Schuylkill County PA
Miscellaneous News Articles from PA newspapers
Transcribed by Nancy Piper unless otherwise stated
The New York Schuylkill Coal Company Creates Boat Route
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 24, 1824
Reading, Nov. 13
The New York Schuylkill Coal Company, are about establishing a regular water communication between Reading and that city. A line of packets will sail at stated intervals from New York and enter the river Schuylkill near Philadelphia, and ascend the same, so as to unite with the canal boats near the locks at the Upper Ferry. The freight from New York to Philadelphia will not exceed $1 75 per ton. The merchants and manufacturers of Berks and Schuylkill counties, will have a choice of two of the best markets in the United States. We understand that the canal boats will be covered, and rendered in every respect proof against the weather. - Journal.
Christian Rapp Loses Children in Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) December 1 1824
From the Orwigsburg German paper
Never has it been our duty to notice an accident through fire, more frightful in its consequences than the following:
On Monday last, as Mr. Christian Rapp, an inhabitant of Manheim township, Schuylkill county was with his wife, about half a mile from his dwelling, at a neighbor's digging potatoes, his house took fire in some manner not known, and three children whom he had left at home, two sons and a daughter, perished in the flames. It is supposed that the fire originated in the lower part of the House, and that the children could not escape, because, as we have understood, the door was fastened on the outside. When it was discovered by the neighbors, the building was completely enveloped in flames. Two of the children were nearly consumed, the third was partially burned. The girl was in her sixth year, one of the boys in his fourth, and the other in his third. The parents had their youngest child with them.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 1 1827 Page 2
For the Miners' (Pottsville) Journal
Workmen are very much wanted here, and from the concurrent opinions of our principal coal merchants, & C., no doubt is entertained, but in addition to what are now employed at the mines &c, &c. of this place, five hundred laborers may find constant employment and good wages. The following are the wages now given:
Laborers, $16 to $20 per month.
Carpenters, 87 ½ cts to 1 per day.
Masons, 1.00 to 1.25 per day.
Teams are generally employed by the job, if hauling coal, at so much per ton or bushel. A two horse team, with wagon and driver will earn 8 dollars a day; a three horse team 4 dollars, and a four horse team 5 dollars. Upon the above terms the workmen find themselves. Board cost from 6 to 7 dollars per month; the cost of horse feed is dependant upon the price of grain, which may be seen in the price current.
Star and Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 15 1832
Pottsville, Pa., May 5
Incendiarism - Destructive Conflagration at Port Carbon
Port Carbon has been made the calamitous scene of a most extensive and destructive conflagration, which originated as every circumstance proves, in the atrocious conduct of one or more wicked incendiaries. The amount of property given up to the devouring flames is very considerable, consisting of six valuable buildings totally destroyed, besides five additional houses, which were set on fire in different parts of the town, but were rescued by timely exertions from the impending catastrophe. They were all situated in that part of the village known by the name of Lawtonville, as follows - An unoccupied spacious and elegant new hotel, a respectable tavern, and four dwelling houses, the property of different persons, were reduced to ashes. Mr. Henry Porter's new two story frame house, Dr. Shaeller's two story stone house, Mr. Robinson's store and dwelling, and Mr. Todd's new brick dwelling house, occupied by Mr. Warne, and in which the post office is kept, were all set on fire, but extinguished without sustaining much injury. The fire was discovered yesterday morning, about two o'clock. The firemen and citizens of our borough, on the first alarm, turned out numerously and with infinite labor, succeeded in dragging the Hydraulion over the intervening hills, a distance of nearly two miles.
The circumstances which prove the voluntary agency of one or more atrocious incendiaries, are very satisfactory and conclusive. The fire broke out simultaneously in untenanted buildings, not communicating with each other, but separate and apart, situated in opposite quarters of the village, which is sufficient, without any corroborative testimony. In addition to which the door of one of the buildings saved, exhibited an augur hole, through which combustibles had been introduced, consisting of flannel and brown paper, saturated with spirits of turpentine, wrapped round the extremity of a long staff, several of which were subsequently found near the premises. A dark lantern was also discovered in the shape of an ingenious contrived wooden box. The plan of the guilty wretch or wretches to accomplish the total destruction of a flourishing village, was sufficiently well concerted, and only defeated as is believed by the premature alarm raised, which imposed the necessity of immediate flight or concealment, before the work could be thoroughly completed.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 13, 1832
Pottsville, Nov. 3, 1832
Dreadful Occurrence - It becomes our painful duty briefly to announce that yesterday afternoon while twenty men were engaged in the coal mine of Samuel J. Potts, Esq., the water suddenly rushed down from an adjoining mine which has been for some time occupied, drowning two individuals, who were unable by reason of their situation to make their escape. The remainder sustained no injury - one of whom was immersed in water up to his chin and saved himself by clinging to the roof of the mine. One of the deceased miners was a foreigner, engaged in the first day's work on this side of the Atlantic. - Journal
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Marh 12 1833
Pottsville, March 9
Accidents - We understand that a man by the name of William Ottay was accidentally killed in a mine on the West Branch, on Thursday, the 28th ult. Another person, whose name we have not learned, was also killed in a mine in this neighborhood, one day last week, by the falling of some slate.
Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 16 1833
The Pottsville Journal, of Saturday, notices that a coal mine, in the neighborhood of Port Carbon, is to be seen on fire. It is supposed that fire was communicated to the coal vein some years ago, since which it has been in a state of ignition, smoke having been seen at different periods, issuing from the ground in various places. The fire is distinctly visible from the surface of the ground by means of a shaft.
Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 3 1833
The Mechanics and Working Men of the borough of Pottsville, Pa., have held a meeting and resolved to purchase no imported article, a substitute for which is manufactured among themselves. They allege that they will deal only with those who deal with them, and declare that they will purchase nothing from any store-keeper who offers for sale in the borough imported articles, to the prejudice of the productions of American Industry.
The Peoples Press (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 3 1835
Death by Drowning - Mr. William Hazzard, of the firm of J. T. & W. Hazzard, Merchants of Pottsville, (Pa.) was drowned a day or two since under the following circumstances. He had gone out in company with a friend on a fishing excursion to Tumbling Run Dam, a large reservoir of water in the neighborhood of Pottsville, and while engaged in fishing, his umbrella was blown into the water some distance from the shore, when he immediately undressed, swam out and secured it, but on returning, his companion, who was at a considerable distance off heard him utter a cry of distress, but before he could render him any assistance, the deceased sunk to rise no more! He was in all probability attacked by a cramp, a malady which so frequently proves fatal to swimmers. His body was recovered as soon as possible, but not until several hours had elapsed, when all hopes of resuscitation were at an end.
Star and Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 7, 1836
Schuykill Coal Trade - We learn from the Pennsylvania Miner's Journal that 810 boats, loaded with coal, have descended the Schuylkill from Pottsville, during the present season, carrying 370,308 tons of coal. The shipments of the week ending on the 22d inst., amounted to 281 boats, carrying 13,633 tons.
Star and Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 6 1838
Pottsville
The rising ground upon which the town of Pottsville is built, being almost entirely composed of coal, has been undermined by the working of the Salem coal vein, to such a degree that only one part of a hill is left to support the town. Great apprehensions are felt by the citizens as seven or eight buildings on Centre street have sunk and are considerably cracked, so much so that the occupants are about to remove from the premises.
The Bucks County Gazette (Bristol, Pennsylvania) September 9, 1875
Page 2
At Pottsville, on Monday, Patrick Conroy, Valentine Benner and Moses Hine, Commissioners of Schuylkill county, were sentenced each to two years' imprisonment and $1000 fine for neglect and corruption in the discharge of their official duties. They were convicted of frauds and overcharges in the erection of new county buildings last year the county being charged $25,000 for these buildings, when, according to the most liberal estimates by competent builders, they should not have cost more than $18,000.
Evening Republican, Pottsville, PA
November 20, 1924
Contributed by Tammy Clark
Adam Eisenhauer Fatally Hurt
Falling to notice an approaching auto truck on Thursday morning near Centre and Mauch Chunk St., Adam Eisenhauer, residing at 702 Laurel St., was fatally injured when he was struck and knocked down to the street, the front wheel passing over his head. He was taken to the Old Hospital in the truck which had struck him but died a half hour after being admitted, as the result of having sustained a fractured skull and several broken ribs. The driver of the truck, Lee M. Wilhelm of Strausstown, is prostrated over the accident, and following his arrest by Officer Blankenhorn, he was committed to jail without bail by Alderman Hoepstine on a charge of manslaughter. Wilhelm was returning to his home after making a delivery of potatoes to the Rishel & Crosby store in this city and was driving an International truck.
The accident, according to eye witnesses, was unavoidable and was described in the following manner by one of the witness. Eisenhauer, who is about 65 years of age, was employed by the city highway department and was riding north on Centre street in one of the city trucks and as the truck neared the Mayberry blacksmith shop located opposite the Griffith gas station, he jumped off the truck to get a new pick at the blacksmith shop and in so doing failed to notice the truck driven by Wilhelm coming in the opposite direction, and Wilhelm's view, according to witnesses, was partly obstructed, which hindered him from seeing the man until he was nearly on top of him, and he tried in vain to avoid the accident. Eisenhauer became confused and the front of the truck knocked him to the street and the onlookers were hoffified when they saw the front wheel of the truck pass over his head.
Wilhelm, who was driving very slowly, at the time, stopped his truck at once and the injured man was taken in the truck to the hospital where he died a half hour later with out regaining consciousness. Wilhelm, who at once was arrested, said that he did not see the man until it was too late to avoid striking him; he is in a very nervous condition. It is thought that the court will fix bail for his release, as it was testified that the accident could not be avoided as the man in crossing the street, failed to take the usual precaution.
Eisenhauer, has been an employee of the city highway department for many years, and was well known in this city, and his sudden death was a great shock to his many friends. Deputy Coroner Knight was notified and an inquest will be held some time next week.
Following the accident the family of the injured man was notified but before they could reach his bedside he had expired. To survived he leaves a wife and the following children: Clarence, Maud and Mrs. Anthony Trotsky, of Pottsville.
Wilhelm was released shortly after noon by Judge Berger who set the amount of bail at $2,500 and he at once left for his home at Stausstown, where he was bound at the time the accident occurred.
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