Hyssong Pottery, Bloomsburg Pa

 

BLOOMSBURG HAS ITS OWN POTTERY
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 One of the Few to Be Found in the State.-Has Wide Reputation 
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O. A. HYSSONG OWNER 
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One of the few, potteries in Pennsylvania and one of the best in the business is the Bloomsburg Pottery which Charles A. Hyssong is the proprietor.
The success of the business is easily understood when it is stated that Mr. Hyssong has spent this entire life time in the business, and succeeding his father, under whom he learned the business and who was himself in the business for more than fifty years. When advancing years caused his father, with whom he had been associated for years, to give up active business, it was only the natural thing that the son should take over the business in which he had been given such a thorough schooling and which he understood so well.
Lines Largely Extended.
 Since taking over his father's business Mr. Hyssong has extended the lines, built a new kiln and in many ways expanded the business which had been established upon such a firm foundation.
The pottery manufactures crocks of all descriptions- butter jars, jugs and flower pots, and has capacity of 48,000 gallons a year. Wherever Mr. Hyssong's pottery is used, there it is  appreciated.
 In addition to manufacturing crockery, he deals extensively in sewer pipe. He is one of Bloomsburg's substantial citizens who enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

From the Morning Press, 1921

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1896

September 23rd 1909

"Thursday night lightning struck the pottery of A. L. Hyssong, in Bloomsburg. The bolt was of the freakish sort. Entering the building, it splintered a hemlock post, driving a splinter into the celling. Running into  another room, it struck an umbrella,  splintering pieces the hard wood handle.  Several of pieces of pottery were ruined but this was the principal damage."

1968

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OCR Included for search purposes, but spacing, errors, and spelling have NOT been corrected in this text:

AUSTIN  L.  HYSSONG  has  carried  on  a 

pottery  business  at  Bloomsburg  for  over 

twenty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  had  to 

enlarge  his  original  plant  to  accommodate  the 

profitable  trade  he  has  built  up  in  stoneware, 

stovepipe  collars,  flower  pots  and  similar 

goods.  His  father,  Elisha  B.  Hyssong,  fol- 

lowed the  same  calling. 

Elisha  B.  Hyssong  was  a native  of  Franklin 

county,  Pa.,  and  was  there  bound  out  in  boy- 

hood to  learn  the  potter’s  trade,  serving  four 

years  as  an  apprentice.  Later  he  went  to  Cass- 

ville,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  first 

worked  as  a journeyman,  and  there  he  mar- 

ried Rachel  E.  Green,  a native  of  Huntingdon 

county.  When  he  built  a pottery  of  his  own 

he  had  to  clear  the  location,  and  that  plant 

was  carried  on  by  the  Hyssong  family  for 

nearly  sixty-five  years,  Elisha  B.  Hyssong  con- 

tinuing to  operate  it  until  his  death,  in  1873, 

after  which  his  son  Bruce  took  it,  running  the 

business  until  the  spring  of  1912.  Mr. 

Hyssong  was  a much  esteemed  citizen  of  his 

neighborhood,  where  he  was  very  well  known 

not  only  in  his  business  relations  but  also  be- 

cause of  his  activity  in  politics,  the  administra- 

tion of  public  affairs  and  church  work.  He 

was  a justice  of  the  peace  for  over  twenty 

years,  a stanch  Republican  in  political  senti- 

ment, and  a lifelong  member  of  the  M.  E. 

Church,  which  he  served  officially  for  over 

forty  years,  being  deacon,  elder,  class  leader 

and  Sunday  school  superintendent.  In  his 

prime  he  was  a noted  singer,  and  music  af- 

forded him  one  of  his  chief  sources  of  enjoy- 

ment. He  died  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him, 

and  his  wife,  who  still  survives,  continues  to 

make  her  home  at  Cassville.  Twelve  children 

were  born  to  their  union,  ten  reaching  ma- 

turity, namely : Annie,  who  is  living  in  Pit- 

cairn, Pa.;  Jennie,  now  deceased;  Martha, 

widow  of  Oliver  Beaver,  of  Altoona,  Pa. ; 

Bell,  at  home  with  her  mother ; Margaret,  mar- 

ried and  living  in  Philadelphia ; Austin  L. ; 

George,  of  Altoona,  Pa.,  who  became  a potter 

(he  is  married)  ; Bruce,  also  a potter,  now 

engaged  in  the  crucible  factory  at  Philadelphia, 

who  married  Jennie  Horton;  Russell,  who 

learned  the  potter’s  trade,  now  employed  as 

a guard  in  the  reformatory  at  Huntingdon ; 

and  Alice,  who  died  unmarried. 

Austin  L.  Hyssong  was  born  Dec.  25,  1851, 

at  Cassville,  Huntingdon  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 

acquired  a common  school  education  in  youth 

and  early  commenced  to  learn  the  potter's 

trade  with  his  father,  and  he  has  always  fol- 

lowed it.  Remaining  with  him  until  he  at- 

tained his  majority,  he  then  went  to  Lewis- 

town,  Pa.,  where  he  was  located  most  of  the 

time  for  the  next  twenty  years,  for  several 

years  running  the  Dipple  pottery  there.  He 

was  at  Lewistown  for  the  four  years  follow- 

ing his  marriage,  spent  the  next  year  at  Peters- 

burg, Pa.,  returned  to  Lewistown  for  two 

years,  and  then  did  business  in  Huntingdon 

for  three  years.  Going  back  to  Lewistown  he 

formed  a partnership  with  J.  & C.  Dipple,  with 

whom  he  was  associated  four  years.  In  1891 

he  came  to  Bloomsburg  and  purchased  from 

John  Rehm  the  plant  he  has  ever  since  oper- 

ated. During  his  ownership  it  has  been  con- 

siderably enlarged,  and  many  valuable  im- 

provements have  been  made  in  the  property. 

Mr.  Hyssong’s  patronage  has  been  extended 

steadily,  his  wares  being  sold  in  various  sec- 

tions, and  besides  manufacturing  he  deals 

quite  extensively  in  terra  cotta  sewerpipe,  for 

which  he  has  found  a good  demand  in  the 

local  market.  His  substantial  position  in  the 

community  has  come  as  a recognition  of  solid 

worth.  Though  his  activities  have  not  ex- 

tended into  public  life  he  is  well  known,  and 

like  his  father  is  a stanch  Republican  and  an 

earnest  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 

whose  work  he  is  thoroughly  interested,  help- 

ing it  along  zealously.  Socially  he  is  a mem- 

ber of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.,  having  belonged  to 

the  camp  at  Lewistown,  No.  462,  for  over 

twenty  years. 

In  1875  Mr.  Hyssong  was  married  to  Anna 

Margaret  Dipple,  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 

garet (Peters)  Dipple,  of  Germany.  The 

father,  who  was  a potter  by  trade,  settled  at 

Lewistown  and  operated  a pottery  there  until 

his  death,  in  1872.  He  was  killed  while  cross- 

ing the  Pennsylvania  railroad  track,  on  his 

way  to  dig  clay.  His  wife,  who  survived  until 

1903,  ran  the  business  he  established  for  sev- 

eral years  after  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Dipple  had  six  children:  Anna  Margaret, 

Mrs.  Hyssong;  Anna,  widow  of  James  Irwin, 

of  Lewistown,  Pa. ; Ida,  who  married  William 

Miller,  of  Lewistown ; John,  deceased,  who 

was  a potter  and  worked  with  his  father ; 

Andrew  G.  C.,  who  owns  the  old  pottery  his 

father  established  at  Lewistown ; and  Charles, 

who  was  formerly  in  the  grocery  and  confec- 

tionery business,  now  a mail  carrier  at  Lewis- 

town. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Hyssong : Charles  has  always  worked  as 

974 

COLUMBIA  AND  MONTOUR  COUNTIES 

a potter  and  is  engaged  with  his  father;  John, 

a carpet  weaver,  now  settled  in  Philadelphia, 

married  Nettie  Cashner,  and  they  have  four 

children,  Robert,  Martha,  John  and  Ruth ; 

Walter,  who  died  when  twenty-fours  year  old, 

learned  the  trade  of  potter,  but  afterwards 

worked  as  a machinist  at  the  locomotive  works 

of  the  Standard  Steel  Company,  at  Burnham, 

Pa. ; Irwin,  a resident  of  Bloomsburg,  who 

also  learned  the  potter’s  trade,  married  Mary 

Beagle,  and  they  have  three  children,  Robert, 

Edna  and  Esther ; Wilbur,  who  worked  with 

his  father  in  the  pottery  until  twenty  years 

old,  and  has  been  a machinist  in  the  governm

ment employ  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  the 

last  two  years,  married  Estella  Knepp  and  ha.<5 

two  children,  Alargaret  and  Estella. 

From Beers History Of Columbia & Montour Counties

Columbia County History Scavenger Hunt

This was on the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society Scavenger Hunt in 2016.  I'm working my way through  the questions, attempting to add photos for each. 

1. Before malls and supermarkets, a nationwide department store chain and a local grocery store stood side by side. A. JCPenney's and Weis Markets stood on Main Street where the Greenly Center now is, 50 E. Main St.

2. The impressive Victorian home of this prominent citizen filled the entire lot now occupied b a public building. He was a minister and philanthropist who helped bring the railroad lines to Bloomsburg and was the guiding force behind the founding of Bloomsburg University. A. Rev. David Waller, at the site of the current Memorial Elementary School, 6th and Market.

3. "The Forks Hotel was torn down in front of this central lot that once held the town's horse watering trough (along with a hand pump).  At one time there was also a farm implements store on the site. "

4. This building was originally a hotel, which also held many small shops on the ground floor, including a barber shop, a cigar store, and Samuel R. Bidleman's store, were he sold books, stationery and wallpaper. It was remodeled after a fire. Its restaurant was once THE place for gluttons. A. 24 West Main St. Bidleman's store 

5. In modern days hotels have been replaced by motels located far beyond town limits, but in the old days visitors to Bloomsburg had 18 hotels to choose from, right in the downtown. This one was a centrally located narrow three-story building tucked in between others. There was never a fire and Demi Moore never stayed here, but many vaudevillians and other actors and performers did. What's the address of this building? A. St. Elmo's Hotel, 38-40 E. Main St.

6. Electricity first came to Bloomsburg with the establishment of the Bloomsburg Electric Light & Power Company in 1889. The company supplied power to Bloomsburg's first electric street lights in 1891. The building still stands. Where is it? A. Town shed, DUI booking center, corner of 8th and Catherine Sts.

7. Harry Magee's radio station first went on the air January 18, 1948. Originally its call letters were WLTR. Harry wanted to use his initials HLM, but another radio station already had those call letters. After several years of negotiating and waiting, Harry got what he wanted, and in September of 1951, Harry's station got Harry's initials. What building first housed WLTR/WHLM studios? A. Hotel Magee, 24 W. Main St.

8. This building was the first home of the Bloomsburg Hospital. What is the address? A. Joseph Ratti (Bloomsburg) Hospital, 450 Spruce Street.

9.  Late notable historian and columnist lamented the loss of her family home by eminent domain to build the post office.  Where was her family's pharmacy located?  A.  This was Pat Parker.  Her family's Moyer Pharmacy was located at 1-3-5 West 2nd St. (NW Corner of Main and Centre Streets, currently Courthouse Annex).

10. Where was the bottling works and beer storage facility for Charles D. Kier Brewing Company?  A. 499 W. Main St, NE Corner of Leonard and W. Main Sts (Hoch Chiropractic).

11.  This building began as a family-owned furniture factory and store.  Like many furniture or cabinet makers, a big part of their business was making wooden coffins.  So they also established themselves as undertakers for a time.  Around 1913 the owners latched onto the new fad of motion pictures and turned the building into a movie house they called the Arcade.  Where was this building located?  A.. The Correll building, 155-159 W. Main, corner of Jefferson St.

H.G. Supplee Store, Bloomsburg

12.  This building was once the place farmers went to buy feed for their livestock.  It was near David Waller's house and across the street from the Sanitarium building (both buildings now gone).  Fire took the top half of the building, but the bottom remains.  Today it is still a store, but you won't find livestock feed there.  What is the current address?  A.  601 Market St., W. W. Bridal. 

13. Bloomsburg's first library was organized in 1889 and shared quarters with the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Later it moved into the Y.M.C.A. It was semi-public and not free. In 1903 it was completely reorganized and renamed as the Bloomsburg Free Public Library. What building was the first home of the Bloomsburg Public Library? A. 221-223 Centre St., across from BTE.

14. Although Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, Bloomsburg didn't have a telephone exchange until 1882 when a group of local investors bought a franchise from the Bell Telephone Company. Initially, the Bloomsburg exchange had only 20 subscribers. What building was the first home of the Bloomsburg Bell Telephone exchange? A. The old bank building at 30-36 W. Main St.

Shearer's Grocery, Formerly Gem Steam Laundry

15. This small unassuming two-story off-the-beaten-path brick building was once the home to the Gem Steam Laundry. Later it was a small grocery store, and more recently it was home to an ethnic restaurant. What is this building's address? A. 232 Iron St. 

Reices Meat Market & T.L. Gunton

16. In 1901, T. L. Gunton Marble & Granite used a horse-drawn wagon to transport their heavy loads after removing them through a large garage door right on Main St. What business is there now and what's the address? A. West End Ale Haus, 113 W. 2nd St. 

Charles H. Sharpless & Co., Later the site of Baker Funeral Home

17. What was the original site of the Baker Funeral Home around 1898? The building still stands. A. Wood frame building, SE corner of West St. and W. Main St. 244 W. 2nd St.

18. Weary travelers stopped here, along with those just wanting a drink. It was convenient to those coming from Berwick because it was on the edge of town. What colorful metal building is near where it used to be? A. Custom Tags - pink metal building. See the photo hint given on July 23rd of the East End Hotel.

19. A fire company, then a grocery store once occupied this same location, now vacant after another long-standing business has closed. Where is this building? A. Miller Office Supply, 301 W. Main St. See the photo hint given on July 20th of the Goodwill Firehouse (followed by the grocery store), corner West and Main.

1946 - Hoovers on the left is in 105 W. Main Street

20. Bloomsburg Lodge No. 436 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks was founded in 1898, and in 1909 the Elks bought a local landmark building, using the second and third floors for lodge and club purposes, while renting out the first floor to various retail businesses. It stayed there for many years. Where was the original 1909 home of the Bloomsburg Elks? A. The Hartman Building, Market Square, 105 W. Main St.

21. Recently celebrating 100 years in existence, what local institution was once located in Bakeless Hall, President Edwin Barton's house on 2nd Street, and a church in Orangeville? A. The Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society, now located on the 2nd floor of the Bloomsburg Public Library.

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Mary Catherine Faux - Witness to McKinley's Assassination, & Molly Maguire Executions

 
Mary Catheriner Faux 1857-1942
Bloomsburg resident who witnessed both McKinley's assassination, and the hanging of 3 Molly Maguires in Columbia county.

 Recalls When She Fed Three Condemned Men
 Woman Also Stood Ready To Shake Hands with McKinley At Assassination 

From The Bloomsburg Morning Press, February 22 1940
[this story was ran many different years, beginning as early as 1936]

Miss Mary Faux, now eighty-three, and a resident of Light Street, is one of the few still living who witnessed the execution of the Molly Maguires March 25, 1878.

 It was an experience she will never forget although she places it second to one at Buffalo, N. Y., where President William McKinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition as Miss Faux stood not four feet away and was next in line to shake his hand. 

An illustration of the Murder Of Alexander Rae, the crime  which Hester, Tulley, and McHugh were executed for.

In the days of the Mollies Miss Faux, then a girl of twenty-one, was employed to assist the wife of the sheriff, Mrs. J. W. Hoffman and on the day of the execution of Pat Hester, Tulley and McHugh she, Mrs. Hoffman and three other women whose names Miss Faux no longer recalls stood in the cells the Mollies had occupied but a short time before and from a window watched the executions. 

The women were not more than twenty feet from where the three condemned stood on the scaffold.

The Noose used to hang Hester

 No one ever knew just who was the executioner. "Three men, each blindfolded, grabbed for one of the three ropes and pulled. They nor any one else ever knew who pulled the ropes that took lives of the Mollies.

 "I was afraid to remain at the jail after that. I left the next day. Soon afterward the present jail was opened and I was there for a time helping Mrs. Hoffman clean house, but I was never regularly employed after the execution

County Jail, Bloomsburg Pa  - Built in 1878, this was the "new jail" referred to by Miss Faux.

It would not have been where the Mollies were kept.

 Wanted Hanging Delayed

 "I can see Pat Hester yet walking into the jail yard, the crucifix in one hand and his felt hat in the other. When he got on the scaffold he bowed to those in the jail yard.

 "He declared even then that the hemp hadn't been grown yet that would hang him.' He was confident a reprieve would come and wanted the execution delayed twenty minutes. Tully held up pretty well and so did McHugh.

"They came to the jail in February, 1877, and were held there for over a year. I used to carry their meals to the iron gate where one of the coal and iron police, assigned to guard them, would take the food and give it to  the prisoners.

 "I remember one time: I got mad at Hester and told him that when the time came for his execution I would be glad of it. 

the Hood Worn By Hester

As Modeled for a 1940 newspaper

"They were first sentenced to be hanged in September, 1877, but an appeal to a higher court delayed the time. When they read the death warrant to McHugh and ended with 'and he is to be hanged by the neck until he is dead,' McHugh cried out "for God's sake, is that all.'

The Courthouse where 3 Molly Maguires were tried in Columbia County

The Columbia County Historical Society has the chairs the jurors used in that trial.

 No Turkey for Hester

 For the Thanksgiving that Hester was in jail, then located at  the site of the present high school play ground, Mrs. Hester brought him a large roasted turkey. Sheriff Hoffman, fearing it might be poisoned or contain something the prisoner should not have, refused to allow him to eat it. 

Mrs. Hester, Miss Faux recalled, "was a nice looking woman with black hair and eyes. Pat's hair and, eyes were also black but each one their three daughters had blue eyes and red hair. Mrs. and the girls used "to Visit Pat but they were never Hester, allowed to touch him.  All the girls I believe, were school teachers. One of them was married and her husband had been executed the June preceding the date when her father was hanged.

 "Tully had married a widow. She came to see him at times but I never saw the stepchildren there. I cannot recall of any one ever coming to see McHugh.

Display shared at the Sullivan County History Buffs Presentation , March 2025

Kelly Threatened Her Life 

"Kelly the Bum, you remember he turned state's evidence to save himself, was a trusty around the jail. One day Sheriff and Mrs. Hoffman were away and they left me money to purchase some beef to cook for the guards.

 "I gave Kelly the money and told him to go buy the beef. He didn't come back for some time and I sent one of the guards for him and he located Kelly at Stoner's Hotel, that was where Moyer Brothers drug store now stands." 

"Kelly was drunk. He denied he had ever been given any money to purchase the meat. When I insisted he had he got out a knife, declared he would cut my throat and chased me around the jail yard. I ran into the room used by the police and they got the knife away from him. I told the sheriff that if he ever let Kelly loose again I would leave."

 There were only four cells in the old jail. Three to four prisoners would be kept in one cell when that was necessary. The three Mollies were kept together. 

Three times a day a loaf of bread would be sent to their cell. Each prisoner would get a cup of molasses.  In the morning they would get coffee and in the evening tea.  No sugar or milk was provided.  Sometimes the prisoners would get soup at noon, but not often.  The usually meal was bread and molasses. 

"Kelly the Bum was releases either immediately after the  or the hanging or the next day.  I don't remember which.  I do remember that he often cried and said he had no place to go.

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See more photos of the McKinley Funeral Train as it passed through the Susquehanna Valley

An earlier article, in 1936,  gives Miss Faux's  account of viewing the McKinley assassination:

"... Miss Faux thinks that by far the greater is that odd chain of events which placed her, within four feet of President McKinley when he shot. 

She can tell many interesting stories about Pat Hester, Tulley and McHugh but there is neither the spark in her eye nor the eagerness in speech as when she is telling of that cowardly attack upon the President almost thirty-five years ago. 

"I was no farther away from him than that fellow," indicating a Morning Press photographer four feet away, "when President McKinley was shot. It was September 6th, 1901. I was with a Mrs. Walp from Shickshinny, whom I had met on the grounds.

 "The President stood just outside of the Temple of Music. There were many behind us who also wished to greet him. He was bending over talking to a pretty little girl. Then the assassin stepped forward, extended his left hand which was covered by a handkerchief and fired the shot which mortally wounded the President.

"He fell back into the arms of a man and a colored man, a big one, grabbed the assassin.  If he had not l am sure that the police on the ground would have killed him immediately. I can tell you though he wasn't very carefully handled. I shall never forget that."

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Mary Catherine Faux was born in Luzerne county on  June 25th 1857, the daughter of Jacob and Lydia Jane [Smith] Faux.  The family moved to Columbia County Pa when Mary Catherine was just 3 years old. Mary remained in Columbia County for the rest of her life, buried in the lightstreet cemetery in 1942.

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MOLLIE MAGUIRES HANGED.

The New York Times,  March 26, 1878

THREE OF THEM DIE TOGETHER.

HESTER, M'HUGH, AND TULLY SUFFER THE PENALTY OF THE LAW AT BLOOMSBURG – A GREAT CROWD PRESENT- THE LAST HOURS OF THE DOOMED MEN – THE TRAGEDY QUICKLY ACCOMPLISHED – TULLY'S CONFESSION – A BOY KILLED BY THE FALLING OF A SHED NEAR THE GALLOWS.

Special Dispatch to the New-York Times.

            Bloomsburg, March 21. – Three of the Mollie Maguires who murdered Mining Superintendent Rea for his money, nearly 10 years ago, were hanged at this place to-day.  They were Patrick Hester, Peter McHugh, and Patrick Tully, all Irish Catholics, all middle-aged men, and all richly deserving of the halters that encircled their necks this morning.

            The day was made a holiday in all the country round.  The morning trains running into Bloomsburg were filled with crowds of laughing, joking countrymen, such as may be seen about the Fourth of July times.  The bar-rooms of the town were like bee-hives, and whisky ran freely from every faucet.  It was many times said that every male citizen of Columbia County was here, but this was an exaggeration, for several were sick in bed, and couldn't come.  There arrived before 9 o'clock this morning, in steam cars, stages, and every kind of farm vehicle known in Pennsylvania, not less than 3,000 persons, and the town looked like Long Branch on a race-day.  The main street was lined on both sides with wagons and carriages, and the sidewalks were almost impassable.

            The walled yard back of the jail is very small, not more than 40 feet square, and Sheriff Hoffman was compelled to limit the number of spectators.  He had about 200 tickets printed, and the blanks were filled up by one of the County Commissioners in a dusky vault beneath the Court-house.  The doors of this subterranean room were besieged by hundreds of persons, all anxious to see the death of the Mollies.  There were not less than 500 applications for admission tickets, and 300 had to be refused.  Every man whose uncle was a second cousin to the Sheriff's step-brother by marriage was on hand early for a pass, and every rural politician in the county was offended if he was refused one.

            No one was admitted to the cells of the condemned men this morning except their immediate relatives.  They very wisely declined to say anything to reporters, and spent much of the time between day-light and death in devotional exercises.  At 6:30 o'clock a mass was begun in McHugh's cell, on the lower floor of the prison, the officiating clergymen being Fathers Koch, of Shamokin, and Schlutter, of Danville.  There were present, besides the priests, the three condemned men, Hester's wife, three daughters, and two sons-in-laws, a nephew of McHugh, and several of the Coal and Iron Police.  The mass lasted from 6:30 to 8:30, and then each of the prisoners went to his cell and ate a light lunch.  After this they were all shaved.  At 10 o'clock Hester's wife and daughters bade him a last good-bye, and Tully and McHugh shook hands with their friends for the last time.

            Ten o'clock was the hour fixed for the admission of spectators to the jail yard.  About 30 of the Reading Railroad Company's Coal and Iron Police were stationed around the outside of the jail, to preserve order.  It had been intended to have a military company, but yesterday the Sheriff decided that it would be injudicious, and the Militiamen who attended were indignant at not being allowed to keep at bay a dangerous crowd of about 200 boys that sat on the neighboring fences.  The jail is a very old building, and was once a dwelling-house.  It will fall down in a few years, but not before the handsome new prison building here is completed.  It is reached by a long and narrow lane leading from the main street, and is surrounded by rickety and unsightly sheds.  The lane, in the upper part, was packed with ticket-holders early in the day, and the roofs of the sheds were black with boys and loungers.  The spectators were permitted to crowd their way in, promptly at 10 o'clock.  Nine-tenths of them were elderly farmers who helped elect the Democratic Sheriff, and must have a pass at all hazards.  They thirsted for gore, and what they couldn't get out of the gallows they drew from brown bottles.  After they had crowded through the low, narrow corridor of the Columbia Country Jail, they reached the jail yard, which is surrounded by a yellow stone wall about 30 feet high, and for the first time, saw the gallows. 

            This gallows is a sort of family machine.  It was built by Carbon County, and strangled several Mollie Maguires there.  It is to go back to Mauch Chunk to-morrow to hang Thomas Fisher on Thursday.  It is made to come to pieces, and goes galloping about the country dropping off Mollies wherever it strikes.  It was sent over here on Friday, and was stored in the jail cellar.  On Saturday the ropes and straps came, and then the machine was put up in the middle of the jail-yard, every petty prisoner in the jail being transferred to the town lock-up, while the carpenters were working at it.  It is a new style of scaffold, cross beams run in every direction at the top, and the two trap-doors are held in place till the proper moment by a combination lever.  It is large enough to hang five men at a time, not comfortably perhaps, but thoroughly, and it resembles nothing so much as an old fashioned hay-press.  It is built entirely of oak, very solid, and does its work well, having a fall of between four and five feet.

            With about 200 persons inside the jail-yard, and several hundred more on the outside making a great deal of noise, the prisoners were brought out to die.  They had all partaken of the Catholic communion.  Each was preceded by a priest, and each carried a crucifix, holding it in both hands.

            Peter McHugh, the smallest of the three prisoners, was the first.  He was accompanied by Rev. Father Koch, of Shamokin, who several years ago was instrumental in having Hester sent to prison for making a disturbance at a funeral.  McHugh was dressed in a shabby suit of black, and looked careworn and anxious.  He showed no signs of weakness, however, and carried his large wooden crucifix firmly in both hands.

            Patrick Hester, the largest and the most intelligent looking of the men was the next.  He was accompanied by Rev. Father McGovern.  He wore a handsome black suit, and was better dressed in general, than either of his companions.  The small white plaster crucifix in his hands he carried steadily, and walked up the gallows steps as if he had no concern as to his fate.

            Patrick Tully was the last to mount the scaffold.  He wore a blue coat and vest, and a pair of jeans pantaloons, and carried a large bronze crucifix.  He was also a large man, but smaller than Hester.  Rev. Father Schlutter, of Danville, walked by his side.  All of the priests were dressed in long black robes, partially concealed by light white garments reaching below the waist.

            As the doomed men stood for a moment on the platform listening to the last words of the priests, Tully began to tremble slightly, but he soon recovered his self-possession.  The men were not pinioned in any way, and Hester reached up with his right hand and coolly rested part of his weight upon one of the upper beams of the gallows.  As they raised their heads to listen to the priests, it was first noticeable that none of them wore collars. 

            They looked fit subjects for the gallows.  Every one of them was a brutal and dangerous looking man.  Hester, very large and powerful, was more refined in feature than either of the others, but he looked like a man to be avoided on a dark night.  The expression on his face was solemn and troubled, but he bore up very bravely.  His fat face was marked in many places with large blue scars- - a wound with a piece of fresh coal invariably leaving a blue mark.  His forehead, particularly, was spotted with blue.  He looked much too large and heavy for the slender rope that dangled be the side of his head.  Tully at the last looked stolid and indifferent.  His face was devoid of expression.  McHugh looked a little frightened, but stood up firm and brave.

            Each of the prisoners bade good-bye to all the priests who handed them the crucifixes for a last kiss.  Then McHugh made a speech of about a minute's length, in a voice so low that even the Sheriff, who stood on the platform within a foot of the speaker, could not hear him, and his voice was utterly inaudible off the platform.  Hester followed him with a few words in an equally low voice, declaring his innocence.  Then Tully, also in a very low voice, said a few words on religion, and then shook hands with the Sheriff.  Two Deputy Sheriffs handcuffed the prisoners' hands behind them, and put two heavy black straps around their legs, one above, and the other below the knees.  While the deputies were at this work, the faces of several women were seen peering eagerly out of one of the lower windows of the jail, and they retained this eligible position throughout the scene that made many hardy men shrink back in dismay.

            Another deputy pulled a great white bag over the head of each prisoner, the ropes having been adjusted.  Hester and Tully stood upon the eastern trap door, and McHugh, alone upon the western.  The scaffold was quickly cleared, and before anybody was expecting it there was a crash.  The platform fell, and the three men were dangling in the air.  Not one of them was instantly killed.  Not one of their necks was broken, but all died by strangulation, and at very nearly the same time, in from 11 to 12 minutes after the falling of the drop.  The exact time was in doubt for, three doctors being the time keepers, there were of course three opinions on the subject.  Tully and McHugh died without a struggle, hanging limp and lifeless.  Hester did not struggle, but breathed very hard for some minutes, his huge breast expanding many inches, and his shoulders bending toward each other at the back, wrinkling his close fitting coat.

            The crash of the falling platform was distinctly heard outside the jail-yard, and the crowd beyond the walls sent up a howl, that lasted throughout the dying moments of the prisoners.  But the triple tragedy inside was soon to be followed by a violent death outside the jail walls.  More than 50 persons had climbed to the roof of a large coal and wood shed, on the eastern side of the yard wall.  The roof was not nearly high enough to enable them to see over the wall, but it brought them a little nearer the gallows, and it had its attractions.  While the doctors were counting the pulse-beats of the rapidly-dying men, this shed have way with a crash, and the crash was followed by a prolonged yell from the crowd.  Of the many men and boys on the roof all escaped without serious injury, except a little fellow named Harry Williamson who was so badly injured that he died a few minutes afterward.

            It was 11:07 when the drop fell.  The rope around Hester's neck kept its position, the knot being behind the left ear, but on both Tully and McHugh the knot slipped to the back of the neck.  The undertaker brought in three coffins, and at about 11:30 McHugh was cut down and carried to his coffin.  Tully was taken down next, and Hester last, his great weight making it necessary to carry the coffin directly under the rope.  The thing but strong cord, about half an inch thick, left a livid mark and a deep indentation on all their throats.  When the taking down of the bodies was begun the crowd in the jail-yard pressed up closely around the scaffold, hardly leaving the undertaker's men room to do their work.  When all was over a side door in the yard was opened and the public were admitted to see the scaffold and the bodies.  Not less than 1,000 persons availed themselves of the opportunity.  McHugh's and Hester's coffins were at once taken to the railroad depot for transportation to Kingston, thence to Wilkes-barre, the hearse being followed by several hundred persons.  A great crowd met the bodies, soon afterward, at the Kingston depot.

            Last Tuesday night, after the prisoners had abandoned all hope, Patrick Tully gave the following confession to George E. Elwell, on of his counsel, stipulating that it should not be given to the public until after his death:

            "I was born in Ireland on Dec. 17, 1830.  County of Cavan, Parish of Drughn.  I emigrated to Scotland in 1854, and came to this country in 1863.  I lived in Reading a while, and in Glen Carbon, Schuylkill County.  I went to Centralia in this county in the Fall of 1865.  I moved about a good bit, and there are a good many things that I do not care to say anything about.  I know there are many people who will believe what I am going to say is true, and there are others who will say it is false; but I am done with this world now, and have to answer only to the Almighty, and I will tell nothing but the truth.  Concerning this crime, I can't say that I am innocent.  I cannot say that any of the party is innocent.  You can make Patrick Hester innocent if you like, but he was there.  He was there all the night at Tom Donohue's saloon, and he gave his pistol to Kelley, and he was at the toll-gate that morning.  Kelly swore to some lies about the circumstances of the Rea murder, but most that he said was true.  Neither Hester nor McHugh told me to do the deed.  What I did was done of my own accord.  But Hester was Bodymaster, and McHugh was County Delegate, and if they had said the thing shouldn't be done they could have stopped it.  It was not so much the Ancient Order of Hibernians, as it was whisky that me into it.  If I had followed my early teachings I never would have got into this trouble.  When the trial first began I would have pleaded guilty, but I had no lawyer, and no money to pay one, and I didn't know what to do, so I pleaded not guilty, as the others did, when I knew it was a lie.  I would have made a statement long ago, but I was with the other two, and had no chance.  I never had a chance to talk to you alone or I would have told you this before; but I couldn't do it in the cell with the other two.  On the trial some of the witnesses against us swore false, but most of what Kelly said was true.  He could have sworn to a good deal more, but I guess he didn't mind it at the time.  I do say that Tom Donohue is innocent of this crime.  He knew nothing about it.  Most of the evidence for our defense was false, and many of the witnesses were paid for their evidence. *  *  *  I knew of a man who would swear that I sat up with him when he had a broken leg the night before Rea was murdered.  But when you asked me during the trial whether I had any witnesses, I would not tell you of this man because I knew it was two nights before the murder that I sat up with him, and I was not going to bring him here to swear to a lie, even to save my neck.  I do not make this statement out of spite toward any one, or to injure any one's memory, but simply because I truly repent of my crime, and will not die with a lie on my lips.  This statement is given by me, of my own accord to George E. Elwell, one of my counsel, and written down by him at my request this 19th day of March, 1878, to be published after my death.

                                                                                    PATRICK TULLY.

            In the place indicated by stars is a place indicating several other persons in the Rea murder, and this part of the confession is to be kept private for some time, in the hope that the guilty men may be arrested.

            After the hanging, there was a scramble in the jail yard for pieces of the rope with which the men were strangle, and when the demand began to exceed the supply in large ratio the plaiting was opened and only pieces of single strand were given.  Many Columbia County homes are happy tonight over the possession of these precious relics.

            The scaffold was taken down immediately after the hanging and will be sent back to Mauch Chunk tomorrow.  Thomas Fisher is to be hanged on it there Thursday.

========================

Into Eternity.

THREE MOLLIES SWUNG FROM THE GALLOWS.

Execution of Hester, Tully and McHugh in Bloomsburg.

The Williamsport Sun and Lycoming Democrat, March 27th 1878 

            Bloomsburg March 25—

            Hester, Tully and McHugh, the three Molly Maguires convicted of the murder of Alexander Rea, were executed in the prison yard at seven minutes after 11 o'clock this morning.  Neither of the men made a public confession.

THE GALLOWS.

            The gallows used for the occasion was brought from Mauch Chunk, where it had previously done service in the execution of the Mollies at that place last summer.  It was erected in the prison yard in full view from the windows of the cells of the condemned men.

WHO THEY WERE.

            Hester leaves a wife and four daughters, two unmarried, with absolutely no provision for their future.  He was possessed of some property at the time of his arrest, but it has been so covered with liabilities for counsel fees and the printing of the evidence in his case that it has been swallowed up.  Nominally he leaves a house in Mount Carmel, where used to be tax collector, supervisor and school director, and another in Locust Gap, where he formerly kept a hotel.  He was 53 years old, was born in Roscommon, Ireland, and came to this country in 1848.  He weighs 220 pounds.  Last night all his daughters were with him, weeping and bewailing his fate, but he remained calm.  To-day his wife and youngest daughter have been in his cell much of the time, and when they departed they seemed overwhelmed with grief.  He averred his innocence to the last.

            Pat Tully was born in the county Cavan, Ireland, is 47 years old, and came to this country in 1863.  He married a widow name M'Cullough who had five children, and she says he was "a good man" to her and "loved the children like they was his own."  His little step son, four years old, slept with him on Saturday night, and his parting with him to-day was very affecting.

            Peter McHugh was a native of Donegal, Ireland.  He was single and his only near relation in this country was a brother who is in Texas.  A cousin here paid him occasional visits.

ON THE SCAFFOLD.

            The condemned men were attended to the scaffold by Fathers Schlutter, McGovern and Koch.  The later is the Shamokin priest who sent Hester to the penitentiary five years ago.  He attended by special request of the Hesters.  It is said that three years ago he told Hester that he had better confess his crimes, make his peace with God, and then be hanged before he sinned any more.

            After the execution the bodies of McHugh and Tully were taken to Wilkesbarre for interment, and that of Hester to Locust Gap, where it will be waked to-night, after which it will probable be buried at Shamokin.

THE TOWN.

            Bloomsburg is crowded with people from a distance, many hundreds being miners, but owing to the excellent precautionary measures of the authorities good order prevailed throughout.

THE STORY OF THE MURDER.

            [Alexander Rea, a mining superintendent, was a peaceable and inoffensive man, but naturally fearless, for in the pursuance of his duty in a lawless region he was never armed.  He had a wife and six children, and was considered an estimable gentleman.  About 9:30 o'clock on the morning of October 17, 1868, Mr. Rea was riding in his buggy in the highway in Conyngham township, Columbia county, in the direction of the Coal Ridge Improvement Company's colliery, and when near a roadside spring where had been erected a rude watering trough, he was fired upon and killed.  The excitement ran high.  Pat. Hester, Pat. Tully, and Peter McHugh were arrested, with others for the murder.  Finally the 9th of August last was to have seen their swinging off, but the inevitable writ of error came in the way, and hanging day was put off until to-day.]