Lycoming County, Pennsylvania News Items From the Past
The Adams Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 13, 1803
From the Gazette of the Unites States
Robbery
The following interesting account of a most barbarous and atrocious robbery has been communicated to us by a respectable correspondent at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The unhappy sufferer is a young lady, about eighteen years of age, by the name of Esther McDoll. The history of her misfortune is thus related by our correspondent. Miss McDoll is the daughter and only child of Dr. John McDoll, who, about three years since, removed from Montreal to Kentucky, where he had purchased an estate. He left his daughter to reside with an aged aunt, who has since died and left he niece heir to a considerable property. Upon the death of her aunt, the young lady expressed to her father a wish to remove and reside with her parents in Kentucky. Accordingly, he sent a man, who had been brought up from infancy in his family, and in whose fidelity and honor he had the most implicit confidence to conduct her home. She proceeded with him to Montreal, and arrived in the neighborhood of Williamsport on Monday evening, the 21st of March. During the day, the villain had taken pains to avoid observation as much as possible by leaving the public road and passing through obscure and unfrequented paths. They continued to travel until about 10 o'clock in the evening, when he suddenly stopped, dragged the young lady from her horse, and presented a pistol to her breast, demanding her money and threatened to murder her if she attempted to give him a alarm. She implored his mercy, offering him all she possessed upon the condition of sparing her life. At that instant he tore off her bonnet and gagged her mouth to prevent her from speaking. He then proceeded to strip her of every article of clothing, and tying her hands behind her back, made her fast to a tree while he packed up her apparel in the saddle bags. Having done this, he removed her to a more distant part of the woods, and tying her fast to a tree in the close thicket, made off with her horse and all the property she had with her.
In this deplorable situation she remained, entirely naked, exposed to the severe cold of the night, until about break of dawn, when by her struggles, she loosened herself from the tree, and with much difficulty made her way through the woods to a house about 80 rods distant, where she was kindly received, and supplied with such things as were immediately necessary. It was not until after a considerable time that she was able to speak and relate the circumstances of the disaster.
She is now, as our correspondent informs, at the house of Rev. Hane Grier, who lives near the place where the inhuman crime was perpetuated. Though nearly a hundred persons have been engaged in the pursuit of the villain, we are sorry to say that no certain intelligence has been obtained. A description of the perpetrator, and of the property lost, will be found in the following advertisement.
200 Dollars Reward
For Apprehending Benjamin Connette
He is about 22 years of age, of a middle size, swarthy complexion; has long black hair tied with a ribbon; had a remarkable large mole above his left eye-brow, which he takes pains to conceal by suffering his hair to grow long upon his forehead; He had on a light colored great coat, a blue strait coat, swandown jacket, light colored cassimere pantaloons; took with him two horses, one which is gray, the other black, and about 4 years old; a women's saddle, new, with a piece of bear skin flattened to the seat; and two poremauteaus, or saddle bags, in one of which were upwards of one thousand Guineas. He took also a gold watch, with the owner's name, Esther McDoll, at full length on the inside of the case, and the initials of her father's name, J. M. , on the outside.
Any person that will apprehend the villain and secure him, so that he may be brought to justice, shall receive the above reward and all expenses, paid by
Esther McDoll
The Adams Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 8, 1803
Benjamin Connet (says the Urica (New York) Patriot) who committed the aggravated robbery on Miss McDoll, in Pennsylvania, in March last, was apprehended about the first of May, in Upper Canada. He was conducted back through the western parts of this state a few days since. This account may be relied on, as the circumstances of his apprehension were peculiar , and well nigh proved fatal to Connet.
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 20, 1806
Melancholy Effects of Thunder
On Thursday, the 17th ult., several reapers, who were employed in the field
of Mr. Roberts in Muncy township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, betook
themselves to a tree for shelter from the rain. They had not been long
under the tree, until the top of it was struck by lightning, which descended
with the grain of the wood, struck a man of the name of Buchanan (who was
leaning against the tree) killed him on the spot and knocked down five or
six others, some of whom were considerably injured. It is hoped that
this will be warning to persons not endanger their lives by running to trees
for shelter duirng a thunder storm, as is often the case. -- Lycoming
Gazette.
The Lycoming Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
September 18 1821
Last Notice
Those indebted to the estate of Philip Henry, deceased, for goods purchased at the venue, are desired to discharge the same, or or before the first of November. All delinquent after that time will be proceeded against as the law directs. Jacob Bastion, George Duitch, Administrators.
1827 Squirrel Hunt
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), October 31, 1827
The Lycoming Gazette states that at a late squirrel hunting in the neighborhood of that place, nine persons killed in one day, 608 squirrels. Two hundred and eight were killed by two persons - John Long and John Murphy. The former with one hundred balls, shot ninety four squirrels.
Fire at Isaac Ulman's Livery
Gazette Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
February 13 1880
Fire broke out last night about half past eleven o’clock, in Mr. Isaac Ulman’s livery, located on Court street opposite (?). Several policemen arrived early enough to secure from the flames, two horses, two cows and a sleigh, there being nothing else of value in the barn. A barn adjoining belonging to Mr. Charles A. Ardell, also took fire and like the Ulman barn, was partially consumed. Both barns were frame, small and not of much value. The fire was evidently of incendiary origin.
Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
April 25 1893
William Emery, of Williamsport, was seen pacing up and down our streets a few days ago, critically examining the brick and general construction of our paved streets. He was in the company of Senator W. W. Betts and Harry F. Bigler, who were all marching in the middle of the street earnestly talking and not thinking that they were making a little parage which excited the curiosity of the children. Williamsprot will surely have brick pavements now. Send a committee up and look at some good streets; you will find them here.
Wallace Krebs, son of Judge D. D. Krebs, was the happiest young man of First street Friday morning. His father purchased a fine ball bearing pneumatic tired bicycle and had it standing in the dining room; when Wallace came in for breakfast his eyes first rested upon the wheel and remained there until the family explained that it was a birthday present. The fifteenth anniversary of Wallace's birth will have pleasant recollections connected with it, as long as that bicycle lasts at least.
Harry J. Goss, an employee at Harder's Gun Works, enjoyed the congratulations of his friends last week and took an occasional "smile" with them at his expense, over the arrival of a young man of tender age at his house.
The lightening burned-out a r(..?…)ture of one of the dynamos at the electric light station one night last week. It also put out every light in town without any ceremony or notice to consumers.
Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Boynton returned Friday night from their winter's outing in the south.
Dr. W. A. Stephens preached to two full houses Sunday in the Methodist church.
George Powell has a new high blooded horse, which is a nice one.
Schiller-Fontainbleau Marriage
San Angelo Press; San Angelo, Texas; October 18, 1901
Contributed by Dale Donlon
A Slick Manager
Williamsport, Pa., Oct. 9 – Edward A. Schiller, manager of the Schiller stock company, today announced his engagement to Miss Ella Fontainebleau, the leading lady of the company.
An interesting story is connected with the affair. Early in 1900 Schiller engaged Miss Fontainebieau, she signing a two year contract, one paragraph in which prohibited her marriage within two years. Miss Fontainebleau was engaged to Adolphus Garcia of the Diplomatic Corps at Madrid. Several months later Garcia and Miss Fontainebleau were arranging to get married, when Schiller secured an injunction restraining the star from carrying out her plans. A warrant was also issued for Garcia for getting her to break her contract.
San Angelo Press; San Angelo, Texas; October 18, 1901
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