Forest City/Susquehanna – The safe of the Hillside Coal and Iron company was blown open yesterday morning shortly after the midnight hour. The explosion was heard by Chief of Police Jones and he later notified John Garrick, a fireman, and Mr. Wrightson, superintendent of the company. Together they hastened to the office, where they found the safe blown open and the floor covered with cement from the safe door. The yeggmen tried to open the safe by prying at the top. Failing in this they placed nitro-glycerine in the opening at the bottom of the door. A cap used in the explosion was found intact. About $5 in change was found, a check for $32 and about $60 in cash was taken. Two new Smith & Wesson revolvers were taken plus other articles. It is supposed that the men made their escape by jumping on a passing freight train. State Troopers, Chief of Police of Susquehanna, a Constable and several citizens went to Lanesboro to be in waiting. When the train appeared it was flagged down and the hiding place was found. The bandits opened fire and so did the posse. Murphy was wounded in the back and Williams [no first names given] wounded in the leg. They were finally overpowered and searched and revolvers, fuses and nitro-glycerine were found on them. Murphy is declared to be one of the most notorious yeggs in the country and is not expected to live.

Ararat – E J. Payne, justice of the peace of this township, took his bear traps to the mountain peak. While on his way up the hill, he came across the tracks of a porcupine. The justice seated himself on a log in deep silence. He decided that it was an act of justice to trap the “squiller kuss.” To his surprise, on visiting his traps, he found that he had captured a beautiful green-eyed timber wolf. On the following morning he found its mate in the same place. The justice presented the hides to his wife and daughter, Mrs. Oscar Hugaboom. She, being a taxidermist, tanned the hides and is making furs. When the ladies wear the beautiful furs, the justice will exclaim “aren’t those great? I caught them on my own farm, and there are lots more on the old mountain and their tracks have been seen on the old Sugar Loaf as well.”

Clifford – Charles Utley, who resided on the Milo Burdick farm in E. Clifford, was caught under an overturned wagon on his brother’s farm in Greenfield, and received injuries that resulted in his death before he was found. His neck was broken and his chest crushed. Utley was turning the team around when the front wheel caught under the box and upset it. Utley was caught underneath. Deceased was about fifty years of age. He was engaged in drawing sand from the Burdick sand bed to Forest City. Owing to bad roads he went to his brother’s until the roads improved.

Little Meadows – The citizens of Little Meadows were privileged to witness a very interesting fox chase on Thursday afternoon, March 16th, when a rabbit dog belonging to W. D. Minkler outstripped nine fox hounds and carried off first honors. So fast was the pace set by the rabbit dog that only two of the hounds even finished. Myron Card, of South Apolacon, NY, owned three of the vanquished fox hounds; John and Ed Purtell, of Apolacon township, two of them and Earl Gardner, of South Apolacon, another; Walter Hickey, of Apolacon township, and Lane Huntington and Jesse Newman, of Little Meadows, one each. Mr. Minkler only entered his rabbit dog in the race upon being urged to do so by the committee, and was as much surprised as anyone when his entry romped home a winner. Credit for the success of the affair goes to James Hickey, a world war hero, who was gassed in action “over there.”

Montrose – William Jennings Bryan, the noted orator and politician, spoke to the largest crowd ever addressed by any lecturer in any hall, in Montrose, when he delivered his lecture on “The World’s Greatest Need” in the Presbyterian Church on March 16th. Over 500 tickets for this premier event were sold, thus assuring the financial success of the entertainment. ALSO In a fast and somewhat rough game of basketball at Colonial Hall last Friday evening, March 17th, the Montrose town team emerged victorious over the Thompson team by the score of 28-27, or Thompson, 29-27, the Montrose victory stands, as both official scorers checked at 28-27 in her favor. Captain H. Ayres starred for the local five.

Heart Lake – The Adult Bible class met with Mr. and Mrs. Ray Smith. Mr. Skinner won in the sewing contest for the men. A race of spooning potatoes by both classes was won by the men. Refreshments were served. All voted a fine time.

News Brief: If Tuesday was the first day of spring, we vote for winter.

200 Years Ago from the Susquehanna County Herald, Montrose, March 23, 1822.

NOTICE, is hereby given to the enrolled militia of the 76th Regiment, comprised in the bounds of Susquehanna county, that, on Friday the twelfth of April next, an election will be held between the hours of ten o’clock A. M. and six o’clock P. M. to elect by ballot one Colonel and one Lieut.-Colonel for said regiment. The eastern battalion will meet at the house of Jonas B. Avery, in the township of New Milford. The western battalion will met at the house of Henry Catlin in Montrose. Major Francis Fordham and Major Franklin N. Avery are directed to superintend the election in their respective battalions. SAMUEL THOMAS, Inspector 2nd Brigade, 8th Div. P. M.

Extraordinary Will, Made by a Miser in Ireland: The words are:--“I give and bequeath to my sister-in-law, Sarah Dennis, four old worsted stockings, which she will find underneath my bed; to my nephew Charles Macartney, two other pairs of stockings laying in the box where I keep my linen; to Lieutenant Johnson, of his majesty’s 5th regiment of foot, my only pair of white cotton stockings, and my old scarlet great coat; and to Hannah Bourk, my housekeeper, in return for her long and faithful services, my cracked earthen pitcher.” Hannah, in her anger told the other legatees, that she resigned to them her valuable share of the property, and retired. In equal rage, Charles kicked down the pitcher; and, as it broke, a multitude of guineas burst out and rolled along the floor. This fortunate discovery induced those present to examine the stockings, which to their great joy were crammed with money.