"ROAD HOUSE" BURNED AND KORN KOB KLUB

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, September 18, 1894.

"ROAD HOUSE" BURNED.

Will Be at Once Rebuilt—Narrow Escapes.

   The hotel between Cortland and McGrawville known as the "Road House," owned by Mr. William R. Jones, was burned to the ground early this morning.

   At about 2:30 o'clock one of the young lady roomers, who was ill, discovered that the entire rear end of house was a seething mass of flames. She gave the alarm and the other young ladies and Mr. Jones and his son all escaped partially dressed. All lost their clothing, a trunk, and two chairs; a picture and sofa were all that were saved. Mr. Jones' son lost a fine gold watch.

   The house was furnished in an elegant manner. Mr. Jones stated that his loss would reach $7,000 or $8,000. He states that he thinks it caught [fire] in the kitchen. His domestic had been ironing there till about 11 o'clock and he thinks that in raking over the coals before retiring some must have fallen through a piece of mica into the coal bed, which was filled with wood.

   The fire had gained such headway that there was no use of fighting the flames and all that could be done was to watch it burn to the ground. The barn and shed are still standing.

   Mr. Jones said this morning that the resort [sic] will be rebuilt and he expects that work will be commenced next week.

   There was an insurance of $2,000 on the building and $1,300 on the furniture, all carried by a local agency.

                                  

Japanese troops firing at Chinese positions.

                                  JAPAN VICTORIOUS.

       THE ROUT OF CHINA'S ARMY WAS MOST COMPLETE.

Over Two Thousand Chinese Soldiers Fell and Whole Regiments Were Captured by the Mikado's Troops—Chinese Were Greatly Outnumbered—Japanese Spies Are Said to Abound In China. Foreign News in General.

   LONDON, Sept. 18.—A dispatch received today gives further details of the capture of Ping Yang [Pyongyang] by the Japanese forces. After the place fell into the hands of the Japanese strong parties of infantry and cavalry were assigned to the duty of patrolling the town. A search was made of the houses for Chinese soldiers and many were found and taken prisoners. When the Japanese troops made their final assault several thousand of the Chinese defenders threw down their arms and fled panic stricken to the valley northward. The Japanese, however, controlled the entrance to the valley and the fleeing Chinese found their retreat in this direction cut off. Whole regiments seeking to escape from the victorious army were thus compelled to surrender.

   It is now stated that the total number of killed will not exceed 2,300. The remainder of the Chinese army, some 16,000 men, are either wounded and in the hands of the Japanese or are unhurt, prisoners of war.

   The Emperor of Japan has telegraphed from Hiroshima congratulations to Field Marshal Yamagata upon the important victory he has achieved over the enemy. The field marshal has issued an order in which he commends the troops for their action.

   The dispatch adds that the Japanese outnumbered the Chinese three to one. Their artillery was also vastly superior to that of the Chinese.

   A Japanese flying column is now pushing northward for the purpose of securing the passes and thus prevent another Chinese army from marching into Corea.

   A proclamation has been issued promising protection to the Coreans as long as they refrain from acts of hostility toward the Japanese.

Japanese Spies in China.

   LONDON, Sept. 18.—A dispatch from Shanghai says an elaborate system of espionage has been maintained for many years in the Pekin [Beijing] provinces by the Japanese government. Since the outbreak of the war liberally paid Japanese agents have been found among the employes of public offices and in Chinese arsenals and camps. The Chinese are now dealing summarily with spies, whether they are Japanese or natives of China.

   The telegraph line from Ping Tang has been interrupted since the 13th inst.

FAIR NOTES.

A Long List of Splendid Prizes for the Bicycle Races.

   The county fair begins to-day. There was an unusual display of live stock for the first day on the grounds this morning, and it seems likely, if good weather continues, that it will equal that of any fair in the past.

   A special attraction to-morrow afternoon will be a race between local horses. It will be for blood and with no jockeying.

   By request of the officers of the Agricultural society, the Hitchcock Bicycle club will on Thursday afternoon at the fair grounds give the same military drill that was last week given at the State fair. It will begin at 2 o'clock and is a wonderful exhibition of skill upon a bicycle.

   The following prizes, which are on exhibition in Beaudry's window, will be given at the bicycle tournament at the county fair next Thursday.

   Fifteen-mile road race—First prize, $150 Stearns wheel; second, cathedral gong clock; third, gold cuff buttons; fourth, pair boxing gloves; fifth, inner tubes; sixth, package carrier; seventh, fancy ink well; eighth, revolver; ninth, box of cigars. First time prize ''The Cortland" wheel, manufactured by the Hitchcock Manufacturing Co.

TRACK EVENTS.

   First Race—One mile open.

   First prize, silver soup service, $12; second prize, solid link sleeve buttons, $6; third prize, Bridgeport cyclometer, $3.50.

   Second Race—Boys' race.

   First prize, initial ring, $8; second prize, set solid shirt studs, $6; third prize, bicycle watch and holder, $3.50.

   Third Race—Two mile lap race.

   First prize, mustache cup and saucer, $10; second prize, plated tobacco holder, $7; third prize, Kalamazoo luggage carrier, $2.

   Fourth Race—One mile—Cortland county riders only.

   First prize, silver water pitcher, $10; second prize, silver letter rack, $4; third prize, Beacon lamp, No. 2, $3.50.

   Fifth Race—One-half mile open.

   First prize, silver nut bowl, $8; second prize, full dress fob and chain, $5; third prize, Bridgeport cyclometer, $3.50.

   The judges will be Messrs. S. H. Strowbridge, F. W. Melvin, W. A. Wallace.

Fair Dance.

   There will be a dance at the armory on Thursday evening, Sept. 20, for the benefit of the Cortland City band. Every one is invited. The band are deserving of all the public can do for them and will do their best to insure to all a good time. The admission will be 50 cents. Ladies free. A first-class prompter and gentlemanly floor managers will be in attendance.

A Bakery Changes Hands.

   Mr. G. J. Bridenbecker has sold his bakery on North Main-st. to Mrs. L. M. Clark, who will hereafter conduct the business. Mr. Bridenbecker has not as yet decided just what he will go into, but he expects to spend the next two weeks fishing at Otisco.

Hat Stolen from Church.

   Mr. D. F. Wallace is an usher at the Presbyterian church. He has always been accustomed, on entering the church and beginning his duties, to place his hat on one of the broad window ledges at the rear of the church near the door and close by the gallery stairs. Last Sunday night he followed his usual plan.

   When service was over and he looked for his black derby hat, it was nowhere to be seen. The lower sash of the window where he had placed his hat had been swung open for ventilation.  Some people who sat near the rear of the church thought they had heard the iron fastening of the window rattle during the service, as though something had touched it.

   Mr. Wallace always wears an excellent hat and doubtless some one who was passing upon the street and saw the stylish piece of headgear lying on the window sill with the window open thought that it would be a good time to come into possession of a first-class article, and so reached up and took it. Mr. Wallace went home bare-headed. Hereafter he will see that there are no open windows near his hat when he leaves it in church.

New Carriage Company.

   There was last week organized in New York a corporation styled the Day Wagon Co. This is the successor of a business formerly conducted by Josiah F. Day individually. The new company organized as follows:

   President—J. T. Hildebrandt.

   Vice-President—Theodore D. [Gire.]

   Treasurer and Manager— Josiah F. Day.

   Secretary—F. Cyrus Straat.

   This company will do a jobbing business in carriages and wagons and will carry an immense stork of wheeled vehicles of all kinds, which will include carriages and traps, farm wagons, contractors' wagons and carts, street sprinklers, street-sweeping machines and a full line of harnesses and robes. The manufactures of the Cortland Wagon Co. will be one of the principal articles handled. The office of the company will be 36 Warren-st., New York.

  

Obituary.

   Richard McMahon died at 8 o'clock this morning of consumption, aged 27 years. The funeral will be held at St. Mary's church at 10 A. M. Thursday. The deceased was a member of the C. M. B. A. and the Cortland fire department. Both organizations will attend the funeral in a body.

Wood-Covert.

   There was a quiet wedding last evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Covert, 74 Prospect-st, when their daughter, Miss Emma, was united in marriage with Mr. William H. Wood of Windsor, Ct. The ceremony was performed by Rev. L. H. Pearce. Only the most immediate relatives were present. Mr. and Mrs. Wood left on the 11:20 train for New York, Long Island and other points in the eastern states. Their home will be at Enfield, Ct.

Annual Corn Roast.

   The annual corn roast of the Korn Kob Klub was held last evening at the stock farm of Mr. E. C. Rindge. It was made up of lady and gentlemen cyclists who are invited annually by Mr. Rindge for a good time, and they always have it. Last night was no exception to the general rule, in fact it was unanimously voted the most enjoyable one ever held. Twenty-one members were present. A few of the ladies who were invited stayed at home because they feared that the roads would be bad, but they could not be finer than they were as soon as the village was left behind.

   The bill of fare consisted of roast corn and potatoes roasted over a large fire, baked clams, which was an innovation, boiled eggs, milk, (such as grows only upon Mr. Rindge's farm) and fruit. When no one could eat any more Mr. Rindge showed the party about his elegantly appointed creamery and the silo, containing two hundred tons of ensilage, after which cards were indulged in, until a late hour, when all returned to Cortland by moonlight on their wheels.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   Miss Edna Grimm of Liverpool has been engaged as instructor of music and drawing at the Homer academy. She entered upon her work there yesterday morning.

   An excellent game of baseball was played on the academy grounds last Saturday afternoon between nines from Cortland and this village. The Cortland team played good ball, but they did not catch their Homer friends napping and when at the end of the first half of ninth inning the score stood 9 to 1 in Homer's favor, they made up their minds that their opponents had played the game before and knew how. "Jocky" was at home in his old place on first and did not make a muff. Lawson on third base was a favorite with the crowd who admired his fine plays. Davis pitched an excellent game and his example in quality of plays was followed by his younger brother who distinguished himself. "Bottle" did not pan out nor did "Lucky" forget to freeze onto the ball when it came his way. Sylvester supported the team behind the bat in an excellent manner and Stedman did good work on second. The game was witnessed by a large number of spectators and another one of the same kind will meet with a liberal patronage from a second audience of equal numbers.

   The barn occupied by O. P. Carlon, the ice man, was destroyed by fire at about 2 o'clock this morning. The structure is situated on West St. and belongs to Mr. George Skenk. The firemen from town reached the scene shortly after the alarm was given, but the Prestonville hose company were there and were the first to get a stream of water on the blaze. The fire had such a start before the company commenced operation that the building was entirely destroyed before the flames could be controlled. The contents, including a large quantity of hay, a buggy, a sleigh, harnesses, tools and two horses were consumed. The loss of contents is about $500. Insurance $65. Loss of barn about $200. Insurance unknown.

BREVITIES.

   —The C. M. B. A. hold a sociable at their parlors to-night.

   —The Cortland milkmen to-day raised the price of milk to five cents per quart.

   —Engineer Landreth was to-day laying out Tompkins-st. and having the stakes driven for the sewers on that street.

   —A regular meeting of the Y. M. C. A. Auxiliary will be held in the Y. M. C. A. parlor Thursday, Sept. 20, at 3 o'clock P. M.

   —The registration of Normal students for the present term has reached 490. This is a great increase over any former term in the history of the school.

   —The party which has met so often in the last two weeks starts at 5:30 this afternoon for Little York. They will take supper at the Raymond House and trip the light fantastic this evening if they feel so inclined.

   —The annual reunion of the One Hundred Fifty-seventh Regiment N. Y. Vols. occurs to-morrow at McGrawville. Yager & Marshall, who furnish the crockery for the dinner, are planning for three hundred people.

   —Mrs. Mary A. Magoris died at about 9 o'clock last evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M. A. Knight at 9 Grant-st. The funeral will be held Thursday morning. Time will be announced later. The remains will be taken to North Lansing for burial.

   —At about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, as Mr. Glenn A. Tisdale with his wife and son Glenn was driving his fine team of bays down Church-St., the evener suddenly broke and let the team loose. Mr. Tisdale was pulled over the dashboard but he let go of the team. The horses were not frightened, but trotted on at a leisurely pace and were stopped without further damage.

A Valuable Guide.

   Do you travel? Are you a shipper? The "Rand-McNally Railway Guide and Hand-Book" contains all pertinent information. Ask your newsdealer. The Rand-McNally Railway guide is the standard work for all travellers. It contains information regarding all railroads in the United States and Canada, gives all the trains, gives distances, illustrates by maps, gives a brief description of all the principal cities and towns in the United States, names all the leading hotels. In short it is a traveler's bureau of information. Trust no other.

Tea Table Talk.

   By the sinking of the Miranda, bearing Dr. Cook's Greenland party, there were lost 500 specimens of the bird life of Greenland, the largest ever made and 6,000 botanical specimens, also the largest ever made in that region, while 4,000 photographic dry-plate exposures, the first ever made of the scenery and life of Greenland, were also lost. Much of value, however, has been retained in the memories and notebooks of members of the expedition.