PRESIDENT'S BUSY DAY, JUNE 15 CONVENTION, WHITE HOUSE, ENTOMOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION, LADIES' LITERARY CLUB, AND FIFTY-FIVE DAYS

 

 

President Theodore Roosevelt on whistle-stop tour in Illinois, June 3, 1903.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, June 4, 1903.

President's Busy Day.

   Bloomington, Ill., June 4.—President Roosevelt put in about the busiest day of his trip yesterday from a speechmaking standpoint. He made his first speech at Freeport at 8 o'clock in the morning and when he concluded his address shortly after 10 o'clock at night he had spoken nine times. Eight of his speeches were made in the open air and several of them in rain storms. The hardest rain encountered was at Pontiac, where he dedicated a soldiers' and sailors' monument.

 

President John MItchell, United Mine Workers of America.

CONVENTION JUNE 15.

Called by Anthracite Board to Be Held at Pottsville, Pa.

QUESTION OF SUSPENDING WORK.

Statement by Both Sides as to Hitch in Organization of Conciliation Board—Operators Object to Accepting Officials of United Mine Workers on the Board.

   Wilkes-Barre, Pa, June 4.—At the first session of the three anthracite boards of the United Mine Workers there was little done outside of outlining plans as to what course was best to pursue.

   In the afternoon they met again when they decided to hold a joint convention of miners at Pottsville June 15, for the purpose of determining whether or not a general suspension of work shall be declared. No statement was made by them outside of the announcement of the decision to hold a joint convention.

   When District President Fahey, the chairman of the miners' representatives on the conciliation board, was shown the statement of the operators members on that board he made the following statement to the press:

   "There was no meeting of the stockholders of the coal companies called for the purpose of appointing the operators' side on the conciliation board, but the representatives of the stockholders, the officials of the company, met and selected their representatives. The mine workers selected their members not by calling a meeting of all their members or stockholders, but by their organization, through their representatives, as empowered by the rules and regulations of their organization, which does exist, and as provided by the award of the coal strike commission. We raise no question as to the manner in which the operators selected their representatives and we at least hoped for the same treatment at their hands. Our understanding is that miners and operators shall stand on equal footing in every way on the board of conciliation."

   The following signed statement was given to the press last evening as the operators' side of the controversy caused by the refusal of the operators' representatives on the conciliation board to accept the representatives of the United Mine Workers:

   "Referring to the official announcement of the representatives of the United Mine Workers of America, as given in this morning press, the contention of the operators'  representatives elected to the board of conciliation is that the recognition of the United Mine Workers of America was not one of the questions submitted to the commission for decision; that Mr. Mitchell admitted this by appearing before the commission simply as a representative of the anthracite mine workers; that the award of the commission specifically asserted that the recognition of the United Mine Workers of America as at present constituted was inadvisable; that award number four providing for the board of conciliation lays down certain rules for the appointment of members of said board.

   "The representatives of the operators have been appointed strictly within the terms of said award, and there is no objection on their part to cordially accepting Messrs. Nicholls, Dettrey and Fahey as the representatives of the miners, providing they are elected by a majority of the mine workers as specified in the award of the commission. The objection is solely against their appearing as the official representatives of the United Mine Workers of America, appointed by an executive committee without authority for such appointment.

   "The operators representatives feel that it is highly important that the formation of the board of conciliation be accepted by both interested parties as strictly in accordance with the award of the commission in order that its rulings may be received without question and not be open to the criticism of having been made by a board not fully qualified to act.

W. T. CONNELŁ, R. C. LUTHER, S. D. WARRINER."

 

WHITE HOUSE MORE PRIVATE.

East Room and Terrace Only Parts to be Open to Public.

   It is the present intention to close the north grounds of the White House to the public as soon as the improvements now being made are finished, says a Washington dispatch to the New York World.

   This was talked of during the reconstruction of the White House, but the president hesitated to put the order into effect through fear of a storm of public disapproval. Since the completion of the east terrace, through which visitors enter and leave the east room, the historic north door of the mansion has been used as a private entrance, but people have been allowed to wander around the grounds as formerly.

   "Mrs. Roosevelt and the children, especially Miss Alice, have been annoyed at times by people in the grounds peering through the front door and the windows of the private dining room, and it is understood to be in response to their appeal that the grounds are to be closed when the driveway now being put down is completed.

   The carriage gates will be closed, and policemen will be stationed at the smaller gates to keep out every one but members of the president's family and their callers and personal friends. The changes that are now being made will be finished before July 1.

   Visitors to the White House then will be admitted to the east room for four hours in the day, as now, but they will enter and leave through the east terrace, and that is all of the White House and its surroundings they will be able to see at close range. The north grounds will then be as private as the south grounds have been made under Mr. Roosevelt. The north grounds have never been closed to the public. President Cleveland closed the south grounds during his second administration because, he said, the people passing through annoyed the children. Mr. McKinley threw them open again and they remained open until Mr. Roosevelt came in.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Entomological Destruction.

   According to the extraordinary statement of a Boston entomologist, who presumably has as accurate knowledge as is obtainable in such matters, property worth $250,000,000 is destroyed annually in this country by bugs of one kind and another, from the grasshopper down to the ladybug. The grasshopper eats up $90,000,000 worth of vegetation, the Hessian fly $50,000,000, the chinch bug $10,000,000, the potato bug $8,000,000. Moths, ladybugs, tobacco worms, squash bugs, beetles and numerous other entomological entities consume the remainder.

   When to these creeping bugs and crawling worms are added mosquitoes, flies and gnats, which are openly preying upon man and are common carriers of disease, and the bacilli and microbes which infest the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and are part and parcel of the human and lower animal organisms, the situation appears desperate indeed both from the economical and the physical point of view.

   How to stop this continuous destruction of property, menace to life and annoyance to mankind is a tough proposition for science, and such efforts as are made seem unavailing. There have been some spasmodic efforts to destroy the mosquito as a prime offender, but where a hundred are killed a million are born. The alert housekeeper pursues the fly with a "slapper" or entices it into sticky compounds, but where one fly perishes a thousand come to its funeral. The agricultural department bombards the bug with formidable documents, and now and then congress appropriates a little money for the crusade, and yet the bugs go on increasing illimitably.

   Meanwhile with that fine sense of consistency and appreciation of economy which characterize mankind we go on killing off as fast as possible the birds which kill the bugs. If we were less cruel to the birds we might have less occasion to complain of the entomological pests.

 

PRESIDENT'S DAY

Observed by the Ladies' Literary Club—Talk by Miss Hendrick.

   President's Day, the last meeting of the year of the Ladies' Literary club, occurred yesterday afternoon at the home of the retiring president, Mrs. J. A. Jayne, 12 Madison-st., Cortland, at 4 o'clock. The only guests present were the honorary members and Mrs. C. Watrous of Des Moines.

   The annual report of the secretary and treasurer was read and adopted, after which followed the principal event of the afternoon—a talk by Miss Hendrick upon "A Trip up the Nile"—who gave a most graphic description of the ruins of Karnack and Luxor and of the Pyramids and Sphinx. She also gave a fine description of Naples, Nice and Monte Carlo, all of which the ladies keenly enjoyed. A delicious repast and a social hour completed the afternoon. The following are the officers and committees of the club of next year.

   President—Mrs. F. J  Higgins.

   First Vice-President—Mrs. E. B. Nash.

   Second Vice-President—Miss Ella Gale.

   Secretary and Treasurer—Mrs. G. H. Smith.

   Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. S. E. Jennison.

   Program Committee—Mrs. Judson C. Nelson, Mrs. A. J. Murray, Mrs. Burdette Howard.

   Critics—Miss M. F. Hendrick, Mrs. F. D. Reese, Miss Minerva Adams, Mrs. J. A. Jayne.

   Entertainment Committee—Mrs. S. J. Sornberger, Mrs. J. F. Twiss, Mrs. A. G. Henry.

 

Some Gigantic Records.

   Fred T. Graham has just secured some gigantic records for his Edison concert phonograph. The ordinary record is seven inches in diameter. The new records are fourteen inches in diameter, and of course, with larger circumference they move faster in the machine. The result is a greatly increased volume of sound, and it really appears with the band selection in process of rendition as though the whole band was present in Mr. Graham's store. The musical friends of that gentleman are now making him frequent and sometimes prolonged calls to enjoy the music.

 

Floral Trout Park, Cortland, is located at bottom right side of 1876 map betwen East Ave. and Owen Ave.

Floral Trout Park sketch, courtesy Cortland County Historical Society.

Opening of Trout Park.

   Trout park will open for the season Saturday, June 6, with dancing and many other up-to-date amusements, including a balloon ascension and parachute jump by Prof. Cassell. It is a jump for life and every one should see it. In the evening there will be a high daring tight rope and balancing act in midair and many other mid-air feats, also a museum of mechanical ideas. Visit this and laugh. See the Bowery and Broadway. Dancing every evening. Later on I will be able to place before the public a first-class stock company of refined merit that will produce up-to-date plays. Everything new. Visit this resort and, if there is anything distasteful, kindly report same and I will correct it immediately and carefully use your own judgment, if it is run on business principles or not and oblige Jas. K. Boone.

 

McFALL-PURVIS.

A Pleasant Home Wedding on Union-st., Wednesday Evening.

   About fifty of the immediate relatives and friends of F. Marion McFall and Mrs. Jane M. Purvis assembled at the home of the latter, 19 Union-st., Cortland, at 8 o'clock last night to witness their marriage ceremony. The house was made additionally attractive by a profusion of potted plants, many of them being in bloom with pink as a prevailing color. The decorations of the diningroom were in pink and white.

   The guests were met at the door by Miss Mary McKellar, a niece of the bride, and were cordially received in the parlor by the two of the bride's sisters, Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt and Mrs. Amanda Smith. The ushers were Dr. George H. Smith and C. F. Weiler.

   Promptly at 8 o'clock bride and groom entered the parlor unattended. The bride wore a handsome gown of gray silk trimmed with black velvet and white lace. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. David Keppel, pastor of the First M. E. church, of which both parties are prominent members and in which they are both active workers.

   While congratulations were being offered Mrs. G. H. Smith, another sister of the bride, played upon the piano a number of bright and attractive selections. Fine refreshments were provided by Caterer E. E. Price, who was assisted in the serving by Misses Mary and Jessie McKellar and Frances Stone.

   Mr. and Mrs. McFall were generously remembered by their friends with many handsome presents of solid silver, cut glass, hand painted china and bric-a-brac. They left on the 11:48 train for a week's trip to New York and points on the Hudson, and did not by any means escape a voluminous shower of rice. After their return they will be at home at 19 Union-st.

 

FIFTY-FIVE DAYS

Because He had a Suspicious Look and was a Vagrant.

   John C. Aldrich was arrested in Solon [township] by Constable Trim Tuesday evening and brought to Cortland and lodged in the county jail. He presented a sorry appearance, clothed in rags such as Deputy Sheriff James Edwards says he never saw before. Aldrich is a big strapping fellow over 6 feet tall and weighing upward of 200 pounds. His looks were such as to convince one that he made his home in the "Solon cave."

   He was taken back to Solon yesterday afternoon and arraigned before Justice Byron Hulbert on the charge of vagrancy and of being a suspicious character. He was given fifty-five days in county jail. He claimed to come from Indiana.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The new display advertisements today are—Mrs. Everts, Millinery, page 5.

   —A special meeting of the Plumbers' union will be held tomorrow evening at 7:30 sharp.

   —The service preparatory to communion will be held at the Presbyterian church this evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Cortland Encampment No. 127 will work the royal purple degree in John L. Lewis lodge rooms this evening.

   —Mrs. D. F. Wallace gave a thimble bee at her home, 18 Church-st., yesterday afternoon. About twenty ladies were present. The afternoon was spent in various ways and all present enjoyed a very pleasant time.

   —It is doubtful if as smoky a day as today can be remembered in Cortland in many years. It is impossible to distinguish any object clearly at a distance of a half mile in any direction and the smell of smoke in the air is very strong. Rain is terribly needed all through this section. [Fires burning in the Adirondack forest—CC ed.]

MAY RESUME STRIKE, RESCUERS DROWNED, EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM, POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS, CORTLAND COMMON COUNCIL, AND MORNING FIRE

 

John Mitchell, President of the United Mineworkers of America.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, June 3, 1903.

MAY RESUME STRIKE.

Hitch In Organization of Conciliation Board.

MINERS' CREDENTIALS REFUSED.

Executive Board of United Mine Workers Endorsed Selection of Three District Presidents—Suspension of Work May Be Ordered Unless They Are Accepted by the Operators.

   Wilkes-Barre, Pa., June 3.—Another dark strike cloud has loomed upon the horizon of the anthracite coal region. The executive boards of the United Mine Workers in session here endorsed the selection of their three district presidents on the board of conciliation, authorized by the strike commission, and if these members are not recognized by the operators, which action may come, the executive boards contemplate calling a convention of mine workers to declare a general suspension of work until their members are given recognition.

   The district presidents, as a result of yesterday's meeting, issued a statement which says in part that the members selected to represent the mine workers of each district on the conciliation board, reported that the representatives of the operators refused to recognize them or the mine workers' credentials or accept them as members of the conciliation board. They reported that the operators objected on the ground that the mine workers' representatives were appointed by their organization as it exists in each district.

   "The district boards are still of the opinion," says the statement, "that they appointed their representatives as provided for by the award of the commission."

   The officers have advised, where grievances arose, that the men would not strike, and where strikes occurred ordered them back to work pending a decision by the conciliation board, which they hoped would soon be formed in accordance with the commission award.

   Two questions were under consideration by the meeting, one is to make application to the national president of the mine workers to issue an order for a general suspension of work throughout the whole anthracite region, to continue until the operators agree to adjust existing grievances and live up to the award of the anthracite coal strike commission; the second is that a delegate convention be called to consider the advisability of taking the above action.

   Another meeting will be held today to decide as to whether a suspension of work shall be ordered.

   District Presidents Nicholls, Dettrey and Fahey intimate that the executive board of the mine workers will stand by their decision and will insist that their members on the conciliation board be recognized.

 

RESCUERS DROWNED.

Joseph Keenan and Edward Brooks Lost Their Lives While Attempting to Save Others.

   Kansas City, June 3.—Blue sky was visible above Kansas City again. The rains have ended and the sun was visible for the first time in a week. For this and other reasons it is thought that the great dangers of flood are past.

   The waters of the Kaw river have fallen 8 inches and are steadily declining at the rate of about one-half inch an hour. In the Missouri the high stage of 35 feet is still maintained, but this is due to the rise which has been coming down the Missouri proper and has been able to offset the fall in the Kaw.

   It is the water of the latter stream, however, that has caused all the damage in this city and Kansas City, Kansas, and with it at a normal stage business soon will resume usual conditions.

   This city, by a narrow margin, has escaped a serious shortage in food, has faced the peril of fire, utterly helpless to avert its consequences, has suffered millions of dollars of damage to property and sustained a loss of life that in all probability never will be accurately measured, and now it is commencing to believe in the promise of better things.

   The situation shows improvement on almost every side; the waters are falling, the water works will resume operations tomorrow, the gas has been turned into mains once more and there is no immediate danger of a serious shortage of food. The city has cared for her own and is abundantly able to do so still.

   But there is not sufficient food on hand to permit the relief committee and the municipal officers to feel easy over the outlook. Provisions from outside will be cordially welcomed and while there is no dire necessity there is urgent need.

   Two men lost their lives yesterday in the attempt to save others. Joseph Keenan was drowned while endeavoring to rescue some people from the Adams House in Union avenue, and Edward Brooks lost his life in Liberty street, where his skiff was overturned by an eddy while he was endeavoring to get another man out of a building.

   A number of bodies were seen floating down the stream, but are believed to be those of people drowned further up the Kaw, probably at North Topeka.

 

Robert R. Taylor.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Educational Problem South.

   Robert R. Taylor, a professor in the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute of Tuskegee, Ala., was in Cortland over Sunday and spoke for ten minutes at the close of the service in the morning at the Presbyterian church. Mr. Taylor is always a welcome visitor to Cortland. He is a representative of the highest type of the colored race and is a cultured and refined Christian gentleman. He is a fluent speaker and has the admirable characteristic of always keeping within his time limit. If he is given five minutes be does not speak ten minutes or six minutes, but five minutes, and he gives facts in rapid succession. His sentences are full of solid meat.

   Sunday morning be presented some phases of the negro problem in the South and showed the crying need of more and better school facilities. When one sees and listens to Mr. Taylor it is apparent what education and training can do, and then when, on the other hand, he reflects upon statistics presented of nearly half the colored children of school age without any means of education whatever and growing up in that way to form the men and women of the next generation the query comes, is it any wonder that the negro problem of the South is a serious one. What would be the problem in the North if the same percentage of white children were deprived of school training, and if that state of affairs were to be continued through a number of successive generations?

   According to the last census there are 2,912,910 negro children of school age in this country. Of that number 1,511,618 are enrolled, leaving 1,401,292 who never see the inside of a schoolhouse. This great army of unschooled black children is not due to the negroes' failure to take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them, but to the inability of the Southern states to provide adequate school houses and teachers for their school population.

   "Instead of simply lamenting the fact that we are thus handicapped educationally," said Mr. Taylor, "Tuskegee is putting forth earnest efforts to strengthen the school system where it is weakest by sending out, year after year, men and women trained in the industrial arts as well as in class room work. Those men and women with a heroism and devotion peculiar to themselves, are giving their lives to the uplift of their fellowman." "It is a common occurrence," continued the speaker, "for our young people to give three, four, five years' service to their unfortunate brethren with no other return than the consciousness that they are about 'their Father's business.' Scores of communities in the South have been transformed through the work of our graduates who have gone in the midst of their people and inspired them with the idea of self-help, self-dependence, self-uplift. What the mass of my people need is not charity. but sympathy; and wherever this sympathy has been given them in a way to properly stimulate and guide their native force the results have been most encouraging."

   Mr. Taylor is one of the principal assistants to President Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee, but he makes frequent trips through the North securing aid and arousing interest in the work of this institution whose policy is to educate not only the mind but the hand and to turn out young men and women capable of doing some one thing well and of bearing aid to their less fortunate fellows.

   ◘ If Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst is to continue posing as a high moral reformer and critic of the universe he really ought to stop spelling negro with two g's.

  

Popular Election of Senators.

   It looks very much as if the next great change in our political machinery would be in the method of choosing United States senators. Already twenty-one of the forty-five states in the Union have adopted resolutions asking congress to submit an amendment for the direct election of senators or to call a convention to submit such an amendment. Fourteen states have refused to take action in the premises, and ten states have given no consideration to the subject.

   It will require favorable action by two-thirds of the states, nine in addition to those which have already taken action, to bring about the submission of the amendment by either method, and it is not improbable that the necessary number will be obtained within the next two years. It is among the probabilities that some of the states now hostile will become converts to the direct election system.

 

CORTLAND COMMON COUNCIL.

Reports of Chamberlain and Commissioner of Charities.

A BIG GRIST OF BILLS AUDITED.

No Action Taken on Proposed Damage Suits Against City on Account of Water—Plaintiffs May Resort to their Legal Remedy—Another Hydrant Ordered—Concert Halls—Piling Telephone Poles—Other Business.

   The regular meeting of the common council was held in the office of the city clerk last evening. Those present were Mayor Brown and Aldermen E. M. Yager, Vern W. Skeele, C. E. Ingalls, George F. Richards and H. S. Pettigrew.

   The council was called to order by Acting Mayor E. M. Yager.

   City Chamberlain George J. Maycumber made his monthly report which was accepted, on motion of Alderman Richards. An interesting feature of his report was that the amount of excise money [liquor permit tax] coming to the city is $750 in excess of the amount received last year.

   Commissioner of Charities H. T. Bushnell made his monthly report. Among those helped was a typhoid fever patient, a man left here by Darlings dog show who was suffering from an injured hand and unable to work, and the usual local needy ones. The total amount expended was $84.31. On motion of Alderman Ingalls, the report was accepted and placed on file.

   The matter of paying the hospital bill of Miss Webber was referred to the commissioner of charities.

   At this point Mayor Brown entered the meeting and took the chair.

Damage Claims from Water.

   Attorney E. E. Mellon, who was present at the last meeting in the interest of people residing east of the Lackawanna railroad tracks who have filed a claim against the city was again present and at this time asked for some action in the matter. City Attorney Fred Hatch, to whom the matter had been referred, came before the council and said that, according to the city charter, parties desiring to prosecute claims against the city must present their claims in writing to the common council and wait thirty days thereafter for investigation by the common council before bringing action. These claims were so presented on the 5th day of August, 1902, and the parties interested were entirely at liberty to bring any action they might see fit, and had been since Sept. 5; that the course followed by the common council in this case was the one invariably followed in practice ever since the city government was organized, viz: that claims presented and not finding favor with the common council were simply left with the claimants to pursue such remedies as they might deem best. In some of these cases now under consideration claims were presented for alleged damages for more than the entire assessed value of the property claimed to have been damaged and this would seem to furnish abundant reasons for leaving the claimants to their legal remedies; and the course taken now was the same always pursued heretofore in all claims, simply to omit action for the preliminary thirty days, and leave the claimants to their legal remedies if they have any.

Another Claim.

   The claim of Mrs. Kate Silver against the city was next taken up. The city attorney suggested that a committee from the council be appointed to act with the city attorney in investigating the claim.

   On motion of Alderman Pettigrew, seconded by Alderman Skeele, the mayor was empowered to appoint such committee. He appointed Alderman Pettigrew and Ingalls. They were instructed to employ a physician.

Dog Taxes and Tags.

   Moved by Alderman Ingalls and seconded by Alderman Yager, that the dog tax be $1.

   Lost by the following vote:

   Yes—Ingalls and Yager.

   No—Richards, Pettigrew and Skeele.

   Moved by Alderman Richards and carried, that the tax be 50 cents. It was decided to purchase 500 tags.

   The city attorney was instructed to confer with B. L. Webb in regard to removing the debris resulting from the burning of the novelty works on Crawford-st. last October.

Bills Audited.

   The following bills were and ordered paid:

   Cortland Water Works Co., $2,550.00

   Cortland Standard Printing Co., $15.75

   Jennie A. Kinney, $8.67

   Homer & Cortland Gas Co., $679.90

   Cortland & Homer Electric Co., $ .73

   Z. Lowe, $18.00

   F. R. Birdlebough, $7.60

   H. M. Dickerson, $4.00

   Earl F. Keefe, $26.00

   Daniel Herlihy, $28.00

   S. M. Steele, $5.00

Another Hydrant.

   On motion of Alderman Richards, seconded by Alderman Yager, it was voted to place a hydrant at or near the corner of Port Watson and River-sts.

   Alderman Pettigrew was instructed to investigate the piling up of telephone poles on Garfield-st.

Why Vetoed?

   On motion of Alderman Richards, seconded by Alderman Skeele, the city clerk was instructed to write to the secretary of state to discover Gov. Odell's reason for vetoing the last [Cortland] charter amendment bill.

   On motion of Alderman Pettigrew, the council decided to subscribe for fourteen copies of the Municipal Journal and Engineer, a monthly magazine, for the city boards.

   On motion of Alderman Skeele, the city clerk was instructed to look up obsolete city ordinances and report them to the council.

Concert Halls.

   The provision embodied in the recent charter amendment, prohibiting the running of concert halls, places of amusement, etc. in connection with the sale of intoxicating liquors was adopted by the council. The ayes and nays were called and all voted aye. On motion of Alderman Ingalls, the council adjourned.

 

CONTRACT AWARDED

For Drawing Plans and Supervising the Port Watson-st. Macadamizing.

   At the adjourned meeting of the board of public works held in the office of the city clerk yesterday afternoon the contract for drawing plans and doing the necessary engineering, and inspecting for the Port Watson macadamizing was awarded to Engineers Allen and Farrington of Syracuse for 5 per cent of the contract price. If a local inspector was demanded they would not take the contract for less than 6 per cent, but the board was of the opinion that the engineers could do all the inspecting necessary.

   The matter of extending the gas main was deferred to the next regular meeting of the board, at which time William T. Morris, president of the gas company, will be present.

 

CHANGED HIS PLEA

And Was Given Thirty Days in Jail for Assault.

   Lee Saltsman, who was arrested on Main-st., Cortland, by Officer Austin for being concerned in street row and who appeared in police court yesterday and demanded counsel, was in police court again this morning where at the advice of his attorney he changed his plea of not guilty. District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd appeared for the people and asked that the prisoner be punished for disturbing the peace and for assault. Mr. Hatch said that the defendant was guilty of the assault, but that there were extenuating circumstances. Judge Dougherty said that the prisoner was guilty of a brutal assault and deserved punishment, but inasmuch as he had pleaded guilty be would not give him the maximum punishment. He then sentenced him to thirty days in county jail. Saltsman has twice before been under arrest for public intoxication.

 

A MORNING FIRE.

Grant-st. Market and H. R. Cone's Grocery Burned Out.

   The Grant-st. market of S. P. Smith and the grocery of H. R. Cone, next door, the two being respectively at 5 and 7 Grant-st., were destroyed by fire which began at about 7:45 o'clock this morning. Both were two-story frame buildings about 15 by 30 feet in size.

   The fire started in the market. Mr. Smith built a fire in a stove in the rear room of the market at about 7:45 o'clock in preparation for cooking pressed beef. In a few minutes from the front room he heard the sound of crackling. He went at once to the back room, but could discover nothing wrong. Five minutes later in the front room he again heard the sound and hurried back, but found every thing as before. This time he went up stairs and found the second floor full of smoke with a brisk fire burning near the chimney. Evidently there was a defect in the chimney.

   Mr. Smith shouted fire and some one pulled alarm box 224 at the corner of North Main and Grant-sts., which was less than a hundred feet away, but for some reason the only response to the pull was two taps on the fire bell.

   Firemen assembled at the engine house, but knew not where to go. Suddenly smoke was discovered in the northern sky, and at the same time a telephone message located the fire. Chief of Police Barnes then pulled box 333 and the firemen hastened up Main-st. The two hose companies whose apparatus is at Fireman's hall had already departed as soon as the smoke was discovered.

   By the time the [fire] department had arrived the whole upper story of the market was on fire and the roof was falling in, so quickly did it burn, for it was all of wood and everything was dry as tinder. The flames were even then being communicated to the grocery next door. A line of men was carrying the grocery stock from the shelves to a lawn on the opposite side of the street. The two buildings were less than three feet apart and it was quickly necessary to pour water into the upper story of the grocery to save the building at all.

   The market is a complete wreck. Nothing remains above the first floor, and the latter is only a shell. The grocery can be repaired by putting on a new roof and refinishing complete. The market building is owned by Mrs. Olissa Beale Wheatley, formerly of Cortland, now of Cold Spring, N. Y. It is insured for $150 with G. J. Maycumber. Mr. Smith could not tell the exact amount of his insurance as his policy was locked in his safe and the safe had not yet been opened, neither had he had opportunity to figure up his loss, but he expects to be ready immediately to continue business somewhere and due announcement will be made later.

   The grocery building is owned by Mrs. Dr. Burdick of Syracuse, lately of Homer. Her business in Cortland is done by T. C. Scudder and that gentleman says the loss is abundantly covered by insurance.

   H. R. Cone estimates that his loss is from $800 to $1,000 chiefly by water. He has an insurance placed with Davis, Jenkins & Hakes for $1,000.

Notes.

   When Mr. Smith first found that the building was on fire he borrowed from C. R. Cone across the street his garden hose, and kept the back side of his building and also the roof and side of the adjoining grocery well wet down till the fire department got water on. This acted as a considerable check to the flames.

   The department did admirable work after it arrived, for the wooden buildings in that vicinity are very close together and there was a tremendous chance for a big fire. M. J. Peck got a stream of water "in the neck," to use a popular expression. He was coming out of the grocery store with his arms full of groceries which he was carrying to the lawn opposite when a big stream of water from one of the hose companies got on a rampage and twisted very quickly and unexpectedly in the hands of the pipeman. The stream took him surely "in the neck" and at short range.

   His hat went flying with the force of the water and he himself was nearly knocked down. But he went on with his groceries and returned for more. Later, he had occasion to go home for some dry clothes for his collar was quite wilted.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Now is the time when every one should be watchful about fire. Every thing is so dry that a small spark might do a great amount of damage.

   —Miss Lucy I. Marsh, who has been spending a year in Paris in study, is expected to return home some time this week or next.—Ithaca News.

   —The new display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Clothing, page 8; A. Mahan, Pianos, etc., page 8; The Peck Furniture House, Furniture, page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., Muslin underwear, page 6; W. W. Walters, Shoes, page 6.