BIG FIRE AT SCOTT, N. Y.

 

Main Street, Scott, N. Y.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, October 1, 1903.

BIG FIRE IN SCOTT.

The Hotel Burned With Nearly all of its Contents.

OTHER BUILDINGS WERE ON FIRE

But Were Saved by Hard Work—No Means of Fighting the Fire Except by Buckets—Cortland Steamer Gets Nearly There—Fire Started in Chimney—Loss About $12,000, Insurance $7,000—Will be Rebuilt.

   At 3:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon fire broke out in the big three story hotel in Scott village owned by William J. Roche and within an hour the entire hotel with nearly all of its contents was burned to the ground, comparatively little being saved. The Alvord store across the street was on fire several times and was only saved by the most strenuous work on the part of the residents of the vicinity who formed themselves into a bucket brigade. The same is true of the big hotel barn. The house of Austin Brown next west of the hotel was badly blistered. Had there been the slightest wind in any direction the destruction of property would have been much greater but, as it was, there was scarcely a breath of breeze of any kind, and the flames shot straight up.

Structure of the Hotel.

   The Scott hotel, as it was called, a frame building of wood, stood on the north-west corner of the cross roads, at the center of Scott village, facing the east. The main part was a three-story structure 40 by 60 feet in size with a double deck piazza on the east side. A long wing 28 by 70 feet in size and two and one-half stories high extended to the north. The hotel contained thirty-eight rooms. On the first floor of the main part was the parlor, sitting room, reading room and bar room. Above were sleeping rooms. Upon the first floor of the wing [were] the diningroom [sic], kitchen and personal living rooms of the proprietor and his wife. Above was the big ball room, where so frequently dances have been held, for Mr. Roche's parties were well known far and side and these have helped to give the hotel much more than a local reputation. The hotel stood upon ground that sloped rapidly down the hill to the west in its rear, so that under the entire west side of the hotel was a big basement and cellar. At the front, this basement contained one large room used for the town hall and for public meetings. In its rear [were] the liquor room and a long cellar. The hotel was well furnished throughout. It was piped for water and a spring high on the big hill to the east furnished an abundant supply of pure water which was carried to almost every room and which supplied bath rooms and flush closets, a feature not usually found in the country hotel.

Surroundings.

   About sixty feet to the north of the hotel stood the big barn and stable, its long side and shingled roof turned toward the hotel. North of the barn were the two stores of C. C. Clark and Hamilton Whiting. Across the street from the hotel to the east, and on the north-east corner of the crossroads was the big three story store of B. Alvord, the building itself being owned by J. M. Cottrell. Next north of this was the meat market of J. Friar, the upper portion and wing being used as the dwelling for Mr. Friar's family. Next north of this was the residence of Ernest Clark and next the residence of Frank Booth. Adjoining the hotel on the west and next down the hill toward Glen Haven was the residence of Austin Brown. All of these buildings were in the most imminent danger and for a time it was believed that all would go. Across the street to the south of the hotel is the Ernest W. Childs' homestead, but this street is pretty wide and it was not thought that the fire would spread in that direction.

Fire Discovered.

   It was just 3:15 o'clock when Austin Brown, who lives in the house west of the hotel came out of his barn and around the corner of his house. Glancing toward the hotel be discovered smoke rising through every joint in the roof of the main part of the building and flames just beginning to show through the shingles next the chimney. He called to his wife "The hotel is on fire," and ran up the hill shouting "Fire."

   At just about the same moment Mrs. Friar, from the other side, saw practically the same thing and she rushed across the street and into Mrs. Roche's kitchen exclaiming, "You are all on fire."

   There was no one in the hotel at the time except Mr. and Mrs. Roche. They had had an uncommonly large number of people in the house at dinner and Mr. Roche was helping his wife do up the work resulting therefrom. At the alarming cry he ran through the house toward the front and opened a door leading to the upper floors. It looked to him as though a veritable fiery furnace was raging there. It was utterly impossible to get above the first floor in this part of the hotel, and not a thing was saved there.

Origin of the Fire.

   The fire is supposed to have started from a defective chimney. A wood fire in an oak stove had been kindled by Mr. Roche in the morning in the reading room. This had been kept going all day, and right after dinner Mr. Roche put in a big maple chunk and closed up the stove, thinking that the fire would keep all the afternoon. It is believed that the fire had been going for sometime in the attic in a smoldering way before it finally got to the air and broke out.

The Alarm Given.

   The cry of fire was quickly taken up. The church bells were rung, and in an incredibly short time, men, women and children from all over the village, and surrounding country began to assemble and begin to carry out property. Mr. Roche and three men succeeded in getting out of his bar room the large and handsome sideboard. The furniture from the lower rooms was all removed, including the personal effects of Mr. and Mrs. Roche. Crockery was packed into potato crates and carried out. In the attic of the main part where the fire started were fifteen beds which were used in doubling up in the rooms below when the hotel was crowded; also 160 chairs, a surplus from the ball room, beside many other pieces of furniture. All the furniture in the sleeping rooms was lost. Barrels and kegs from the cellar were pitched out of the windows and rolled in an indiscriminate mass upon the lawn of Austin Brown adjoining.

Fighting the Fire.

   There were no facilities in Scott for fighting fire except with pails, but a bucket brigade was formed and it did valiant and effective work. There was no use whatever in attempting to extinguish the flames in the hotel for they had too much of a start, but every effort was directed to the saving of nearby buildings, and the people worked desperately, for it looked to them as though the whole north end of the village would go. There was little breeze of any kind, but what there was carried sparks and embers to the north and east. While the women helped carry out property from the hotel, the men carried water.

   There was an abundance of water at hand. Between the hotel and the barn stands a big circular watering trough like the one at the Main and Clinton-ave, corner in Cortland. A powerful stream of water poured into this trough and furnished plenty of water till the fire became so hot that it was impossible to go to it. Then water was taken from wells and springs in the neighborhood.

   Several times the roof of the barn was on fire, but a force of men was on the roof all the time and as soon as a spark ignited a pail full of water extinguished it.

   The building most in danger was the Alvord store across the street, in which the postoffice [sic] is located. The blinds were closed at all windows upon the second and third floors to protect the glass and keep sparks out, but there were no blinds or shutters for the first floor and so hot were the flames that the big glass windows were cracked and broken. The paint was scorched and blistered, and time and again in several places the cornice and the clapboards near the top were on fire. F. M. Hazard lay flat down on his face on the ridge pole of this building while men brought water in buckets to him from behind. Leaning over the gable he dashed the water at the places where the fire started and kept a pretty constant stream flowing down over the front of the building till the period of greatest heat was past, and the building was saved.

   Water was also thrown upon the roof and front of the market and house of Mr. Friar.

   Down at the house of Austin Brown carpets were hung over the edge of the roof to protect the most exposed portions of the siding and these were kept soaked with water. Men on the roof watched out for sparks and promptly extinguished them. But in spite of it all the paint on the clapboards where the carpets did not protect was scorched and colored.

Help from Cortland.

   When the fire first broke out it looked as though no means at hand would be sufficient to protect the adjoining property, and a telephone call was sent to Cortland asking for help in the form of the steamer and hose. Homer would be nearer, but the Homer steamer is out of repair and useless. Chief E. N. Sherwood was summoned to Fireman's hall, but before he could get there D. F. Waters, the driver of the hook and ladder team, had arranged a plan of action. It seemed useless to take hose from Cortland, and Homer was asked to send that. Seven hundred feet of hose from Homer companies No. 1 and No. 2 were placed on a light truck belonging to Briggs Brothers, and accompanied by a few firemen, were hurried off to Scott.

Relays of Teams.

   Mr. Waters started to hitch the big city team upon the steamer but found that the tongue of the steamer was not as long as that on the hook and ladder truck and not long enough for the big black team and had to abandon that. The big truck team of Leroy Call was pressed into service and started for Homer with the steamer and with Engineer A. M. McNett, and Alvah Harmon. Chief Sherwood and A. B. Filzinger followed quickly in a buggy. The request for help came at 3:20 and at 3:40 the steamer started. It is a good eleven miles to Scott and all up grade and altogether too far for a single team to take the steamer at the speed at which it was pushed through, even though the roads were good, so relays of teams were arranged for. Nearly every other farmer on the Scott road has a telephone so it was easy to make arrangements.

   At Homer the big bay truck team of Schenck Brothers was waiting for the steamer to come up and it took but two or three minutes to change horses and move on again. Three miles further up the road is Frank Rice's farm and as the steamer arrived there it found Mr. Rice's splendid pair of draught horses all ready, and on it went again at a tremendous pace. Three miles further at Walter Jones' farm four horses were waiting to take the steamer on up the last hills to Scott, but a telephone message was received that the fire had probably done its worst and that the other buildings had been saved and it was not necessary to go further. So a halt was made for a little time to wait developments, and as word continued to be favorable the faces were turned back homeward, but the pace was slower than when on the way up. A thorough examination of the steamer was made this morning and it appears that it is in no respect injured by its rapid trip. Only one nut could be found that had even started. It is, however, to be given an immediate test to see that it is in perfect working order.

The Standard Gets the News.

   The Standard got the news of the fire at 3:20 and ten minutes later two representatives were on their way to Scott. The Standard team was the first out of Cortland and the first to arrive at Scott from this city. Afterward a number of automobiles and several carriages arrived from Cortland. At the time The Standard men got there the hotel was pretty well down, and the helpers were beginning to take the rescued goods to places of safety.

Loss and Insurance.

   Mr. Roche was asked about his loss and insurance. He said that the building could not be replaced for $8,000 and his inventory a few months ago showed that the goods and personal property amounted to about $4,000. He, therefore, places the loss at not less than $12,000. He had $5,000 insurance on the building and $2,000 on the contents, all placed with W. H. Foster of Homer. He says he shall rebuild at once. When be made this statement in reply to a Standard man's question his words were greeted with cheers by the crowd of bystanders who heard. They said they had feared that he would not put up another building.

   Mr. Roche said further that he should have a hotel open last night. He owns the building, once used as a hotel, on the corner diagonally opposite from the burned building, and he said that he should open a hotel there without any delay whatever.

Former Hotel Was Burned.

   It is worthy of note that the hotel which preceded this one was burned on the same site twenty-five years ago last May. The fire then started in the barn from pipes from some young men who were smoking there. The flames spread to the hotel and both barn and hotel were wholly destroyed. The owner at that time was Charles Dunbar and it was 6 years before he rebuilt. The hotel burned yesterday was put up nineteen years ago this summer for Mr. Dunbar by Francis M. Hazard, Sherman Brown and John Cleveland. Mr. Hazard recalled the fact yesterday that they completed their work on election day nineteen years ago and that after voting, he went to New York that night, partly on business and partly to hear the returns from the presidential election concerning which there was so much excitement. It was the year of Cleveland's first election.

Sympathy for Mr. Roche.

   Mr. Roche has been the owner of this hotel since ten years ago last July. He has been a very popular and successful proprietor and Mrs. Roche has been just as capable and successful in the charge of her part of the business as her husband in his. The hotel has been a favorite gathering place for people from all over that section of the country and, as stated before, their periodical parties have always been popular and well patronized. On all sides yesterday was heard expressions of sympathy for Mr. and Mrs. Roche in their loss, but words of gratification at the prospects that a new hotel is to go up from the ashes of the old one.

   At the same time, while all were commiserating the loss that had fallen upon the place they were thankful that it was no greater, for at one time it seemed as though the whole north half of the village was to be destroyed.

   Fire has fallen heavily upon Scott in recent months, for the large and handsome dwelling owned by Mrs. John Landphier and occupied by the family of D. J. Cottrell was burned in Jan. 24 of this year and has not been rebuilt.

   During the progress of the fire yesterday the workers were much refreshed by the hot coffee and lemonade prepared and served by the ladies of the village.

 

 

VAN WORMER BROTHERS EXECUTED

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, October 1, 1903.

ENTERED FATAL CHAIR.

Three Van Wormer Boys Electrocuted This Forenoon.

WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF NERVE.

Saw Nobody During the Morning but the Two Priests and the Prison Doctor—Received Yesterday a Written Farewell From Their Stepmother. Story of Their Crime.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1.—Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer were electrocuted this morning at Clinton prison between 11:20 and 12 o'clock. They were aroused about 7 o'clock in the morning and received and doned the clothing in which they were to die.

   At 8:30 the two priests administered their first and last communion in the full membership of the Roman Catholic church, and this, with the prescribed prayers for those in extreme peril of death, invested the morning with the utmost solemnity. The priests did not leave them until the physicians in the death chamber pronounced them dead.

   About 9 o'clock they were visited by Dr. Ransom, who took note of their condition. They received no other visitors.

   At 11:20 the first of the condemned men was led to the chair. The second brother followed as soon as the first was pronounced dead. The executions were over at noon.

 

LAST DAY ON EARTH.

Warden Says They Passed Ordeal of Preparation Unflinchingly.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1.—On the eve of the execution the three Van Wormer boys were in better condition physically and mentally than any of the many others who have met their fate in the death chamber here. They passed the afternoon through a most trying ordeal when the prison barber entered their cells and shaved their faces and a patch on the head of each where one of the electrodes was to be applied. Each of the brothers chatted cheerfully with the barber, and none showed the least perturbation.

   Following this they received in writing from their stepmother the farewell which she had been prevented from delivering in person. They expressed pleasure at receiving this letter and at the fact that they had not been subjected to the ordeal of a farewell face to face.

   The most striking exhibition of their remarkable self-control was given at their farewell with Warden Deyo, whom they next saw beside the fatal chair. One by one, with outstretched hands, they grasped that of the kindly warden, who was himself overcome by emotion. Each assured the warden that he thoroughly appreciated that he was passing his last hours on earth, and that they would face death bravely. Willis, the oldest, who has appeared most sensitive, was particularly firm and told the warden: "Mr. Warden, we are thoroughly prepared to go, and none of us will give you any trouble. We thank you for your kindness, and we know that everything possible has been done for us."

   Warden Deyo said afterward: "l never saw another such exhibition of nerve. The two keepers and myself were decidedly more overcome than they were. They were apparently entirely resigned to their fate and, of all the men whom I have seen awaiting death, they gave the best assurance of being able to go through the ordeal unflinchingly.''

Story of the Crime.

   The story of the crime which ended in the electrocution of the three Van Wormer brothers is as follows;

   On Christmas eve, 1901, the three Van Wormers and their cousin Harvey Bruce drove from their home in Kinderhook to Greendale, where Peter Hałlenbeck, their uncle, resided.

   Before reaching the Hałlenbeck home they put on masks and thus disguised forced their way into the house.

   Hałlenbeck, his wife and mother were at home and the old man immediately seized hold of one of the brothers. The four men immediately fired repeatedly at Hałlenbeck, while the women fled to the upper apartment and locked the door.

   Hałlenbeck managed to escape from the ruffians, but fell dead in an attempt to get upstairs.

   The four men were arrested shortly afterwards. It had been known they had made threats against their uncle, who had aroused their enmity by foreclosing a mortgage which he had held on the property belonging to their stepmother.

   Their conviction was made possible through the evidence of their accomplice, Harvey Bruce, who turned state's evidence, and who has been sentenced to 18 years in state's prison.

   For two years they have been fighting for their lives, and have twice been reprieved by the governor pending appeals for new trials, but in each instance the judgment of the lower court has been affirmed.

   A parallel case occurred in New York state in 1825, three brothers named Thayer being hanged in Buffalo for the murder of a peddler named John Love.

 

TRIPLE EXECUTION.

The Three Van Wormers Pay the Penalty of Murder.

ALL OVER IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.

Boys Unable to Sleep Till After 2 o'clock and then Sleep Soundly Till Morning—Arrange the Order of Execution Themselves and Warden Deyo Accepts it—Oldest First, then Youngest, then Middle One—One Breaks Down When He Bids the Death Watch Good-bye—Rapid Work of the Executioners.

   Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 1—A solemn hush hung over Clinton prison this morning and the bright skies of yesterday had given way to dull, leaden clouds which threatened rain at any moment. Within their narrow cells iu the death house, Willis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer are making final preparations to meet their Maker. They spent practically a sleepless night and it was not until about 3 o'clock this morning that they bade each other good night and dropped off into a sound slumber.

   When their supper was taken in last night, shortly before 10 o'clock, Burton, who occupies a cell across from Willis and Frederick, remarked that he was not afraid to die and would meet death bravely.

   "I have no more fear of that chair tomorrow," he said to Keeper Nash, "than I have of eating my supper. I can stand it to see the other two boys go and be the last to meet my fate."

   The boys looked forward eagerly to the visit this morning of Father Belanger, and his assistant Father Charboneau. The priests entered the prison shortly after 8 o'clock and went at once to the death house to administer the first and last communion.

Final Preparations.

   State Electrician Davis was at the prison at 7 o'clock to see that final preparations were complete. He examined the clothing to see that the right legs of the trousers were properly slit to the line to allow the application of the electrode. The prison barber yesterday afternoon visited them in their cells and shaved a portion of the hair from their heads to allow the adjustment of the helmet.

   There will be no change in the prison routine on account of the executions and the men will march in at the usual time. Although, as is always the case, efforts have been made to keep the affair from becoming known among the convicts, yet because of the unaccountable way in which news travels about the prison there are few among the 1,010 prisoners who do not know that three young lives are to be blotted out today. The boys will be the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth victims to meet death in Clinton's execution chamber. Seven were executed in the original chair, the last being the famous "Bat" Shea. A new and stronger chair was then built at the prison and it is in this the boys will sit.

   While some of the witnesses arrived yesterday, the majority arrived on the morning train.

Wish for Three Chairs.

   When William T. Murphy, the death watch, left the death house at 8 o'clock this morning the boys all shook hands with him and bade him goodbye, thanking him for the kindness he had shown them. Home, friends and their fate of the morrow were freely discussed by the boys before they retired last night.

   "By tomorrow night at this time I suppose we will all be back in Kinderhook," remarked one of them.

   "I wish there were three chairs so we could all go together," said Fred.

   Willis was the first to announce his intention of retiring. It was 2:10 a. m. when he bade the others good night and went to his cot. Half an hour later Fred and Burton said good night after requesting that they be called at "7 o'clock. All three went to sleep almost immediately and sleep soundly until 1:15 when they were awakened by Mr. Murphy. They greeted him cheerily and asked of each other how they felt. Each said he felt equal to the ordeal which he was about to face.

Order Decided Upon.

   At 8:30 Warden Deyo said it had been decided to take in Willis the oldest, first, Frederick, the youngest, second, and Burton, last.

   This arrangement was agreed upon by the boys themselves after a long discussion during the night. They decided that Willis should be permitted to go first because of his ill health and consequent weakness. Willis, throughout his long confinement here, has been afflicted with lung trouble. Up to the very last hour, even this morning, Willis has taken a spoonful of cod liver oil after each meal. It was this condition of his health that determined the others as to his right to first consideration in the death march to the chair.

The Last Night.

   The boys spent the greater part of last night in reading their Bible and gave special study to a book expounding and explaining the Catholic faith which had been furnished them by Father Belanger. This they read and studied earnestly and it was passed repeatedly from one cell to the other, each marking pages which seemed to particularly interest and to which they desired to direct the special attention of the others.

   Although the boys retained their nerve, they did display some weakness on the final parting with the death watch, who had been their most intimate associate during their long confinement. When it came to the final parting, Fred, the youngest, broke down completely and wept piteously. His distress was clearly in the parting rather than in the thought of his impending death.

The Witnesses.

   Warden Deyo this morning announced the list of witnesses as follows: Dr. J. B. Ransom, prison Physician; Dr. Edward Spitzka of New York; Dr. Carlos McDonald of New York; Dr. T. W. Van Iangen of Syracuse; Dr. L. B. Honeyford of Cairo; Philip H. Campbell of Saratoga; Dr. A. W. Cutler of Oneonta; Dr. W. E. Clough of West Chazy; Warden Silas W. Berry of the Eastern reformatory at Napanoch; George E. Graham, John F. Tremain, Richard G. Conover of Albany; W. A. Willis of New York and James Kavanaugh and Howard D. Hadley of Plattsburgh.

Bulletins of Execution.

   11:26—The witnesses have started for the death chamber.

   11:32—After the usual test of the chair with a bank of incandescent lamps, the first man, Willis Van Wormer, oldest of the brothers, has been summoned.

   11:34 1/2—Willis Van Wormer has entered the death chamber.

   11:35 1/2—Current turned on into Willis' body.

   11:37—Willis Van Wormer declared dead.

   11:41 1/2—Frederick has entered death chamber.

   11:42—Current turned on Frederick.

   11:43 1/2—Frederick declared dead.

   11:47—Burton enters death chamber.

   11:48—Current turned on Burton.

   11:48 1/2—Burton declared dead.

   The triple execution had been completed within just 15 minutes.

 

SUIT BY THE DELAWARES, ISTHMIAN REPUBLIC, CORTLAND-ITHACA TROLLEY, AND SOLDIER TAKEN PRISONER

 

Ethan Allen Hitchcock.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, September 29, 1903.

SUIT BY DELAWARES.

Indians Want $1,000,000 Damages From the United States.

INCURRED IN DEFENDING TITLES.

Sensational Accusations Against the Dawes Commission—Said to Be Interested In Oil Leases Upon Lands In Dispute—Question of Title to 157,000 Acres.

   Washington, Sept. 29.—Justice Anderson of the supreme court of the District of Columbia has rendered an opinion in the injunction proceedings of the Delaware Indians against Secretary Hitchcock and the Dawes Indian commission, dissolving the temporary injunction heretofore granted.

   The case involved the right of the secretary to pass on the 157,000 acres of land in the Cherokee nation, segregated for the use of the Delawares.

   The Indians claimed that the secretary is without authority to approve or disapprove of the segregation, as it has been approved by the Indians interested, and a temporary injunction was granted.

   Soon after the decision was rendered an attorney filed a petition in the court of claims for the Delawares against the United States asking for $1,000,000 damages because of the expenses to the Indians for defending title of their lands.

   In this petition they make some sensational statements. One of these accusations is to the effect that members of the Dawes commission are interested in oil leases and companies holding leases made upon their lands by Cherokees, claiming title. The petition alleges that the Dawes commission, disregarding their official duties, conspired and confederated to cheat the petitioners so as to gain possession of their lands for themselves or for their companies under the pretence of allotting said lands to divers persons who are willing to enter into contracts of lease and sale with representatives of trust and land companies, in which the members of the Dawes commission are interested.

   It is further charged that the Dawes commission, after the segregation of the land to the Delawares, allowed more than 200 persons, not Delawares, "to make selections for homes upon parts of the said Delaware lands so segregated as aforesaid, and have allowed such persons to file applications for allotments thereon, and have sought by recommendations contained in their report of April 20, 1903, to the secretary of the interior to cause steps to be taken to prevent the supreme court of the United States from rendering such judgment in the cause now pending therein as would confirm in your petitioners the title to said 157,000 acres so segregated as aforesaid."

   The secretary of the interior is charged with unlawful acts to defraud the Indians, such as that of encouraging white men who have married squaw wives to make claim to Delaware lands.

 

CASE OF W. A. MILLER.

Discussed by Washington Central Labor Union.

NO FIGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT.

Stated That They Had a Right to Petition Him to Rescind His Action In the Case and to Request Other Labor Organizations to Join Them In That Object.

   Washington, Sept 29.—The attitude of the Central Labor Union toward President Roosevelt came up for discussion at a meeting of that body last night in connection with the case of W. A. Miller, the assistant foreman in the bindery of the government printing office, in which the union has taken an active interest.

   After the meeting it was stated that the union was not waging a political campaign against the president, but that its members thought they had the right to petition, and to request other labor organizations to petition the president to rescind his action in the Miller case.

 

FOR THE LAST FAREWELL.

Mrs. Van Wormer Going to Visit Her Three Stepsons.

   Albany, N. Y., Sept. 29.—At 7 oclock this morning Mrs. Van Wormer left this city for Dannemora, where she will bid farewell to her three stepsons, Willis, Burton and Frederick, who will die at noon on Thursday. The woman is heartbroken because she feels that owing to her poverty she cannot claim the bodies after the electrocution. She will see Warden Deyo and endeavor to make some arrangements whereby she can have the remains of all brought to Greenport for burial.

   Mrs. Van Wormer spent the night with relatives on 2nd-st.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

An Isthmian Republic.

   If Panama were to secede from Colombia, carrying out the threat which has been implied if not actually expressed, what would be her strength and resources? The question of secession has already been discussed at Bogota, as well as in Panama, and cannot be said to be in its incipient stage. A glance at a map of South and Central America suggests the inquiry. "Why should Panama belong to Colombia?" If convenience and contiguity amounted to anything, Panama would belong to the Central American confederation, but chance willed that it should join itself to Colombia.

   Lying between Costa Rica and Colombia, it embraces the narrowest part of Central America and for centuries has been deemed the most available region to be pierced by an Atlantic-Pacific canal. The question which now is uppermost in the minds of Panama residents is how to slough off from Colombia and set up as a little republic on its own account.

   Geographically it is comparatively isolated from the greater portion of the republic to which it is joined, and if it were to secede would not greatly embarrass Colombia, which would still have ports on the Caribbean sea as well as on the Pacific ocean. It is more a matter of pride and sentiment than convenience with the Colombians, who also recognize the very desirable acquisition they have in Panama, with its potential millions in the matter of the canal rights alone.

   But Panama has, as it thinks, almost a "casus belli," or at least good cause for a grievance, in the fact that it is not treated by Colombia with the respect due a state of its commanding situation and international importance. If it decisively separates it will probably base its contention, first of all, upon the statement that there has been no really republican government in Colombia for nearly seventeen years, when the sovereignty of its constituent states was practically abolished and they were converted into "provinces." The departments of Panama, Cauca and Bolivar joined in a declaration some time ago that inasmuch as the so called constitution had not been submitted to the people it was not legal and therefore was not binding on the several protesting states, and this attitude has been consistently maintained. If the isthmian republic were to be set up it would probably be composed of the three states of Panama, Cauca and Bolivar with an area of about 32,000 square miles and a population of perhaps 300,000. It would be rich in native resources, such as gold, iron, coal, copper, pearls, precious woods, rubber, coffee and all tropical products, and a vast trade could be greatly developed.

   The continent of Central America has been likened to a cornucopia, and though Panama constitutes the small tip of this horn of plenty it will not necessarily "come out at the little end of the horn." With its world famous canal site and the short but important transcontinental railway crossing the isthmus it will always be an object of importance to the world at large.

   Historically it is one of the famous regions of the world, having been conspicuous ever since Balboa, from Darien, just south, discovered the Pacific in 1513. It holds within its confines the site of one of the oldest cities in America, old Panama, founded in 1518.

   In view of what has recently transpired in Colombia and of the manner in which Panama has been treated by that republic in the recent past the secessionists claim that not only their own interests, but those of the civilized world in general, would be served by the establishment of an independent republic at the isthmus. As to the complications that might arise, with the United States pledged to maintain open transit across the isthmus and at the same time have an eye to the integrity of Columbia, neither the secessionists nor the diplomats have publicly announced their conclusions.

 

CORTLAND-ITHACA.

Adjourned Hearing on the Matter of the Franchise.

FURTHER ADJOURNMENT SECURED.

Applicants Had Not With Them a Detailed Statement as to the Cost of Building the Road—Some General Figures in Regard to Construction—Fifteen Cars to be Used—Cost Lumped off at $154,000.

   The adjourned hearing of the State Railroad commission in the case of the Cortland-Ithaca Traction company, which is desirous of getting the permission of the commission to build an electric railroad from Cortland to Ithaca, was held in Elmira yesterday and was again adjourned late in the afternoon without getting any nearer a decisive point than did the hearing at Dryden during the early part of the month,

   A special dispatch from Elmira to the Ithaca Journal yesterday said: The hearing at Elmira hinged upon a question of a detailed statement regarding the construction of the road. The witnesses for the promoters were unable to produce certain combative evidence until this statement was produced, and it was finally decided that the hearing would have to be continued at future date.

   With Col. George W. Dunn of Binghamton presiding, and his colleagues F. M. Baker of Owego, and Joseph M. Dickey of Newburg present, the hearing was called to order in the Rathbun House at 10 o'clock. The Hon. George E. Monroe appeared as the representative for the applicants with Eli H. Chandler of Philadelphia, the vice-president of the Traction company assisting. General George M. Diven and Attorney A. S. Diven of Elmira, assisted by J. F. Schaperkotter, the general agent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad company of New York, appeared for the objectors.

   Mr. Monroe called as his first witness Professor Henry N. Ogden of Cornell, the engineer of the proposed road. He testified in general to the proposed plans and stated that the cost of the road, exclusive of the rails, ties and equipment, would reach $154,000.

   The vital movement came when Attorney Diven cross-examined Mr. Ogden and asked him questions relative to the details of construction. When asked if he had a detailed statement regarding the construction Mr. Ogden replied in the negative, and stated that he could not answer some of the questions without referring to his note book which he had left at home.

   Attorney Diven appealed to the commissioners by stating that he would be unable to produce his expert testimony in opposition without first getting the detailed statement from the promoters. At this Chairman Dunn took occasion to severely criticize the applicants for not being prepared with the statement which, he said, had been promised at the Dryden hearing.

   Mr. Chandler, in reply, said he did not understand that the statement had been promised, but that he was perfectly willing to produce it at a future date.

   When Mr. Chandler was called to the stand he testified to the manner in which the road would be equipped. He said there would be fifteen cars, all of modern type with air brakes and the latest safety appliances for grades. The fifteen cars he said would cost $36,000 and the engines and boilers, for the power station, $58,000. His testimony concluded at 12:30 o'clock.

   At 4 o'clock the hearing took an adjournment. The commissioners went to Buffalo last night where they were to conduct a similar meeting. Later they will return to Elmira for the final hearing of the Cortland-Ithaca road.

 

TAKEN PRISONER.

David R. Shults Recalls Some Incidents of the 157th Regiment.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—Captain Saxton in his reminiscences of the One Hundred Fifty-Seventh regiment, mentions in a recent letter how Captain Dilinger by a well placed shot in the battle of Gettysburg, disabled one of the enemy's guns. How well I remember that gun. I was taken prisoner in the first day's battle and in passing over the ground I called the attention of a Confederate general to it and asked him why they left the gun out there. He replied that they had plenty of guns without that one. "We have plugged this one, "I responded, "and will plug a good many more before we are through with you."

   Just then one of our officers, wounded and also a prisoner, called to me, "For God's sake, give me a drink of water." I gave him a drink from my canteen and the guard said, "I've a good mind to shoot you for helping that Yankee."

   We passed on in our march to the rear and soon came to a rail fence which had heaps of dead lying in the corners with canvas stretched over their bodies. I asked a guard what was under the canvas and he replied "Forage for the horses." I noticed a man's leg sticking out and I said, "Oh, that is the kind of forage, is it? Well, we will give you plenty more before we finish this battle." He threatened to run me through with his bayonet.

   We saw the battle, or a part of it next day, and at one time cheered enthusiastically for the old flag. A Confederate officer then gave orders to the guards to shoot the first Yankee who opened his mouth to cheer.

   I was captured in the village of Gettysburg when the Rebels came in such force. After the battle we were again marched south. For three days after we left Gettysburg we had no food whatever. We were getting pretty weak. We were taken first to Staunton, Va., where we stayed four weeks. We were there driven into a large field which had a line of guards all about it. As we went through the gateway we were compelled to drop every article we had outside of our clothes. Our food there was a piece of hard tack about three inches square and a quarter of an inch thick, mixed up of sour milk and flour and baked hard, and a piece of bacon as large as two ringers which was full of maggots.

   After four weeks there we were taken to Richmond and were imprisoned in Castle Thunder. We passed Libby prison. There is a general belief that all through the war Libby was full of Union prisoners, but when we were in Richmond it was full of Rebel deserters. We shouted to them as they looked out of the windows, "What are you there for?" "Oh, we went home and forgot to come back," was the answer. "Then you are deserters," we said. "Yes, we are deserters."

   After twenty-four hours at Castle Thunder we were called before a Rebel officer and given a chance to take the oath of parole or go to prison again. We talked it over and signed the parole. This meant that we would not re-enter the Union army till we had been regularly exchanged.

   After signing the parole we were sent to Norfolk and under a flag of truce turned over to our friends again. We were glad to get there, but were pretty weak by that time. We were then sent to the Union parole camp to remain till exchanged. I contrived to get away and come home and got thirty days with my friends. There was a risk in doing this, not of being seized as a deserter, but of being arrested and sent back to the parole camp in which case I should have been at once liberated again, but would have had $30 deducted from my pay. I could then have come home again and tried it over, but it would have cost me $30 every time I was caught. However, I didn't get caught at all, and after thirty days at home returned to the parole camp and in about seven weeks was regularly exchanged with the others who were captured with me, and we then rejoined our regiment at Folly Island, S. C.

   Very truly, David R. Shults.

   Late of Co. C., 157 Reg., N. Y. Vols.

 

BREVITIES.

   —L. W. Simpson, who lives on R. F. D., No. 6, from Cortland picked two quarts of red raspberries on his premises yesterday.

   —The annual election of officers of the Farther Lights society of the First Baptist church- was postponed from last evening until the next regular meeting.

   —The Lehigh Valley R. R. ran an excursion from Ithaca to Niagara Falls on Sunday for a round trip fare of $1, and 1,837 people took advantage of it. The train was run in three sections.

    —The new display advertisements today are—S. Rosenbloom & Sons, Fall fashions in all their glory, page 7; Opera House, "Under Southern Skies," page 5; M. A. Case, Dress goods, page 8; W. W. Walters, Shoes, page 6; A. Mahan, Pianos, page 6; Homer Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mock court trial, page 5; Opera House, "Cleveland Minstrels," page 5.