Schuylkill County PA
Miscellaneous News Articles from PA newspapers
Transcribed by Nancy Piper unless otherwise stated
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 24, 1823 Page 1
Murder
A most unprovoked and barbarous murder was committed in Westpenn township, Schuylkill county, on the 24th ult. by John Zimmerman, on the body of his daughter, a young woman aged about 22 years. The particulars, as we have learned them, are as follow: the deceased was in the employ of some of the men engaged on the Canal, in the neighborhood, as a housekeeper, whilst thus employed she had contracted a matrimonial engagement with one of the men, and which was shortly to be confirmed; her father however disapproving the match, resolved to frustrate it in the most effectual manner. His daughter having come home for some purpose, he drove all but her out of door, and upbraiding her for her procedure, seized her by the throat with both hands and choked her to death. He has been committed to the jail of the county at Orwingsburg, where he will probably receive his trial the first of next month. He does not deny having committed the murder. - Reading Chron.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 14 1824
Reading, Pa., April 7
On Tuesday of last week, at the Court of Schuylkill county, John Zimmerman was tried for the murder of his own daughter in December last. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, but the court has granted him a new trial. - Times.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 18 1824
Orwigsburg, Pa., July 30
John Zimmerman, who was indicted for the murder of his daughter, was on Tuesday last brought before the court of Schuylkill county, and a jury empanneled to try him. The prosecution was conducted by John W. Rosebury and Frederick Smith, the Attorney General of the Commonwealth. The defense by James B. Hubley, James L. Dunn and Charles Evens, Esqs. The testimony was closed on Wednesday at noon, when the counsel for the prisoner addressed the jury in speeches which lasted till 10 o'clock in the evening. On Thursday morning the Attorney General, made a long and able speech in support of the prosecution. The jury retired about 12 o'clock, and at half past 5 returned into court with a verdict, "Guilty of murder of the first degree."
On Friday, judge Franks pronounced the sentence of the law upon the prisoner which is death. The Governor appoints the day of execution.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 15, 1824
The German York Gazette states that the Governor has issued a warrant for the execution of John Zimmerman, of Schuylkill county, for the murder of his daughter, on Thursday the 30th instant.
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.
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