The Condition of Mr. Matthews A gentleman informs us that Mr. Matthews, who resides near Martinsburg, and of whose serious injury by the kick of a horse a note was made in a recent issue, is very dangerously hurt. Besides sustaining a compound fracture of the left leg at the hip, and another fracture of the same leg between the hip and knee, Mr. Matthews received very serious internal injuries, and his recovery is not looked for, he is universally beloved and respected in his neighborhood, having been noted for the liberal and generous disposition which characterized his whole life. We trust, in spite of appearances, that he will recover. ----------------------------------------- Two Children Burned to Death in Morrellville, Cambria County. At about 7 o'clock on Friday evening, Charles Brede, aged 7 years, and Bertie, his sister, aged about 3 years, were burned to death in their father's home. The two children were left in the building, and it seems that the boy conceived the idea of making a lamp out of a can containing three pints of carbon oil, to which he had access, by shoving a piece of paper down the spout and lighting it. This is the inference which has been gathered from all the surroundings, as both of them were unconscious from the time an explosion of the oil followed until their condition was found within a few minutes afterward, when smoke was seen by several persons residing near at hand issuing from the window of an upstairs room. The first gentleman to enter the building found the boy in bed, and his clothing was nearly all burned off, while the girl was standing erect at the footboard with the upper part of her body and face crisped from the flames. It is likely that the explosion scattered the burning oil over both of them, and they hurried from the kitchen, where the can was found, to the bedroom up stairs. The mattress and coverlids took fire from the garments of the lad, which were all ablaze at the time he crawled into the bed, and it would seem the girl was unable to get in alongside her brother. The boy died at about 10 o'clock the same night, and was not conscious at any time. The little girl, though suffering greatly, lived until Saturday morning. They were the children of Martin Brede, who has not but one little one left out of a family of six, three others having died a short time before. ---------------- Death of Mrs. Laura J. Boyles This estimable young woman died Thursday morning at 3:15 o'clock. Her death was caused by cerebro spinal meningitis. Her suffering was intense, and during her last days, it amounted to agony. Medical skill and the kindly ministries of loving hands and hearts were alike unable to assuage the racking brain, but that "peace which passeth understanding" was granted her the last few hours. Her ear caught the strains of angelic music; it came nearer and nearer until her spirit caught up the delightful melody, passed quietly but triumphantly home to Him that gave it. Her last words were, "Who will meet me at the river?" She leaves a little child to the tender care of her bereaved husband. Their loss is her gain. Her mortal has put on immortality. "There is no death! the stars go down To ride upon some fairer shore, And bright in heaven's jeweled crown They shine forevermore. And ever near us, though unseen, The dear immortal spirits tread; For all the boundless universe Is life-there are no dead." ---------------------- Couldn't Stand the Pressure The Cambria Freeman is Responsible for this: A youth of probably fifteen summers went to Kansas from this place, with his parents, two years ago. A short time since his grandmother, who lives in Cambria township, sent for him to come and live with her, remitting the sum necessary to pay his fare-$45 or thereabout. He came; but his stay in these parts were remarkably brief. After a sojourn of not more than two weeks, he, last Saturday evening, turned his face in a westward direction, forgetting in his haste to get away to say good-bye. His first place of destination was Johnstown. Before leaving, he ventured to frame some sort of excuse for his action. "They make me read a chapter of the Bible out aloud each evening, " he said to a companion, "and I can't stand it!" ------------------------ Ethel Medium Sold Many of Altoona's lovers of fine stock will be sorry to hear that Reub Myers trim little mare, Ethel Medium, has been sold. Mark Hopkinson, of St. Clair, Michigan, purchased her for $3,000. The little beauty was shipped to her Western home Wednesday morning. Mr. Myers accompanying her. --------------- What a Blair County Woman Did in Thirty Days Mrs. Mary Confer, wife of W. S. Confer, living on the McClure farm-one mile from this town-made a quilt composed of 8,600 pieces. The center consists of 90 blocks, each block containing 74 pieces. The border containing a motley of 200 pieces. This remarkable quilt was begun and completed in the incredible space of thirty days, beside doing the entire household work and having the care of four small children, the oldest under 7 years. ---------------------------------------------- Accidents Samuel C. Mock sprained his back hoisting a bell on the Rodman furnace. Harlin Harris on the same day and at the same place got severely injured by a sledge that flew off the handle and struck him on the head. John Leudy, employed at furnace No. 2 on Friday got his foot caught in a frog while pushing a car and had it painfully bruised, and George Miller employed in the big mill had a foot bruised by letting a piece of iron fall on it. All the above unfortunates were fortunate enough to have accidental policies in the Hartford, G. A. Dobyne, agent. --------------------------- Gallitzin Gossip A Costly Knife-Business Changes-Personal Notes Dr. F. S. Troxell and sister Emma have gone to Philadelphia to spend a couple of weeks visiting friends. The many friends of Captain Dan. Bradley will be sorry to hear he is lying very low at his residence just outside town. Mr. King, of Houtzdale, has leased the coal mine owned by the Kittanning Coal Company at the end of the tunnel, and is here at present making repairs. He expects to be able to ship coal in a week or so. Mr. Ehrenfeld, father of Patrick Ehrenfeld, supervisor, and Conductor George Ehrenfeld, is lying very low at his residence at Wilmore. Mr. E. is well advanced in years and is not likely to recover. James Maulls, present proprietor of the Exchange Hotel of this place, will move to Huntingdon county, where he has rented another house, and Mr. Fitzharris, formerly of this place but late of Altoona, will remove here and take charge of the former hotel. Moses Leff, engineer on the ballast train, had a bet on the last Presidential election with a track laborer whose name is Varner. His place of residence is South Fork. As Moses was the loser, he purchased the bet, which was nothing more or less than a "Billy Barlow" knife, which he put in the express office and sent to the winner, costing Mr. Varner 25 cents for expressage. Mr. V. was very angry at first, but now says he would not take $5 for his knife because it is a Democratic knife. Annie Whiteman PABlair Rootsweb List Administrator Annie Whiteman/Steve Patz Blair County Coordinators http://www.rootsweb.com/~pablair