Monday, December 2, 2013

Jumbo Killed by Train and Cortland Horse Railroad Management Change


The Cortland News, Friday, September 18, 1885.

JUMBO KILLED.

He Meets His Death by a Freight Train.

   BUFFALO, Sept. 16—A special from St.Thomas, Ontario, to the Evening News, says: About 9 o'clock last night as Barnum's elephant Jumbo and the little trick elephant were being taken along the track on the way from the show grounds to the car to be loaded, an incoming freight train came upon them unexpectedly and caught and killed Jumbo and broke one of Tom Thumb's legs. There was a side track on the north side of the main track which contained all of Barnum s empty cars and on either side there was an embankment about eight to ten feet high. When the keeper saw the train coming he tried to get Jumbo down the embankment at the south side, but Jumbo, seeing no danger, refused. He then attempted to get him between the side track and main line, but only partly succeeded, the locomotive obstructing Jumbo just as his fore feet had left the track, striking him in the right side and crowding him against the cars on the siding. He was carried with the engine about 100 yards and was so tightly wedged that when he could be carried no farther it crowded the locomotive to the south side, throwing it off the track. Jumbo lived only about three minutes after being struck.

   ST. THOMAS, Ont., Sept. 16—Barnum's circus exhibited here yesterday and it met with such a succession of misfortunes as seldom fails to the lot of any individual firm of showmen. The inaugural accident took place in the afternoon when one of the performers, named William Nichols, while riding a horse in the jockey race, was thrown from the animal's back and trampled upon so badly that he expired during the evening. The other accidents were the killing of Jumbo and the breaking of the baby elephant's leg by a freight train. The baby elephant will probably have to be shot.

 

A Horrible Discovery Made in a San Francisco Cellar.

   SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15.—A horrible discovery was made in Chinatown to-day. Information was given the city coroner that a frightful stench was being emitted from a cellar on Pacific street. He went to the cellar, forced his way in. and found the floor covered with human skulls and bones partially covered with flesh in the last stage of decomposition. In an inner room the coroner found a number of Chinese engaged in boiling down the remains of other bodies, while several other Chinamen were engaged in scraping the boiled bones and packing them in boxes for shipment to China. It is estimated that the cellar contained portions of over 300 dead bodies, which have been taken secretly from various cemeteries throughout the State. As an instance of Chinese ingenuity it is stated that those in charge of these operations, fearing that the stench from the boiling pots would be so great as to attract attention outside, had procured two skunks, so that the odor of the latter might overcome that of the former. The coroner has taken charge of the remains.

 

 

TOWN CORRESPONDENCE.

PREBLE, September 16, 1885.

   Two of our sportsmen started out on a hunting expedition a short time ago. They soon saw an animal, which they called a black fox; they began firing and the chase continued nearly all day. They at last concluded it was somebody's black dog. Hard luck boys, try again.

   L. P. Norton has purchased the John Gray farm which joins his own, and will take possession the first of April next. He now has a large dairy farm.

   Fred Van Hoesen has purchased the Lewis Frederick farm, situated half a mile north of this village, and it is reported that he takes possession soon.

   Mrs. John Arnold and son, of Truxton, a former resident of this place, have been visiting her old neighbors and friends.

 

SOUTH CORTLAND, September 17, 1885.

   The leaves begin to fall.

   The new postal card is here, but it is no handsomer than its predecessors.

   Miss Jennie Watrous is dangerously ill with malaria fever. Dr. Head, of Homer, attends her.

   A young lady in this place a few mornings since, became thoroughly frightened upon discovering that she had been using "rough on rats," by mistake as a tooth powder. She will not do so again.

   A cry is going up that the potato crop is being ruined by the frequent and long continued rains. The rot is said to be already quite extensive, especially in fields on low lands and naturally heavy and wet.

 

HARFORD, September 15, 1885.

   Potatoes are rotting badly, and I understand this trouble is widely spread. Now, farmers, hold your potatoes ‘till winter and you will get a good price.

   Harford sends a very respectable delegation of teachers to the Institute at Homer this week.

   Our schools are nearly all supplied with teachers. Jane Holdridge will play the gad on Owego Hill, Lillie Pratt will scowl on the unterrified of Daisy Hollow; Florence Harrington will "make ‘em holler" in Hay Hollow; Esther Cleveland will tutor the untutored in the Givers district, and Alice Sweetland will softly curb the wayward spirit in the Brown district.

 

MARATHON, September 16, 1885.

   Potatoes are rotting here badly. Some pieces are hardly worth digging.

   Wm. Conrad, an old resident of this town, is buried here to-day.

   Baseball is the popular craze here now and the ladies have taken a hand in it and where it will end no man knoweth.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The street car now runs the entire length of the road so that passengers are no longer obliged to change cars at the crossing [railroad crossing between Homer and Cortland--CC editor].

   The excursion to Watkins Glen under the auspices of Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company on Friday last was not a success financially, although those who attended report a success in enjoyment.

   Battery B., of Baldwinsvilie, accompanied by Riano's band, of Syracuse, picnicked at Blodgett's trout ponds on Saturday. After dinner the band came up town and rendered some very fine selections in Randall's gardens, and serenaded several places about town.

   The highway commissioners of this town have been making much needed reforms in their department the past year and have effected a saving to the taxpayers of a number of hundred dollars notwithstanding the fact that they have built five iron bridges this summer. This has been accomplished by the Commissioners buying strictly for cash and insisting in each instance of having an itemized bill so that errors could be detected while the matters were yet fresh in the minds of all parties. We predict that at the next session of the Board of Supervisors the Highway Commissioners will present a report the like of which tor accuracy and detail has not been seen in this town since the country was new.

   On Monday last the Horse Railroad Company took charge of their property which has been under the management of Dwight Miller for the past eighteen months, and some trouble was experienced in making the transfer. It seems that last week officers of the company informed Mr. Miller that as soon as the crossing was completed they should take possession, and wanted him to appoint an appraiser and they would also appoint one; the two, if unable to agree on the price, to appoint a third one, who should set a value on the horses, harnesses, &c, belonging to Mr. Miller, and thus buy all the stock Mr. Miller had been using and not leave any of it on his hands. The appraisers failed to agree on a price and that part of the transaction fell through. Mr. Miller claims that he has an agreement or contract whereby he is entitled to the control of the road until next March, while the company claim he has none. Be that as it may, the company on Monday demanded that he unhitch his teams from the cars and upon a refusal to do so agents of the company removed them and put on their own horses. Threats were indulged in by employees of Mr. Miller that they would again get possession of the cars, and the officers of the company have deemed it advisable to have officers on each car every trip after dark. Here the matter rests although lively legal complications are liable to arise and the matter will probably be fought out in the courts.

  

 

Teacher’s Institute.

   The teacher's institute tor Cortland county is in session at Homer this week. The conductors are Prof. H. R. Sanford, of Middletown, Orange county, and Prof. C. T. Pooler, of Deansville, Oneida Co. The Institute was called to order at 2 p. m., on Monday by Commissioner Squires. Prof. Sanford took up the subject of "Thoughts and Studies of Teachers," and Prof. Pooler presented "Some Means of Improving one's Power as Teacher." The conductors and school commissioners seem to be full alive to their work and a very interesting session is being held. Monday evening Prot. Sanford formed the teachers into a circle and showed them how to get acquainted. Thursday evening the institute was favored by a lecture on '"What is Education," by Dr. Hoose, of Cortland. Wednesday evening Prof. Pooler discussed the Ocean current subject. Thursday evening Prof. Sanford delivered an interesting lecture, and Friday evening Prof. Stowell will discuss the effects of alcohol and narcotics. About 160 teachers are registered.
 
 
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