Susquehanna – John Pulaski, a member of the Canavan Island Gang, who frequently has been in Binghamton to visit his brother, “Pete” Pulaski, a worker in Endicott, and known to the police courts of this city, lies dead and the authorities are searching for Frank Granger, a brother knight of the road, who is suspected of having fired the shot that brought Pulaski low. Back of the murder lies the sinister shadow of Canavan Island, the resort which has given forth mystery after mystery for the police of a dozen cities to untangle. Pulaski, it is said, for three days was at the Island, and is well known among the residents here. Granger may be hiding near here, according to Chief McMahon of Susquehanna, but the local police have not been notified, for the reason that he had ample time to get away before they fastened upon him as being the cause of Pulaski’s death. The shooting happened on July 4th, in the bar-room of the Canawacta House on Front street, at about 11:30 o’clock. Granger had been celebrating outside with his revolver and carried it in the bar-room, in which were Pulaski, his chum, Mike Mooney, and fully a dozen others. In the celebration that followed here Pulaski was shot and Granger is said to have left soon after. Pulaski was taken to the hospital, where he died. All the others in the party had disappeared by the time the police arrived.
Heart Lake – The Fourth of July celebration here was a rip-roaring success, with a big crowd of people and everything went off “as advertised.” The boats, merry-go-round, the innumerable ice cream, candy, “hot dogs” and souvenir stands, presided over by bright young men and winsome lassies, all attracted their share of attention. The two balloon ascensions, with parachute drops, were the finest ever seen in Susquehanna County and the proprietor, F. T. Mack, is to be congratulated upon the day’s festivities.
Nicholson – One of the editors of the Democrat was in Nicholson to attend a shoot of the gun club there and met John Phillip Sousa, also attending the shoot. He learned that the great bandmaster’s name was originally John Phillip So, but an admirer, realizing that his surname was a decidedly unpretentious affair, and seeing an opportunity for a most significant suffix (Mr. Sousa being director of the U. S. Military Band), proposed adding the initials U.S.A., and John Phillip So then became John Phillip So-u-s-a.
Montrose – A meeting will be held at the Library building, Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock, July 18. All members of the Daughters of American Revolution, Daughters of Veterans and Kings Daughters, are earnestly invited to be present and take action in regard to the improvement of our cemetery.
Uniondale – The L. A. S. of the M. E. Church served a chicken dinner in Todd’s Grove, on July 4th, to about 200 people. Proceeds, $65.80.
Brooklyn – Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Uptegrove have sold their farm. They have bought a building lot of J. J. Austin, on Maple St., and will have a new house erected during the next ninety days. F. M. Whitman has the contract.
Lenoxville – About daybreak, Sunday morning, the 30th ult., the phones of the quiet little hamlet of Lenoxville, aroused the sleepers to the fact that a bold robbery had been attempted in their midst. B. E. Clarkson, our respected blacksmith and wagon maker, after a fatiguing day in the shop, had accompanied R. J. Robinson to Clifford and returning late dropped down upon a rustic couch, in a small unfinished room, made by enclosing one end of the porch of their fine residence, without disrobing, and as it appears had almost instantly fallen asleep, which continued uninterrupted until about 3 a.m. Sunday morning, when something aroused him and discovered that someone was in the room and trying to get a hand in his trousers pocket. Burt at once cut loose from the shoulder and hit something, then instantly springing to his feet, grappled with the intruder, both landing outside on the floor of the porch, with Burt on top. Thinking that he may have mistaken a friend for an intruder, Burt backed away, but the intruder came back and let drive at him, which Burt dodged and his blow landed on the side of the house. This convinced Burt that he had made no mistake in his first estimate of the man, and at once dealt him an upper cut with his left, landing in the ribs, following it with a right to the fellows left jaw, taking him over the railing, and he fled toward the woods. A mask made out of a ladies’ black cotton hose, with blood inside, was found along with a few other objects. The fellow was well-built, about 160 weight, with a mustache.
Lynn, Springville Twp. – A. E. Rodney is our tonsorial artist over F. S. Greenwood’s store, having recently bought the good-will and fixtures of Grant Button.
Thompson – We celebrated a “safe and sane” 4th here. Two games of base ball-Thompson against Oakland, Score 6 to 5, in the morning, and 9 to 2 in the afternoon, both in favor of Thompson. Two grand speeches in the afternoon by J. D. Miller and Rev. Gillespie. Sandwiches, pie, cake and ice cream, lemonade, etc. were served on the grounds to a goodly number of people. Fireworks and a dance in the evening.
Rush – Dr. Fry has purchased a new auto. We expect to see (or hear) him “cutting the corners” from now on.
Forest City – P. T. Cheevers recently received a patent on a metal and wood railroad tie, which he believes will revolutionize the present method of construction. At present railroad ties are universally made of wood and one of the greatest sources of expense in maintenance is the replacing of ties which rot out in a comparatively short time. In the past metal ties have been tried but without success, as they have not the necessary elasticity. Mr. Cheevers employs both metal and wood in a method calculated to retain the best features of each. The body of the tie is a cross section of T shaped metal, and at either end is a box like arrangement to hold a wooden block to which the rail is spiked, thus insuring the necessary flexibility. The community would like to see the invention become popular and Mr. Cheevers land on the sunny side of Easy street.
News Brief: Good Roads Proverbs - If you want to know if good roads are a good thing, ask a horse. Good roads promote prosperity; bad roads provoke profanity. Good roads will decrease profanity, discouragement, back taxes, sheriff sales, sour-grapes and grouches. Good roads will keep people in the country and will bring the city folks out for fresh air. Did you ever hear this? “The roads were so bad that the only way he could get to town was by telephone.
Past Issues of “100 Years Ago” can be found on the Susquehanna County Historical Society’s website, www.susqcohistsoc.org.
