CORTLAND NEEDS A HOSPITAL AND TWO PRISONERS ESCAPE JAIL

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 19, 1890.

CORTLAND NEEDS A HOSPITAL.

Mr. Editor, Dear Sir:

   I have felt for years that this place needed and ought to have a public hospital. It seems to me at present the most serious and pressing need that our village, now almost or quite grown to be a city, should have such an institution established at once. I do not believe there is any other public enterprise which so urgently calls for the earnest efforts of our public spirited, benevolent and philanthropic citizens. And the account which you give in your last issue of the serious accident which befell the elderly gentleman from a neighboring town, as he was crossing one of our streets last Monday, furnishes such an impressive argument, or utters such an urgent call for something in the way of a hospital in our village that I should like to call attention to it and emphasize it all I can.

   When that unfortunate man was suddenly stricken down from health and strength to a condition of utter helplessness, after he had been knocked down and dragged for several rods through the streets and lay there with numerous broken ribs and other injuries which left him entirely dependent upon the sympathies and mercy of his fellowmen, there ought to have been some place provided and prepared for such cases to which he could have been taken to where there were better arrangements and, conveniences for taking care of him than can be found at an ordinary hotel. Repeated instances of a similar nature have occurred in the past few years and it is inevitable that they will happen more frequently in the future as our village grows in size. And many times it would be a great relief to the relatives and friends of the students in our Normal school if there were a neat and comfortable hospital to which they could be taken and where they could be given proper care and attention when sick.

   The institution of which we are thinking does not need to be a large one for the present at least. It would not require high massive stone walls, many rooms, a corps of nurses, a resident physician with numerous assistants, all to be sustained at the expense of many thousands a year. An ordinary sized house of eight or ten rooms, plainly, but well built for warmth and comfort, and conveniently located, would answer for the present. Additions and improvements could be made as the benefits of such an institution became more generally appreciative and as the need of room is felt.

   But something ought to be done and a beginning made at once. The thing would certainly grow if it was once started.

   J. A. R.

   Cortland, Dec. 15, 1890.

Meeting of Medical Society.

   The semi-annual meeting of the Cortland County Medical Society was held in Cortland on Thursday, December 11th. Dr. B. Kenyon, of Cincinnatus, was duly elected a member of the society. The other members present were Dr. F. D. Reese, the President of the society, Dr. H. T. Dana, Dr. Wm. Fitch, Dr. F. W. Higgins, Dr. D. H. Stone, Dr. H. O. Jewett, Dr. J. Angel, Dr. H. S. Edson, Dr. L. G. Smart, Dr. G. D. Bradford, Dr. E. W. McBirney and Dr. M. R. Smith.

   The Vice-President's address was given by Dr. L. G. Smart. He took for his subject "A Brief Review of Some of the Late Additions to the Materia Medica." An account of the action of some of the recently introduced hypnotics, antiseptics and antipyretics was given. An essay on "Spinal Congestion" was read by Dr. F. W. Higgins, giving the report of two cases and urging the importance of a diagnosis. Dr. H. T. Dana read a paper on "Endocarditis," and also gave a report of a recent interesting case.

   A discussion on the management of certain obstetric cases was opened by Dr. D. H. Stone and very generally participated in. The experience of the members present showed that certain positions of the child [crib deaths—CC editor]  proved fatal even with the most approved attendance.

F. W. Higgins, Sec'y.

Charity Begins at Home.

   The W. C. T. U are desirous of remembering the county poor at the Alms House, with some token for Christmas, and most cordially invite all members and friends of the Union to donate some articles, such as mittens, handkerchiefs, aprons or fancy articles.

   Many of the inmates are aged and infirm, and some slight token of remembrance would be highly prized, not only as a memento of the day, but to know that they are not forgotten by the outside world.

   Let all respond. Contributions may be left at the W. C. T. U. rooms, over Collins' china store, Wednesday afternoon, December 24th, 1890.

   By Order of Committee.

Freight Train Ditched.

   Train number 13, local freight, which leaves the E. C. & N. railroad station at 7:15 A. M., started out Monday morning with a large train of mixed freight—merchandise, brick and coal—drawn by locomotive number 20 with the veteran engineer P. I. Sevy at the throttle and the other leviathan number 22 in charge of engineer Frank Burns was detailed to act as "pusher" until the train reached DeRuyter hill, which is customary in railroad management of heavy trains in ascending heavy grades.

   When directly opposite the works of the Cortland Forging company, appearances indicated that a bolt in the spring frog of the switch leading back to Martin's coal dump broke, allowing the rails to spread which threw five coal gondolas and two cars loaded with brick in the center of the train from the track. The last mentioned headed for the ditch but did not tip over. The coalers went on a general rampage, the forward one headed northwest laying diagonally over the rails with the greater part of the car to the east of the main line, while the second was toppled upon its side directly crosswise of the rails, a total wreck. Number three was thrown obliquely to the northwest and number four headed to the northeast, forming an obtuse angle with the one preceding, the fifth one was partially ditched.

   There was little delay in the transfer of passengers and mail matter west at 8:54 A. M. but the east bound express at 9:56 A. M. was delayed some little time through the necessity of transferring nearly fifty bags of mail—the east mail on Monday being very large.

   Superintendent Allen and his assistants had fully one half of the obstruction removed by 11 A. M and the track was in running order at 3 P. M. No one was injured and the accident is attributed to the frog bolts being thoroughly impregnated with frost.

  

RAILROAD RUMORS.

Will the Lehigh Valley Buy the E. C. & N.? It Looks That Way.

   An exchange says the endeavor of the Canadian Pacific to obtain a New York terminus is creating a [battle] in railroad circles. Naturally the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg and the New York, Ontario & Western are competitors for the anticipated traffic. And only this week the New York Central has ordered a corps of surveyors to lay out a fast route from Utica to the St. Lawrence, to parallel the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg, with the bold design of sharing the summer business and getting some benefit from the Canadian Pacific.

   At this stage it transpires, that the Lehigh Valley, the Canadian Pacific and the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg have struck hands for a connection between the St. Lawrence and New York city. To carry out the plan the Lehigh Valley finds that the E. C. & N., from Camden to Van Ettenville, is just the connecting link. If the Lehigh Valley is willing to pay the price, it probably can have the connection. But the New York Central intends, by a quickly-built line, to head off some of the anticipated coming benefits of a combination with the Canada system, by bridging the St. Lawrence. It is also needless to say that the Central is very mad over the bargain between the Lehigh and the Rome & Watertown, the latter hitherto having given the Central its New York traffic.—Ithaca Journal.

Lawyer vs. Tailor.

Considerable excitement was created in Homer by a melee that occurred at the Mansion House in that village last Monday evening. Lawyer Franklin Pierce boards at the hotel and on the occasion referred to was passing through the reading room when Mr. John Kocher, a well known tailor of that village, made some remark to him. Pierce turned quickly and struck the tailor a severe blow with his fist knocking him down, and it is said that he choked him after he fell. Kocher is said to be severely injured and is confined to his bed.

   We understand that Kocher claimed that Pierce owed him $2, which the latter denied, and that the tailor had been very persistent and insulting in dunning the lawyer upon many occasions for the past year or two. Mr. Pierce is abundantly able to pay all just claims against him and always has done so as far as we know. He is of a somewhat excitable temperament and doubtless Kocher's continual dunning goaded him beyond endurance. The affair is to be regretted and we understand no one feels worse over the transaction than Mr. Pierce.

The Piston Rod Broke.

   The works of the Cortland Wagon Company were temporarily shut down, from Friday about noon until Tuesday afternoon, owing to an accident to their 100 horse power engine. Engineer Edward Fitzgerald had barely passed in front of the engine for the purpose of oiling the ways when the cylinder head was hurled against the south wall of the room with terrific force The steam was promptly shut off and it was discovered that the break occurred close to the knuckle connection on the crank end Although the broken steel disclosed a previous fracture fully half way through the rod, its position, squarely through the threaded end, was such as to avoid detection prior to the accident. That no one was injured was indeed most fortunate. Word was sent to the manufactory at Salem, Ohio to forward new parts by express, and the repairs were speedily made.

JAIL BIRDS ESCAPE.

John Loomis and Frank Johnson Bid Good Bye to Hotel Borthwick—Their Present Address Unknown, But Greatly Desired by the Sheriff.

   Two weeks ago, it will be remembered, an account was published in the DEMOCRAT of the capture at Auburn of one John Loomis, with various aliases, who had a liberal stock of U. S. postage stamps in his possession, together with other property which, as time passed along, proved to have come into his possession otherwise than by actual purchase or through gifts of friendship.

   On the 2d inst., the prisoner was taken before Justice Squires where a demand for counsel was made and the case adjourned to the 4th when a claim was entered that a material witness on the part of the defense was absent. Another adjournment of one week was taken with the result of a further adjournment to Dec. 18th, the evidence in the mean while daily accumulating. The postage stamps were positively identified by postmaster Hubbard, through certain markings, as those stolen from his office at Blodgett's Mills, on the night of the 5th ultimo.  Government authorities were in town to secure the self-styled "detective" who sported about the scene of the post office robbery on the day preceding the crime, and it may possibly have been from a desire to go with the representatives of Uncle Sam, that the foundation for the following narrative took place:

   Although Loomis was not yet indicted, he, in company with Frank Johnson and James Reynolds, the latter pair being held on the charge of robbing an elderly lady in Willett, were confined on the lower floor of the jail.

   There is what is termed the main corridor about ten feet wide extending from the east to the west side of the jail building on the south end. From this two corridors extend to the north walls, one on the east and one on the west side, with six cells opening inward from each A heavy grated door separates the main and side corridors likewise the narrow cells from the side corridors. Formerly ventilator flues extended from each cell through the roof. It will be recalled that several years ago one Pratt became lodged in one of these openings while endeavoring to effect his escape, and after some chipping of the 31/2 inch stone ceiling and other methods the prisoner was returned to cell No. 2 on the east side. These openings are 7 1/2xl4 inches, and have been since Pratt's escapade closed by castings of some fifty pounds weight constructed with a broad flat plate, from the center of which a threaded bolt extended upward through a spider which rests on the upper surface of the stone ceiling and crosswise of the opening. A large square nut run down on the bolt held the plate firmly in position. The further precaution seems to have been taken, when the castings were put in, to flatten the end of the bolt over the nut.

   Sunday morning when the prisoners were breakfasted Messrs. Loomis and Johnson were absent. Investigation disclosed a chair upon the bed in cell No. 2, upon which rested the casting from the opening. There is a space of three feet between the ceiling of the lower and the floor of the upper cells. Further search showed that the trap door near the north end of the second floor hallway was thrown open, and the heavy iron door leading into the main hall of the court house, not being fastened, it was an easy matter to pass through the same to the main hall and through the outer front doors to the street. How did they succeed in releasing the casting? Of course that is a question. Did outside assistance aid? and similar interrogatives are subject to speculative answers; but a coil of hemp bed cord or clothes line was discovered in the jail after the escape, which causes the query, how came it there?

   Monday afternoon a gentleman says he saw a man standing in the doorway of the Hatch Library building shortly after mid-night Saturday, that he retraced his steps to see if the individual were drunk, but he was gone, and nowhere to be seen.     Between 8 and 4 A. M. Sunday a horse, cutter and robe were stolen from the barn of Preston Niles below South Cortland. The rig is said to have passed through Ithaca at 6 A. M the same morning and word was received at the Sheriff's office about 11 A. M.  Monday that the rig was in Owego, but the men were not in it. It is an undisputed fact that the prisoners were not locked in their individual cells, but the door between the lower corridors was locked which afforded the opportunity for all to join in the preparation of escape.