Friday, November 14, 2014

FATAL ACCIDENT ON D. L. & W. R. R. BETWEEN HOMER AND CORTLAND



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 29, 1888.
Fatal Accident on the D. L. & W.
   Last Monday afternoon Carmino Palermo an Italian employed on the D. L. & W. as section hand was killed between this village and Homer by falling backward from a hand car which was running at a high rate of speed. They had left Homer just behind the 2:22 freight, which they were endeavoring to overtake, being urged on by a man standing on the rear of the train. The boss of the gang endeavored to stop the car, but his commands were unheeded. While going at this rapid rate one of the men lost his balance and caught at Palermo who was standing near him and both were thrown from the car.
   Palermo fell across the rail with such force that his skull was broken, while the other escaped with several severe bruises. Palermo had been in this country over two years, and had just returned from a visit to Italy. He has a sister living in this village.

Y. M. C. A.
   The second monthly meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association was held Monday evening [at the Standard block—CC editor]. Twenty five young men were reported as having joined since last meeting, showing a decided growth in interest. The rooms are now fully furnished. The front part is set off by screens and fitted up for a parlor, the adjoining part contains games and the rest is now a well equalized reading room. The following show how well the varied interests of our young men have been consulted.
   Monthlies.—Harper's. Scribner's, St. Nicholas, Outing.
   Weeklies.—Harper's, Frank Leslie's Illustrated, American Architect, Scientific American, Electrical World, Public Opinion, also New York and Syracuse dailies with various older papers that make a well equipped reading room.
   The attractiveness of the parlor has been increased by a very handsome gift, Picturesque America.
   The rooms are now open 9 A. M. to 9:30 P. M. for all that care to use them, and are made very light and cheerful by electric lights.

Quarterly Convention W. C. T. U.
   The thirteenth quarterly convention of the Cortland county W. C. T. U. was held in the M. E. church, Virgil, June 12, beginning at 10:30 A. M. The convention was called to order by the first vice-president, Mrs. June of Blodgett Mills, in the absence of the president, Mrs. E. C. Viele. Devotional exercises were conducted by Mrs. Perkins, of Virgil, consisting of singing from Gospel Hymns, Scripture reading from Gal. 5 and 6; prayer and singing “Nearer the Cross.”
   The roll of officers was then called and sixteen responded. Minutes of the last convention were then read, also the report of an executive meeting held in Cortland, May 10. Both were approved. Committees on credentials, courtesy of convention and resolutions, were appointed by the president. Report of the corresponding secretary was read and approved, after which the noontide hour of prayer was observed. A very cordial address of welcome was given by Mrs. Sophia Homer of Virgil, responded to by Mrs. Kate M. Greenman, of Cortland.
   At a meeting of the executive committee, held during the intermission, Mrs. Stillman's resignation as treasurer was given and accepted, and Mrs. Florence Brush of Homer was elected to fill the vacancy.
   The afternoon session opened with singing by the choir, Bible reading by Mrs. Weaver of Batavia, from the 119th Psalm, prayer and singing. A communication was read from Fred. F. Wheeler, chairman of the state Prohibition committee, containing an invitation for the sending of delegates to the state convention to be held in Syracuse. Mrs. L. M. Allen of Homer and Mrs. E. Collins of Cortland were elected delegates, and Mrs. Jennie June and Mrs. Julia F. Tanner of Blodgett Mills alternates.
   The following resolution was offered by Mrs. Allen:
   The object of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union as declared in its constitution is, "To promote the cause of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage and to secure the extinction of the liquor traffic by such means as shall, from time to time, be deemed expedient."
   At the first quarterly convention of the W. C. T. U. of Cortland county, held in Virgil, June 4, 1888, the following resolution was adopted:
   Resolved, That as a Union we do not consider it expedient to ally ourselves to any political party. Today the saloon is interested in politics as well as in law, and we believe that the spirit of our constitution demands that we give our countenance and our support to that party which, recognizing the outlawing of the saloon as the living issue between the parties, dedicates its ballots to that end. Therefore,
   Resolved, That we will lend our influence to that political organization which declares in its platform for national prohibition and home protection.
   In the discussion which followed there was no opposition. A ballot was taken which resulted in 43 votes for and 9 against the resolution upon the announcement of which the whole congregation rose to their feet and sang the Temperance Doxology.
   There was a recitation by Miss Hattie Glines, of Breesport, winner of two Demorest medals, a silver and a gold one. The exercises by the Loyal Temperance Legion of Virgil showed excellent training and enthusiasm in the work.
   A. E. Seymour of McGrawville was introduced to the convention and stated that the Prohibitionists of Cortland county had purchased a tent and that it was just set up for the first time in Virgil, and gave the ladies a special invitation to hold a dedicatory prayer meeting in it between the afternoon and evening services, which was accepted.
   An exceedingly interesting and instructive paper upon "The World's," was read by Mrs. M. W. Lyon of Truxton. An invitation from Homer was accepted for the next convention. A notice wan given that at the next meeting, the feasibility of changing the constitution so as to hold semi-annual instead of quarterly conventions would be discussed. The convention was closed by a masterly lecture in the evening by Mrs. M. J. Weaver, State Vice-President.
MRS. M. P. STARR, Sec.

Emerald's Field Day.
   Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather last Saturday, there was a fair attendance at the driving park to witness the sports set down for the day. The program was carried out in full, though the rain caused some delay and it was late before it was completed. The day was begun with a ball match between the Normals and Shamrocks, which resulted in a score of six to six after eleven innings had been played.
   The one hundred yard race was called at 3:30 P. M., and was entered by three contestants. The result was as follows:
   Hilligus, 2-1-1-1
   Riley,     1-3-3-3
   Renne,    3-3-3-3
   Time, 10 1/5, 10 3/4,10, 10 1/3 seconds.
   The hurdle race, 120 yards, had also three contestants. The following is the summary:
   Sullivan, 1-1
   Hilligus,  0-3
   Renne,     0-2
   Time, 20.20 seconds.
   The backward running race, 300 yards, was contested by Sullivan and Hilligus, and won easily by the former. Time, 40 seconds.
   A friendly bout with soft gloves by the Kerwin Brothers, was then announced, at the conclusion of which a wrestling match between Fred Kelser and Mike Byron, occurred, with Kelser an easy winner, he giving Byron two consecutive falls.
   This was followed by the principal feature in the days’ exercises, the sparring match in four rounds between Jack Dempsey and Denny Costigan.
   The Mechanics' Band were stationed in the grand stand during the afternoon and rendered a number of selections in their usual finished manner. The whole affair was worthy of a much larger crowd than was attracted and would doubtless have drawn as it deserved had the day been more favorable.

HERE AND THERE.
   When a lamp burns poorly, boil the metal burner in soda and water. The gummy accumulation of oil will be removed and the light will burn brilliantly.
   It may not be generally understood that the keeping for sale of fireworks or firecrackers without a special permit, will invalidate the special insurance policy on both stock and building.
   Tickets via E. C. & N. and N. Y. C. H. R. R., or West Shore Line from Cortland to New York, will be available between Albany and New York either via all rail or Hudson River day line boat, at option of holder.
   Persons who are in the habit of poisoning other people’s dogs, cats or hens, will be interested in the following State law: "A person who unjustly administers a poisonous or noxious drug or substance to an animal, or unjustifiably exposes any such drug or substance with intent that the same will be taken by an animal whether such animal be the property of himself or another, is guilty of a misdemeanor." A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 and imprisonment not exceeding two years.
   In the case of the death of Miles C. Darby of Homer, the Coroner’s Jury found the following verdict: "That Miles C. Darby came to his death by the incompetency [sic] of the employees of Maxson & Starin to handle loaded cars on the coal trestle of Maxson & Starin, and to manipulate the switches leading thereto, and also by the contributory negligence of the employees of the D. L. & W. Railroad company, and we censure the employees of said company for allowing trains No. 3 and 4 to enter the village of Homer at the high rate of speed run by such trains."














No comments:

Post a Comment