FIRE AT THE ARNOLD HOUSE

The Cortland News, Friday, July 9, 1886.

FIRE AT THE ARNOLD HOUSE.

Firecrackers Probably at the Bottom of It.

   Our citizens were somewhat startled at about 12:50 last Saturday morning by the violent ringing of the fire bell, but as the hoodlums had been ringing the bell previously in conjunction with the church bells which were welcoming in the grand celebration, but few people paid any attention to it, with the exception of turning over in bed and muttering a smothered imprecation on the fool who was up to that kind of business.

   The continued ringing at last, however, roused the firemen and they turned out, to find that the Arnold House [located on Court Street—CC editor] was on fire, between floors and partitions. Over fifteen minutes time was lost by this means, and when the firemen did at last get on the ground it looked as if the hotel was doomed.

   Emerald Hose got the first line of water on the fire from the hydrant, corner of Main and Court streets, while Orris Hose soon afterwards got a stream from the hydrant at the corner of Court and Church streets.

   The steamer attached to the fire well near the Court House and another stream was in operation. Water was poured into the building for nearly three-quarters of an hour and the fire finally drowned out.

   More damage was done to the building and contents by the water than the flames. A careful investigation by daylight showed that the fire had started in a clothes press in the sitting room, had burned through the partition, and followed the studding to the second floor, and from thence had run along under the floor to the west side of the building, and followed the studding to the third floor and mansard roof, where it had spread out in different directions.

   The only wonder is that the building was not entirety destroyed as the fire was in so many places, between partitions and floors, where it was almost impossible for water to reach, and those who were finding fault with the firemen for using so much water should examine the work before croaking.

   As firecrackers had been set off in the waiting and sitting rooms during the evening it is more than likely that a piece of one had been blown under the closet door, and set fire to some papers on the door, and through them communicated to the wood-work.

   The building was owned by Mr. K. C. Arnold, of Truxton, a brother of the proprietor, and was fully insured. The furniture owned by J. R. Arnold was not covered with insurance, he having permitted his policy to lapse only a week before.

   The fire, while it caused a great deal of loss, did not interfere with the dining room and bar business of the day to any great extent, as a great many were fed at breakfast, dinner and supper.

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.

A Big Day and a Big Crowd for Cortland.

   Never before in the history of Cortland was there such a crowd of people as visited here last Saturday. The streets throughout the line of march were literally packed with strangers of all sizes, ages and conditions.

   The different parts of the programme as made out by the committees was carried out to perfection. The business display in the street parade, was something out of the ordinary run, and was well worth seeing, as representing the leading industries of the place. About the only thing advertised to be in the line that did not put in an appearance was the business display from Homer, which for some unaccountable reason, failed to respond.

   The speech by Hon. James E. Morrison from the platform, corner of West Court street, was listened to by an immense concourse of people, notwithstanding the sun and heat. Mr. Morrison is one of the most pleasant speakers that has [sic] ever visited Cortland, and his remarks were well chosen and witty.

   The fusilier parade in the afternoon was the best of the kind we have ever witnessed. Everything that was caricatured was so well done that those it hit could not take offense at the artist.

   Apparently the crowd began to thin out about six o'clock, and many were the predictions that but few people would witness the fire-works in the evening. These prophets, however, were at fault, as long before dark the large field at the head of West Court street was packed full with a mass of people that was variously estimated at from ten to twenty thousand souls —the former number probably nearer than the latter, although it was not under that number. Besides those in the field, the crowd extended down West Court street; the fences and gardens in the vicinity were full, house tops were crowded, and many people witnessed the scene from elevated points all through the town.

   The committee having charge of the fire-works had made a grand selection, and everybody who could see them remarked that they were the finest ever seen in this section. The different committees did their work well, and the whole affair passed off like clockwork.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Odd Fellows will give an excursion to Oneida Lake on Thursday, July 29.

   An exchange says that people going on excursions are so happy to get home that they are glad they went.

   Ground was broken on Tuesday for G. F. Beaudry's new building on South Main street. Gardner & Leonard have the contract for digging the cellar and laying the foundation.

   [Last] Tuesday, on the south side of W. W. Kelsey's house on Union street, the thermometer registered 95 deg. in the shade. He used his lawn sprinkler for about 35 minutes thoroughly wetting down the lawn and house, and at the end of that time ran the mercury down so that it registered only 85 deg.

   The iron-work for the Port Watson bridge was all placed in position Wednesday and the work of painting commenced. The timbers for the drive way and foot path will not be put down until to-day and to-morrow, in order to let the paint harden before it is opened for traffic.

   The General Term in session at Utica on Thursday of last week, denied the appeal in the case of Mrs. Roxanna Druse, convicted of butchering her husband, William Druse, in the town of Warren, Herkimer county, some time ago. The court resentenced Mrs. Druse to be hanged at Herkimer jail, August 19, 1886, between the hours of 10 a. m., and 4p. m. The murderess maintained her composure in a stoical manner while in the Court room.

   The fire bell was rung at one o'clock Wednesday morning, fire having been discovered in the shoe shop of Charles Schultz on Orchard street. The flames had gained considerable headway before being discovered, but as plenty of water and buckets were handy, they were extinguished without the aid of the fire department although a line of hose was laid from the hydrant in front of the Riley block by Orris Hose company. Mr. Schultz's loss on stock will amount to about $150 or $200, and he is insured for $350. The loss to the building is slight.

   The drillers at work for the La Fayette Coal prospecting company, on the Ladd farm [near Groton—CC editor], after boring a hole 103 feet deep, have taken up their machine and gone back to Pittston, Pa. At a depth of eighteen inches from the surface a hard, grayish rock was encountered, and the boring was all the way in that, no other kinds of rock being encountered [sic]. It is probable that all hopes of finding coal in this section are blasted, and that no more work will be done. The stock holders will receive a portion of the core of rock as a dividend.

   Plans for the new Hatch Library building, to be erected on the lot recently purchased of Seymour M. Ballard, west of the Arnold House, have been submitted to the Trustees of the fund, and bids are being received.

   At a meeting held last Tuesday the following persons were elected directors of the Cortland & Homer Street Railway company: Chas. H. Garrison, E. A. Fish, S. E. Welch, W. N. Brockway. C. P. Walrad, L. D. Garrison, Franklin Pierce, R. T. Peck, Eben Mudge, R. H. Duell, J. D. Schermerhorn, M. H. McGraw, C. W. Collins.