MR. PICKETT BURNED TO DEATH

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, March 22, 1895.

BURNED TO DEATH.

RUSSELL PICKETT OF POLKVILLE WAS THE VICTIM.

His Clothes Caught Fire While Burning Underbrush and He Died Alone on the Hill.

   The little hamlet of Polkville, about two miles from Cortland on the Blodgett Mills road, was last night startled by the news that Russell Pickett, aged 79 years and 6 months, one of the oldest residents of the place, had died as a result of burns incurred while alone on the hill three-quarters of a mile from home clearing underbrush from a pasture lot.

   Mr. Pickett lived alone with his wife. After breakfast yesterday morning he said that he would go up on the hill and finish clearing off a piece of underbrush that he had previously been at work upon on the farm of Reuben Brown. He took his lunch with him and did not expect to return until toward night. When he did not come at the expected time his wife got frightened and asked some neighbors to go in search of him.

   Up on the hill they found the embers of what had been a fire. Close at hand lay the remains of Mr. Pickett's coat, very badly burned. His lunch basket lay on the ground with the lunch partly eaten and his tobacco pouch and pipe close beside the basket. There were tracks and marks in the snow in one direction leading away from the fire and at intervals were found partly burned threads of clothing. It looked as though Mr. Pickett had been rolling away from the fire, and marks of fingers in the snow were visible as though he had been trying to clutch at the snow and scoop it up in his hands. They followed the tracks for four or five rods to the brink of a little ravine. At the bottom of this some feet below, partly covered by the water which flowed down in a little stream, lay what looked in the gathering dusk like a log.

   Investigation revealed the fact that it was Mr. Pickett's body. His face lay in the snow and the lower part of his legs were in the water. All the clothing was burned from his body except his stockings and boots, his wristlets and some waistbands. Part of the flesh was burned to a crisp and part of it was only scorched. His face was not disfigured and his hair, beard and eye brows were only singed.

   From the evidences at hand it seemed to those on the spot to be unquestionably a fact that Mr. Pickett had sat down in the snow on the east side of his brush fire and only a little distance from it to eat his lunch. The wind was blowing hard from the west and was driving smoke and sparks toward him. While eating his lunch he probably got asleep. He often dropped asleep in his chair at home. A spark caught in his clothes and set them on fire. He probably did not wake up until the fire struck through to the skin, and then throwing off his coat he tried to extinguish the fire by rolling in the snow and probably hoped to find enough water in the stream to accomplish his purpose if the snow would not do it.

   A younger man might have done this, but Mr. Pickett was old and feeble and death was the result. Close beside the lunch basket was found a little round hole in the snow where it is thought that Mr. Pickett was sitting and where the snow was melted by the heat of the fire before he woke up.

   The remains were taken down to the house and Coroner Moore was sent for. He went down to Polkville this morning, taking Dr. Dana with him to assist in a post mortem examination. After viewing the remains and going up on the hill and seeing the place the coroner decided that no inquest was necessary.

   Mr. Pickett had one daughter, Mrs. John Knapp of East Homer. He had lived there in Polkville for many years.

   The time of the funeral will be announced later.

Miss Grady Still Living.

   We are glad to announce that Miss Mame Grady is still living at Syracuse and at 2:30 this afternoon was reported to be resting quietly and very comfortable.

   It is exceedingly annoying to us to make any misstatements in the STANDARD, and to make an error in a matter so vital as a question of life or death is distressing to all the friends as well as to the publishers. We endeavored to be very accurate and to get the latest returns from Miss Grady. At 2:45 yesterday we heard from Mr. William Grady that he had just received a telegram saying that his sister was no better, and put such a statement in the paper. At 3:30 a young man came into the office and told us that he had heard Mr. Grady say that he had received a telephone message a half hour after his telegram, saying that his sister was dead. We regarded this as authentic and took the locked form off the elevator, where it was ready to be sent to the press room and made the change.

   We learn from Mr. Grady that what the young man actually did hear him say was that the telephone message was to the effect that Miss Grady was thought to be dying, and he was then asking her cousin in the hearing of the young man to go up to Syracuse at once to her.

   We hope that the good news which comes to-day may but be the beginning of better news and that she will soon be well again.

A VALUABLE CALF.

It Died and Cornell Professors Examined the Remains.

   Messrs. O. U. Kellogg and H. L. Bronson have lately been investing in some valuable Holstein stock and each have fine herds of this breed of cattle. A few weeks ago they bought of D. F. Wilber of Oneonta, the celebrated Holstein breeder, a bull calf, which was dropped early in January and which was known upon the herd register as, "Pauline Paul Second's De Kol." The animal was believed to be one of the very finest bred bulls in the country. The purchase price was $500. Almost immediately after the animal was received in Cortland the owners thought that he was sick and sent for a veterinary surgeon. The calf has been under treatment ever since, but died night before last. The remains were yesterday taken to Ithaca in care of Dr. Baker and a post mortem examination was to be made by Prof. Law and Prof. Hutchinson of Cornell university.

   The matter to be decided was whether the calf was perfectly well and in a healthy condition when he was received in Cortland. It is expected that Prof. Law will submit an opinion in writing.

Royalists Working For Annexation.

   WASHINGTON, March 22.— Late press advices received here from Hawaii state that Charles B. Wilson, confidential adviser of the ex-queen, John Colborn, one of the cabinet at the time she was deposed, Antoni Rosa, ex-attorney general under the king, and John Richardson, formerly on the queen's staff, all of them prominent royalists, have taken part in forming an annexation club among the native Hawaiians. This is regarded as a declaration among the chief royalists that the monarchy is dead for all time.

A CABLE TO HAWAII.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD SPANNING THE PACIFIC.

The Expense Estimated at About $3,000,000— Hundreds of Ocean Cables Throughout the World and Nineteen Across the Atlantic.

   There are 19 transatlantic cables, but the broad bosom of the Pacific is as yet unspanned. The recent exciting events in Hawaii, however, have stimulated interest in the long talked of project of a cable from San Francisco or Vancouver to Hawaii, and if one of these projects is carried out it will doubtless be but a short time before the line will be extended to Japan or to New Zealand.

   The new republic of Hawaii is naturally very anxious to be in closer connection with the world, and Great Britain and the United States are both considering the advisability or otherwise of expending the necessary $3,000,000 and connecting Hawaii with the continent of North America. Great Britain has already asked the republic of Hawaii for permission to land its proposed cable from Vancouver on one of the Hawaiian islands, and the republic has petitioned the United States government for leave to grant the request. Hawaii is not under the wing of the United States, but years ago Uncle Sam was given the exclusive right to build a cable to the islands, and the consent of congress must be obtained before the present Hawaiian government may permit Great Britain to land her proposed cable.

   The Hawaiian republic, it is said, prefers to have the proposed cable built by the United States, but will naturally hail with joy any cable that comes its way. The British project includes a cable crossing the entire Pacific, a distance of 7,340 miles from Vancouver to Hawaii, and from Hawaii to Auckland, connecting at Auckland with the cable that runs to Australia, or from Hawaii direct to Australia.

   Not long ago the United States senate tacked to the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill an item of $500,000 for preliminary work on a cable to Hawaii, but this item was rejected by the house of representatives, and for the present at least the cable is deferred. Ocean cable laying costs about $1,200 a mile, and the estimated cost of a cable 2,107 miles long from San Francisco to Honolulu is $3,000,000.

   When Cyrus W. Field immortalized himself on July 27, 1866, by completing the first successful oceanic cable at enormous expense, the wondering world little thought that in 28 years there would be 19 cables laid across the Atlantic. Four of them were failures, and some of the others are little used, the companies owning them having laid duplicate lines with more satisfactory results. Of the 15 now in use the Anglo-American Telegraph company operates five—four from Valentia, Ireland, to Heart's Content, Newfoundland, and another from Minou, near Brest, France, to the island of St. Pierre, south of Newfoundland. The Commercial Cable company has three transatlantic cables—two from Waterville, Ireland, to Canso, Nova Scotia, and one from Ballinskelligs bay, Ireland, to Canso.

   The direct United States Cable company operates another from Ballinskelligs bay to Halifax; the French Telegraph company another from Brest to St. Pierre; the Western Union Telegraph company two—a northern and a southern—from Sennen cove, near Penzance, England, to Canso; the Brazilian Submarine Telegraph company also has two between Caravellos, near Lisbon, Portugal, to Pernambuco, Brazil, via Madeira and Cape Verde islands, while still another transatlantic cable stretches from Senegal, on the west coast of Africa, to Pernambuco.

LOTS OF BUSINESS.

The Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co. are Booming.

   The Cortland Omnibus & Cab. Co. are rushed with work now and are running to their fullest capacity. Five completed jobs were shipped Wednesday night, via the D., L. & W. One was a large wagon for the Little York Ice company, which was shipped to Binghamton. It looks almost too nice to carry ice in. It is finished in two very pretty shades of blue. The lettering is of silver with hanging icicles. It is one of five new ones, which are being completed for the same company. Two of the old ones are also being fixed over.

   Two of the nicest coaches ever seen in Cortland were shipped to the Columbus Transfer Co. of Columbus, O., who express themselves as being very much pleased with some previous orders which the Omnibus company have filled. Each coach was sold for $830.

   One of the two other jobs was one of their regular No. 2 omnibuses, which was shipped to W. T. Benmont & Son, Penn Yan, and the other, an elegant coach to Mr. Charles E. Hayard at the same city.

   The company intend to also build this season quite a supply of sprinkling wagons.

Fine New Truck.

   "O!" Delevan has just added to his facilities for carting by the purchase of a remarkably fine new truck obtained from the Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co. at a cost of $200, The truck is of extra length and is remarkably strong. It is handsomely painted. Mr. Delevan last Saturday in Syracuse bought a new pair of horses to go with this truck. They are a bay and a gray, are five years old and together weigh 2,700 pounds. The purchase price was $150. A strong new harness completes the outfit, and "O!" is the proudest man on the street as mounted upon his truck he holds the reins over the new team.

GRANTED A NON-SUIT.

The E., C. & N. R. R. not Held Responsible for the Accident.

   The suit of Margaret Proctor vs. the E., C. & N. R. R. was on trial at Ithaca on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The action was for damages in the sum of $10,000 claimed as the result of injuries received in September, 1892. The plaintiff claimed that she was riding in a carriage beyond McLean. She started to cross the E., C. & N. R. R. at what is known as Keenan's crossing. She claimed that a train suddenly appeared without blowing a whistle, ringing a bell or giving any other notice of its approach; that the view of the track was obstructed and that her horse was frightened and she was thrown out and broke her collar bone and sustained other injuries of a serious nature. The defense was that notice of the approach of the train was given in the usual way prescribed by statute, that the view of the track is not obstructed and that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. After hearing all the evidence on both sides, Judge Forbes granted a non-suit. A. P. Smith of Cortland and R. L. Smith of Ithaca appeared for the plaintiff and Kellogg & Van Hoesen of Cortland for the defendant.

BREVITIES.

   —Governor Morton has signed the bill appropriating $19,850 for the Brockport Normal school.

   —Prof. L. J. Higgins will speak at the Rescue Mission, 12 1/2 West Court-st, Saturday night at 7:30 o'clock.

   —McDermott's orchestra left this afternoon for McGrawville, where they play to-night at a club dance in Rogers' hall.

   —The Cortland City band have rented a room over the bucket shop in the Grand Central block in which to rehearse.

   —There will be a meeting of the Good Government club tonight at 7:30 at the W. C. T. U. rooms in the Hulbert block on Court-st.

   —Remember that every one will be cordially welcomed at the supper at the Congregational church to-night to be given by the Men's Sunday Evening Service club.

   —Mrs. James O'Day died at her home on Pendleton-st, at about 8:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Her funeral will be held at St. Mary's church Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.

   —The Sharp club passed last evening very pleasantly as the guests of Mrs. J. H. Ryan at 74 Madison-ave. A fine musical program was rendered and a number of musical games were enjoyed.

   —Of course you want to see the new hospital and you will never have a better chance than now while the rooms are vacant, so remember the date of the reception and supper, Wednesday afternoon and evening, March 27, and come and bring your friends.

   —A few years ago buffalo robes were so common that they were not used by people who cared more for style than comfort, They could be purchased anywhere from $5 to $10 each. Now they are in great demand. They are worth $50 to $100 each and the fortunate possessor of one is considered to be away up in the top notch of fashion.—Exchange.