Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - May 13, 1905 A SNAKE STORY Snakes are out in Lehigh, and according to the declaration of Joel HOFFMAN, of Siesholtzville, Berks County, one big black snake in particular is a living bootjack. HOFFMAN limped into Red Lion on Saturday with one boot off and one boot on. He asserted that he had tried to kick what he thought was a stick out of the path when he was suddenly tripped up. Recovering his scattered senses he found that a seven-foot black snake had coiled half its little sinuosity around his left boot and the other half around a small pine tree. HOFFMAN tried to yank his foot loose and the boot came off. Terrified by his experience he fled. A party of doubters went in search of the snake, but after it had gone a short distance it met a breathless runner, who inquired if there was a preacher in the crowd, as he wanted to take the pledge. Being cross-examined, he deposed that he had seen a black snake crossing the hills, carrying what appeared to be a section of stovepipe. No further confirmation of HOFFMAN's story being desired, the doubters turned back. TRAMPS FORSAKE DEAD COMRADE The body of William STRONG, aged 55 years, a blacksmith, of Kennett Square, was found, Monday in a shed at the MORRIS nurseries, near West Chester, where he had been sleeping with a number of tramps for several nights. STRONG disappeared from his home several days ago. When it was found he was dead, in the morning all the tramps immediately disappeared. Coroner TROUTMAN rendered a decision of death from natural causes. FACTORY INSPECTOR NOTIFIES JUSTICES Deputy Factory Inspector Gus EGOLF, of Norristown, has notified all the justices of the peace in Montgomery and Bucks counties not to issue permits for children to work in factories until the justices receive the proper legal forms under the new child labor law. The factories in the vicinity of Norristown experience great difficulty in getting employes, and it is feared that the new law will increase the difficulty. ALUMNI HELD YEARLY BUSINESS MEETING The yearly business meeting of the Lower Salford Alumni was held in Alumni Hall, Harleysville, and the following officers were elected: President, Harry C. ALDERFER; vice president, Enos WAMPOLE; recording secretary, Sallie N. MOYER; corresponding secretary, Allen M. NICE; treasurer, Abram A. PRICE; editor, Francis W. WACK; associate editors, Sallie N. MOYER, George C. ALDERFER, Harvey M. ALDERFER, Allen M. NICE. BOY INSTANTLY KILLED An unknown boy, about 16 years of age, who had followed the Barnum & Bailey circus several days, was instantly killed at 3 o'clock Sunday morning on the Perkiomen Railroad, near Allentown. He had worked at the lemonade stand. When the circus left town he boarded the last section. While the train was passing Chestnut Street in the Jersey Central yards the boy in moving about fell between the cars and rolled to the track, almost the entire train passing over his body. The body as was taken to Undertaker BURKHOLDER's morgue was in a horrible condition. The head and two arms and one hand were cut off and the upper and lower sections of his trunk, made by the passage of the carwheels, hung together simply by shreds. Chief George SMITH, of Allentown, notified the Brooklyn police to make a search for the boy's relatives. The name of the boy is unknown, he going by the name of "Kid" at the circus. Coroner SCHEIRER investigated but found an inqest unnecessary. WEALTH INCREASES $1,000,000 A MONTH August BELMONT is said to have increased his wealth by from $12,000,000 to $16,000,000 last year. This is something more than $1,000,000 a month, and any man who finds his stock of this world's goods piling up on such a scale as that is liable to have some attention paid to him, even in a district that has its ROCKEFELLERs and MORGANs. NEW MENNONITE HOME The Committee of the East Pennsylvania Mennonite Conference, appointed at the session of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, held in Allentown last October, to acquire a site for an Orphans' Home and Home for Aged People, has purchased the property of Mrs. Aquilla GEISINGER at Centre Valley, near Quakertown. The price paid for the farm is $6000 and contains 85 acres. The committee appointed at the conference to purchase the site consisted of Wm. GEHMAN, W. GEHMAN, L.B. TAYLOR, H.B. MUSSELMAN and J.G. SHERMON. The sale was consummated through Deputy Prothonotary Squire Wm. H. SNYDER. The new owners cannot have possession of the new site until April 1, 1906, when the lease of the tenant, John SPERLING, expires, but will have access to the property at all times to make plans for the building for the home. STUDENT WILL ASSIST PRACTITIONER Albert B. RITTER, of Pennsburg who is a student at the Michigan Veterinary College and who spent his vacation at home, left on Monday for Cambridge, Ohio, where he will assist one of his instructors in the practice of Veterinary medicine. He may in fall enter the Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada. VETERINARY SURGEON HAS INSTALLED TELEPHONE Dr. A.L. BAUM, the veterinary surgeon of Pennsburg recently had the Delaware and Atlantic Telephone put in his residence. The doctor was almost compelled to do this as many of the patrons of his extensive practice rely entirely on telephone communication. His number is IW. STOLE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS Thieves entered the home of Mrs. Annie KEMP, of Reading, on Thursday and carried off $50 worth of silverware, dropping $150 worth more in their flight. The missing articles were gifts of her great grandmother. RETURNED FROM TRIP TO HAWAII Dr. J.N. JACOBS, of Lansdale, president of the Montgomery National Bank, of Norristown, has returned from a trip to Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii. PURCHASED FARM NEAR FINLAND I.M. MOLL, the photographer of Norristown, recently purchased a small farm near Finland and located there permanently. He will continue the photographic business, making a specialty of exterior views. He will also continue the business of framing pictures, regilding and mat making. Mr. MOLL is well known in this vicinity, having done work for many residents during his 20 years experience. He resides on the rural free delivery route No. 1, from the Red Hill postoffice. BOUGHT EMAUS HOTEL Joseph H. LONG of Milroy, Pa., purchased the stock of the Emaus Hotel, Emaus, and expects to take charge by June 5. Mr. CRAMMER, the present landlord, is undecided as to what business he will follow. MUSIC RECITAL AT EMAUS Miss Sallie SCHIFFERT elocution teacher of Old Zionsville, will give a recital in the Emaus High School Hall in the forepart of June with her scholars in that town.