February 3

Snowfall Descends Upon County

The second snowstorm of the winter came along last Saturday and Saturday night drifting shut the road and acting in a generally disgraceful matter common to blizzards. All in all there was not an unusual fall of snow, but it’s erratic treatment by the winds made plenty of trouble for users on the public highways.

In Emmitsburg there was plenty of snow and ice, very little government and no police at all, as a result, pedestrians had a hard time. A number of people slipped and fell on icy sidewalks. It was said it was far better to walk in the streets where, through the up-to-date and progressive methods of the State Roads Commission, travel is made safe.

"We try to make the world safe for democracy, we have don’t get hurt week for automobiles and no accident weeks for railroads, we legislate the danger out of this and for safety into that, but nobody gives a tinkers dam about payments" said one resident. "People on two feet can fall down and break their necks as they please."

"A little action on the part of the local government; a few pics and some shovels, a little consideration for the passerby and a box of ashes is all that is needed to make walking safe in Emmitsburg." The residents of Thurmont where pleased to point out that Thurmont sidewalks do remain covered in snow due to the quality of their citizenry.

Veteran of Civil War Dies

Washington Witherow, 87, Civil War veteran and resident of Freedom Township, died on Monday. In his early life he was engaged in milling, but later engaged in farming, from which he retired some years ago and his son took up his work. During the Civil War he served in as a sergeant in Captain Robert Bill‘s Company B of the 21st Regiment of Pennsylvania Calvary, serving from June 18, 1863 until February 29, 1864. It is interesting to note that the first man who lost his life on the field at Gettysburg was a member of this Company and Mr. Witherow was close by his side when he was shot. A monument marking the spot is found along Taneytown road.

February 10

No Flu Crisis In County

The County Health officer stated that not a single case of the flu have been reported to date from any section of the county, and he knew of no cases which even suggested the flu. He added that in spite of the fact that the weather conditions during the past month were fickle and of a kind that would ordinarily be expected to breed the gripper, pneumonia and other diseases. "Health conditions in the county are remarkably good", he said, "except for scattered cases of scarlet fever. Even this does not exist in epidemic form in any community."

Pocket Picked

Last Saturday afternoon Mr. Grayson Fogle of Thurmont lost between eight and nine dollars the other pickpocket route. Mr. Fogel with others got on a crowded trolley street car. He thought his overcoat had caught on one of the numerous market basket carried by the passengers, and took occasion to adjust his coat. Later he discovered his pocket book and its contents had been ‘lifted’.

Postmasters Named

Mrs. Englar, who has been acting as postmistress at Rocky Ridge since May 1, 1918, received word that her appointment to the position has been confirmed by the United States Senate. She is a lifelong Republican but was so popular for the patrons of the office that she was allowed to act as postmistress under the Democratic administration.

J. Stuart Annan was appointed postmaster in Emmitsburg. Mr. Annan, who is a Republican, is chairman of the State Central Committee, a member of the County Committee and one of the leading partymen in the county. He was formally a member of the Board of County Commissioners and for some time served as Burgess of Emmitsburg.

Morris Rouzer was appointed as Thurmont’s Postmaster. He had the endorsement of the State Central Committee as well as former Senator John Mathias who resides in Thurmont.

February 17

Creagerstown Man Missing

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of John Hoffman, a well-known farmer residing 1 mile east of Creagerstown. He went away suddenly, about three weeks ago and it said to be involved to the extent between 12,000 and $15,000. About $5,000 or 6,000 of this amount is said to be in cash that he obtained in different ways, and the remainder represents accounts unpaid and provided for, that he said to have left behind.

Mr. Hoffman, who is about 34 years old, left home while his wife and young daughter were away. It is said that he went to Frederick in his automobile and after cashing a check at a well-known dry goods store, and at a bank, for which he had no funds on deposit, left his automobile at a local garage and disappeared. Later he notified his father and brother where he left his car and later they obtained it. Since then nothing has been heard of the missing man.

Mr. Hoffman was well known in the vicinity of his home and was thought to be doing well on his farm. He was an elder in the Church of God and was identified in church and religious work. It is understood that he gave a bill of sale on his personal property, selling his livestock, and then drew upon a loan from a bank in Thurmont, which his father went into surety for him for about $5,000.

Fairfield To Form Water Company

A public meeting will be held in Fairfield next Wednesday evening for the purpose of discussing the proposed plan for organizing the Fairfield Water Company. The meeting will be held in the high school building.

Fox Stolen

Sometime Monday night a thief, or thieves, entered the granary of the barn on the Farm of Allan Kane, and stole a live gray fox which was to be the main attraction at the fox chase at Fairfield on Saturday afternoon. That the fox did not escape by its own is evidence by the fact that Mr. Kane took the precaution to lock the door on the outside at two different places. The door was sill locked when Mr. Kane opened it to see if the animal was still there. As a result, the fox chase was called off and someone has a sly fox on their hands.

Harney Valentine Social

The Harney Public School gave a Valentine Social on February 14th, which proved to be quite an enjoyable fair for all present. It was especially enjoyable for the scholars, who gave a short entertainment, consisting of dialogue, recitations and music. Every part was well rendered and clearly shows the great interest and they’re very careful training that can be seen at all times in the work in the horny school. The entertainment being completed, tables were sad and where soon loaded down with cakes, lemonade, candies, made by the good mothers and the many friends of the school. About 10 gallons of good homemade ice cream and 5 gallons of homemade ‘hooch’, was also contributed. The ‘hooch’ of course, went first. The social was for the benefit of the Harney school ground equipment, and the proceeds amounted to between $234 and $235 – of which $200 was brought by the ‘hooch’.

Taneytown Gas Plant

A meeting of citizens was held at the municipal building in response to a call of the Burgess and the commissioners for the purpose of considering the loss from the operations of the gas plant, a loss which appears to be largely, if not wholly, due to the number of leaks in the mains that have developed in the past few months, a few of which have been discovered and remedied.

The sentiment of the meeting was particularly unanimous for the continuation of the gas plant, and various suggestions were made for finding the leaks, several advocating the idea of getting an expert to help the local authorities with the job. The only suggestion rejected by the commissioners was for citizens to walk around town holding candles over the buried gas lines to see if they could ignite escaping gas, and in doing so, identifying locations of leaks.

February 24

Jury Service Optional For Women

Jury service for women was made optional by the House of Delegates. The vote was 79 for and 23 against. The adoption of the bill followed a warm debate in which opponents of optional service alleged that optional service would mean only woman undesirable for jury service would offer themselves, while the women desirable for the service will take advantage of the option and not serve.

On the other side of the equation, The clear minded men who proposed the law, clearly understood that a women’s mind was not capable of understanding the complexity of laws and it would be unfair to challenge them by putting them on a jury, or worse, subjecting a man on trail to the flawed thinking process. The men where sure all women would opt not to serve on a jury as that would imply work – and a as everyone knows a women would rather gossip on a party line then work.

Meanwhile, for a reason that escapes us, a bill has been introduced to allow women to vote and hold office in Emmitsburg and Thurmont. The bill was drafted to address the code in each town that has prevented women for serving since the town’s codes where written years before the insane idea of women being able, or competent enough to vote was every consider.

Accidents

Last Saturday morning, a horse ridden by Earl Peddichord, of Thurmont, slipped on the icy street and fell. Earl’s left leg was caught under the horse and broke between the knee and the ankle. The accident occurred on Church Street, just beyond the Square. He was carried into Cassell’s drug store and Dr. Kefauve set the broken limb. He was then taken to Frederick for an x-ray examination. The photograph showed one bone broken which had been accurately set.

Last Friday, and attempting to remove an idle belt from one of the small generators at the local power plant, Mr. John Stroner, received severe injuries to his right hand and leg. The belt had been looped over the generator and when he lifted it off it was caught by a shaft running 1200 revolutions per minute. The belt was torn from his grasp, wrapped around the shaft and struck him on the back of the hand and wrist, inflicting painful injuries. The hand has swelled to twice its normal size. He was also struck on the right leg and his clothing torn from his hips to his ankle.

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