Spirit of the Times Batavia, Genesee Co., NY Saturday, November 5 1887 *conclusion* Subscribe for the Spirit of the Times and secure a lively local and general family paper. From Nov. 1st to January 1st 1889 we will send the Times for $1.50. If you are already a subscriber try and see if you cannot get your neighbor to take it. The baggage car on the Tonawanda train which arrives here at 5:30 p.m., took fire from a stove when near Pembroke last Monday and was considerably burned inside. No great amount of damage was done, but there was some flying around for a few minutes. Rev. Harris POCK, of Silver Springs formerly pastor of the Pavilion M.E. church, was in town Thursday to arrange for the next district conference, which is to be held at the former place. Up to last Thursday the Akron test well had reached a depth of 1,200 feet and no gas or oil yet. The Breeze is confident that one or the other will be found when the next strata of sand rock is reached. Prof. L.J. MARSH, leader of the Bethany Cornet Band, and teacher of music, was very pleasantly surprised last Monday evening by a visit from a large number of his friends and pupils, who presented him a fine bell-front solo-alto horn, a gift he highly appreciates. The instrument was purchased through AUSTIN & PRESCOTT, of this village. The recently appointed Board of Health of this village organized last week by the election of Thomas J. CARY for President, Dr. H.J. PATTEN for Health Officer and L.L. CROSBY for Register and Secretary. The Board is a good one and we trust, will leave nothing undone to prove that it is a thoroughly competent one. Mr. CARY has served before in the same capacity and has given good satisfaction. The Oakfield Journal tells of an Elba farmer who sold 26 barrels of apples to a buyer, representing the fruit to be first-class. On opening the barrels the buyer found that each contained about a bushel of apples that were anything but marketable. The farmer was arrested on a charge of attempting to swindle and was subsequently tried before Justice HAWES. He pleaded hard and avowed that he intended no fraud and the matter was dropped. * * MORE GAS WELLS. The strong indications of gas in the Fargo neighborhood, near the "Checkered Tavern," have been brought to the attention of a gas and oil company of Pennsylvania, and they sent a representative here several weeks ago to look the ground over. He was favorably impressed and the result of his visit is that they have leased some 600 acres o land in that locality and are trying to secure more. The terms of the leases are that drilling shall be begun inside of two months, and that if oil is found the owner of the land shall receive one-eighth of the proceeds; if gas is discovered he gets a royalty of $500 per annum. Owners of leased land on which no well is put down will receive one dollar per year per acre. We learn that the company are after oil rather than gas and hope to find it here in paying quantities, inasmuch as they claim to have found good indications. The finding of oil in Batavia is hardly to be expected, but who can tell the extent of our boom in case it should be found. It is intimated that the Standard Oil Company is at the bottom of this movement. * * TWO HORSES STOLEN. Last Monday night a bold thief, or thieves, entered John R. BENNINGTON's barn, five miles south-west of this village, and stole therefrom a pair of black mares, a new platform spring democrat wagon, harness, robes, blankets, whip, and complete outfit. There was no pole on the wagon and an odd one was found, the thills taken off and the pole put on in their place. It was a daring piece of work, as the barn is located across the road from the house and not more than 8 rods distant. Mr. BENNINGTON thinks that the theft was committed about eleven o'clock, about an hour and a half after the family had retired. The team was a good one and the loss will foot up about $550 to $600, and will fall on J.H. HUME, owner of the farm and stock, which Mr. B. leases. Mr. BENNINGTON notified Sheriff ROBSON early Tuesday morning and immediate steps were taken to apprehend the thief. Dispatches were sent out and a number of postal cards, containing a description of the property, were mailed. A reward of $150 was offered for the recovery of the property and arrest and conviction of the thief. The barn of James REAGAN, living close by, was also entered and a double harness and also a single harness were stolen therefrom. In this connection the advisability of the organization of a vigilance society for this town might be strongly urged. Such societies exist in other towns in the county and some effective work has been done by the, and why not in Batavia? There are very few horse owners who would not be glad to avail themselves of the advantages of such an organization. * * GEO. W. ABERDEEN DEAD. The death of George W. ABERDEEN, for many years a merchant and resident of South Alabama, occurred suddenly at his home in that place on Wednesday morning last, from heart disease. He had been ill for two weeks but not seriously so and his death was far for being expected. His age was 74, and two sons, George E., who was with him in the store, and Henry, of this village, and one daughter survive to mourn his loss. Mr. ABERDEEN was a man of a very genial and kindly disposition, quiet and pleasant, and honorable in all his dealings. He was highly esteemed and his death is mourned by the entire community in which he lived. * * WRECK AT SOUTH-BYRON. At half past seven Wednesday morning a bad smash-up occurred on the Central-Hudson railroad at South Byron. A freight train, made up largely of coal "jimmies," was approaching the station at a good speed when one of the "jimmies" jumped the track a few rods west of the depot, crashing against the corner of the engine house, badly damaging it. Four other cars left the track before the crossing was reached and were smashed to kindlings. Three switches were torn up, the ties were splintered for a long distance, and all but one of the four tracks were blocked. Roadmaster BURNS was notified and went from here with a wrecking gang and had the tracks cleared in three hours. Passenger trains were running an hour or so after the accident. * * "We heartily approve of such legislation as shall give the fullest protection against simulated products to the farm and dairy interests." -Democratic platform. Farmers, this means war on oleomargarine and all other bogus farm and dairy products. * * DEATH OF WM. CASEY. William CASEY, who has lived and was well known in Batavia for many years, died at his home on State street last Monday, aged fifty-seven years. He came here nearly thirty years ago and during his earlier residence worked at shoemaking. Later he became a foreman on the Central-Hudson railroad, which position he held for a number of years. He was a prominent officer of the Batavia branch of the C.M.B.A., of which he was a charter member. His funeral was held on Wednesday and was largely attended by friends and acquaintences. The above named order turned out the body. His wife, three daughters, and three sons survive him. Two of the sons, John and William, conduct a grocery store here. * * SURROGATE'S PROCEEDINGS. The following cases were acted upon at the Surrogate's office on Monday last: Estate of Anon H. BREWER, late of Bergen. Final distribution of the proceeds of the sale of real estate. Estate of Charles COX, late of Oakfield. Petition filed for letters of administration. Estate of Smith HULSE, late of Bergen. Accounts of the executor judicially settled. Estate of Caroline S. D. RICH. * * Our lady friends will be interested in knowing that by sending 20c. to pay postage, and 15 top covers of Warner's Safe Yeast (showing that they have used at least 15 packages) to H.H. Warner's & Co., Rochester, N.Y., they can get a 500 page, finely illustrated Cook Book free. Such a book, bound in cloth could not be bought for less than a dollar. It is a wonderfully good chance to get a fine book for the mere postage and the ladies should act promptly. * * Millinery Cheap for 60 days. Ladies' Hats worth $1.50 for $1.00. 100 Birds, Tips and Plumes at reduced prices. J.B. & H. HEWITT. * * conclusion. submitted by L.C. Schmidt