A CROP OF SNAKE STORIES.

The Cortland News, Friday, July 27, 1883.

                                           CROP OF SNAKE STORIES.

   When Mrs. John McClellan, of Mifflintown, Penn., went to open her kitchen stove, she found a black snake in the oven.

   A snake coiled itself about the leg of a Lynchburg, Va. negro boy, and lashed the limb severely with its tail. It then unwound itself and fell off.

   An Overton, Mo. man set fire to a brush heap. As the fire began to blaze the ample heap turned into writhing rattlesnakes, who leisurely crawled away.

   A snake of the viper species, with two small claw feet attached to his body, was killed near Boonville, Ind. It stood perfectly erect upon its feet when attacked.

   As Mrs. Gotleib Hetzel, of Hagerstown, Md., stepped from her bed she trod upon a copperhead snake, and it bit her in the foot. Although she suffered intensely she recovered.

   Near Lynchburg, Va., a huge moccasin snake was seen robbing a bird's nest in a mulberry tree. After it was killed it was found to contain four young catbirds, a quart of mulberries and three kittens.

   Peter Strauss, of Meekville, Penn., was bitten by a copperhead snake. His entire body became swollen, his teeth dropped out and he lost his eyesight. Medical aid was useless. His jaws set and he died in spasms.

   A genuine whipsnake, six feet long, attacked L. B. Taylor, of Charlotte, Va., and tried to jump into his wagon. With every jump it would crack its tail like a whip, and with such force as to make the horses prance. Mr. Taylor finally succeeded in knocking it senseless, and one of his sons cut off its head. After the head was cut off, the snake’s body snapped at the boy.

Night-blooming Cereus

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   J. T. Hart, Esq., h a s established an office with Jerome Squires in Taylor Hall block.

   Street commissioner Davern this week is grading that part of Pendleton street south of Port Watson Street.

   Forepaugh's advertising [railroad] car has been in town this week, and his circus is "billed" for this place, Tuesday, August 14.

   There is talk of organizing a bicycle club in Cortland.—Bing. Rep. Cortland has had a bicycle club for a year or so past.

   Mr. Brown, father of Mrs. N. H. Haynes, fell lately and dislocated his hip. As the old gentleman is nearly 90 years of age the accident is more than usual a serious misfortune.

   Mrs. E. B. Knapp, of Marathon, has taken a room over H. Wells' office in his new block on Clinton avenue, where she will keep a first-class Fancy store. Will open some time next month.

   The Universalist Society are making arrangements for a Sunday-school excursion and picnic to Cazenovia lake about the 7th of August. The fare for the ride including steamer will be so reasonable that all can go.

   We see that the platform for the band concert Saturday evenings is placed near the Messenger House. From which we surmise that landlord Smith has some curiosity to learn the amount of cheek the Standard man possesses.

   The First National Bank building of Cortland is soon to receive a thorough overhauling in the way of painting, papering, kalsomining and re-arranging, which is calculated to make it a yet more convenient place in which to do business. 
   Sunday two unusually fine and large Night-Blooming Cereus flowers opened their leaves to the light of evening in the greenhouse of Mr. W. R. Randall, their beauty and fragrance being enjoyed by many who had been kindly informed by Mr. M. F. Cleary of the expected sight.

   Mr. N. Meager has the cellar and wall ready for a house on the south side of Groton avenue, a short distance west of Adams [Homer Avenue] street, and Mr. I. H. Holcomb has just begun digging the cellar for a house a few rods east of Mr. Meager's and on the same side of the avenue.

   Mr. D. E. Kinney has sold the livery stable on Groton avenue to Mr. Charles E. Carruth, of East Pharsalia, Chenango county, who took possession last week Thursday. Mr. Carruth comes highly recommended as an upright business man. He will make additions of horses and carriages, and will keep in all respects a first-class livery stable.

   Saturday evening the Homer cornet band visited Cortland again and occupied a platform at the corner of the Messenger House. The pieces were better adapted for out-door playing than those of the preceding concert and produced a far more agreeable effect. As before, their music drew a large crowd, and cheering followed the rendition of every piece.

   Misses Hattie Pendleton, Kate Reiner, Clara Doubleday. Nettie Snyder, Lottie Van Bergen and Jennie Cook, all Cortland Normal students and, except the last, graduates, have been teaching for some time past in the Gloversville school. At the conclusion of the last term they were notified that their services would be required another year and their wages increased to $10 per week. All of them have accepted and will return at the commencement of the next term. The young ladies are to be congratulated, and as for the matter of that the school, too.

   We have received from Judge Smith a letter describing his fishing experience at Block Island, but too late for publication this week. It will appear in our next.

   Mr. Theodore Stevenson has purchased of White Kinney four acres of land on Elm street east of the U. I. & E. R'y, and will divide it into village lots. One lot he has already sold.

   Negotiations are in progress between Messrs. Robert Nixon and E. O. Rickard, party of the first part, and Theodore Stevenson for the necessary land and erection of a building for a pitchfork manufactory in the eastern part of the village.

   The Masonic Hall block and the Moore building are being greatly improved in appearance by coats of paint, penciling, and a more lively trimming. Mr. P. Sugerman has put down a substantial plank sidewalk in front of the former.

   At the last meeting of Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co. No. 3, Mr. Thomas P. Button, a member, presented them with a very neat ballot-box made by himself, which shows him to possess considerable skill. The gift is much appreciated by the Company.

   The Catholic congregation of Cortland will hold a picnic on Saturday, August 11, 1883, on the Fair Grounds. The amusements will consist of a horse-running race for a prize of $40, for which the Gardner horse of McGrawville and the Harrington horse of Cortland are already entered. These horses ran a race on the 4th of July, which created much excitement and amusement. Also, a match game of base ball between the Athletics and Comets; wheel-barrow race; sack race; jumping, walking the gauge, etc. Dancing on the grounds all day and evening to good music. This will be a solid day's amusement for the low price of 25 cents admission; children, horses and carriages free.

   Mr. John Morris, tailor, second floor Calvert block, has become the agent for the well and favorably known Philadelphia clothing house of Wanamaker & Brown. Goods are sent either readymade or made to order, and are selected from samples, of which Mr. Morris has a full line on hand. Your measure is taken by Mr. Morris and sent with the order, and if, after keeping the suit twenty-four hours after receipt, they are unsatisfactory, they may be returned at the expense of the firm. A perfect fit is guaranteed, and those contemplating purchasing a full or part of a suit should call upon Mr. Morris. This house has a first-class reputation for good quality of goods, low prices and fair dealing.

   As the new school-houses approach completion it becomes more and more evident that the building committee of the Board of Education have judiciously used the means given them, and have brought into existence two as good buildings as the money could possibly afford. The style of the buildings is unique yet attractive, the plan shows that the architect, Mr. Hopkins, understood fully what was needed and skillfully answered the demand; while the manner of their construction by the builder, Mr. Thomas Ellsworth, reflects greatly to his credit as a mechanic. He seems to have determined from the outset to use extra care and judgment in the selection of material and to build thoroughly and workmanlike, and his employes seem to have been animated by the same commendable spirit. The paint is of the well-known Harrison Bros.' make, and has been used with taste and skill. The buildings will be completed by the first of August, and as soon as the furniture can be arranged the Board propose to announce an opening day when the public can indulge in a thorough examination.

Personal.

   Judge Smith is at his farm in Bainbridge, and is expected home next week.

   Miss Fannie Bradford, of Syracuse, is visiting her cousin, Mr. G. W. Bradford.

   Mr. Theodore Stevenson, who has been confined to the house by illness, is improving.

   Mrs. Isaac W. Brown is passing some time at Glen Haven for the benefit of her health.

   Mr. Geo. Yager, of Tanner Bro's, is spending his vacation with relatives in Alleghany county.

   Miss Lillie Fairchild leaves next week for a several weeks' stay among the Thousand Islands.

   William H. Shankland, Esq., deputy clerk of the Court of Appeals, is passing a few days in Cortland.

   Mr. Wesley Hooker and family were registered at the Ocean House, Newport, R. I., on the 19th.

   Judge Duell leaves Block Island next Monday and goes to Richfield Springs for a few days' sojourn.

   Master Samuel Sperry, of Hamilton, N. Y., son of our former townsman, Mr. Geo. G. Sperry, is passing vacation with his sister, Mrs. C. S. Strowbridge.

   Miss Henrietta Vinton Davis, of Washington, known as the "beautiful quadroon," will give dramatic readings here on August 2.—Saratoga Springs Cor.

   Mr. Geo. G. Sperry, of Hamilton, N. Y., a former merchant of Cortland, came to town Monday, and will remain some time in order to obtain needed rest and strength.

   Messrs. A. Mahan and S. M. Ballard left Monday morning for a week's fishing at Shiny Point, St. Lawrence river. Should these gentlemen send us a ten-pound fish, why, we suppose that our high regard for the aforesaid gentlemen would induce us to accept it.

   Miss Hattie Pendleton, Normal graduate, class of January, '83, who has since then been teaching in Gloversville, N. Y., as principal of the primary department in the Union school, is passing part of her vacation in Cortland. She will return in September to Gloversville, where she has given excellent satisfaction.