LOUISIANA PURCHASE MEMORIAL, FOREST FIRES, AND MRS. ANGELINE WHEELER

 

President Theodore Roosevelt.

General Henry C. Corbin.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 5, 1903.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE

Inauguration of Memorial of the Great Event.

IMPRESSIVE MILITARY PARADE.

Four Thousand U. S. Regulars and Seamen and 10,000 National Guard in Line—Dedication Speech by President Roosevelt and Oration by Ex-President Cleveland.

   St. Louis, April 30.—A salute of 100 guns announced to the world at noon today to close of the first century of an inland empire that Napoleon sold for a song.

   Seldom in the official life of a great democratic nation will the pomp and pageantry of monarchy have been so overshadowed as at the dedication of the international exposition to commemorate that event.

   This forenoon one of the most impressive military spectacles of peaceful times swept through the metropolis of the Louisiana domain—a glittering display of American arms and the man at the zenith of the republic’s power.

   Kings, emperors and potentates sent their ambassadors to swell the homage of this people to the genius that, by bloodless conquest, gave to the country a territory one-third the size of all Europe.
   For the first time in history of the government, the entire diplomatic corps left the capital on a special train to travel into the heart of the nation.

   The presence of the president of the United States, his cabinet, congress and the supreme court, at the head of the armed column, is intended to symbolize a government by the people and its achievements.

   Orders were issued by the war department to mobilize in the vast buildings of the exposition 4,000 battle-scarred regulars, under command of Major General Henry C. Corbin.

Monitor Arkansas at Dock.

   The monitor Arkansas, herald of the coming dedication, anchored on the river front of St. Louis April 26, lying there until after the last day of the dedication. The largest war vessel that ever ascended to the World’s Fair city will be visited by thousands of persons who have not seen one of the fighting navy. The blue jackets and marines aboard took part in the military pageant.

   Governors of states picked their crack militia regiments for a brave show. Ten thousand stalwart types of the Mr. Volunteer of the future burnished their weapons for this day of dignitaries.

   That the national government might be interpreted as stamping its approval on an enterprise that has cost it more than $6,000,000, Major General Henry C. Corbin marshaled the parade from its starting point in St. Louis to the palaces of the Ivory City.

   Estimates by the passenger departments of 29 railways converging at St. Louis, indicated the attendance at the first day of the dedication of 250,000 to 300,000 visitors, mainly from points in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

   Arrangements for transporting the 500,000 persons who were expected to view the parade and the dedicatory review on the exposition grounds, presented a schedule of 15 seconds for the delivery of the visitors at the gates of the exposition. This work has been undertaken by the street railway system. Loops constructed especially for the dedication have been laid at the entrances, of which there are eight disposed at various points on every side of the World’s Fair site, in order to avoid congestion.

   Three days will be crowded with incident. National day falls on April 30. The president dedicates the World’s Fair. International day follows on May 1. Addresses by the French and Spanish ambassadors and a reception to the diplomatic corps are the features.

   State Day, May 2, concludes the celebration. Governor Benjamin B. Odell of New York and Governor A. M. Dockery of Missouri make addresses; a great civic procession moves over the route of the military parade and the corner stones of state buildings are laid.

   The military parade, composed of United States troops and the National Guard in attendance, assembled under direction of the grand marshal at 10 o’clock, and moved from the junction of Grand avenue and Lindel boulevard, promptly at 10:30 o’clock, preceded by the president of the United States and official guests in carriages; through Forest park to the exposition grounds, where the presidential salute was fired and the parade was reviewed by the president of the United States.

   At 1:30 p. m. a grand band concert commenced, the doors of the Liberal Arts building were opened, and the audience were [period usage] seated under the direction of the grand ushers. Two hundred pieces rendered the masters.

Dedicatory Exercises.

   Promptly at 2 o’clock the vast assembly was called to order by David R. Francis, president of the exposition. Cardinal Gibbons in the scarlet vestments of a prince of the Roman church, lent a touch of color to the brilliant scene when he advanced to the front of the president’s rostrum to deliver the invocation.

   Thomas H. Carter, president of the World’s Fair national commission, was announced as the president of the day. A choral and band rendition of “The Heavens Proclaiming” preceded the presentation of the buildings by President Francis to the president of the United States. President Roosevelt then made the dedication address.

   Immediately at the close of the president’s words, the grand chorus thundered, “Unfold, Ye Portals.” Former President Grover Cleveland, the orator of the occasion, delivered a panegyric. Bishop Henry C. Potter of New York spoke the benediction. A centennial salute of 100 guns closed the program.

   At 8 o’clock a grand pyrotechnic display will take place near the Administration building. The length of this production is suggested by the 52 numbers which it includes. About 30,000 persons can witness the spectacle from the grand stand. It is estimated that it will require three hours, from 8 to 11 o’clock, to burn tons of powder the fireworks king has piled on the grounds. Henry Paine has promised to surpass anything he has done.

   The sensation of the evening will be the ascension of seven great gas balloons controlled by experienced aeronauts. At a great altitude the operators fire a salute of aerial guns. The largest vessel drops a huge American flag in pyrotechnics, 400 feet long by 200 feet wide. An aerial salute of 21 guns greets the appearance of the Stars and Stripes. This is the signal for dropping from the six other balloons the pyrotechnic flags of the six greatest powers. Each flag is 150 feet by 100 feet.

 

Cornell’s Filtration Plant.

   Ithaca, N. Y., May 1.—The filtration plant for the water supply of Cornell campus was completed and water will be turned into the mains today. This plant is one which Andrew Carnegie is paying for.

 

FOREST FIRES RAGING.

Many Places in the Adirondacks Threatened.

HOTELS SURROUNDED BY FIRES.

Large Gangs of Men Fighting the Fires in the Woods—Large Sawmill at Tupper Lake Burned and 300 Men Thrown Out of Work—Malone Filled With Smoke.

   Plattsburg, N. Y., May 1.—The forest fires in the Adirondack have gained great headway on account of the high wind in spite of the heroic efforts to check them. Nothing but a good long rain will save the woods in many places from being seriously damaged.

   Telephone and telegraph wires are down and but few details are at hand, but enough is known to make it certain the worst forest fire in years is raging.

   At Dannemora close watch is being kept that the state prison buildings do not become damaged.

   At Lyon Mountain the Chateaugay  Ore and Iron company shut down all their mines and rushed the men by special train to Standish where the fires have already burned large quantities of pulp wood and charcoal wood.

   At Plumadore, Manley’s Kilns and South Inlet hundreds, probably thousands, of cords of pulp wood have been burned. At Loon Lake the summer hotel, the Loon Lake House, owned by Fred W. Chase, is in serious danger.

   At Lake Placid the White Face Inn, one of the large hotels there, is entirely surrounded by forest fires and unless rain comes it cannot be saved. The cottage owned by Charles Burt near White Face Inn is now on fire.

   Proprietors of summer hotels all through the Adirondacks have appealed to the railroads for assistance and the response has been prompt. Every available man on both the New York Central and Delaware and Hudson roads has been pressed into service.

   The weather is warm and sultry and this, together with the dense smoke and intense heat of the flames, makes the work of fighting the flames unusually difficult and disagreeable.

   The Hurd sawmill at Tupper Lake, N. Y., which at the time it was erected about 12 years ago, was the largest sawmill I the United States, caught fire from forest fires and was destroyed, throwing 200 men out of employment. The entire population of Tupper Lake is fighting the flame. The contractors on the Chateaugay railroad have sent a gang of men to the Loon Lake hotel in the hopes of saving the hostelry.

   The top of St. Regis mountain can be seen ablaze with forest fires, but none of the woods owned by the Paul Smith Hotel company has caught fire as yet. At McColloms and Mountain View gangs of men are fighting the fires in the surrounding woods to protect the hotels.

   A telegram from Malone at 9 p. m. says it is almost impossible to breathe, the village is so filled with smoke, and fires can be seen in all directions. There is no immediate indication of rain.

 

MRS. ANGELINE WHEELER.

One of the Oldest Residents of the County Passes Away.

   Mrs. Angeline Wheeler, one of the oldest residents of Cortland county, passed away Saturday morning at her home, 15 Groton-ave. She had been in good health till about two months ago when she began gradually to fail and had several slight shocks [strokes].

   Mrs. Wheeler was born in Solon, this county, Jan. 17, 1813, and she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Withey who lived on Mount Roderick. On Sept. 11, 1834, she was married to Elijah Wheeler who died Jan. 7, 1875. One son was born to them, Charles Leroy Wheeler, who died in February, 1902.

   Mrs. Wheeler had lived in Cortland forty-six years, and all of her life was spent in the county. She is survived by two grandchildren, Charles R. Wheeler of Schuylerville, Saratoga Co., and Miss Burham. For over twenty-seven years Mrs. Wheeler had been a member of the First Baptist church of this city.

 

CORTLAND HOSPITAL, SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH, AND ONE MORE EDITORIAL

 

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 5, 1903.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The Cortland Hospital.

   A year ago the board of managers of the Cortland hospital stood face to face with the proposition to close the doors of that institution, and the matter was seriously considered. They felt that this must be done unless they could find some way to raise the money necessary to pay running expenses, for they would not consider for a moment the thought of incurring debts without having some definite idea in advance of where the money was coming from to pay them. And it is constantly true that the expenses exceed the income. It could not be otherwise without a large endowment, which this hospital does not have. A vigorous protest was made in many quarters at that time against the thought of closing up. It was believed that a city of this size could not do without a hospital and aid was offered to keep it open. The managers stated that they would need $1,000 above their income to meet expenses, and they set out to raise that sum. All pledges were made contingent upon the raising of the whole amount. The ladies were met courteously and cordially, and the pledges were given cheerfully and willingly, and the sum was raised. The hospital was able to continue in its work.

   During the year some friends in New York, former residents of the county, made the hospital a handsome present, but this was devoted to needed repairs, none of it going to pay running expenses.

   The Hospital association stands today just where it stood a year ago. It must raise a certain sum of money to supplement its other income, or it must close its doors. The city last year demonstrated the fact that it was not willing to have the institution closed and the ladies believe that it will take the same position again.

   It is to be remembered that the city charter permits no money to be raised by taxation for hospital support, and the board of supervisors does not see its way clear to make an appropriation even for the care of county patients, though the supervisors personally and individually are glad to assist. There is no way this money can be raised except by personal pledges and personal payments.

   This year the ladies ask for $1,200. The cost of many items needed in sustaining the institution has advanced, and the extra $200 is required to keep the hospital up to the plane of last year. Besides, the work of the hospital has increased very materially during the past year. There is more work for the nurses to do inside the hospital and less opportunity to let them go out for nursing in the city. When nurses in training go out a certain share of their wages goes to the hospital and with a lessening in the opportunity to send out nurses there is a lessening of the hospital’s income. For this reason also a larger sum is required this year. The ladies are soon to make a canvass of the city to ask for pledges. They hope that they will meet with the same cordial response with which they were greeted last year. It should be remembered that this is not a personal matter with them, but that they are working for a cause and for a purpose. Soliciting is at best a disagreeable task, but under certain conditions it can be made doubly so, while on the other hand, under certain other conditions half its disagreeable features can be eliminated.

   The situation is plain. Every one can see it for himself. Every one can make up his mind in advance just what he can afford to give and the response to the ladies can be prompt, and a long series of explanations can be avoided. Time can be saved both for the solicitors and the ones solicited from. The cause is a worthy one and the excellent manner in which the hospital has been conducted in the past is a sufficient guaranty for its future. It is surely to be hoped that the result may be as satisfactory as it was last year.

 

Jackson W. Giles.

Suffrage in the South.

   The decision of the United States supreme court in the Alabama suffrage case causes widespread surprise. One Jackson W. Giles, in behalf of himself and 5,000 other colored men, attacked the provision of the new constitution of that state which denies him the suffrage privilege. He appealed to the United States circuit court, which denied having jurisdiction. The supreme court sustains that decision. The majority says the wrongs complained of were political, to remedy which by an equity judgment is not proper. Besides, the petitioner seeks recognition under a voting system which he attacks as fraudulent and in violation of the constitution of the United States. In the position in which this leaves him Jackson may well ask: “What can the poor colored man do?” Justice Brown, Brewer and Harlan dissent, the first two on the score that as members of congress were to be chosen at the election pending, the United States courts had jurisdiction. Justice Harlan said the decision left the “question in the air,” which seems a correct statement. The court probably does not want to pass on the direct question of the constitutionality of the negro-disfranchising constitutions of southern states. But surely there must be a way of bringing that question to the test. The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments are parts of the organic law, and the highest court is the reliance of the nation for their interpretation.

 

Andrew Carnegie.

J. P. Morgan.

   ◘ J. Pierpont Morgan and Andrew Carnegie have sailed for Europe on the same vessel. This puts Europe in a painful quandary, whether to hang up her stocking for Mr. Carnegie or lock up everything from the sight of Mr. Morgan.—Buffalo Express.

 

WAR REMINISCENCES: CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

Captain William Saxton.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 5, 1903.

WAR REMINESCENCES

By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.

THE BATTLE OF THE CHIMNEYS.

Divisions of the Army into Corps—Corps Insignia—Celebrated German Officers—Thanksgiving in the Old Dominion State—In the Virginia Mud—Wintry Weather—The One Schoolhouse of Virginia—Helping Out a Wagon Train—Hard Marching.

CHAPTER 16.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—We were the outpost pickets, no one being between us and the enemy. The sentinels were specially instructed to be extremely watchful and alert and to fire upon any one approaching from the front without waiting to challenge.

   The night was very dark and misty. About 10 p. m. after the reserves had quietly settled down, a solitary shot was heard on the extreme right of the line. This was quickly followed by others, and soon the whole line was popping away at a lively rate.

   Lieutenant Coffin roused the reserves and rushed them forward to strengthen the pickets, and quite an event seemed about to take place.

The Battle of the Chimneys.

   The regiments in camp hearing the picket firing, sounded the “long roll,” got their men in line, and an aide came dashing down to learn the nature of the attack. Gradually the firing slackened and soon ceased altogether. After a time the reserves were marched back to their station, the regiments dismissed their men and we were not disturbed during the night.

   When daylight came we found that the picket line had been established near an old Confederate winter camp, whose log shanties had been burned, leaving their chimneys standing.

   The pickets, after having been left alone on their posts, saw these chimneys come dimly into view out of the murky night. Their imaginations having been heightened by the instructions in regard to firing without challenge, the longer they looked the more sure they were that this was a line of rebel skirmishers advancing to attack us. They could see them move. One would bob up here, another there, until their impressions amounted to certainties, hence the firing.

   Such illusions are not infrequent to any one. Who has not in the dusk of evening, or in the day time, been thus deceived? While in the mountains or on the prairies, my attention has often been attracted to a bush or weed being swayed by the wind, and as I have been almost positive it was a deer’s head or a grouse; and the longer I stared the more sure I became, and nothing but advancing and coming near the object would dispel the illusion.

   We always spoke of this as our first battle, “The Battle of the Chimneys.” You will not find it in the histories, and we did not have it inscribed on our battle flag.

The Army Corps.

   All the infantry of the different armies was divided into corps by 1863. First and last there were twenty-five.

   In 1863 the cavalry was organized into corps and thenceforward became one of the most useful branches of the service. Prior to that, each infantry corps was accompanied by a brigade of cavalry. Batteries of light artillery were attached to the infantry corps, and the Army of the Potomac had a “Reserve Corps of Artillery” commanded by Gen. Henry J. Hunt.

   The corps generally had three divisions, each division consisting of three brigades of five regiments each. The corps thus contained forty-five regiments, to which was attached about nine of batteries artillery.

   This was the general plan; but in temporary exigencies this plan was not strictly adhered to, some corps having four divisions, some brigades having four, six or even nine regiments.

The Corps Insignia.

   Each of these corps had a badge which came into use later. The corps badge was stamped out of flannel cloth, an inch and a half across, and was red, white and blue in color. The first division wore the red, the second the white, and the third the blue. The government also issued brass cap letters and figures. These badges, letters and figures were worn on the front of the caps of the men. When you meet a soldier about the first thing you would notice would be his cap and you would see, for example, a blue crescent badge, the letter C and the figures 157 and you would know he belonged to the eleventh corps, third division, one hundred and fifty-seventh regiment, Company C. You would have that soldier pretty well located except his name. This was a great preventive of straggling, and assistance in finding your regiment when separated from it. The first corps badge was a disc or full moon, the boys called it; the second’s the trefoil or ace of clubs; the third the diamond; the fourth the triangle; the fifth the Maltese cross; the sixth the Greek cross; the eleventh the crescent, or half moon; the twelfth the star; the fourteenth the acorn.

An Unwise Grouping.

   In the fore part of the war the experiment was tried of grouping nationalities together somewhat like the “Irish Brigade,” the “German Corps,” etc. It was not the wisest thing to do, any more than it would have been to have grouped the regiments of the different states into corps by themselves. We learned that we belonged to the eleventh corps, the “Dutch Corps,” third division, first brigade. There were:

   Dutch [Deutsch] to the right of us,

   Dutch to the left of us,

   Dutchmen in front of us

   Jabbered and sung.

   We often heard around the campfires this inspiring song:

   “O de Duytch com-pa-nee ish de best com-pa-nee

   Vat effer come ofer from old Shar-ma-nee.”

Famous German Commanders.

   The eleventh corps was commanded by Major General Franz Siegel, who was born in Germany in 1824. In the revolution of 1849 he became commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, but was overpowered by the Austrians and Prussians and fled to this country. He was considered the best artillerist in Germany. The third division was commanded by Major General Carl Schurz, a German born in 1829. He was also in the revolution and “emigrated” to this country. Since the war he has been an active politician. The first brigade was commandeered by Brigadier General A. Von Schimmelphennig, who came to this country under circumstances similar to those of Siegel and Schurz. Almost all the general officers of the eleventh corps were Germans who had had experience in the German army.

   Nov. 19, 1862.—Rained. Were relieved at night from picket and when I arrived in camp was so worn out I lay down to sleep on the wet ground without supper.

   Nov. 20.—Still it rains. Found some pieces of old rough boards which I placed on the ground to keep me out of the mud.

   Nov. 21.—More rain. Strobeck and I went to an old deserted rebel shanty, built a fire and got warm.

   Nov. 22.—Sergeants Bourne and Isabel and myself borrowed a camp kettle and went to the old shanty, heated some water, washed our clothes and dried them by the camp fire at night.

   Nov. 23.—Sunday.

   Nov. 24.—Drilled.

   Nov. 25.—Nearly all the lieutenants in the regiment were placed under arrest for not attending drill.

   Nov. 26.—Rained.

Pickles for Thanksgiving.

   Nov. 27.—Thanksgiving day. Sergeant Bourne had some pickles come from home and we had Thanksgiving supper.

   Nov. 28.—Drilled.

   Nov. 29.—Company practiced target shooting. Buel Rorapaugh made the best shots.

   Nov. 30, Sunday.—I with ten men was detailed on cattle guard at brigade headquarters. Found the cattle had all been slaughtered and had nothing to do.

   Dec. 1.—At 11 a. m. we were sent two miles beyond Fairfax courthouse for more cattle, got back and delivered them at dusk, having walked sixteen miles,  saying nothing of side trips chasing the unruly animals. Blistered my feet pretty badly.

   Dec. 2.—Captain Smith of Company A having resigned, the captains are advanced one point. Company B now takes the right and Company C the left. We are now second in order of rank.

   Dec. 3.—Drilled and fixed tents.

   Dec. 4.—The regiment went to Chantilly. We took nothing to eat and got back after dark very tired and hungry.

   Dec. 5.—Snowed hard all the afternoon.

A Wintry Experience.

   Dec. 6.—This is regular northern winter weather, ground all covered with snow and wind blowing hard. How would you like to live on a windswept plateau, without fire, with three others in a thin canvas tent 6 feet long, 3 feet high at the ridge, the sides sloping to the ground, some rough uneven pieces of board to keep you off the frozen ground?

   Dec. 7, Sunday.—Company C went on picket three miles from camp. Now we do not have even a pup tent to shelter us. The reserves sit by the fire in the slush caused by the melting snow, freezing one side and thawing the other. The pickets on post have no fires at all, and I tell the old gun gets pretty cold to handle with no mittens or gloves on the hands.

   Dec. 8.—Relieved from picket at noon.

   Dec. 9.—General inspection which lasted till 2 p. m. Received marching orders at night.

In Virginia Mud.

   Dec. 10.—Left Centreville at 7 a. m. Marched southeast with no knowledge of where we were going. Camped at night at Sangster’s Station on the Orange & Alexandria railroad. The snow began to melt, which made terrible marching. Virginia mud is the next thing to liquid glue. It clings to our shoes till they are twice the size and weight they ought to be. Our shoes are now given the name “mud pontoons.”

   Dec. 11.—My knapsack straps hurt my lungs pretty badly today. We crossed the Ocoquan at noon at Wolf Run Shoals, and stopped for dinner in some woods.

Bucked and Gagged.

   Here for the first time we saw a soldier “bucked and gagged.” For some offence Captain Charlier thus punished one of his men. The soldier is seated on the ground, his wrists tied together; then his arms are drawn down over his knees, which are bent sharply up toward his chin and a gun thrust over his arms and under his knees. This is “bucking.” His mouth is opened, a bayonet placed in it crosswise and tied at the back of his head. This is ‘gagged.” A soldier thus treated could not speak nor hardly move. He might fall over on his back or side, but he would be in a worse position than before. It is a brutal treatment and one seldom resorted to. The mean never forgot nor forgave this of Captain Charlier. The captain was a foreigner and had been appointed to our regiment in place of one of our captains who had resigned.

   We had orders to clean up for inspection at three. Instead of inspection we marched on in the mud headed for Fredericksburg.

A Solitary School House.

   Dec. 12.—Marched at 7 a. m. The mud is frozen on top, through which we break at every step, which makes it awful walking. Seems as though each foot weighed ten pounds. Oh!  such toil and weariness, We camp near Dumfries. A detachment of General Stuart’s rebel cavalry had been there in the morning. I saw what I took to be a school house today—the only one I ever remember of seeing in Virginia.

   What primitive farming implements we have seen today! We saw a plow whose handles stuck back six feet. We saw no modern machinery. They are fifty years behind the times. We have seen only a few log houses today and no inhabitants.

Helping Out a Wagon Train.

   Dec. 13.—Up at daylight. We expected to continue our march. Instead, we are ordered to stack arms, pile knapsacks and accoutrements, put a guard over them and march back over the road we came. We did not know why we were marching back; a soldier is not supposed to know anything, but to obey orders. After going three or four miles our curiosity as to our backward movement is satisfied. We find our wagon train stalled in the mud, the mules completely fagged out and unable to go any farther. We are ordered in, twenty or thirty to a team, and by prying up, grabbing the spokes, putting our shoulders to the wheels, pushing and pulling, help them out, and literally drag that wagon train into camp. What a “looking” set of United States soldiers we are! Mud all over us from head to foot and completely played out.

   We hear cannonading in the direction of Fredericksburg. This is the day the battle of Fredericksburg was fought.

   Dec. 11, Sunday.—We marched before daylight, leaving Ebenezer Cole, (my wife’s half brother), Henry A. Smith and several others behind sick. Twenty-five men of Company C are also left to help with teams. We passed through Dumfries. It rained nearly all day. Camped at night in the mud.

On an Empty Stomach.

   Dec. 15.—Resumed our march at daylight. Our rations have run out, and the wagons are not up, so we can get no more; but we cannot wait and plod along in the mud on an empty stomach. Passed by Stafford courthouse. Stopped at Brooks Station on the Richmond & Fredericksburg railroad. Here we get two days’ rations of hardtack. Arrived on the north bank of the Rappahannock river a little above Fredericksburg at dark and lay down upon the wet ground with our pieces of tent over us, too exhausted and worn out to put up tents. Rained during the night. In the morning when I awoke I found I had been lying in a pool of water. During the night our army withdrew to the north of the river.

   W. S.