Cortland Standard and Weekly Journal, Friday,
December 30, 1892.
A GREAT EXPLOSION.
Long
Island City is Shaken to its Foundations.
Long Island City, Dec. 28.—At 8 o’clock this
morning an explosion of dynamite occurred in Fourth-st., this city, where the
Long Island and New York Tunnel company is driving a heading. The explosion
caused large loss of life and injured forty or fifty persons. Great damage was
done to property in the vicinity. Davern’s flats, a block of four story brick
tenements, is now on fire from the upsetting of stoves. The postoffice was
almost entirely demolished. The windows of every building within half a mile of
the heading were blown out. The greatest excitement prevails.
The New York and Long Island Tunnel Co. is
building a tunnel between this city and the New York Central depot. A great
deal of dynamite is used in blasting. Last night
the dynamite froze. The men needed some this morning and placed three barrels
of cartridges just back of the tenements to be thawed out. Then they built a
bonfire beside the cartridges. The fire burned nearer to the dynamite than was intended,
and the result was the terrific and disastrous explosion.
Those in the vicinity say that the shock
which followed was like an earthquake. The
tenements 21 to 29 Jackson-ave. were shattered, with the stores and offices
below. The mails in the postoffice are buried beneath tons of ruins and are
certain to be ruined by water if not consumed by the flames. When the explosion
occurred the clerks were hurled headlong in the debris. A wave of flame seemed
to sweep through the lower part of the demolished tenements immediately after the
crash. Some of the stunned and bleeding tenants crawled to the lower windows and
made their escape.
All of the killed received fractured skulls
and were horribly cut by glass. It is said that the postmaster saved all the
valuable letters that were in the postoffice when the explosion occurred. Directly
opposite the scene of the explosion were a row of tenements occupied by
fifteen families. Every apartment was wrecked and the debris caught fire from
the overturned stoves. The scene following the explosion was terrible. Men, women
and children only partly clad rushed wildly from every possible exit in the
greatest excitement, screaming loudly. The district where the explosion occurred
is the most thickly inhabited section of the city.
Later—At 2:30 o’clock this afternoon, six
victims had died in the hospital.
CORTLAND
COUNTY NEWS.
VIRGIL.
VIRGIL, Dec 27.— On
Thursday, Dec. 22 , Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Trapp celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of their wedding. About sixty-five relatives and old neighbors were
present in the day time. Mr. John Lamont of Gee Hill, a former neighbor, in
well chosen words reviewed their history, congratulating them on reaching in
comparatively good health a period in their history to which so few attain, with
an unbroken family circle. All of their four children, G. M. Trapp, Clinton
Trapp of Virgil, Mrs. C. D. Williams of Dryden, and Mrs. S. K. Jones of
Cortland were present, all of them having obtained substantial positions in life.
Following Mr. Lamont, Mrs. A. C. Smith, wife of their pastor, made the
following remarks:
Dear brother and sister Trapp, We who are
favored with a seat at your family board this festal day, tender to you our
most heartfelt congratulations. How many blessings of God are implied in the
preservation of two lives, through all the vicissitudes of domestic life, from
1842 to 1893? And when to these are added kind loving children and
grandchildren, and the sweet peace which ever abides with truly wedded hearts,
we have a scene beautiful to look upon. Brother and sister Trapp, you have a
wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and we are told that during the long period
of your housekeeping your doors have opened to welcome all, and your hands and
hearts have been in sympathy with every good cause. With fifty years between
you and your well-kept vow, this golden age upon which you have entered is not
a fable but a living reality, and as sweet as has been life to you in all the
past, you may say as at the marriage feast at Cana, “The best wine is last.” It is the wish and ardent prayer of this
circle of loving friends that many more quiet years may be added to the sum of
your lives, and at last the beckoning [an] angel may come to you in tenderest
love. You have many dear friends in either world. Dear hearts here to love and cherish
you and dear hearts there to welcome you when you reach the golden shore.
After Mrs. Smith, Miss Merta Jones, daughter
of S. K. Jones, read the following poem, composed by Mrs. George M. Trapp of
Virgil, styled the
GOLDEN WEDDING DAY.
There are
few that tread life's pathway
Hand in hand for fifty years,
Helping
bear each other's burdens,
Sharing all life’s hopes and fears.
Many climb
life’s hill together,
But fall often on the way,
One fond
hand will loose its clasping,
One will go and one must stay.
One must
stay and sadly travel
What will be a lonely way,
Missing
every day and hour
One that was their help and stay.
But a few,
more blest than others,
Travel up and down life’s hill
With their
fifty years behind them;
Hand in hand they travel still.
This has
been your lot, dear parents,
In the fifty years that’s flown.
Joy and
gladness, pain and sorrow,
Many times your hearts have known.
But you’ve
shared it all together.
Your fond hearts have never known
How heavy
all life’s burthens are
When they are borne alone.
And we
wish you joy and gladness
On your golden wedding day,
May your
lives grow bright and brighter
As you travel down life’s way.
And when
you have crossed the river,
May you stand hand clasped again,
In a land
that knows no sorrow,
In a land that’s free from pain.
After the reading of the poem, Mr. George
Williams, son of Mr. C. D. Williams of Dryden, gave three pieces which, were very
finely rendered; first, “ Railroad Matinee;” second,
“The Yankee in the Catacombs of Rome;” third, “The Convict’s Christmas eve.” At
the close of the literary exercises Mr. Trapp responded in a very feeling and
touching way, showing his appreciation of the kindness of his friends.
Two very important features of the gathering
in the day time were an elaborate dinner consisting of twelve courses and a
presentation by Mrs. Smith, on the part of friends, of a purse containing forty
dollars in gold. In the evening about thirty Virgil people were present and had
a very pleasant time. An excellent supper was served and all departed, leaving
with Mr. and Mrs. Trapp their best wishes and some substantial tokens of their
good will.
LITTLE
YORK.
LITTLE YORK, Dec. 26. —School commences this
week without the new seats, which for some reason unknown, failed to put in an
appearance.
Mrs. Woodmancy, who was thought to be
recovering from her illness, was taken worse a few days ago but was again improving
at last accounts.
“Mart” Van Hoesen and his men are engaged in
cutting ice, which has formed quite rapidly during the late cold wave.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Isbell have gone to Lincklaen
to visit among Mrs. Isbell’s friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Burgess are expected
home from Pitcher to-day.
Christmas was not celebrated to any great
extent except in the way of a few private Christmas trees for the children Mr.
A. B. Raymond acted the part of Santa Claus
quite acceptably to some families less fortunate than himself in Christmas cheer.
TRUXTON.
TRUXTON, Dec. 26.—Christmas exercises were
held in the primary department of the village school Friday afternoon. The following
is the program:
Song—Out in the Beautiful Garden, School.
A Grandma That’s Just Splendid, Florence
Bliss.
The Two Pennies, Frank Darling.
The Secret, Julia Hartnett.
The Little Yellow Bird, Jack Lee.
Which Are You? Mary Hartnett.
The Swallows, Fred Garner.
Edith’s Soliloquy-Christmas Morning, Grace
Hildreth.
Song Exercise—Thumbkins, Fourteen Little
Ones.
The Robin Birds, Willie Jones.
Out for a Walk, Edie Root.
Birdies, Claude Garner.
The Swallows, Nina Darling.
The Telephone Message, Floyd Hildreth.
Lizzie’s Pocketbook, Florence Seibert.
The Secret With Santa Claus, Nettie Bliss.
Anna and Willie’s Prayer, Elsie Clark.
The Night Before Christmas, Henry Van
Hoesen.
Song—Old St. Nick, School.
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Dutton of Cortland spent
Christmas with Mr. and
Mrs. William Baldwin.
CRAZY
PAT. [pen name of local correspondent.]
FREETOWN.
FREETOWN, Dec. 26.—The furious storm on
Saturday prevented many from attending the Christmas exercises in the evening. Old
Santa Claus did his part, however, making himself impervious to the cold and
storm by becoming for the time being a talkative buffalo. But few children were
present and the exercises in the main were carried out by the older ones.
Mr. Adley Caldwell's house was burned to the
ground last Thursday morning. When the family were awakened the roof was ready
to fall in. A little furniture and a few clothes was all that w as saved.
Although the house was insured the loss of a house this time of the year comes
very hard on the family especially so as Mr. Caldwell
has been sick for a year past, much of the time not able to go out of doors.
The family were taken to his brother’s, Wm. Caldwell. Subscription lists are
being circulated for their benefit.
The Farmers’ institute at Marathon was largely
attended from this place.
Quite a number attended the party at Higginsville
last Thursday evening.
Some will attend Christmas exercises at
Marathon, this Monday evening.
We have just learned that Wm. Caldwell’s house
took fire last night burning a large hole through the roof, but fortunately was
discovered in time to prevent further damage.
Mrs. Frank Eaton has been quite sick for the
past week.
A family Christmas gathering took place at
W. R. Moon’s. Mr. and Mrs. H. Lownsberry of Ithaca were among the number.
Mrs. Dewey Stone and daughter of Homer were
guests of H. D Stone’s family Christmas.
The measles are using no partiality. Quite a
number have had them the past week while others are in readiness.
Mrs. West has finished her work for Mrs. Tuttle.
Mrs. Tuttle’s health is improving.
Septimus Tripp is visiting a brother in Auburn.
A brother from Pennsylvania is the guest
from Mrs. Sarah Dickinson.
H. G. Borthwick was in town Wednesday.
Several of this place attended a Christmas
gathering at Joseph Humphrie’s.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson of Cortland spent Christmas
with their daughter, Mrs. R. D. Stone.
SYBIL.
No comments:
Post a Comment