Saturday, December 21, 2013

Almost a Dam Catastrophe


 
The Cortland News, Friday, March 26, 1886.

The Line of the Elmira, Cortland and Northern Road to Extend to Camden.

   CANASTOTA, March 23--[Special]--For weeks and months the citizens of Canastota have been talking railroad, and several leading citizens, among whom were Hon. Fred C. Fiske and Seward H. Stroud have been giving their whole time toward securing a road from this village to Camden. A committee consisting of ten leading business men here induced A. A. McLeod, manager of the E. C. & N. road, to enter into an agreement with them that if they would furnish the right of way the E.C.& N. would build, equip, and run the road.

   A meeting was held last evening to raise $11,000, that being the amount necessary to purchase the right of way. The committee were to bind themselves to-day to furnish the right of way or the E. C. & N., company were not bound to fulfill on their part. Though the meeting did not close until 3 o’clock this morning, the full amount needed was raised and to-day Mr. McLeod and the committee of ten completed the contract.

   This question has excited a great deal of interest among our citizens, from the fact that Oneida made very liberal offers to secure the road. The right of way will be obtained in a month and then the work of construction will commence. Canastota citizens are very much elated over the result. This morning maps were filed in the office of the Secretary of State and in the Madison and Oneida county clerks' offices.

   This evening cannons were fired and the town was alive with fireworks. A large procession, including the fire department and several hundred citizens, headed by the Canastota band, paraded the streets of the village. There is general rejoicing over the result.

   Rev. E. A. Tuttle rendered valuable services at the meeting Tuesday evening in raising the money to purchase the right of way, and the business men showed their appreciation by getting up a purse of $107.23 and the procession brought it up in his yard on the line of march. The presentation speech was made by M. E. Barlow, and Mr. Tuttle responded in an admirable manner. Several business men made short speeches and the procession moved on. This is the most important enterprise ever undertaken by the citizens of Canastota.

 

FATAL ACCIDENT.

Mrs. Philo Landers and Daughter Killed at a Railroad Crossing.

   As the express train which leaves Cortland at 1:20 p. m. was passing the Seymour crossing, one mile south of Whitney's Point last Friday afternoon, a horse driven by Mrs. Philo Landers, of Castle Creek, became frightened and ran into the passing train. Mrs. Landers and her daughter, Lola, aged about ten years, were thrown from the carriage and instantly killed. Mrs. Landers had one limb completely severed from the body, and was otherwise horribly mutilated by coming in contact with a switch post. The daughter was also terribly bruised.

   The crossing where the accident occurred has long been considered as dangerous by the inhabitants of that section, as the road runs nearly parallel with the track for some distance and at the crossing the view of it is obstructed by buildings.

   The horse which was being driven by Mrs. Landers had run away at the same spot only about a week before, and she was warned by her husband before she left home not to drive it as it was unsafe for her to do so.

   The funeral of mother and daughter was held at Upper Lisle on Tuesday, Rev. Geo. Adams, of this place officiating.

 

Almost a Dam Catastrophe.

   Andrew Burch, who had been imbibing something stronger than his Christian name, and a companion, started to go home from this village on Monday evening. Climbing the hill the pair assumed the form of an inverted capital V, and when about opposite the residence of Alonzo Lench they lost their balance and fell over the high embankment.   Burch fell down the whole distance, some 50 feet into the pond below, while his comrade saved himself by catching hold of the bushes. Burch managed to keep his head out of water until he was within a few feet of the dam, when he went under. His cries and those of his companion brought assistance in the person of Mart Hyde and Samuel Mudge, who rescued him just as he was on the point of going over the upper dam upon the rocks below.

   Andrew Burch should drink nothing but birch hereafter.

   Wellington Hopkins carefully clambered thrown the bank to where the other man was, and at great risk to himself, brought him safely to the road. Marathon Independent.

 

When Funerals Must Be Private.

   A new death certificate has been formulated, appended to which is the following paragraph, the orders of which will be strictly enforced:

   SECTION 204—There shall not be a public or church funeral of any person who has died of small pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever. typhus fever, or Asiatic cholera, but the funeral shall be private; and it shall not be lawful to invite or permit at the funeral of any person who has died of any of the above diseases, or at any services connected therewith any person whose attendance is not necessary, or to whom there is danger of contagion thereby.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

 

   The traveling [in mud] is so bad that the McGrawville express is now running with three horses attached.

   Eggs are now quoted as being worth only fifteen cents per dozen. About time for hens to go on a strike.

   Sportsmen will do well to remember that trout fishing is not allowed until the first day of May.

   The prospects for new houses the coming season seem to be as good as ever before. Already a number of cellars are being excavated and the builders are taking many contracts. Let the good work go on.

   The Syracuse Sunday Times in its last issue pretended to give a portrait of [Savings Bank] President G. W. Bradford, which was about the worst attempt we have yet seen in the way of illustrations. The picture resembled "Gersh" about as much as a load of wood resembles a steam fire engine.

   The Cortland Mf'g. Co., Limited, who have lately begun the manufacture of wagons, buggies, &c. in the buildings lately occupied by the Tillinghast Wagon Co., are employing about 40 men, and will commence the shipment of goods next week.

   Some method should be devised by our city fathers for improving the condition of South Main street. There is about as much travel there as on any thoroughfare in town and it is virtually a mud hole without bottom every spring, from the Messenger House to the E. C. & N. depot

   The Binghamton Republican has the following to say about a former business man of Willett, but more recently doing time: “Mr. H. J. Fox, of North street, who has been absent a couple of years in connection with the State Department of Public Labor at Auburn, is home on a vacation.”

   John Kiley, who was arrested a couple of weeks ago for disturbing the Salvation Army meetings had an examination before Justice Bouton on Tuesday and was held in $350 bonds for his appearance before the grand jury.

   A new time table will go into effect on the E. C. & N. road next Monday. Two new trains will be put on, one leaving Cortland for Elmira at 7:48 p. m., the other for Canastota at the same time. The latter will connect with the New York Central and West Shore roads so that passengers can reach Boston, and New York at 7:00 the next morning. The train from the west which leaves Elmira at 2:35 p. m. and which now runs through to Canastota will only run to this place. The schedule on the trains which leave for the west at 8:52 a. m., and 2:40 p. m. has been quickened so that these trains all reach Elmira about 15 minutes earlier than heretofore, the latter connecting with Erie train No. 1 for all points west. Sunday trains will run as heretofore. This new schedule has been arranged by the company with the view of accommodating Cortland business, and ought to be appreciated.

 

A Short Drama.

   Will Hicks, fighting drunk.

   Sheriff Van Hoesen and Under Sheriff Miller.

   Justice Bierce.

   Onondaga Penitentiary, 70 days.

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