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Main Street, Cortland, N. Y., circa 1900.

April 5, 2026.

The Cortland Contrarian has been truly an international blog for a number of years. With the help of Google Search we are visible worldwide. Our statistics, excluding spam, show more than one thousand hits daily. We are proud of our success. Our readership includes, besides the United States, such countries as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, England, Germany, India, Russia, China, Singapore, France and others. Cortland is only a small dot on a global map but it seems to be recognized worldwide. The study of old newspaper articles, we believe, is interesting, instructive and fun. It is especially true when it contains international news as well as local and regional news. We thank our readers for their interest in our work.

Jeff Paine.

 

SCIENCE CLUB'S MUSEUM AND D. A. R. MEMORIAL CASE

 

Franklin Hatch library building, Court Street, Cortland, N. Y.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, April 28, 1903.

THE SCIENCE CLUB’S MUSEUM

And the D. A. R. Historical Case—Some of The Contents.

   Comparatively few people in Cortland realize the excellency of the new museum in the Franklin Hatch library, founded by the Cortland Science club. No small addition was made Wednesday evening when the collection of relics and souvenirs collected by the Tioughnioga chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was opened to the public.

D. A. R. Historical Case.

   Some of the principal relics in the case are the silk flag presented by the ladies of Cortland to Co. H, Twenty-eighth Regt. N. Y. Volunteers, and carried by them through the civil war. On the flag appears the names of the battles participated in by the regiment. The flag was loaned to the museum by George W. Edgcomb, the custodian. The sword and part of the uniform of Nathaniel Bouton is loaned by Mrs. Purvis. A fragment of a shell from Fort Ticonderoga is donated by Miss Hatheway. A fragment of rock from Fort Ticonderoga, one from Fort Putnam, piece of Plymouth rock, Lendrum’s History of the American Revolution, loaned by Mrs. G. H. Smith. Continental paper money loaned by Mrs. F. Daehler. Pennsylvania Colonial currency issued in 1773 donated by Miss Hatheway. Piece of Fort Sumter flag staff, books, including Life of George Washington and Life of Zachary Taylor published in 1856 and 1847 respectively, loaned by Mrs. George H. Smith. Plates with historic designs loaned by Mrs. J. L. Watrous. Revolutionary pension paper donated by Mrs. C. F. Thompson. Brick from Penn house dated 1687, loaned by Miss Mary Hubbard. Section of oak cut from ship Congress which was one of the fleet on Lake Champlain commanded by Benedict Arnold, sunk in 1776 and raised eighty years later, loaned by Mrs. Hyatt. Souvenirs of the campaign of 1840 (log cabin campaign) presented by N. H. Gillette. Old and historic papers loaned by Franklin Hatch association and some donated to the D. A. R. by Johnson G. Bingham of Solon, as well as many other valuable relics.

Indian Relics.

   In addition to the historic collection the museum contains a splendid collection of Indian arrow and spearheads loaned by Rev. U. S. Milburn; a number of ceremonial stones, tubes, pestles for grinding corn, hammers, fleshers, scrapers, perforators, etc., of [North American] Indian manufacture. Many of these were found near the farm of O. U. Kellogg in Cortland. There is also a good collection of minerals donated by Prof. W. M. Booth, L. D. Hopkins, Dr. F. W. Higgins, F. E. Whitmore and the United States museum. Among these may be found hermatite magnetite iron and copper pyrites, silver bearing and carnelian quartz crystals, limestone, marble, sulphur, gneiss, baride hornblende, jasper conglomerate, peacock coal, petrified wood, etc.

Collection of Birds’ Eggs.

   The collection of birds’ eggs loaned by Benj. A. Nichols is one of the more interesting collections in the museum. It includes over 160 varieties of birds’ eggs, among which may be mentioned those of the house wren, western gnat catcher, Arkansas goldfinch, ruby throated humming bird, nut hatch, teal, high warbler, catbird, horned lark, California jay, flicker, bob white, California partridge, least bittern, rose breasted gross beak, hermit thrush, fox sparrow, wood pewee, indigo bunting, painted bunting, shrike tern, rail, scarlet tananger, night hawk, plover, snowy herron, thrasher, owls, magpie, gull, osprey, flamingo, pelican, wild turkey and many others. There is also a cast of the egg of the great [Auk].

   An egg is worth $2,000. No doubt the most valuable collection is the Watts-Haight collection of birds all of which are excellently mounted and placed in handsome and substantial cases. The collection includes the indigo bird, wood, tawny, New York aquatic, hermit, migrating and golden crowned thrushes, shore lark, swallows, cat bird, red headed, hairy, red bellied, and pileated wood pecker, wren, white-winged, pine, and common grass bill, mealey red poll, wood Pewee, shore lark, teal, nut hatch, butcher bird, titmouse, quail, grouse, partridge, South American crane, China bird, blue jay, Jew bird, East Indian pigeon, ale wife, grebe, great American diver, plover, sand piper, various species of hawks, etc. The collection also contains a number of stuffed and mounted animals among which may be mentioned the lynx, raccoon, wild cat, otter, bland and flying squirrels, ichneumon, guinea pigs, northern hares, etc.

   There is also on exhibition a piece of the tusk, pieces of the short ribs and a knee cap of a mastodon. The museum is well worth a careful examination and the Science club is to be congratulated on the splendid collection it has procured.    

 

 

CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE, NEASCOLETA LODGE NO. 300, AND SAUTELLE CIRCUS

 

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, April 28, 1903.

“CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE”

Is the Verdict of the Coroner Concerning Mosier's Death.

   Coroner E. M. Santee today rendered the following verdict in regard to the death of Orren G. Mosier, lately a resident of Cortland:

   State of New York, County of Cortland,

   In the matter of the death of Orren Mosier.

   Inquisition taken at the city of Cortland, county of Cortland, and state of New York on the 27th day of February, 1903, and the 8th, 9th and 23rd days of April, 1903, before Ellis M. Santee, one of the coroners of said county, upon views of the body of Orren G. Mosier, then and there lying dead, to inquire into all the circumstances attending the death of the said Orren G. Mosier, and by whom the same was produced, and in what manner, and when and where the said Orren G. Mosier came to his death.

   This coroner finds that the said Orren G. Mosier came to his death upon the 25th day of February, 1903, at the city of Cortland, N. Y., as a result of injuries received on the 31st day of January, 1903, by being run down in the streets of Cortland by a horse and cutter owned by Edward Tobin, driven by Fred Holl, who was accompanied by John D. Tobin and Thomas Carr.

   That the said Fred Holl, John D. Tobin and Thomas Carr at the time of running over the said Orren G. Mosier were in a state of intoxication.

   That the act of Fred Holl, John D. Tobin and Thomas Carr in driving in such a reckless manner was culpable negligence.

   In witness whereof the said coroner has hereto affixed his hand and seal this 23rd day of April, 1903.

   Ellis M. Santee, Coroner.

 

NEASCOLETA LODGE, NO. 300.

Daughters of Rebekah Instituted—List of Charter Members.

   Neascoleta lodge, No. 300, Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted in Vesta lodge rooms Friday afternoon by Mrs. Alida A. Ogden, D. D. P., assisted by Mrs. Elsie Van Vost, P. D. D. P. as G. M., Mrs. Esther H. Rogers, P. D. D. P. as G. W., Mrs. Tryphena Chapin, P. D. D. P. as G. S., Mrs. Annie McAlpine, P. N. G. as G. T., and Mrs. Marion Mack as G. I. G. The following officers were installed:

   N. G.—Mrs. Cotilda Borden.

   V. G.—Mrs. Carrie E. Loomis.

   Rec. S.—Mrs. Zada Williamson.

   F. S.—Mrs. Bertha Hicks.

   Treas.—Mrs. Sarah Sandwick.

   The meeting nights of the new lodge will be the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Charter Members.

   The following is the list of charter members of the new lodge: Mrs. Clotilde Bordon, Mrs. Carrie Loomis, Mrs. Harriet Gooding, Mrs Bertha Hicks, Mrs. Georgiana Baker, Mrs. Ethel M. Johnson, Elson Leroy Boyce, Mrs. Dora Boyce, Hannah E. Sly, Mrs Agnes Luther, Elton L. Loomis, Mrs. Nellie Butterfield, Edward C. Butterfield, Mrs Emma Baker, Mrs. Ida Long, Mrs. Zada Williamson, Mrs. Emma Lester, Mrs. Adelaide Withey, S. D. DuBois, Mrs. Kit DuBois, Mrs. Ida Bennett, George Borden, Mrs. Sarah Sandwick, W. C. Baker, W. E. Beldin, Mrfs Rose Belden.

Visitors from Marathon.

   The following visitors from Marathon where present at the meeting this afternoon:

   D. D. P.—Mrs. Alida Ogden.

   N. G.—Mrs. Phoebe Myers.

   V. G.—Mrs. Florence Allen.

   Sec.—Mrs. Bessie Valentine.

   F. Sec.—Miss Grace Underwood.

   Treas.—Mrs. Bertha Lusk.

   R. S. N. G.—Mrs. Miriam Mack.

   L. S. N. G.—Mrs. Lillie McDonald.

   R. S. V. G.—Mrs. Vinnie Chaplain.

   L. S. V. G.—Mrs. Ella Boyden.

   R. A. S.—Mrs. Martha Sherwood.

   L. A. S.—Mrs. Mary Smith.

   L. C.—Mrs. Lucena Allen.

   O. G.—Benj. Chaplin.

   Chaplain—Mrs. Allie Potts.

   P. G.—Mrs. Elsie Van Vost.

 

Ladies’ Literary Club.

   The Ladies’ Literary club met with Mrs. Sornberger, 34 North Church-st., April 22. A reservation had been made in the program for Miss Hendrick, who gave a delightful and highly instructive talk on her oriental [Mediterranean] trip. All present expressed an urgent wish that Miss Henrick be given the second afternoon—the subject to be continued. The next meeting will be with Mrs. H. C. Johnson, Prospect-st., May 6.

 

MARTIN & CALL.

William Martin Purchases an Interest in Coal Business.

   William Martin has purchased an interest in the coal business of D. E. Call. The new firm has commenced business under the old firm name of Martin & Call. Mr. Martin was formerly associated with Mr. Call in the same business but sold out his interest to Mr. Call several years ago, since which time Mr. Call has conducted the business alone.

 

Circus owner Sig. Sautelle.

Sig. Sautelle circus in street parade before show.

SAUTELLE CIRCUS MAY 1.

Second Ring This Year—A Host of Great Attractions.

   Flaming posters now proclaim the fact that Sig. Sautelle’s new big 26-car railroad circus, menagerie, royal Roman hippodrome and historical wild west will exhibit at Athletic field in Cortland Friday afternoon and evening, May 1. Already the small boy and his older brother are happy in anticipating the coming of this vast tented amusement enterprise, with all its mighty wonders.

   This season Mr. Sautelle has enlarged his shows in every department and his greatly augmented list of performers and feature acts has made it necessary that he adds a second ring. Overcapping both rings is a veritable maze of trapezes, ropes, and bars, while on the ground and in the air a hundred or more women and dumb animals are employed in rendering a performance which taxes the best skill and utmost strength and the very lives of all.

   The clowns, to be sure, are funnier than ever, but the animals which dance and turn and respond to the slightest whisper of command; the men and women trained by life practice to place themselves into inhuman knots or swing through space with outstretched hands; the post graduates of the universal college of equestrianism, both male and female, the elephants, tigers, lions and other wild animals are each and all worth going miles to witness. And when all these things are under one management—well, it is the circus of Cortland’s famous showman Sig. Sautelle. That is absolutely certain. From the opening of the program extraordinary, peerless, equestrian acts, aerobatic feats, clownish gambols, races around the arena and all the rest follow with the precision and skilled execution one is accustomed to see in Sig. Sautelle’s circus.

   The $100,000 menagerie is filled with rare and costly specimens of animal life from all quarters of the globe, and a visit to it will prove to more value by far than a tour to many of the best known zoological gardens in this country or Europe.

 

A WILD WOMAN

Who Lacks a Nose is Terrifying Children on Long Island.

   Eastport, N. Y., April 25—A wild woman, who has appeared in the woods about Good Ground, is being eagerly sought for by parties of men. Women and children are alarmed at her presence and seldom venture out now. The woman is described as stubby, short haired and noseless. Children gathering May pinks or wintergreen berries have been chased by the woman, who on failing to capture them, savagely scratched the ground.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Mayor Osborne of Auburn has given the lady board of managers of the Auburn hospital $5,000 to make up the deficiency in paying for certain repairs that they have been making upon the city hospital.

   —The Main-st. Baptist church of Binghamton has taken initiatory steps toward the building of a new church edifice.

   —Judge G. A. Forbes is the chairman of a citizens’ committee at Canasota to raise $15,000 for a new Y. M. C. A.

 

A FORTUNATE ACCIDENT, NEW WINTON AUTOMOBILE, AND IMMIGRATION FROM JAPAN

 

William J. Greenman.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, April 28, 1903.

A FORTUNATE ACCIDENT.

W. J. Greenman’s Locomobile Wrecked, But No One Hurt.

   W. J. Greenman’s locomobile, manufactured by the Locomobile Co. of America, has been one of the finest machines of that description in the city. Wednesday night, accompanied by his son, he was giving two friends, S. Smith and A. L. Rosa, a ride.

   It was 9:30 when they were near the Bean place on the McGraw road and running about eight miles an hour. The machine struck a little obstruction in the road and the forward axle snapped and the forward end dropped in the road. Mr. Greenman was thrown fully 20 feet over the dash and landed on his hands and knees in the road. The others went a lesser distance, but no one received any injuries to speak of.

   The fall of the machine broke off the pipe leading from the gasoline tank which contained thirteen gallons of the explosive fluid. This instantly took fire, but owing to the tremendous air pressure on the tank the gasoline was blown out through the aperture before the fire could even find its way back into the tank. As a result there was no explosion, but everything about the machine was at once on fire. So quickly did the fire begin that it even ignited Mr. Greenman’s ulster as he was thrown from the machine and when he regained his feet the whole back side of it was on fire. He lost no time in stripping off the coat.

   As soon as the fire had burned itself out Mr. Bean was engaged to bring the wreck up to Cortland on a lumber wagon and the four men came on a street car. The wreck of the machine looks complete, but it will fall far short of that, for except the body which was of wood and was completely destroyed the rest of the machine is practically uninjured, though it will need to be newly enameled and re-nickled. The rear tire will also need to be replaced.

   An examination of the broken axle discloses an old flaw which extended a third of the way through the steel. How long this had been there is of course unknown.

   Mr. Greenman is exceedingly gratified that no one was hurt in the accident. He has already begun arrangements for having the machine rebuilt and re-equipped and it will not be long before it will again be on the streets.

 

A NEW WINTON AUTOMOBILE.

Purchased by W. J .Greenman and Brought from Syracuse.

   A trifling incident such as the accident to his automobile which occurred on Wednesday night and was described in these columns on Thursday is powerless to phease [faze] a veteran chauffeur like W. J. Greenman even for a minute. After viewing the condition of his machine he was satisfied that it could again be put in a first class condition and perhaps at not a great expense, but it would take time, and time at this season of the year is a consideration. For a single day he fell back upon so common a thing as a bicycle, but the very idea of pushing pedals and moving at bicycle speed when one has been able to fairly glide through the air by a simple turn of a wrist, it was not to be thought of, even for the interval till the other machine could be rebuilt.

   So Friday Mr. Greenman went to Syracuse and purchased a new Winton touring car, than which it is said that not a better machine is constructed. Lester and George F. Cooper and Harold Gillette, all automobile experts, were with Mr. Greenman in Syracuse Friday, and all came home together in the machine that night, leaving the city after 9 o’clock. No attempt at speed was made as the owner wished first to become well acquainted with the new machine, and also because it was dark and the roads rather rough, but Mr. Greenman does not believe he will have to take dust from any machine in this vicinity. The engines are particularly powerful. It is said the machine will be able to go with ease anywhere a man can walk or climb. With the four passengers, none of whom are feather weights, the automobile came up Christian Hollow hill that night at a twenty mile an hour clip. To those who know the hill that means a good deal. It has been out on the streets since and it is a beauty and has aroused the admiration of all who have seen it.

 

Hatch Library Building, Court Street, Cortland, N. Y.

DR. W. M. BEAUCHAMP

Speaks at the Opening of the D. A. R. Historical Case.

   The new historical case of the Tioughnioga chapter of the D. A. R. in the Cortland Science club’s museum was formally opened Wednesday night at the Hatch library. The two organizations held a reception at which as many guests were present as could be conveniently accommodated in the library building. The rooms were tastefully and appropriately trimmed with flags.

   At 8:30 o’clock the president of the Science club, A. J. Murray, in graceful words introduced Rev. W. M. Beauchamp of Syracuse who is an authority upon the Indians of the United States and who spoke for an hour in a most interesting way upon the early Indians who had inhabited this county and who used to pass through it. Dr. Beauchamp said that this matter had never been published. He might have added that this was probably on account of the unspeakable and unspellable names of the different tribes which, however, slipped from his tongue without the slightest difficulty. Most of the lecture was devoted to the period of 300 years ago or more. But it appears that the first white man who ever set foot within the limits of Cortland county was probably Stephen [Etiene] Brule in about 1620 as he was leading a war party of 500 Indians to aid Champlain in an assault upon an Indian fort in Madison county. It was an interesting fact to know that for 150 years the capital of all the Indian tribes of the United States was in Onondaga Valley and all official action was taken there [sic].

   After the lecture as well as before it much interest was manifested in examining the cases of the museum upon the second floor, and a conspicuous one among these was of course the D. A. R. case which had been arranged by Mrs. G. H. Smith. A list of articles in this case is at hand but its publication will have to be deferred till tomorrow.

   The reception was a very pleasant one, the members of the D. A. R. serving light refreshments after the lecture. The general chairman of the evening was Mrs. S. W. Sherwood; committee on decorations, Rev. Robert Clements; committee on program, H. L. Smith, committee on D. A. R. case, Mrs. G. H. Smith.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Immigration From Japan.

   The Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance of the United States just issued from Washington shows that the rate of increase in Japanese immigration to this country has been greater than that of any other nationality and that their total number now surpasses the immigration from England and almost approaches that from Ireland. The figures are for the eight months of the statistical year ending in February.

   In those months Japan sent us 13,853 people as against 7,151 in the corresponding months of the preceding year, a gain of almost 100 per cent. In the whole of the fiscal year 1901-02 the Japanese immigration was only 14,270, while the year before the Japanese immigrants numbered only 5,269.

   While the 13,853 immigrants were coming from Japan 11,916 came from England, 15,221 from Ireland, 19,603 from Germany and 21,116 from Sweden. The immigration from Italy, Austro-Hungary and Russia was 267,745 in this period, and the entire immigration into the United States was 402,759.

   These figures are significant and show the changing character of immigration into the United States, which is most marked by the great preponderance hitherto attained by the Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian nationalities.

   ◘ Dreyfus demands of the French minister of war an inquiry in regard to the document in which, it is alleged, the Emperor William in a marginal note declared that the Jewish captain had supplied documents to Germany. In a letter he earnestly asks for a reopening of his case by the minister, as the supreme head of military justice. Certain officers high in the French army will doubtless fight against a reopening of the case, but eventually the truth must be established and a much wronged man be fully vindicated.