"Peppermint William"

Captain Matthew Webb, English Channel Swimmer (1875--22 hours)

The Cortland News, Friday, October 2, 1883.

A Day of Pleasure.

   The Niagara Falls excursion under the auspices of the M. E. Church of Marathon, on the 27th ult., proved to be as advertised, "The opportunity of a lifetime," and will be an occasion long to be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to enjoy it. The early morning train north on the D. L. & W. R. R. conveyed the excursionists, numbering about 140, to Syracuse where cars were in waiting on the N. Y. Central & Hudson River R. R. to take the party, which reached Niagara Falls about 2:30 P. M.

   Tickets of admission to Prospect Park, Suspension Bridge, and a ride on the inclined railway had been arranged for at reduced rates for the party, and five hours were given to sight-seeing. The day was perfect, and the good-natured crowd enjoyed it to the fullest extent, taking in Goat Island, whirlpool rapids, views from the Suspension Bridge and the Queen's dominions, and lastly and by all means the most fascinating and grandly beautiful display at night of electric lights of changing colors thrown by powerful reflectors upon the falling waters.

   At 8 o'clock the train left the Falls for Syracuse via Buffalo, bearing homeward a tired but thoroughly satisfied and enthusiastic party of sight-seers, reaching Syracuse at 2 o'clock A. M., and finding the city in darkness. Evidently "Everybody had gone to bed and put out the lights." After considerable stumbling around in the dark streets the D. L. & W. depot was reached, where cars lighted and warmed were in waiting. The sleepy folks at once doubled themselves up like jack-knives in the car seats to rest. Breakfast was served at the "Clarendon" in good style and abundance and at reduced rates, and the morning train brought the party home without any accident occurring to mar the pleasure of the occasion.

   This excursion demonstrated several things:

   1st, That the Methodists of Marathon are a jolly good people, and have for a pastor in the person of Rev. O. H. McAnulty a gentleman who knows how to run an excursion, and who from the commencement to the end consulted not his own comfort or convenience, but whose whole planning and study was to make the trip cheap, pleasant and every way enjoyable to his patrons, and in this he was eminently successful. The thanks of all the excursionists are due and hereby tendered to the Rev. and Mrs. O. H. McAnulty for many favors and kind attentions received at their hands.

   2d. That an excursion when in such hands can be made a success both socially and financially, and still be so low in price that all can afford to enjoy it.

   3d. That all the Niagara hack men are not thieves or cut-throats in their charges, many of them taking parties to the whirlpool rapids and back and waiting patiently until they were ready to return, a drive of two and a half to three miles, for 50 cents each.

   The only thing to be regretted is that many more of our people did not avail themselves of this rare opportunity to see this great natural wonder of the world, and instead of 140 tickets, with a net proceed (to go toward building a church parsonage) of $90, there might have been 400 tickets, netting say $300 and over to help on the good work.

   Let no person, no matter how many times he has seen the Falls, be content until he has seen Niagara by the electric light, and visited the Whirlpool rapids, where the brave but unfortunate Capt. Webb threw his life away.

"Peppermint William" Clark

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Every voter should read the speech of [State] Senator McCarthy, which we publish in this issue.

   Beginning next Monday, the village drugstores will be closed at 8 o'clock in the evening except Saturdays.

   The first regular meeting of the Alpha C. L. S. C. will be held on Saturday evening, Oct. 6, at the house of Mrs. Henry L. Gleason on North Church street.

   Mr. Stephen Brewer, of Ithaca, formerly of Cortland, was in Cortland the first of the week. He attended the funeral of his long-time friend, Dr. Frank Goodyear.

   Mr. Webster Young, of the firm of L. D. Garrison & Co., has been in New York the past week buying goods. This firm propose to show the largest and choicest stock of fancy groceries Cortland has ever seen.

   Messrs. William Smith and Eugene Snyder begin this week grading Arthur avenue, the street which runs through their purchase [Kinney purchase—CC editor] from North Main to Adams [Homer Avenue] streets. This will be one of the pleasantest streets in the village.

   Mr. Josiah Hart on Sunday was found unconscious in his barn. Dr. Bolles was called, and examination showed that his condition was caused by heart disease. He remained unconscious for several hours. We are glad to be able to state that his health is likely to be restored.

   At the meeting of the Library Association, held on Tuesday last, it was voted to open evening classes for the benefit of any who are not able to avail themselves of school privileges during the day. The committee will endeavor to arrange for classes in any branch which may be desired by the pupils. A small tuition will be charged to meet the expenses of the school. Further notice next week.

   The statement that Judge Duell is a candidate for the County Judgeship, which is being circulated through outside papers, is too silly for earnest contradiction, and could have been originated only by one of the crack-brained members of the Standard gang. The editor [William H. Clark] of the Standard, who is writing letters to the Sunday Herald and Telegram, knows that Judge D. is not a candidate, but "Peppermint William" must have a quarrel with some one or else he is not happy.

   About 3 o'clock Tuesday morning the house of Del. Corwin on Union street was entered by a couple of burglars, and while they were groping around Mrs. Corwin awoke, and the outcry she made induced them to stand not upon the order of their going but to go. They took nothing, but afterwards opened the window of Dr. Ball's residence and took his pantaloons, from which they got two or three dollars in change. Later in the morning Sheriff Borthwick was aroused, and it being near the early train time he struck out hurriedly for the depot, near which he saw a couple of fellows and gave chase, but owing to the darkness and the "rough road" he had to travel, which brought him in contact with the earth, the thieves escaped, but in their flight dropped the Doctor's pants, which were secured.

   A correspondent of the Rome, N. Y., Sentinel writes to that paper not long since: "Since writing my last article for this paper I have been to visit the Normal school at Cortland. This is probably one of the best institutions in the State. I have not time just now to record my observations during this visit, but I should take pleasure in describing many of the excellent features of this institution. I can only say here that the thing with which I was most pleased was the perfect deportment of the young men and young ladies. I sometimes think I can judge the character of a school without going inside the walls. Perhaps 1 might make mistakes in this way, but seldom or never have I seen all the scholars conducting themselves as perfect gentlemen and ladies, without finding the scholarship to correspond with the deportment."

Art Loan Exhibition.

   The Village Library Association wish to announce to the people of Cortland and vicinity that they have in contemplation an Art Loan Exhibition, to be given about the last of November. A bazaar will be held in connection with it for the sale of useful and fancy articles, decorative work, etc. Members and tripods of the Association are solicited to prepare and send to the committee such articles as they may be willing to contribute. The proceeds are to be applied to the enlargement of the library. All articles not sold will be restored to the contributors. Persons desiring any special article may send an order to Mrs. Chas. Collins, president, or to Mrs. M. E. Doud, chairman of committee, who will see such order fitted, if possible. It is hoped that all who take an interest in the public library will do what is in their power to assist this enterprise.

A TRIPLE EXECUTION.

Three Negroes Hanged in Virginia—Story of Their Crime.

   Sawney Younger, Reuben King and Isaac Evans were hanged at Chatham, Va., for the murder of William F. Sheppard, on the 10th of August, five miles from Danville. King and Evans sold their bodies to physicians for $10 each. Younger would not sell his. He said he considered $10 too little. King and Evans upon receiving the money gave a fine dinner to a few friends in a hotel. Roast pig and roast beef constituted the first course. The dinner ended with wine and cigars. An officer and guard sat near the festal board.

   The condemned men confessed their guilt at the banquet, but afterward recanted. They confessed again, and there is no doubt as to the guilt of them all. The execution was private and occurred in the jail.

   The rope was adjusted at twenty-one minutes past 12, but the trigger missed. It was then repaired and pulled a second time. The drop was six feet and a quarter. Younger’s neck was broken. The two others were strangled and died hard. The bodies were cut down in fifteen minutes. Two of them were delivered to a physician, and will go to Richmond college. The other was buried.

   On the day of the murder Sheppard had gone to Danville with a wagon load of produce, and on returning was hailed when a few miles from the city by three negroes—Younger, King and Evans—who asked permission to ride in the wagon. On being refused, one of the men shot Sheppard through the head and body with a pistol, while another stood by with an open razor in his hand. The wagon went on about twenty paces, when Sheppard fell out dead. The robbery and perhaps murder of Sheppard's son, a boy of fifteen years, who was in the wagon, was prevented by the appearance of two colored men who heard the shouting. Citizens of the county followed the three men to Danville and had them arrested. At the preliminary trial Sheppard's son identified Younger in a crowd of men as the one who shot his father, Evans as the man who held the razor and King as their companion.

Captain Matthew Webb: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Webb

Hanging of Younger, King and Evans: http://www.victorianvilla.com/sims-mitchell/local/articles/phsp/018/