IN SAN FRANCISCO, FAMINE IN SOUTH CHINA, PRESIDENTS AND THE SABBATH, STORY OF A SWORD, WILLIAM DILLON, AND NOT STRUCK BY AN AUTOMOBILE

 

President Theodore Roosevelt.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, May 13, 1903.

IN SAN FRANCISCO.

President Roosevelt Had an Enthusiastic Reception.

   San Francisco, May 13.—Heartier greeting was never given a president of the United States than that offered by the city of San Francisco to Theodore  Roosevelt. Through miles and miles of densely packed, cheering, patriotically enthused humanity, the nation's chief passed, bowing his acknowledgment, evidently wearied by maintaining an erect position in his carriage, but buoyed up by the impressiveness of the demonstration.

   The presidential train, drawn by a handsomely decorated locomotive, arrived promptly on time. A large gathering of federal, state and city officials, army and navy officers, (foreign consuls and distinguished citizens was in waiting to welcome the chief magistrate.

   Mayor Schmitz stepped aboard the rear car and formally greeted Mr. Roosevelt, the president making a brief response. M. H. De Young, president of the citizens' reception committee, then shook hands with the president and made a short welcoming speech.

   Mr. Roosevelt expressed his thanks in a few words and was then introduced to Admiral Bickford of the British Pacific squadron, who conveyed the good wishes of King Edward and said that the arrival of the flagship of the squadron to assist in the greeting was another instance of the cordial relations existing between the two countries. President Roosevelt said he appreciated the evidence of friendship and begged that his good wishes be given to his majesty.

   In the parade and following the president came United States troops, sailors and marines, state militia and a number of semi-military organizations. A notable feature was the fancy marching of the Cleveland Grays, who came from Ohio to participate in the California greeting.

   After reviewing the parade, the president was escorted to the Y. M. C. A. building, where a throng had assembled to participate in the burning of mortgages and notes representing the total indebtedness of $115,280 upon the property.

   The president, by request, touched a lighted match to the documents, and as the flames licked up the papers he joined with the assemblage in singing "Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow."

   The president referred at some length to the work of the Y. M. C. A. and discussed the qualities of good citizenship which, he said, the association fosters.

   The president was banqueted at night at the Palace hotel by the citizens' committee.

 

FAMINE IN SOUTH CHINA.

Rebel Leaders and Assistants Captured and Beheaded.

   Victoria, B. C., May 13.—According to mail advices received from South China, hundreds are dying in Kwang [Guangdong] province as a result of the famine there. Correspondents writing from several sections say the destitution, suffering and death is appalling.

   Whole families are subsisting on a few ounces of rice a day or on roots and leaves. Missionaries are aiding thousands daily.

   The famine is causing the rebellion in that province to grow, for the poor are being driven to violence to obtain food. Women and children are being sold by the famine stricken people.

   A Wu Chow correspondent gives details of the capture of one of the rebel leaders who went to Canton to buy arms and ammunition for the rebels.

   He dressed as a small military official, arrived in Canton and gave out that he was sent by the Chinese general, Sz Yunchn. He hired a stern wheel boat to take his arms to Na Nining and had the Chinese flag flying on it. He got safely up to Wu Chow where suspicion was aroused and a telegram was sent to Sz Yunchn. The fraud was thus detected. He and his boat were seized several miles above Wu Chow, where he and his assistants were tortured and beheaded.

 

TO SEND EX-CONVICTS HERE.

Plan of Berlin Society for Improvement of Discharged Criminals.

   Berlin, May 13.—The Society for the Improvements of Discharged Criminals of Berlin has declared its intention of aiding such of its charges who, after six months' trial have proved worthy to emigrate to North or South America. Before leaving each one will receive instructions in the language of the country to which he is destined, transportation to the seacoast, and $150.

   Herr Ballin, Director General of the Hamburg-American line, is a member of the society.

 

Guest Editorials.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Presidents and the Sabbath.

   During his entire tour of several weeks President Roosevelt has scrupulously shown his respect for the religious character of Sunday by refusing to participate in spectacles and reviews of any kind on that day. Last Sunday was spent by him at Hotel del Monte, only a short distance from Monterey where some United States troops are stationed. It had been arranged to have the president review the troops on that day, but he declined to do so. The day was spent partly at church and partly in riding and walking over the beautiful grounds and drives of that famous resort. It is to the credit of this nation that our presidents for many years have been men who have shown marked respect for the Sabbath. That is true of Roosevelt, as it was of McKinley, Harrison, Cleveland, Garfield, Hayes, Grant and Lincoln. So far as they have been concerned, the European or continental Sunday has received no encouragement. No man, says the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, should be chosen to the highest office in the Republic who does not respect, even if he does not personally have a share in, the religious sentiment of the nation. With rare exceptions our American presidents have been either directly connected with some church as members or regular attendants upon religious services. Though little is said about it in the public press or political campaigns, yet the great body of our people take account of a public man's attitude towards religion, and are not disposed to trust a man who is indifferent, much less one who is hostile to it.

 

STORY OF A SWORD

And the Connection of Comrade H. M. Kellogg With It.

RETURNED AFTER FORTY YEARS.

Worn by a Captain of the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, Who Fell in the Assault on Fort Wagner—His Sister Now Has It.

   The Grand Army Journal says: Comrade Harry M. Kellogg, of Grover Post, Cortland, N. Y., is in possession of a most interesting bunch of correspondence which came in response to his kindly and successful efforts to restore to the former owner or his surviving relatives a sword marked "C. J. R., 54th Mass.," and which had long been in the possession of the family of C. J. Puder, a son-in-law of Comrade Kellogg of Savannah, Ga.

   Comrade Kellogg and his wife went last December to Savannah to spend the winter there. Mr. Kellogg's first arrival in that city was on a dark night in 1864 when he marched into the city behind Sherman at the conclusion of the famous journey "From Atlanta to the Sea." A few years later his home was in that city and there he married.

   Comrade Kellogg, appreciating how highly someone might value the sword, wrote Dec. 23 to the adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and received in reply the information that the only officer of the Fifty-fourth Mass. Infantry to whom the initials could have belonged was Cabot Jackson Russel, a captain of Company H, who was killed in the assault on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, and further through an advertisement in the Boston papers came letters to Comrade Kellogg from Miss Lucy E. Russel, a sister, from Godfrey L. Cabot, and Charles Storrow, cousins of the dead officer, also from James B. Gardner, the secretary of the Forty-fourth Mass. association and from Louis F. Emilio of New York city, the historian of the Fifty-fourth Mass. The sword was received by Miss Russel at her home in Boston Jan. 10th last and was exhibited to Captain Russel's old comrades at a reunion of the Forty fourth Mass. Infantry, in which regiment he first served, held in Boston Jan. 20.

   The thread of the story is broken, in that no account is given as to how the sword came into the possession of the Puder family in Savannah, but even with this part missing it is still interesting.

   Cabot Jackson Russel was a student at Harvard university, Cambridge, Mass., when the war broke out. His parents resided in New York but his mother was a Boston woman. His father was William C. Russel, afterwards professor of history at Cornell university. The young man enlisted in Co. F, Forty-fourth Mass. Infantry, commanded by his second cousin, Captain Charles Storrow, now of 53 State-st., Boston. He was made a sergeant, and when request was made by Governor Andrew of the colonel of that regiment for recommendations of non-commissioned officers who should be commissioned officers to command the Fifty-fourth Mass. colored troops, Russel's name was among those given. He was commissioned as captain of Co. H. His close friend and companion, Sergeant William H. F. Simpkins, was also made a captain in the same regiment. At the battle of Fort Wagner where the colored troops won renown for their bravery the gallant Fifty-fourth Mass. lost heavily. Col. Shaw, in command, was killed. Captain Russel and Captain Simpkins were killed. Lieutenant Willard Howard, now of Baltimore, Md., is said to be the only officer who escaped that deadly assault unharmed. The bodies of Colonel Shaw and the officers who fell with him were buried with the dead of their command in the trenches. It is said that the victorious Confederates rifled the bodies of the dead officers of everything valuable, and while in a measure this may be counted one of the barbarities of warfare to this very fact the surviving friends of two at least of the brave officers who fell at Fort Wagner were indebted for the return to them of mementoes.

   The other incident may be briefly related. Captain Wm. H. Simpkins carried a Smith & Wesson revolver. At Fort Wagner it fell into the hands of a Confederate who in turn at some time surrendered it to a Union man. The Union soldier was relieved of it at Kennesaw by R. A. W. James of Dyersburg, Tenn., who kept it until after the close of hostilities and in October, 1875, from the inscription upon it he traced Simpkins' relatives and restored the revolver to them.

 

William A. Dillon.

WILLIAM A. DILLON

Returns to His Company After a Visit in Cortland.

   William A. Dillon, who has been spending a few days with his parents, left today for Oxford, where the company is rehearsing. Mr. Dillon has under his management three shows, "Buffalo Tragedy" (story of the Burdick mystery,) "Resurrection," dramatized from Tolstoy's novel, and "Duchess Du Barry," a play similar to Mrs. Leslie Carter's last season's success "Du Barry." He will tour the Adirondacks for the summer. Mr. Dillon has made no different arrangements for next season, but expects to be interested in a popular melo-drama. He has just added to his list of popular songs a new descriptive one entitled "Along the Great White Way." This song promises to be a great success and it has been advertised in the New York Telegraph for the past two years.

 

HOSPITAL NOTES.

Patients all Doing Well—The Appendicitis Patients Among Them.

   The condition of William Bergstron, who is suffering from a very severe attack of pneumonia, is still very critical. He is delirious and needs constant care. If any change is apparent today it is for the better.

   The condition of Lee Miller and Willard Gilbert, who were operated upon for appendicitis, is as well as can be expected. Harry Taintor, who is suffering from the same disease, while still in a critical condition, is also doing well.

   There are five other patients in the hospital some quite ill; others convalescing and the hospital staff is kept busy giving them the excellent care that is always given to patients.

 

NOT STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE.

Fell to Ground by Giving Out of Bicycle Wheel.

   A report bas been circulated upon the street that Harold Gillette struck a man with his automobile at Little York Monday night and injured him. The Standard investigated the report yesterday and found it untrue and the whole matter merely a man taking a header—such an ordinary occurrence as not to seem worth while mentioning, but since the story continues to circulate it is better to state all the facts.

   N. H. Gillette and son Harold went to Little York in their automobile, and stopped at the Raymond House. There they found Louis Winchell and Richard McNett who wanted to ride. Harold invited them to take a little turn with him while his father stayed at the hotel. They went over to the west road. Returning, they slowed up at the bridge to let a team pass. As they started forward again they met three men on wheels going west on the cinder path on the north side of the street. They were riding at a high rate of speed. Two men passed the automobile. The third was Henry Ferry. Harold says that he himself was running at a speed of not to exceed ten miles an hour and the wheelman was doing about the same. The wheelman evidently supposed the automobile was going to turn in at the Raymond House drive way which Harold had no intention of doing, but expecting to keep right on east. The wheelman suddenly turned out into the road to let the automobile go to the left. Then the rider saw that the automobile was not going to turn in at the hotel and tried to turn back again to the cinderpath. The road was full of ruts. When the bicycle and the automobile were about twenty feet apart the front wheel of the bicycle, then in the ruts, suddenly gave way, and the rider took a header. Harold steered to the right and passed the man as he lay in the road, all three who were in the machine agreeing that they were about a foot away from the nearest point of the bicycle as it lay and the rider was over beyond his wheel.

   The automobile was stopped at once and turned back to see if the rider was injured by his fall. Mr. Gillette appeared on the scene about this time, and he says that the man never suggested the idea that he had been struck by the automobile, but censured automobiles in general for running fast, though he owned up that he was himself going so fast that he could not have stopped to have let the automobile pass at the driveway to the hotel had it attempted to do so.

   Mr. Gillette says, Ferry did not complain of being hurt, but lamented the injury to his forward wheel. Since the automobile was not going to enter the driveway, but was moving forward on a public highway which seemed perfectly clear of teams, wheels or people the rate of speed at which the automobile was moving did not seem to be at all excessive. If the road had not been rough the man would probably not have had his fall but would have regained the cinder path all right.

 

                                                     BREVITIES.
   —A special meeting of the Tioughnioga club is called for this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —Regular review of Cortland Hive, No. 321, L. O. T. M., tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Bishop Huntington has decided that the 35th annual convention of the Central New York diocese shall be held at Auburn June 9 and 10.

   —In the report of the missionary organization in yesterday's Standard the name of Florence Briggs should have appeared as the president of the Standard Bearers.

   —The new display advertisements today are—Warren, Tanner & Co., Carpets and rugs, page 4; Perkins & Quick, Paints, page 4; G. H. Wiltsie, Drygoods, page 5; J. C. Seager, Tree protectors, page 8; M. A. Case, Concentration sale, page 6.

   —The leaves are coming out very rapidly when one considers the almost total lack of rain and the dry condition of the soil and of all vegetation. The weather bureau continues to prophesy rain, and it is assuredly to be hoped that the rain will come, or the hay crop and strawberries will be a failure.

 

CECSD Budget 2026-27

A contributor to this blog cites the upcoming Cortland Enlarged City School District vote for a 2026-27 school budget on May 19, Tuesday, and asks:  

Are the annual grants of two state legislators included in the published budget revenues? If not, why not? The inclusion of these grants, if applied to expenditures, can reduce the tax levy. Ref: 2016 school budget discussions, public hearing, and 2016 board member Donald Colongeli.  

AMONG THE BIG TREES, FRANCE AND THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE, CORTLAND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, TRUXTON, DEATH OF THOMAS SIMS, AND ROBINSON GOLDEN WEDDING

 

President Roosevelt (center) with John Muir and party at giant Redwood tree.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 12, 1903.

AMONG THE BIG TREES

President Objected to Signs Bearing Names.

LUNCHEON UNDER REDWOODS.

President Paid Compliments to the Pioneers, the Grand Army and Men of the Naval Militia—Met a Mother of 34 Children—Arrival at San Jose—Anarchist Arrested.

   Santa Cruz, Cal., May 12.—President Roosevelt was given an ovation here. His carriage was driven through an avenue of thousands of school children with waving flags, who for a mile scattered flowers along his pathway. The cheers of the children were taken up by the Pioneers, the Grand Army, Knights of Pythias and citizens.

   On being introduced by Mayor Clark at the court house, the president said: "I thank you for this greeting. I thank you for your esteem. I wish to say a word, especially to the men of the Grand Army and the representatives of the Pioneers, to the men who proved their loyalty in the supreme test of '61 to '65, and to the pioneers who showed patriotism in winning the golden west for their country. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is a pleasure for me to see the men of the naval militia.

   "If there is one thing this country is alive to, it is our navy. We must believe in a first-class navy. We already have a good navy, but we must have a better one. Not only should we have good guns, good conning towers and turrets, but expert men with them. We cannot afford to neglect our navy. We must build it up; we must have the best of fighting ships and the best of men to man them.

   "I congratulate you on the progress made in California. You have a wonderful state. I am glad to see your big trees and to see that they are being preserved. They should be, as they are the heritage of the ages. They should be left unmarred for our children and our children's children, and so on down the ages. Good bye and good luck to you."

   Preceded by the naval reserves and band the president rode slowly up the street in a special train. The big trees were reached in 15 minutes and the party sat down to an al fresco luncheon. Twenty of Santa Cruz's prettiest young ladies waited on the tables. The naval reserves and officers acted as a guard. At the close of the repast the president said:

   "I want to thank you for your courtesy and to say how much I enjoy being here. This is my first glimpse of the big trees. I desire to pay tribute to the associations, private owners and state for preserving these trees, and also to the citizens who acted in cooperation with the state in preserving these wonderful trees. Let me preach to you a moment. All of us desire to see nature preserved. Above all the trees should not be marred by placing cards of names on them. People who do that should be sternly discouraged. The cards give an air of ridicule to the solemn and majestic giants. They should be taken down. I ask you to keep all cards off the trees or any kind of signs that will mar them. See to it that the trees are preserved; that the gift from nature is kept unmarred. You can never replace a tree. Oh, I am pleased to be here among these wonderful redwoods. I thank you for giving me this enjoyment. Preserve and keep what nature has done."

   The president requested that he be unaccompanied in his walk along the trees and President Butler was his only companion. While he was away Secretary Loeb, President Wheeler and others acted on the president's suggestion by tearing down the cards from the trees amid great applause.

   During the luncheon the president was informed that the Spanish beans served at luncheon had been prepared by Mrs. J. N. Gesetterest, who resides near Watsonville, and who is the mother of 34 children. He laughed heartily saying: "She should be made president of some association, I don't know what."

   The Pioneers society presented to the president a silver plate. A tree was dedicated in the president's honor. The president expressed his thanks, but he objected to a big sign with his name on it. He also received pictures of the trees. After a photograph was taken and many had shaken hands with him the train started for this city.

   At 12:50, amid great cheering from the large crowd, the train left for San Jose.

 

ALLEGED ANARCHIST ARRESTED.

Supposed to Have Designs Upon the Life of the President.

   San Jose, Cal., May 12.—Clay Taylor, alias Prof. Plutte, was arrested here for supposed designs on the life of the president. He has served three terms in prison.

   It is alleged that he wrote to the president advising him not to come here. He is also accused of recent anarchistic utterances.

 

Captain John J. Pershing.

Moros Attacked Rear Guard.

   Manila, May 12.—Straggling Moros attacked the rear guard of Captain Pershing's column near Bacolod, Island of Mindanao, Saturday morning, wounding Lieutenant Ruetegies and one soldier. The guard killed all the attackers. The latest reports place the number of Moros killed at the capture of Taraca at three hundred. Brigadier General Summer, commanding the Department of Mindanao, has issued a congratulatory order to Captain Pershing's troops.

 

NEGRO DEPARTMENT STORE.

Chicago Man Writes That He Hears Carnegie and Washington Will Start One.

   Little Rock, Ark., May 12.—Gov. Davis received a letter from Chicago, signed by Julius T. Hirsch, which said:

   "It is the intention, with the aid of Andrew Carnegie and under the auspices of Booker T. Washington to establish in Louisville, Ky., or New Orleans, La., a large department dry goods store, exclusively with colored help, in order to elevate the colored race and educate them in the commercial pursuits of life. Will your Excellency be good enough to give me your view upon this unique enterprise?"

   The governor, in reply, said that he considered the social elevation of the colored race all nonsense. He believed the negro would do much better if let alone and that his natural place is in the field.

 

Guest Editorials.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

France and the Louisiana Purchase.

   There was something almost pathetic in the phrases of Ambassador Jusserand's admirable speech at the dedication of the St. Louis exposition in which he dwelt upon the strenuous part that the French explorers and early settlers took in laying the foundations for the new empire in the west. They found and beat well with their restless feet the path which men of English names and speech were afterward to follow to possess the land.

   M. Jusserand insisted that France got out of Louisiana what was better than a province—a friend. That, however, was only a charming figure of speech, as France and the new American republic were not altogether good friends for some time after the Louisiana purchase. However much we may appreciate the admirable sentiment of M. Jusserand and value the amity of the French nation, the student of history knows that there was not the least sentiment in the transaction by which the imperial domain at the mouth of and to the westward of the Mississippi became American. It was all done in the coldest blood. As ex-President Cleveland said in his St. Louis address, Napoleon would never have sold us Louisiana if the disastrous failure of his Santo Domingo expedition had not prevented him from making a military occupation of the Mississippi colony. He preferred a round sum in millions to a new and very large bill of expense.

   However, we can easily feel the welling up of a certain sympathy toward the French by reason of the picturesque proof which this St. Louis celebration affords of the colonial, the imperial incapacity of both the French and Spanish nations, which has resulted so conspicuously to our profit. M. Jusserand said that his countrymen have never ceased to approve of the treaty of 1803, though we may well fancy that the French must be more than human if they can refrain from a sigh of regret when they think that it is we, not they, who have caused this vast empire to fulfill its destiny.

 

Chairman S. S. Knox.

CORTLAND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

Votes to Pave Port Watson-st. from Railroad to Bridge.

MACADAM PROBABLY TO BE USED.

Full Width of Roadway With Brick Gutters and Stone Curbing Asked for—Sewers Voted on Lincoln and Maple-ave. Extensions—Grace-st. Asks to be Accepted—Other Business.

   Au adjourned meeting of the board of public works was held in the city clerk's office last evening. Those present were Chairman Knox, F. H. Cobb, and C. W. Collins.

  Alderman Vern W. Skeele and O. U. Kellogg were present and reported that they found the great majority of the residents and property owners on Port Watson-st. to be in favor of macadamizing the street from the Lackawanna tracks to the Port Watson-st. bridge. All wanted stone curbing and brick gutters the entire length of the street and the macadam to be the entire width of the roadway. It was decided to take no definite action on the matter until all members of the board were present so that no question regarding the validity of the bonds could be raised when they may be offered for sale.

   The residents of Lincoln-ave. presented a petition for a sewer, in which they agreed to connect with the sewer should it be put in. Action on this petition was deferred until the next meeting of the board.

   The residents of Grace-st. presented a petition that the street be accepted as a public street. Superintendent Becker was instructed to tell them that the board would act in the matter as soon as they made some necessary improvements.

   On motion of Mr. Cobb, Superintendent Becker was empowered to have the Climax Road Machine Co. bring a scraper to Cortland to see if it is practicable for use on the city streets.

   On motion of F. H. Cobb, the board adjourned until 1:30 today.

   The adjourned meeting of the board of public works was held in the city clerk's office at 1:30 this afternoon, Chairman S. S. Knox, C. W. Collins, F. H. Cobb and C. F. Wickwire being present.

   Minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved.

   On motion of Mr. Cobb, seconded by Mr. Collins, it was decided to lay sewers on Lincoln-ave. and Maple-ave.

   The bids are to be advertised for in the official papers and will be received by the board of public works until the hour of 8 o'clock p. m. May 25, 1903. A deposit of $100 will be required with each bid.

   On motion of Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Cobb, the board adjourned to the residence of Mr. Duffey, the other member of the board, who was ill and confined to the house.

   At Mr. Duffey's house, on motion of Mr. Cobb, seconded by Mr. Wickwire, a resolution was passed to the effect that that part of Port Watson-st., from the Lackawanna railroad tracks to the bridge should be paved. A public meeting was called to be held in Firemen's hall on the evening of May 25 at 8 'clock at which time the pros and cons will be discussed.

   The board then adjourned until the evening of May 25.

 

D. A. R. ENTERTAINED

By Mrs. A. P. McGraw at Her Home in the Corset City.

   Monday, May 11, marks one of the red letter days in the history of Tioughnioga chapter, D. A. R.  Through the kindness of Manager Duffey of the Traction company a special car conveyed the party to McGraw, where the chapter was entertained by Mrs. A. P. McGraw at her very pleasant home. Thirty-two members were present and after an interesting program, the wants of the inner woman were fully satisfied by a delicious supper. Music and conversation with a jolly trip home closed the end of a happy day for the D. A. R. of Cortland.

 

TRIP TO CALIFORNIA

To be Taken by Three Residents of Cortland and McGraw.

   Dr. H. C. Hendrick of McGraw and H. F. Benton and A. D. Blodgett of this city expect to start tomorrow morning for California. They go on the 9:10 train on the Lehigh Valley railroad to Elmira, thence to Harrisburg where they will join the Pennsylvania railroad's special excursion to the Presbyterian general assembly at Los Angeles. Their trip takes them from Chicago over the Santa Fe route with a side trip to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado river in Arizona, and a stop will be made over Sunday and Monday at that point. They arrive at Los Angeles on May 20 and have from that time till June 2 at their disposal in California. Dr. Hendrick is a delegate to the general assembly and will attend the meetings, but the other two will devote the time entirely to sight seeing [sic] and following out their own pleasure. On June 2 they leave San Francisco for home, coming over the Central Pacific R. R. to Ogden, Utah, then south to Salt Lake City, where a stop will be made. From that point the trip takes them upon the Denver & Rio Grande route over Marshall Pass and through the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas river to Colorado Springs, Denver, and thence east. They expect to get home June 12.

 

TRUXTON’S BUDGET

The Town Board of Assessors Organizes for its Work.

NEW PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL.

Judson Osterhout and Daughter in a Runaway—Arbor Day Exercises—A Bunch of Personal Items.

   Truxton, N. Y., May 11.—Great preparations are being made for the Memorial Day exercises which will be held here Saturday, May 30. Former District Attorney Edwin Duffey of Cortland will deliver the address. The Truxton Cornet band will furnish music. It is expected that a małe quartet will be present and sing.

   The board of education has engaged Harry B. Dickinson of Homer as principal of the Truxton High school for 1903-4. Mr. Dickinson is a member of the present graduating class of the Cortland Normal school.

   The town board of assessors composed of Thomas L. Goddard and Frank I. Gates, a Democrat and Charles Jarvis, Republican, recently met and organized. Thomas L. Goddard was chosen chairman. No better selection than that of Mr. Goddard could have been made. He is a prominent farmer, a taxpayer and is well qualified for the position. The first work of the board was to assess the new telephone line which has been built through this town by the Empire State Telephone company.

   Ernest Hall was arrested in Union Valley last week by Constable P. J. Dwyer on a warrant sworn out by James Albro of Cuyler, who charged him with taking several articles of household goods to the amount of nearly $60. He was taken before Justice of the Peace Michael McGraw who discharged him as Albro failed to appear against him.

   Mr. Judson Osterhout and little daughter Ruth met with quite a serious runaway accident one day last week. They were returning from Cuyler and when but a short distance from home the wagon ran over an endboard which lay in the road. When the wheel struck the board it tipped up in such a manner as to overturn the wagon, throwing the occupants out. The horse was frightened and ran. The little girl was uninjured. Mr. Osterhout struck upon his face, which was quite badly cut and bruised. The wagon was badly broken.

   Mr. Frank J. Westcott has just placed in the mammoth store a self-measuring oil tank, which is a great improvement over the old-fashioned can. It was manufactured by S. F. Browser & Co. (Inc.) Fort Wayne, Ind.

   Mr. Frank J. Westcott has sold one of his fancy black team to E. H. Brewer of Cortland.

   Mr. Will Atkinson has bought a fine bay roadster of Bell Bros.

   County Clerk Otis D. Patrick of Cortland was in town Thursday.

   Supervisor and Mrs. W. R. Woodward were in Cortland Friday.

   Mrs. Frank F. Poole of Lincklaen is the pleasant guest of her daughter.

   Walter Dwight has leased the Lee house on Prospect-st., and will soon move there.

   Arbor Day was observed at the High school Friday afternoon. The following program, which was well rendered, was given:

 

 

DEATH OF THOMAS SIMS.

Former Resident of Cortland Passes Away in Florida.

   Word has been received in Cortland of the death at Altamont Springs, Fla., on Sunday, May 10, of Thomas Sims, formerly of Cortland. Mr. Sims had a shock of paralysis early in March and since that time his strength has gradually failed. His age was about 72 years. He is survived by his wife and by the family of a deceased son.

   It is nearly twenty-five years ago that Mr. Sims left Cortland to go to Florida. He expected then to stay but a short time, but the climate was so beneficial to his health and the culture of oranges in which he engaged was so attractive that he decided to make that state his home. He has always retained his old time interest in Cortland, and during all these years has been a constant reader of The Standard, sending north now and then a comment upon some change or improvement in the place which he had noted. He was still at the time of his death the owner of the block on Main-st., Cortland, occupied upon its first floor by J. H. Mills, the tailor. He was always anxious to see northern friends who visited Florida, and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Kelsey of this city were for several weeks in the early part of this last winter the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Sims.

 

THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.

Former Residents of Cortland County Now in Illinois.

   The Danville, (Ill.,) Press of May 9 contains the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Robinson, formerly of Cortland county, together with a two-column account of the celebration of their golden wedding on the previous day. Mr. Robinson was born in Virgil, May 31, 1830. The Press says:

   At 16 he was apprenticed in the office of the Cortland American. In that paper he worked three years and here his ability as a writer manifested itself in numerous poems evincing exceptional ability which appeared from time to time under the pseudonym of "Cortland Minstrel" in The American, DeRuyter Leader, McGrawville Express and others and were very widely copied in the local and in some instances the metropolitan journals. At 16 he wrote a "Carrier's Address" and printed it himself, which was justly considered a remarkable feat both in workmanship and elegance of fancy for youth of his years, and this was the beginning of a long and varied career as a litterateur.

   In 1849 the gold fever struck him and he went to California and was unusually successful in mining. In 1853 he returned to Virgil and married Miss Minerva Price, and together they sought a home in Iowa, since which time that state and Illinois has continued to be their home.

   Their old friends in this county will be glad to know of their prosperity and good health.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The A. O. U. W. will hold a regular meeting this evening. There are several candidates to be initiated,

   —A special meeting of the hospital board will be held at the home of Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt tomorrow at 3 p. m.

   —The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p. m. with Miss Cornelia L. Brown, 15 Reynolds-ave.

   —The new display advertisements today are—First National Bank, Banking, page 6; Hollister Hardware Co., Refrigerators, etc., page 7; A. Mahan, Huntington pianos, page 7.

   —Cortland Chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., will confer the Royal Arch degree at its regular convocation Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. After conferring the degree light refreshments will be served.