WAR REMINISCENCES CHAPTER 29

 

Captain William Saxton, Co. C, 157th Regiment, New York Volunteers.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 1, 1903.

WAR REMINISCENCES

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

MORE ABOUT CHANCELLORSVlLLE.

The 157th Regiment in Reserve Annoyed by Rebel Sharp Shooters—Entire Army Finally Retreats—Effort to Fix the Responsibility for the Defeat of the Union Army in this Battle.

CHAPTER 29.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—I will now return to my diary and not attempt to describe the battle of Sunday, May 3, 1863. How Hooker called Pleasanton and Sickles from Hazel Grove at daylight, thereby surrendering the key to the Union position on the account of its higher ground. How Stuart at once occupied it and placed thirty pieces of artillery and shelled Slocum's Corps and the new line out of their works by their enfilading fire. How the battle raged from daylight till 11 a. m. How Hooker himself, leaning against a pillar of the Chancellor house, was stunned by a shell from Hazel Grove and for an hour the Army of the Potomac was without a head. How the woods caught fire and many a poor wounded boy was burned, being unable to get away. How Hooker was compelled to contract his line still further, fortifying the whole length, his right and left resting on the Rappahannock [river].

   None of these incidents will I describe. Neither will I describe how Gen. Sedgwick on the left wing drove Early from Fredericksburg Heights and pressed on to join Hooker. How Lee detached some of his army from before Hooker and forced Sedgwick back on the river around Banks ford, reoccupying Fredericksburg himself. How Sedgwick finally recrossed the river at Banks ford and joined Hooker at United States ford and the army occupied the quarters they started from ten days before.

157th Held in Reserve.

   Sunday, May 3, 1863.—The Fifth Corps came up at daylight and we, the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York, marched back toward the United States ford. We lay down in the woods on the east side of a small hill. Soon after daylight the battle was resumed with all its fury. There was a continual roar of artillery and crash of musketry. We lay where we could hear the whole of it, and the suspense was awful. We were ignorant of how the battle was going, and after our severe drubbing the night before we were very apprehensive. Prisoners and wounded men kept going by. I sat down and wrote in my diary of the events of yesterday, breathing a prayer to God for victory. The woods caught fire and many a poor wounded boy who could not get away was burned to death.

   Near 11 o'clock the firing ceased. We moved into some breastworks the Fifth Corps had thrown up at 4 p. m. and stayed there until 11 p. m. Then moved again and lay down in the woods till morning. The whip-poor-wills came out and sang "Whip-Poor-Will," "Whip-Poor-Will" and I thought it the most doleful sound I ever heard.

Rebel Sharp Shooters.

   May 4, Monday.—At daylight we formed in line of battle and moved to the brow of the hill back of us, expecting an attack. Rebel sharp shooters annoyed us a great deal. Our men replied when they could see anything to shoot at. We discovered they were trying to plant a battery in front of us, and we cleared off the brush so our artillery could get the range. We soon drove them away. Moved half a mile to the right and were not again disturbed.

   May 5, Tuesday.—Cleared off the brush in front so the sharp shooters could not creep up on is. They annoyed us continually. The bullets whistled over our heads pretty lively. An aide, riding by in front of our regiment, had his horse killed under him.

   Toward night it began to rain hard and rained all night. No tents were allowed up or fires lighted and we passed the whole night in the mud leaning against a tree, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing.

Whole Army in Sight.

   May 6, Wednesday.— Before daylight we were ordered to fall in and move down toward the river. As soon as it was light we saw that the whole army was in motion. It was still raining and very muddy. When we arrived at the bill overlooking the river about a mile way, I had an opportunity of seeing more soldiers than at any other time during the war, with probably one exception. Saw nearly the whole Army of the Potomac. They were moving down that hill and across the bottom land in three long columns as far back and in front as you could see. We crossed the Rappahannock at the United States ford. Saw several of the Seventy-sixth New York boys. Marched to our camp at Oak Grove where we had left our nice log houses we had never used. Stopped there and the word went round that we were to remain. We went to work fixing our tents over them for roofs and getting ready to enjoy them and at 3 p. m. were ordered to march on. We arrived at our old camp near Stafford Court House at 9 p. m., having been absent ten days.

   LeRoy Cole, who still belonged to Topographical engineers, at Gen. Schimmelfennig's headquarters had gone on ahead and built a fire in the fire place of the palace [small shack built by soldiers—CC ed.].

   The Palace Co. was broken up forever. My bunkie, Strobeck, and Dyer's bunkie, Courtney, were wounded and afterwards transferred to the invalid Corps. Co. C. had its proportion of the seventy-nine killed and wounded of the regiment. I have not a complete list of the casualties; but so far as I now remember they were: W. S. Cooper, Arthur H. Fox, Levi W. Loomis, Oscar Courtney. Orson Strobeck, J. P. Smith and W. W. Chapel were wounded. There were some others, but I cannot now recall them.

More About the Eleventh Corps.

   I have already devoted more time to the Eleventh Corps at Chancellorsville than I intended; but the flood of evidence has so accumulated that I cannot refrain from shedding some more light of truth upon that battle. From the first, abuse and obloquy have been heaped upon that corps without stint or measure. Newspapers, generals, historians, all have taken a liberal hand in its abuse, until as Major Huntington says: "Truly it is easier to fight battles than to dig out lies about them, after they have become firmly imbedded in history." We may be almost ready with Sir Horace Walpole to exclaim: "Read me anything but history for I know that is false!"

Question of Responsibility.

   Who was responsible for the failure of the Union army at Chancellorsville?

   Gen. Hooker says: "It was the giving way of the Eleventh Corps that lost me my position." True—but what Corps of 9,000 men could have held that position? Gen. Sickles says: "The failure of the campaign was due to the giving way of the Eleventh Corps." Partially true again. But whose fault is it that that small Corps remained in that exposed position all that long Saturday "with no entrenchments worth speaking of?" Gen. Howard, the Eleventh Corps commander says: "The disaster was due to the bad conduct of the Eleventh Corps." Gen. Howard also said later to the committee on the conduct of the war: "I never did have any confidence in the Eleventh Corps."

   On the third day of the battle of Gettysburg after Gen. Lee had ordered Longstreet to charge the Union lines, as Pickett came back from that charge crushed and almost annihilated, Gen. Lee said: "It was all my fault, it was my mistake." Whoever heard the commander of the Eleventh Corps, either in speech or voluminous writings, admit that he ever made a military mistake much less at the battle of Chancellorsville?

New Light Throw In.

   I will now give some facts that have come to light within the last thirty years and upon thorough examination both by Col. Hamlin, the Eleventh Corps historian, by the editor of the Acme Haversack, and others, are proven to be absolutely true without the shadow of a doubt. The reader may accept each statement as the verity of truth itself.

   I will give these quotations without comment and each reader can form his own conclusions as to where the blame for the failure of the Union army ought to rest.

   In the afternoon of May 1, the day before the battle, Gen. Sickles, under Gen. Hooker's orders sent Gen. Graham's brigade of Birney's division of the Third Corps to reinforce the Eleventh Corps. Howard met Graham half way from the Chancellor house and Dowdall's. "Where are you going?" asked Howard. "To Dowdall's Tavern." "Perhaps you mean Todd's Tavern." "No! Dowdall's." "This cannot be, there must be some mistake about this, my (Howard's) headquarters are there." "I don't know anything about that," replied Graham "Such are my orders." "That cannot be," replied Howard, "I would send my compliments to the whole rebel army, and invite them to attack me in my present position, and if it were not out of compliment to Gen. Sickles I would order you back."

Col. Carmichael's Testimony.

   Our colonel, then major, James C. Carmichael stated in writing in June that he and Col. Lackman went on picket the night before the attack, heard Jackson's preparation and went to Corps headquarters and gave information and received the reply, "You are new troops and more frightened than hurt."

   Col. Lee of the Fifty-fifth Ohio, later lieutenant governor of Ohio, of McLean's Brigade of Devans' division on the right says: As early as 10 a. m. we could see troops on a high point to the south east moving. I went at once to the Hatch House (Talleys') where McLean and Devans both had their headquarters, and reported to McLean, my superior officer."

   McLean said that the supposition was that Lee's army was in retreat. I found old man Hatch and showed him the troops moving and told him he must inform us on what road they were moving and its connections. At first he could see no troops, but I told him I knew he could and that he must tell truthfully on what road. At first he refused, but when I told him his person and property were in our hands and that he had got to do it, be consented and I found a spot in the door yard free from grass and marked out a diagram of the roads and their connections and I found that they led to our right. I showed this diagram to McLean and he reported it to Devans and Devans to Howard.

Officers Incredulous.

   Col. Lee says further his officer of the picket sent him a messenger at 1, another at 2, another at 3 p. m. that the enemy was moving with infantry and artillery across his flank. He went with the messenger to McLean and Devans (both in the same house) and gave them the information. Devans did not believe it and said: "If anything of this kind was going on I would be informed from Corps headquarters." Devans said to Col. Lee: "It is not worthwhile to be scared before you are hurt."

   The officer of the day of Devans' division reported to him that a large force of the enemy was in his rear, but Devans did not believe it.

   In the afternoon Capt. Dilger, commanding Battery 1, First Ohio, (our brigade battery) under Gen. Schurz' orders accompanied by an orderly, rode up the pike and found Von Gilsa very much disturbed who urged him not to go beyond the lines, but he passed on to Lucket's farm a mile from Von Gilsa and ran right into the rebel army and was cut off from retreat. He was pursued by the rebel cavalry, narrowly escaping capture. He finally found a road to the north into the United States ford road and late in the afternoon arrived at Hooker's headquarters and reported what he had seen. He was advised to go to his own Corps and tell his yarn there. He rode rapidly to Howard's headquarters and reported, but they would not believe it, and he was given to understand that he had no business out on the flank scouting. He was positively told that Lee was retreating and that Barlow's brigade with Gen. Howard had gone south to fall on the enemy.

   Our brigade commander, Gen. Shimmelfennig, sent out Maj. Schleiter of the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania to reconnoitre. He soon returned with the information that he had found the enemy in great force and heard the Confederate officers giving commands. Major Schłeiter reported the same at Corps headquarters and was laughed at.

   Some cavalry went out on the pike late in the afternoon and reported to Gen. Devans that he could go but a little way as he met a large body of infantry, Gen. Devans replied impatiently: "I wish I could get some one who could make a reconnaissance for me." The captain replied: "General, I can go further, but I cannot promise to return." W. S.

 

 

REAR ADMIRAL GEORGE MELVILLE, BRIDGE COLLAPSED, KING EDWARD AND IRELAND, WICKWIRE EXCURSION, AND MISS ADDIE CHAMPLIN

 

Rear Admiral George W. Melville.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 1, 1903.

REAR ADMIRAŁ MELVILLE

Now Retired—A Dramatic Incident of the Civil War.

   Washington, Aug. 1.—Rear Admiral Geo. Melville, one of the most picturesque figures in the American navy, concluded his active service yesterday. Today he was placed on the retired list. He reached the age limit last January, but was continued on active duty until the term of his appointment as engineer in chief should expire, Aug. 1.

   He was one of three sons whom Alexander Melville gave to the Northern side in the civil war. He was born in New York City Jan. 10, 1841. After passing through the common schools and Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn, he entered the engineering works of James Binns in East Brooklyn. Ninety days after war was declared, he became an officer in the United States navy.

   For a time he served on the old Michigan, a side wheel steamer, patrolling the lakes. Then he was transferred to the North Atlantic squadron on the screw sloop of war Dakota. He was at the shelling of Lamberts Point, the capture of Norfolk and the consequent destruction of the Merrimac off Craney Island. He participated in the James river expedition and served with the Mississippi fleet until stricken down with typhoid fever. Upon his recovery he went to Bahia, Brazil, on the Wachusett to intercept Confederate cruisers.

   It was there that one of the dramatic incidents of the war took place. While the Wachusett was refitting in the harbor of Bahia, the Confederate cruiser Florida boldly steamed in. Captain Collins, of the Wachusett, sent a challenge to the Florida to fight a naval duel outside the harbor. The Florida declined. Collins called a council of his officers and concluded to ram the Florida where she lay. To this the objection was made that the shock of impact would tear the boilers from their lashings and cause the death of every man below decks.

   "I do not think that the boilers will break loose," interposed young Melville, but if they do there need be but one man sacrificed, for after the engines are started, I can work them alone and will order all hands on deck."

   During the preparation for the attack, Melville volunteered and succeeded in going aboard the Florida and ascertained the location of her machinery and the strength of her batteries,

   At 2 o'clock a. m., Oct. 7, 1864, the Wachusett, with lights out, got under way. Below decks were only Melville and a fireman named Bradley, who refused to leave his post. The affair was all over in twenty minutes. The Florida was successfully rammed, captured, and towed to sea. On the Wachusett only three men were wounded, Melville receiving a cut across the left hand.

   From the viewpoint of international law, it was an outrageous violation of the rights of neutrals; from a sailorman's standard, it was a highly courageous and patriotic act.

   His honorable mentions during the war were frequent and many, and when the fighting was over he remained with the navy, one of its most notable and valued officers.

   [Read about the Jeanette Expedition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannette_expedition]

 

A BRIDGE COLLAPSED.

One Hundred People Thrown Into the Water.

THREE KNOWN TO BE DROWNED.

Many Fell on Two Boat Houses Moored Under the Bridge—Twenty-Five Injured by the Fall or by Being Struck by Falling Timbers of the Bridge—An Armless Swimming Exhibit.

   Portland, Ore., Aug. 1.—A section of the bridge which spans the Willamette river here collapsed yesterday afternoon, precipitating more than 100 people 40 feet into the water.

   Three people are known to have been drowned, and it is feared that the list of dead will be much larger. Many fell on two small boat houses moored to a pier of the bridge immediately under the spot where it gave way.

   About 25 were injured either by striking on the boat houses or by falling timbers. Many fell from the roofs of the boat houses into the water, but dozens of small boats and launches in the vicinity quickly picked them up. '

   The known dead: Minnie Raymond, aged 10; Lottie Cameron, aged 16; unidentified boy, aged 15.

   Thousands of people had gathered to watch Clarence Lutz, an armless man, swim the river, which is about three-eighths of a mile wide. As Lutz was climbing out of the water the crowd rushed to the south edge of the bridge in order to get a good view.

   A section of the passenger walk gave way under the heavy weight and the crowding, struggling mass of people were carried down a distance of 40 feet.

 

King Edward VII.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

King Edward and Ireland.

   In past generations the Irish people have had scant reason for welcoming with any degree of cordiality the British kings to their island, and royal visits have been few and far between. The visit of King Edward is therefore an event of prime interest and significance, and the cordiality with which he was received indicates a kindlier feeling among the Irish people toward the British sovereign. According to the Dublin correspondent of the London Times, "the royal progress from Kingstown to Phoenix park was accompanied by such enthusiasm as has not been witnessed anywhere in this generation. Warm hearted Irish men and women flocked the streets to accord welcome with hand and voice, and, whether or not they loved the king and queen before, they assuredly love them now."

   If all this is true it certainly shows a remarkable change in Irish sentiment. Doubtless something in the direction of this rapprochement was accomplished in the spring of 1900, when Queen Victoria visited Dublin and spent four weeks at the vice regal lodge, which was taken primarily as a royal recognition of the distinguished service of Irish soldiers in the South African war.

   The cordiality with which King Edward is now received is in large measure due to the apparent desire of the English government to ameliorate the condition of the Irish people through the operations of the pending land bill, and it is significant that on the very day the king was received in Dublin the measure which promises peace and prosperity for Ireland was passed to the third reading in the British parliament by an almost unanimous vote. The bill has the hearty approval of the crown as a step toward more cordial relations between the British government and the Irish, and the visit of King Edward at this particular time may be taken as a tacit expression on his part of his interest in Ireland and his hopes of better feeling.

   It is sincerely to be hoped that the favorable action of parliament on the land bill, coincident with the visit of the king, may mark the coming of better and happier days for Ireland, whose woes have been many and long endured.

 

Wickwire factory in Cortland, N. Y. Products included wire fencing and wire cloth.

THE WICKWIRE EXCURSION.

Nearly a Thousand People Take in the Trip to Sylvan Beach.

   The second annual excursion of Wickwire Employees' Aid association was run to Sylvan Beach this morning, nearly 1,000 people making the trip.

   The first section of the train pulled out promptly at 7:45, the scheduled time. It consisted of eight heavily loaded coaches, every seat being taken while many were standing. The train was in charge of Conductor T. J. Donnelly with Engineer James Wood at the throttle. This section was in charge of Louis Harrington of the committee.

   The second section, consisting of seven coaches, pulled out at 8 o'clock and was well filled. The entire Cortland City band, which accompanied the excursion, was on this section. Conductor T. Lynch and Engineer Joseph Winters had control of this section which was in charge of Henry S. Hakes of the committee.

   The excursion party was a happy one, the day being an ideal one, rather cool in the morning which would indicate that it would not be exceedingly warm during the day. A large crowd was at the station to see them off.

   Returning, the trains will leave the beach at 6:30 and 7 o'clock.

   During the day the band rendered a concert program and a hundred-yard-dash was the event of the day. Prizes of $3 for first, $2 for second, and $1 for third places respectively, were offered. Henry S. Hakes acted as starter, Con. O'Brien, and H. B. Benedict were judges and Jere McCarthy and John Lynch kept time.

   The committee in charge of the excursion was L. W. Camp, chairman, Jere McCarthy, H. B. Benedict, Patrick McDermott, Perry Whitmarsh, Louis Harrington, Ira Dexter, Chas. O'Leary, and H. P. Hakes.

   The Wickwire Employees' Aid association was organized July 28, 1901, with twenty-one charter members, the first officers being John Fitzgerald, president; John Page, secretary; and William Dillon treasurer.

   The aim of the association is to afford relief to any of its members who may meet with accident or suffer from prolonged illness.

   During the past winter the association paid out over $600 in sick, accident and death benefits. In the two years the association has been formed the membership has increased from twenty-one to over 300.

   The present officers are president, John Lyons; secretary, Henry S. Hakes; treasurer, Charles O'Leary.

 

BOARD OF HEALTH

Orders Unsanitary Places About the City to be Cleaned Up.

   The regular monthly meeting of the board of health was held in the office of the city clerk last evening. Those present were Mayor C. F. Brown, Dr. E. A. Didama, health officer; and Commissioners W. A. Stockwell, E. M. Santee, Fred Ryan, Henry Bliss, R. J. Latimer and C. D. VerNooy, the full membership.

   The board was called to order by Cortland Mayor Brown and the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved.

   It was reported that a well and cesspool on Maple-ave. were in too close proximity to each other. Commissioner W. A. Stockwell and City Attorney Fred Hatch were appointed as committee to investigate the matter.

   Complaint has been made to the board in regard to the joint driveway between the Cortland House and Opera House. It is said to be below grade, wet and muddy at all times, as the sun does not shine in to dry up the mud and water. Teams driving out keep the walk muddy and the driveway is in an unsanitary condition and dangerous to life and health. A resolution to this effect was adopted by the board and it was ordered that it be put in a sanitary condition, on motion of Dr. Santee, seconded by Dr. VerNooy, all voting aye.

   The city as a whole was reported to be in a very cleanly and sanitary condition. Several places were reported to be in an unsanitary condition and the health officer will order them to be put in good condition.

   On motion, the board adjourned.

 

A THIRD ELECTRIC ROAD

To Connect Ithaca and Auburn—Lehigh Back of It.

   If all the plans to connect Ithaca and Auburn by electric roads materialize the two places will be so thoroughly joined together that there will be no possibility of divorce. Two electric roads by two different routes seem quite probable, and now the Ithaca Journal says that plans are well along for laying a third rail upon the Lehigh Valley railroad and equipping it with electricity and running cars every hour or every half hour from both ends. The route would be the line along Cayuga lake, 43 miles in all. Steam would still be used for freight and through passenger trains, but electricity would be used for cars for way traffic. The Journal speaks of it as being quite a sure thing that this will be done.

 

Death of Miss Champlin.

   On Monday, July 27, at her home near Groton City occurred the death of Miss Addie Champlin, which though sudden, was not wholly unexpected, as she had been in poor health for three years or more and had been growing gradually weaker during the last few weeks, but was still able to be around the house and had that morning walk out doors.

   The deceased was born Dec. 22, 1844, on the farm, two miles north of Moravia, N. Y., then owned by her father, Major Champlin, and there resided until about 7 years old when her father bought and moved to the farm now known as the ''Champlin homestead" and here she has passed over fifty years of her life. She was of a quiet, retiring disposition but was well known and loved as a patient, faithful, loving daughter, a loyal sister and a kind friend. She was always ready to assist the poor and unfortunate or those in sickness and sorrow and is sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.

   She leaves three sisters, Mrs. Amanda McCastland, Miss Mary A. Champlin and Mrs. Jennie Benedict and two brothers, Edward G. and Alexander Champlin.

   The funeral was held at her late home Wednesday at 1 o'clock. Rev. W. Jasper Howell of Cortland officiated who spoke very comforting words from II Cor. v, 1-4, to those still journeying through the pilgrimage of life. Interment at Groton.

   Those present from a distance were Mrs. Lucy Champlin, Ithaca; Lester Burlingham, Oliver Andrews, Mr. and Mrs. Win. McClean, Mrs. James Maltbie and Warren Maltbie of Moravia; E. D. Pendell, Lisle; Mr. and Mrs. John Latimer and son, Mrs. Frances Carry, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Benedict, Homer, and Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Rogers, McLean.

 

"Happy Bill" at Ithaca.

   "Happy Bill" Daniels is making as great a hit as an orchestra leader at dances in his new home in Ithaca as he ever made in Cortland. The Ithaca News, speaking of a dance at Glenwood, says, "The music was furnished by 'Happy Bill' Daniels' orchestra and was greatly enjoyed, most especially, perhaps, the old fashioned 'square set,' which was put on by special request. 'Happy Bill' is perhaps without an equal in making this old dance enjoyable.''

 

BREVITIES.

   —The new display advertisements today are—McGraw & Elliott, Hammer dry plates, page 7.

   —The Cortland City band will give a concert at Trout park at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

   —Regular meeting of hospital board at the Hospital on Monday, Aug. 3 at 3 o'clock.

   —Between twenty-five and thirty of the employees of the Gillette Skirt company took advantage of the Wickwire excursion to go to Sylvan Beach today.

   —The union services will be held in the Congregational church tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock with sermon by Rev. W. J. Howell, pastor of the First Baptist church.

   —Not all the people of the city went on the Sylvan Beach excursion today, judging from the crowds that stood on the Main-st. corners between 2 and 3 o'clock waiting for the cars to take them to the park to hear the Ithaca band.

   —An application for a rural free delivery route from Cincinnatus west through East Freetown was made by the residents. An inspector looked over the proposed route, but denied the application as the houses were said to be too scattered.

 

GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC RAILWAY, BUTCHER'S BILL, PRIZES, ITALIANS IN CAMP, AND RESIGNATION EXPECTED

 

Grand Trunk Pacific Locomotive.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, July 31, 1903.

GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC.

Contract With Dominion For Transcontinental Road.

TERMS ANNOUNCED BY PREMIER.

Government to Build From Moncton, N. B., to Winnipeg and Lease to the Company For 50 Years—From Winnipeg to the Pacific Company to Build in Seven Years.

   Ottawa, Ontario, July 31.—Sir Wilfrid Laurier announced in parliament the details of the contract between the Grand Trunk Pacific and the government for the construction of a national trans-continental railway. The road will run from Moncton, N. B., to Fort Simpson on the Pacific ocean, a distance of 3,300 miles.

   The government will build with public money from Moncton to Winnipeg and lease to the company for 50 years. For seven years the company gets to lease free but will have to pay operating expenses. The following three years the company will turn over to the government the net earnings.

   For the succeeding 40 years the company will have to pay 3 per cent to the government on the capital cost of this section. The commission will supervise the building but it is likely the company will do the work

   From Winnipeg to the Pacific the company will build within seven years. The government will guarantee 75 per cent of the cost of construction up to $13,000 per mile on the prairie section and $30,000 per mile on the mountain section. The principal and interest to be guaranteed for 50 years. The company will not pay anything on the mountain division for seven years and for succeeding three years will pay the net receipts over working expenses, while for the remaining 40 years the company will pay three per cent per annum.

   The government will take the first mortgage on the line between Winnipeg and the Pacific as security of its guarantee and the Grand Trunk railway will guarantee the bonds on the Grand Trunk Pacific for its proportion of the cost of that section. The company will have running privilege over the Intercolonial and the Intercolonial and all other companies will have running privileges between Moncton and Winnipeg subject to the company's terms.

   Unrouted traffic in winter must go to St. John and Halifax at Portland rates. The company must deposit in 60 days $5,000,000 as security for fulfilling the contract. The money will be released for the construction of the final section.

   Sir Wilfrid Laurier spoke for three hours in announcing the contract and explaining the details. He gave as one reason for building the road through the maritime provinces that it should reach a Canadian port on the seaboard, so that Canada would be independent should the Americans at any time stop the bonding privileges. The best way, he said, to remain friendly with the United States was to be independent of them commercially.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Fourth's Butcher's Bill.

   "Fifty-two killed and 3,665 injured." That is the "butcher's bill," as the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle calls it, for the last Fourth of July celebration. The figures are rather startling. Many an important battle has been won with fewer casualties. It is hard to see why General Sherman's famous characterization of war doesn't equally apply to the Fourth of July, except that the horrors of the Fourth of July are even less tolerable than the horrors of war.

   Wars are waged with reason and often with good reason. The slaughter of a war is inevitable and it serves a purpose. The present method of celebrating the anniversary of the nation's birth is entirely unreasonable. The slaughter of the Fourth of July is altogether unnecessary and serves no purpose whatever. No return at all is received for the Fourth of July butcher's bill. The lives expended in the celebration are lives thrown away.

   The butcher's bill is not the only item of the loss and damage occasioned by the Fourth of July. There is the loss of property by fire. It was comparatively insignificant this year, footing up to only half a million dollars. But even half a million is a good deal of money to throw in the gutter.

   Isn't it about time to stop this senseless annual drain? Other holidays are celebrated without killing and wounding thousands of persons and destroying thousands of dollars' worth of property. There is no reason why the Fourth of July shouldn't be. The Fourth of July celebration has degenerated into a carnival of hoodlumism; and some of the confusion between liberty and license, which obviously now reigns in the popular mind in this country, is doubtless due to our bad habit of celebrating the nation's liberty by letting down the bars to lawlessness and suspending salutary ordinances whose strict enforcement is now more necessary to the public good on the fourth day of July than on any other day in the year.

   Among other numerous reforms that this country needs is a reform in the present method of celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 

PRIZES ANNOUNCED

For the Misspelled Works in the Educational Contest.

   Some weeks ago five prizes were offered by The Standard for the parties who would detect the greatest number of misspelled words in a list of advertisements which were to be used in this paper during a series of issues. The words were to be purposely misspelled by the man who set up the advertisements. Five columns of advertisements were secured and no advertisement was larger in size than two inches. The spelling of the words was to be changed in successive issues. This insured the fact that every advertisement would be carefully read in full every day and the advertisers can testify from the results attained that they were read.

   The advertisements were continued through fifty days and during that time 710 words appeared in those columns misspelled. This number has been ascertained as a result of a very careful count made by two of our most experienced proof readers who counted the errors independent of each other, and then compared results and compared the individual words.

   Scarcely had the last issue of the paper containing those columns been put out when the answers began to come in. Hundreds of answers were received, and the exact time of the receipt of each was marked upon the envelope and this time was taken into consideration in making up the schedule of prizes. This was essential for two answers were equally distant from the correct number, one being above the correct number and the other below it. But one was received about two hours earlier than the other and that one was awarded a higher prize than the later one.

   While the exact number of misspelled words, as stated above was 710, the answers received ranged all the way from 68 to 1,680.

   The recipients of the five prizes offered with the number of words submitted by each is as follows:

   First prize, $5 in silver. Miss Estelle M. Walker, 13 Madison-st., Cortland. 694 words.

   Second prize, The Cortland Daily Standard for one year. Mrs. Manley W. Kinney, R. F. D. No. 7, Cortland. 682 words.

   Third prize, $3 in silver. Mrs. Byron Phelps, R. F. D. No. 2, McGraw. 742 words.

   Fourth prize, $2 in silver. N. W. Fuller, R. F. D. No 1, Cortland. 759 words.

   Fifth prize, $1 in silver. Mrs. James A. Smith, 32 Groton-ave., Cortland. 661 words.

   The prize winners may call at this office at any time and receive their awards, at least all except the winner of the second prize may do so, and if she will call she may receive a receipt for the Daily Standard for one year, and during the coming year she can receive a daily reminder in the coming of the paper to her door of her industry and accuracy in her search for misspelled words.

   This contest has been a very satisfactory one to all concerned and the advertisers have had another evidence of how thoroughly, how widely and how generally The Standard is read, for many of the advertisements have been so worded as to disclose at once the fact that they had been read if certain articles were called for by purchasers, and the desired result was in almost every case attained in full measure.

 

ITALIANS IN CAMP.

Have Come to Gather Bean Harvest for Canning Factory.

   The local Lackawanna depot looked like an immigrant station or a small "Castle Garden" immediately after the arrival of the 9:20 train from the north this morning. This train carried a special car containing about seventy-five Italians from Syracuse and vicinity, under the charge of a foreman engaged by Yager & Halstead to work in the bean fields. The party was a typical Italian gang of laborers such as work in the hop fields, onion beds and on extensive truck farms, familiar enough to residents of the Mohawk Valley and along the line of the New York Central [railroad], but not so familiar to residents of this part of the state.

   The party contained three or four children to every adult, there being several women with babies in their arms. They carried baggage and provisions stored in trunks, boxes, satchels, paper parcels, etc., but mostly in common grain sacks. Yager & Halstead have arranged a camp for them on a vacant lot just off from Owego-st. near the Lehigh and there they will remain for a period of six weeks or longer.

   They were met at the station by teams with hayracks and taken to the camp, where they at once began to make themselves comfortable and at home. They are designed for work in the fields only. The firm has about twenty-two acres of beans about ready to harvest and as it is especially hard to procure local help to do this work it was decided to follow the custom of upstate canning factories in employing Italian help in the harvesting of the crop.

   This in no way applies to the factory itself and Messrs. Yager & Halstead wish it stated that they will have work for about 200 local hands as soon as everything is in running order.

   The crop is late this year but work will be commenced at the factory next week and everything will probably be in full blast a week later. Owing to the lateness of the season one crop is apt to follow another in quick succession practically insuring steady work.

 

RESIGNATION EXPECTED

Of Rev U. S. Milburn as Pastor of Universalist Church.

   Rev. U. S. Milburn, for five years past a pastor of the Universalist church of this city, has signified to members of his church that his resignation may be expected within a few days. The news is most unwelcome to all, for with a single mind the church desires the relations which have been so pleasant and so cordial between pastor and people to continue, and if a refusal to accept the resignation would avail there is not a doubt that the church would decline to entertain such a request. It hopes that the pastor who is now away on his vacation may be induced to reconsider such a thought, though it hardly dares to hope that he will do so.

   Mr. Milburn bas been a most excellent pastor, and is an unusually brilliant preacher. He has commanded the respect, the confidence and the regard, not only of the entire membership of his own church, but of the whole community as well, and his departure from Cortland will be generally regretted.

   Not alone in Cortland has he been esteemed, but through the state he has occupied a prominent place in his own denomination, having been the president of the State Young People's society, and having occupied other responsible positions in the state association. Wherever he goes the best wishes of this community will accompany him.

 

BREVITIES.

   —M. L. Erway has purchased the property at 8 Graham-ave., and expects to move there Oct. 1, after some repairs are completed.

   —Mrs. W. T. Smith, 100 Clinton-ave., gave a thimble bee yesterday afternoon to about thirty-five of her friends in honor of Mrs. James and daughter of Rochester who are her guests.

   —The new display advertisements today are—Angell & Thomas, Sale of oxfords, etc., page 6; Perkins & Quick, Asthma remedy, page 4; Morse Clothing Co., 10 specials for 10 days, page 8; E. E. Bates, Scientific optician, page 5.