A BAD WRECK ON D. L. & W. Railroad

D. L. & W. R. R. locomotive at Buffalo roundhouse.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 4, 1891.

A BAD WRECK.

Collision on the D. L. & W. Railway Near Messengerville—Several Employees Injured.

   Last Thursday morning a collision occurred on the D. L. & W. road just south of Messengerville between the 6:00 A. M. passenger train going north and a freight train moving south. The passenger train was in charge of Conductor Kettle and engineer John Keating, with fireman Frank Grannish. The freight train which was a heavy one and was running 20 miles an hour, undertook to make the sidetrack just south of Messengerville to let the passenger by on the main track, but the rails were full of frost, the brakes failed to hold the train and it ran the length of the sidetrack and out through the switch on the main track as the passenger train appeared in view on rounding the curve only a few rods distant.

   It was too late to stop the train and Engineer Keating and his fireman jumped from the engine, as did the engineer and fireman on the freight engine. The engines came together with a tremendous crash telescoping the mail and express cars which were thrown from the track down a six-foot embankment.

   Engineer Keating jumped into a barbed wire fence and his face and scalp were badly torn and he was otherwise severely bruised. Mail agent T. F. Currie of Syracuse had one hand smashed and was considerably bruised. The Express messenger Mr. F. B. Denning, also of Syracuse, received several cuts and braises. Fireman Grannish received several serious bruises but the engineer and fireman of the freight train were uninjured.

   A telegram was sent to this place and a special train carrying Dr. A. J. White and Rev. J. J. McLoghlin was at once sent to the scene of the accident. The work of clearing up the track was commenced at once and engineer Keating and fireman Grannish were sent to their homes in Syracuse, where their injuries were dressed. Both will recover. Engineer Keating had had two brothers killed in accidents on railroads. Like him they were engineers and were killed while in the line of duty.

   Inside of three hours after the accident happened the track was clear and trains were running as usual. The express car caught fire and burned up, but not until after most of the valuable packages had been removed. The engines No. 10 and 18 are almost total wrecks. The passengers were shook up somewhat but none of them imagined that a serious accident had taken place.

 

The Election Contest in Onondaga.

   The Board of County Canvassers in Onondaga county are having a serious time in canvassing the election returns in that county. The returns as filed with the County Clerk on their face elected Rufus T. Peck for Senator and Patrick J. Ryan, Democrat, for Assembly. Mr. Peck, being fearful that he was not legally elected, applied to Justice of the Supreme court, Geo. N. Kennedy, now holding a special term in Syracuse for a mandamus requiring the Board of County canvassers to show cause before Justice Kennedy forthwith, why they should not canvass the vote and award the certificate of election to Mr. Peck.

   The board complied with the order and also canvassed the vote on Member of Assembly giving the certificate of election to Mr. Ryan. The clerk of the Board of Canvassers, who is also clerk of the county, signed the certificate of election in Mr. Peck's case but refused to sign the certificate in Mr. Ryan's case, which the law requires before it can be forwarded to the State Board of Canvassers. County Clerk Cotton claims that he refused to sign the certificate by direction of Judge Kennedy, under whose advice he has acted throughout. When Judge Kennedy saw that his order had elected Mr. Ryan, he changed about and at once issued an order directing the Board of County canvassers to send the returns back to the Board of Inspectors and have them corrected in Ryan's case so as to elect his Republican opponent, David A. Munro, Jr.

   The Board of County Canvassers have attempted to comply with the order but have been unable as yet to fully do so for the reason that some of the returns were in the custody of Supervisor Welch, who was out of town and did not return until Wednesday, when he was arrested by Judge Kennedy's direction charged with disobeying his order. Mr. Welch promptly gave bail for his appearance. Some of the inspectors also refuse to change the returns and the complication is assuming a very mixed appearance.

   On Saturday last Gov. Hill appointed an extraordinary term of the Supreme court in Syracuse to open on Tuesday last and appointed Judge Morgan J. O'Brien of New York to hold the same. The court was promptly opened by Judge O'Brien at the hour appointed, and Hon. O. U. Kellogg of this place made an application for a writ of mandamus requiring the Board of County Canvassers to re-canvass the votes for Mr. Peck. The application was vigorously opposed by Messrs. Goodelle & Notingham, attorneys for Peck. The papers are now in the hands of Judge O'Brien awaiting his decision.

   The object of this application is to test the question of the legality of the 1252 ballots cast for Mr. Peck in the towns of Clay, Camillus, Tully and Elbridge. The Republican ballots in these towns were all transposed. The ballots endorsed "Third District" were used in the first district, the ballots endorsed "First District" were used in the second district and the ballots endorsed "Second District" were used in the third district, thereby plainly marking the Republican ballots in all the districts of the four towns and destroying the secrecy of the ballot, which is the prime object of the new ballot law.

   Judge Kennedy, who is a rank Republican, has shown a determination all through the proceedings to bulldoze everybody and to elect both Peck and Munro at all hazards. Gov. Hill was not long in discovering his intention, consequently he appointed an extraordinary term and selected an honest Judge to hold it, who will see that all parties have their rights.

   The new ballot law was passed by a Republican Senate and Assembly and they ought to favor a strict observance of its requirements. If Republicans are allowed to mark their ballots so as to be able to tell how the electors vote and distinguish their ballot from others, the object of the law is frustrated and it is useless. The DEMOCRAT believes the law should be sustained and executed strictly in accordance with its provision, no matter which party is benefitted or injured thereby. If the law is unsatisfactory or works an injury repeal it, otherwise enforce it to the letter.

Prof. D. M. Bristol's Wonderful Equines.

   Next week our readers will have an opportunity to see one of the greatest shows on the road. It is not only the greatest in the way of novelty, but it is the largest hall show ever transported from place to place. We allude to Prof. D. M. Bristol's Epues-Curriculum. It consists of thirty humanely educated horses, twenty-five people, a full band and orchestra, and it takes a whole train of cars to transport it. To make it the most complete show of the kind ever organized, the management have invested the sum of $60,000.

   This mammoth concert will be placed on the stage of the Cortland Opera House next Thursday evening to continue three nights. The entire performance is given by the horses, who do everything but talk. They are possessors of almost human intelligence, understanding everything said to them and obeying commands without being made to by the use of a whip or rein. All should see this interesting entertainment. All children attending the matinee of these horses are given a free pony ride.

   The parade each day will be a decided novelty. Every member of the band rides a white horse and Prof. Bristol drives without lines. The performances of the trick mule Denver, is worth the price of admission. [Opera House manager] Mr. Rood has prevailed on Mr. Bristol to make the price for all parts of the parquet at the low figure of 50 cents. Price for balcony 25 and 35 cents.

Fire Bugs in Homer.

   The rascals who have been setting fire to buildings in Homer, for some weeks past, seem determined to continue in their nefarious work notwithstanding the fact that extra night police have been added to the force and every precaution taken by the authorities to suppress the work. At about 11 o'clock last Monday evening as Mr. L. M. Peters was returning home from Cortland, where he had been to attend Waite's theatre, and just as he was crossing the Mill-st. bridge, he noticed a bright light in the southeast part of Gere's tannery. Messrs. Gere and Bockes were awakened and the three entered the building. The fire was started near the chimney and was partly concealed by a large three-bushel basket which had been moved from its accustomed place to that point. The floor boards were burned through for a space of two feet square and the fire had run up the side of the chimney to the ceiling. Three or four pails of liquor [sic] from one of the open vats were thrown on the flames and the fire was put out.

   The boiler is located immediately under the fire in the basement and the incendiary evidently intended that the fire would be supposed to have caught from the boiler. The fire in the boiler was extinguished at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and Mr. E. J. Bockes went through the building at 9:30 in the evening and found everything as it should be.

   There had been no fire in the room where the flames were discovered in six months. The following morning fresh tracks were found in the snow leading from Wall street along the river side to the south basement door of the tannery and tracks of the same party were found leading back to Wall street. There is no doubt but that the fire was deliberately kindled and the citizens of Homer are greatly excited over the situation. It is to be hoped that the officers will succeed in capturing the guilty party, who seems bent on destroying valuable property.

Attempted Outrage.

   Thursday afternoon about 4 P. M. Mrs. Alice Sullivan, who resides at No. 5 Barber Ave, in this village, sent her little girl, aged 6 years, to a neighbor's on an errand. At about 5 o'clock, the girl not having returned, she started to look for her. A neighbor informed her that the girl was seen going up Wheeler Avenue a short time before with an old man.

   Mrs. Sullivan walked hurriedly up Wheeler Avenue and being attracted to a shed by the cries of the child she found the door fastened. She broke the fastenings and entered the building where she found Hiram Baker, aged about 60 years, attempting to commit an outrage on the girl. Mrs. Sullivan at once commenced to pelt Baker with stones and when she was through with him he was a sorry looking object.

   Policeman Jackson was summoned and arrested the old rascal and took him before Justice Bull, who committed him to jail. His examination will take place this morning at 9 A. M. If neighbors had not come to Baker's rescue it is believed the services of a coroner would have been required instead of a justice.

Wheel Club members in front of Dexter House on Main Street.

Wheel Club Election.

   The annual election of the Cortland Wheel Club took place last Tuesday evening in their rooms in the Democrat Building. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year:

   President—Dr. E. M. Santee.

   Vice-President—F. W. Collins.

   Recording Secretary—C. E. Thompson.

   Financial      " —F. I. Graham

   Corresponding Secretary—C. G. Smith.

   Treasurer—John Dalton.

   Captain—L. C. Miller.

   First Lieut.—E. C. Alger.

   Second Lieut.—M. P. Crain.

   Color Bearers—E. B. Richardson and B. H. Dalton.

   The Board of Directors consists of the first six officers and Mr. E. S. Dalton was appointed the seventh director. The leasing of the additional rooms on third floor was ratified and the house committee was directed to procure the necessary furniture. A committee of three was appointed to organize a series of card parties. Twenty-five new members were added to the club.