creditors, it was learned that the liabilities of the bank was over $200,000, of which $140,000 represents interest and checking accounts.

The assets, yet undetermined, comprise notes and equity in real estate and mortgages on dwellings in Emmitsburg.

The banking firm members gave as its principle asset the property of the Blue Mountain Apple Orchards, which they valued at $68,000, other properties valued between $20,000-$25,000, and notes of doubtful value.

Witnesses at the hearing brought out that the 1920 statement of the Annan-Horner & Co. show the bank insolvent then, having absorbed its capital and surplus of $20,000 and was about $40,000 short of accounts.

Being a private bank the firm was not required to publish a statement and consequently the creditors of this institution were in the dark as a state of affairs.

It is generally believed that the bank’s depositors will lose practically every penny. There seems to be some hope for secured creditors, those secured by notes in mortgages.

Whatever the outcome in the final settlement, it is a rather sad state of affairs, especially for the many poor people who will lose every cent they have in the world.

May 31

Emmitsburg Broom Factory Sold

The property of the Emmitsburg Broom Company, located at the southern edge of Emmitsburg, was sold at sheriff sale last Saturday to Dr. Birley of Thurmont. The property consist of 1/3rd of an acre of land and a two-story frame factory building 30‘ x 70‘ containing broom making machinery. We do not know the doctor’s plans, but we hope he may see his way clear to move the plant to Thurmont.

Memorial Day In Thurmont

Memorial Day was celebrated here last Saturday by a parade, the strewing of flowers up on the graves of those who have passed on, and appropriate exercises at the Town Hall. The parade formed at the Hall and marched to E. Main St., to Alamonte Ave., then to the United Brethren cemetery, then counter marched back to the town hall. It was headed by the Thurman High School Band at 31 pieces, followed by automobiles carrying the old soldiers of the Civil War, about 150 school children carrying flags and members of almost every organization and group in Thurmont. A clear day with a bright sun tempered by a slight breeze made the day and ideal one for this occasion.

Harney Decoration Day

Decoration services in Harney will take place on Friday evening. The parade will start promptly at 6 o’clock from the public school grounds. A band of music will enliven the occasion; also a firing squad of the American Legion will be present to fire the salute at the graves. Sunday schools, lodges in societies and all persons who are enjoying a true spirit of patriotism and a true love for the country are urge to be present and join into an honor to our fellow heroes. The march will be from the school grounds to the Lutheran Cemetery, then to the United Brethren cemetery, and then return to United Brethren Church where speeches will be given. It is asked that everyone come with flowers and help make this a great occasion for our little town.

Keeps Head About Himself

Dalbert Spangler had quite an exciting and rather dangerous experience last Wednesday morning while driving John Snyder‘s big milk truck. He had just started down the big hill to the Monocracy, when the brake rod broke releasing the brakes. At once, the big truck started to roll and by the time it got halfway down it was flying, but very fortunately Delbert did not get excited and managed to keep it on the road and no one was hurt.

Youth Falls 200 Feet To Death

John Andrews, who lived between Thurmont & Emmitsburg, was fatally injured while working at the quarry of the Blue Mountain Stone Company early Friday morning. He died a short time after being found at the bottom of the quarry where he had fallen from a height of 200 feet.

Andrews was on the night shift at the quarry and was working alone at the foot of a large mountain, dumping from a bucket, which was sent to him over a cable. Upon arrival, Andrews shoveled the stone and other material in the buckets to the side.

The buckets travel over a long steel cable stretch from a stone crusher, at the top of the mountain, to the foot of the Mountain and is operated by electricity.

At 2 o’clock Friday morning, Carl Warren, the youth in charge of the electrical apparatus controlling the bucket, heard a shout as the bucket was about 300 feet from the station on its return trip from the foot of the mountain. Instantly the youth stop the bucket and a fraction of a second later heard a faint thud at the bottom of a deep valley over which the cable was suspended.

Warren ran from the building and down the side of the mountain and there found the body of Andrews, lying across the narrow gauge railroad track and on a solid floor of rock between 150 and 200 feet below the cable. He called for assistance and several men hurried to him. It was found that the youth was yet alive, although unconscious. However life became extinct at 3:25. Andrews remained unconscious all this time.

The exact circumstances which resulted in the man’s fall from the bucket could not be determined when an investigation was made. There are few lights about the quarry in the vicinity where Andrews was working. The bucket was operated by schedule. The youth in charge of the bucket movement calculated the time necessary to empty it and then had it drawn back to the conveyor.

The theory that Andrew’s clothing might have caught on the bucket hooks is suspected when it was found that his clothing was of heavy material and was torn at several places.

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