FORTY YEARS AGO

D. L. & W. railroad station at Cortland, N. Y.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, April 18, 1895.

FORTY YEARS AGO.

G. N. Copeland, the Local Switchman of the D., L. & W. R. R.

   A STANDARD man was the other day talking with G. N. Copeland of Homer when the electric car went by. The sight of this led Mr. Copeland to speak of some incidents of the opening of the D., L. & W. R. R. through Cortland in the fall of 1854. Mr. Copeland was then the baggageman, switchman and man of general duties at the Cortland passenger station.

   One day shortly after 12 o'clock an accommodation train had arrived from the north and stood on the switch next the station. Mr. Copeland looked up the track and saw an engine approaching at a fair speed. A second glance showed that there was no train attached to it and he believed it to be without any one on board. He ran at full speed to the switch at the north end of the yard and barely had time to throw the switch to the main track when the engine went by empty, as he had suspected it to be. The passengers in the train at the station were greatly frightened when they found how narrow had been the escape from the engine crushing into the rear car on the switch.

   The engine went on south. There was no telegraph at that time and there was no way to warn trains off the track ahead. Fortunately it was also in the days when wood was burned and the fire was not very hot. By the time the engine had reached Blodgett Mills, having encountered nothing so far, the steam had got down so that the engine was rapidly slackening speed. The agent at the station succeeded in climbing on board and stopping the engine. Then he got up steam and ran the engine back to Homer, from which place it appeared that it had started. The engine belonged to a freight train which was stopping there.

   The crew had left the train to eat dinner at the lunch counter at Homer, which was well patronized in those days. The engine was detached from the train and a boy climbed on board and began to experiment with the throttle. He pulled this open, the engine began to move and he was too scared to close the throttle and jumped off.

   During the early part of the winter of 1854-55 there was a terrible storm and blow. The road was blocked up. After the storm had subsided an effort was made to clear the tracks. Judge Henry Stephens of Cortland was the president of the road. He was down at the station one afternoon with many others waiting for a train to come from north or south and wondering which one would get through. There being no telegraph, all they could do was to wait. Judge Stephens was walking the platform. As he passed Mr. Copeland, the latter said, "They are coming with three engines." The judge looked up and down the track. There was nothing in sight. He gave a second glance at Mr. Copeland and walked away without saying a word.

   In the course of five or ten minutes three engines and a snowplow did come around the hill from the north and arrived at the station. While the engines were taking water Judge Stephens approached Mr. Copeland and with a puzzled air said to him, "I should like to have you tell me, young man, how you knew that a train was coming and that there were three engines upon it. Mr. Copeland said, "I heard them start from Homer just before I spoke. There were whistles from three separate engines, all different in sound, and then I heard them blow off steam and start." The judge had a rather relieved expression as he replied with great dignity, "That is very satisfactory, sir, very satisfactory indeed."

   What would railroads do now-a-days running their trains without the telegraph?

Oliver Curtis Perry.

PERRY'S CHARGES OF ABUSE.

They are Denied and His Condition Explained.

   FISHKILL, N. Y., April 18.—Supt. Allison, of the Matteawan asylum, said last night in regard to the charges made by Oliver Curtis Perry as to his treatment while confined in the asylum, that Perry was a difficult man to deal with. "He is subject," he said, "to uncontrollable maniacal excitement, during which he is extremely noisy and defiant so that he disturbs the whole ward, refuses to listen to reason and is extremely threatening in language and manner. While he was at Auburn he tried to destroy his eyesight with pins and needles. Here he has alternated between periods of reading his bible and outbursts of shocking profanity. He has not received any thing like the so-called 'black medicine' except on five or six occasions, when he was so excited that it was necessary to administer a sedative, according to the practice of treating insane patients. He has not, to my knowledge, received any physical ill usage. The diet is ample and nourishing. It is good, wholesome food. His story that he was struck when he wanted to go to an entertainment is absolutely false."

   Davis, who was captured before Perry, was in a very critical condition last night resulting from exposure and exhaustion.

DESCENT OF REAL ESTATE.

Judge Eggleston Notes Some Important Changes in the Law.

   By request, Judge Eggleston has furnished a brief statement for publication of an amendment to the law concerning the rights of the widow in the real estate of a deceased husband in case of intestacy. He says:

   It will be borne in mind that the law now is and has been for a good many years, that where the husband dies without will the widow inherits no portion of his real estate, but simply takes a dower interest in the same, which dower interest is the right to the use of one third of the real estate during her life, the fee to the same vesting in the heirs of her husband, her right to entirely cease at her death. Chapter I., Article 2, of the Revised Statutes.

   By Chapter 171 of the laws of 1895, to take effect January 1, 1896, the Revised Statutes are amended by adding to Chapter Two another section designated as Section 30 which reads as follows: "Where the intestate leaves a widow she shall in all cases inherit as a lineal descendant; if he leaves no lineal descendant living, she shall inherit the whole; if he leaves lineal descendants living, all of equal degrees of consanguinity, she shall inherit a like share as each of such descendants; if he leaves descendants entitled to share, of unequal degrees of consanguinity, she shall inherit a like share as the descendant living of nearest degree of consanguinity to the intestate."

   Thus it will be seen that when the husband dies intestate leaving a widow and no child or children or descendants of either, the wife inherits all of the real estate. Where he dies leaving one child and no other lineal descendants, she inherits one-half the real estate; where he dies leaving two children and no other lineal descendants, she inherits one-third, and so on in the same proportion with the other children. If the husband died intestate, leaving a widow, one child, and children of a deceased child, and no other lineal descendants, she inherits one-third of the real estate, and if he died leaving no child living, but leaving descendants of a child or children, she only inherits an equal share with the descendant living of nearest degree of consanguinity to the intestate.

   Of course, many other instances than as above stated might be cited, showing how under circumstances, affected by different relations, the rights of inheritance would be changed, but those stated are sufficient by way of illustration.

   The amended law also permits the widow, if she so desires, to take her dower interest in the real estate in lieu of the inherited portion, and gives to her one year after the decease of her husband in which to make her election.

   This law as amended should be carefully considered and even studied before the same takes effect, as it is a radical change in the law prescribing the descent of real estate in case of intestacy. Certainly the law as amended is a step in the right direction; a just and humane provision, long delayed.

   My observation has ofttimes been that where a husband by neglect, or perhaps dread, has failed to make a will, as he ought to have done, and provide for his wife, great injustice to her has been done, and she turned from a home or from property that she had helped to accumulate, with but a mere pittance,

   In the distribution of personal property the law has been more generous to the wife than the law controlling the real estate, and if any good reason exists why the law as amended will work an injustice in any particular estate, a remedy is to be had in the making of a will.

FOR THE VETERANS.

Markers to be Placed in Local Cemeteries by the G. A. R.

   Each year among the preliminaries to Memorial day has been the placing of the flag upon the graves in the local cemeteries of the deceased soldiers. As the death roll has been lengthened, this has grown to be more and more of a task. Some graves are difficult to find, as not all are marked, and only one who has had experience in the work can be sure that he has found the right graves and has omitted none. For ten years past this duty has been performed by Comrade H. M. Kellogg. The time is coming, however, when the majority of the veterans in every place will be at rest in the cemeteries and only a few will remain to perform the last sad rites of honor and respect.

   For some years Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R. of Cortland, has been considering some form of a permanent marker to be placed at each soldier's grave, which will not only indicate where the grave is but that its occupant was a soldier. At the meeting of the post held last night a design for a marker was adopted and arrangements were made for the preparation of one hundred of these.

   The marker will be an iron shield nine inches wide and twelve inches high. To this is to be attached an iron rod thirty inches long which is to be sunk in the ground to the depth of two feet. The shield will then stand eighteen inches above the ground. The face of the shield is composed of raised parts and depressions. There is a border of raised work. The upper part of the shield is separated from the lower by a raised bar. The upper part contains a field which will be painted blue and in which will be included the raised letters "G. A. R." and a number of raised stars. The letters and stars will be painted white. The lower part of the shield will contain thirteen perpendicular stripes of red and white. The red will be upon raised bars, while the white will be depressed.

   Upon the back of the shield is a lug in which can be inserted a small flag and it is the intention to place the flag here before each Memorial day. The emblem will be a very fitting one, and will be of a character not easily injured or disturbed.

OAKS—MCCARTHY.

Pleasant Wedding at the Parochial Residence Wednesday Evening.

   Last evening at the residence of the Rev. J. J. McLoghlin occurred the marriage of Miss Alice E. McCarthy of this place and Mr. Sylvester Oaks of Virgil.

   The Rev. Father O'Shea of Syracuse performed the marriage ceremony assisted by the Rev. Father John McMahon of Auburn. Promptly at 8 o'clock the bridal party entered the south parlor to the beautiful strains of the Mendelssohn Wedding March. The ceremony was short and impressive. The bride was becomingly attired in brown silk. The bridesmaid was Miss Margaret McCarthy and Mr. Fred Sherwood acted as best man,

   After the ceremony the bridal party and the immediate friends and relatives repaired to the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. Edward Winslow, where an elaborate supper was served.

   The presents were numerous and costly and noticeable among them was a beautiful onyx lamp, presented by the employees of The H. M. Whitney factory, and some beautiful and expensive silver from relatives in Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Oaks will be at home to their friends after April 27 at their home in Virgil.

Patrick S. Gilmore.

PHONOGRAPHIC CONCERT.

Members and Friends of the C. A. A. Enjoy a Treat.

   The members of the C. A. A. [Cortland Athletic Association] and their invited friends anticipate a very pleasant evening at the club house tomorrow evening. Warm sugar will be served and some choice vocal and instrumental music will be rendered but the principal feature of the evening's program will be a phonographic concert under the direction of Mr. D. F. Cronin.

   Among the sixty selections which will be rendered, are the following:

   The Palms, U. S. Marine Band.

   Corbett's March, Gilmore's Band.

   Lorelei, Baldwin's Cadet Band.

   Selections from Mikado, Baldwin's Cadet Band.

   Anvil Polka, 1st Regiment Band of San Francisco.

   Spanish Students, Isslers Orchestra.

   Cornet Solo, Miss Alice Raymond.

   Clarinet Solo—Old Folks at Home, Wm. Toots.

   The Whistling Coon, John Y. at Lee [sic].

   The Charming Widow, Dan W. Quinn.

   Three Little Maids from School, Dan W. Quinn.

   Whistle and Walt for Katie, Len Spencer.

   Near It, Len Spencer.

   Bill Nye's Story of the Prodigal Son, Dan W. Quinn.

   Scanlan's Swing Song, Peggy Kline.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   Rev. B. C. Olney, who recently returned from several mouths spent in the West, states that the country is very dry in Missouri especially in and about St. Louis, where he spent considerable time.

   Bills were posted about town to-day announcing the spring excursion to New York over the D., L. & W. R. R. A round trip ticket for one fare will be sold and will allow the traveler six days in which to see the sights of the Metropolis.

   Mr. Eugene Stone of Skaneateles is the guest of his mother, Mrs. Alphonzo Stone of Cayuga-st.

   Mr. and Mrs. John Fisher left town this morning for Philadelphia.

   C. A Watson, Mrs. C. C. Carley and son Oliver are among the Homer people in Syracuse to-day.

   Mrs. Frank Bronson of Binghamton arrived in town this morning. She is the guest of her sister-in law, Mrs. A. S. Cage.

   S. J. Cotter of Detroit, Mich., is a guest at the Mansion House.

   The STANDARD reporter has been requested to state that the Leasure Hour club will meet at the home of Miss Kate Coggeshall to-morrow afternoon.

   The Winter Whist club, which has recently completed a series of very pleasant meetings, will celebrate the close of the season's play at the parlors of the Hotel Windsor this evening when the members will spend the evening in informal dancing.

   The high price of oil has been a very profitable event for the gas companies. Several of Homer's store-keepers have already made the change and others are about to do so. Waukenback burners are being used almost entirely and the result is the next thing to electricity as regards the amount and quality of light obtained.

   Geo I. Crane opened his European hotel on Wall-st. this morning. It is a well appointed restaurant and hotel combined. Mr. Crane has had the Brown block where he is now located, recently papered and painted. The diningroom is very tasty and the landlord is now prepared to serve meals at all hours between 7 A. M. and 10 P.M.

BREVITIES.

   —It seems likely that the annual convention of the Republican league clubs will be held in Syracuse this year.

   —The Loyal circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 54 N. Main-st. Friday, April 19, at 2:30 P. M.

   —Two plain drunks were before Justice Bull this morning. Each was sentenced to five dollars or five days. One paid and the other is serving his time.

   —A haystack belonging to John Garvey about two miles out Tompkins-st. near the stone quarry burned about 1 o'clock last night. The stack contained four or five tons of hay. The origin of the fire is unknown.

   —At a meeting of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R. held last night, Rev. L. H. Pearce, D. D., was unanimously invited to deliver the Memorial day address upon May 30. The invitation was accepted.

   —Prof. Heinrich Hofmann's famous painting "Christ in Gethsemane" will be on exhibition at the art rooms of Francis Hendrick & Co., 110 East Fayette-st. in Syracuse until Saturday evening, April 20. The public are cordially invited to call and see it.

   —The price of kerosene oil is still jumping up and it is altogether uncertain where it will stop. To-day the best head light oil costs in Cortland thirteen cents per gallon by the barrel. The same oil a few weeks ago cost four and one-half cents per gallon by the barrel.

   —Grover Post, No. 93, G. A. R., last night at a regular meeting appropriated five dollars to a post in the drought stricken districts in Nebraska which sent a piteous appeal east. The request for aid recalled the hard times and poor food in the army, but said that there was never such a scarcity of food there as in Nebraska at present. Not only is there no food, but there is no seed of any kind to put into the ground for this year's crops.

   —Superintendent Allen of the E., C. & N. railroad appeared before the trustees at their regular meeting Monday evening and asked that permission be given to erect a 32-foot iron bridge over Roberts-st., where the railroad company's trestle crosses it. The erection of bridges over the streets is made necessary by the filling in of trestle. The regular width of Roberts-st. is 48 feet but it is thought that a 32-foot span will leave the passage plenty wide enough.—Canastota Journal.

Clearing Up the Debris.

   A gang of men are at work on the ruins of the late Port Watson-st. fire. Mr. John Hodgson is having his blacksmith shop rebuilt and expects to occupy it next week. The debris is being removed from the cellar of the Brewer building. The walls above the second floor will be pulled down, but the building will not be rebuilt immediately.