LOTS OF SMOKE AT THE SCHERMERHORN BLOCK

Schermerhorn block was built in 1880. It is a survivor.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 4, 1893.

LOTS OF SMOKE.

A Bit of Fire Caused Considerable Damage Last Thursday Evening.

   At 10:05 last week, Thursday evening, one of the rear windows in Mrs. H. H. Pomeroy's dressmaking rooms on the second floor of the Schermerhorn block [43-49 Main Street] burst outwardly and an immense volume of smoke was forced out of the opening. J. B. Morris, who stood talking with another gentleman on the south side of Court-st. facing the alley in rear of the block, heard the crashing of the glass and saw the smoke. He immediately ran up Main-st. crying fire. Officer Jackson pulled box No. 333 and Morris seized one of the hose carts on the first floor of Firemen's hall and hauled it over to the hydrant corner of Main and Railroad [Central Ave.] By this time several firemen were on hand and the hose was soon coupled to the hydrant. There was some delay in getting water on the fire, but when the hose companies did get water they soon had the fire under control.

   The blaze was confined mainly to this one room, a little blaze having crossed the hall on the ceiling into the office of lawyer E. E. Mellon. Some of Mr. Mellon's books and pictures were ruined mainly by water. Water ran down below on Glann & Clark's stock of boots and shoes doing considerable damage.

   Mr.  F. N. Harrington's stock of clothing and cloths adjoining Glann & Clark's stock was damaged by water to the amount of $700 or $800. Water also ran into the carpet and cloak department of Messrs. G. J. Mager & Co., on the second floor, doing considerable damage and then trickled through on their stock on the first floor. They have an insurance of $25,000 which will more than cover the loss. Glann & Clark have $5,500 insurance, which fully covers their loss. Mr. Mellon has $1,100 insurance on his books and pictures and Dr. Didama, whose office adjoins, has $700 insurance, which it is thought will cover his loss.

   The Odd Fellows, whose rooms are on the third floor, were badly damaged by smoke and water. All their fine wardrobes and other fine goods were damaged by smoke. The Canton's goods were stored in these rooms and are valuable. The J. L. Lewis lodge have $500 insurance and the Cantons $1,000.

   Mrs. Pomeroy had a large number of handsome dresses partially made up and the winter stock from the store on first floor of the building adjoining were all packed away in the room where the fire originated, with only $500 insurance.

   County Treasurer Brown has an office with Mr. Mellon. Some of his valuable papers and books were not in the safe because there was not sufficient room for them. Fortunately they were all taken out without injury.

   Mr. Harrington's loss was satisfactorily adjusted on Saturday and the store was reopened. On Tuesday the adjuster for the companies in which Messrs. Mager & Co.'s stock was insured, adjusted the loss on their goods and the store was opened to the public in the afternoon. The loss on Glann & Clark's stock of boots and shoes was adjusted Wednesday afternoon and the store was opened for business yesterday morning.

   The fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary.

A Local Cyclone.

   At about 2:30 last Wednesday afternoon a cyclone struck S. Cortland about 3 miles south-west of this village. Several large maple trees on A. P. Rowley's farm were blown over and a number of apple trees on R. G. Rowley's farm were uprooted. Several cherry and apple trees on J. J. Arnold's farm wore blown over and several maple trees in postmaster Rose' yard blown down. Butternut and apple trees on John Gallagher's farm, about one mile east of the village, were knocked out of perpendicular and Chas. H. Gallagher's large barn was partially unroofed.

   Hail accompanied the wind and chunks of ice as large as a hen's egg were plentiful. A fine piece of oats on the McNish farm on the McLean road, owned by M. H. Kingman of this place, was threshed and the ground is covered with shelled oats. The corn on this farm was also laid flat. Four apple trees on the Chas. Taylor farm adjoining, and occupied by John Kane, were tipped over and thirty-one window lights were broken out of the west side of the house. The crops in the path of the cyclone were more or less damaged. Its path was only a few rods wide and about two miles long, but it was a scorcher wherever it went.

A bicycle race in 1890.

Wheel Club Races.

   The rain of last Friday night made the roads very heavy and damped the ardor of wheelmen early Saturday morning. Later everything cleared, and the fifteen mile road race was started, on the [fairgrounds] track at 2:25.

   There were six starters and every man was thrown from his wheel before race was over, and only one man finished. Will Jaquett, E. B. Richardson, D. F. Waters, S. H. Strowbridge and Lu Southwick were running in the order named when Waters ticked the rear wheel of the man ahead and was thrown upon the fence. He lost a quarter of a mile, but continued the race and again trailed the leader. In the meantime Strowbridge [ex-editor of the Cortland News] was thrown in much the same way, and his wheel was bent up. Upon a new one he continued for several miles, but had lost too much and dropped out. Richardson was thrown on the back stretch by a collision with Southwick and both dropped out. Later Jaquett was thrown into the fence and quite badly injured and his wheel knocked out. He tried another, but had to leave the track. Waters finished alone in 51:45. With the accidents left out, the race must have been very close to the finish.

  In the one mile novice race, Emmet Riley won first in 2:56; John Reagan finished second and Ralph Wright third.

   Fred Priest won the one-half mile for boys under 18 years with Harry Clark and John Morgan close after him: time 1:28 ¼.

   Leslie Tucker won the one-mile for non-club members, followed by Grove Stevens and Arthur Norcutt: time 2:57 ¼.

   With a 35 second handicap C. C. Reed won the two mile time handicap in 6:08 ½.

   The mile for heavy-weights was finished with F. H. Monroe in a big lead over Ed. Sherwood second and A. J. Barber third.

   Grove Stevens won the mile for new riders in 2:50 3/5; Tucker second and Reagan third.

   The eyes of the Judges saw the finish of the C. W. C. club championship different from the rest of the people on the grounds, whether on the track, directly over the tape or in remote parts of the grand-stand. Strowbridge spurted from last man to the front on the back stretch, and down the home he and Richardson "had it out."

   "They went over the tape very close together, and the Judges awarded the race to Richardson." A howl from the crowd when it was announced and nearly all said "Ham" [Strowbridge] won it by a foot at least. After a protest which was not sustained and a call by the Referee to run again for the first prize it was given to Richardson when Strowbridge did not come to the tape.

   Sidney Ketcham won the mile, under difficulties and Tucker finished first in the race for boys under 17 years.

   C. C. Reed was the first "back number" under the wire and J. A. Maynard won the consolation race with Harry Wells and Dave Jackson second and third. Dave Jackson collided with a mud puddle on the back side and when Dave stood up he brought the puddle up standing with him. For some minutes it was hard work for Dave's friends to tell which was the puddle and which was the "coon."

   The audience was not what the boys had expected and receipts are small, but a small margin will be left for the club treasury after expenses are paid.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   MADISON.—Ed. Lower of Sylvan Beach lowers the scales at 347 pounds.

   Work has been commenced on the automatic spillway of Eaton brook reservoir.

   Louis Snyder of Peterboro walked into the canal at Canastota, Sunday night, and was drowned. He leaves a wife and child.

   The severest hail storm of years visited Cazenovia and vicinity Saturday evening. Gardens were ruined and all crops badly damaged.

   J. B. Wadsworth of West Eaton says Saturday's big storm damaged his hops $2,000 worth. Hailstones from five to seven inches in circumference were picked up.

   Beedleson, Canastota's one-legged bicyclist, made the trip from San Francisco to New York in 66 days, 9 hours and 45 minutes, badly lowering all former records.

   TOMPKINS.—Besides Corporal Tanner, Hon. John Raines of Canandaigua is announced to speak at the Soldiers' reunion at Glenwood, Saturday, August 19th.

   Colonel Stephen A. Dutton of West Danby, Tompkins county, N. Y., has just completed the purchase of 100,000 acres of coal and lumber land in West Virginia. More than 1,000 men will be employed in developing the resources of the property.

   The agent for the Society of the Prevention of Crime, of Ithaca, reports the sad case of a young girl who is compelled to go out on the Streets and in some way procure money to give to her parents with which to purchase strong drink.

Fresh Air Children.

   Owing to the result of extraordinary labor the camp will be in readiness for the children Wednesday morning.

   The camp has been termed by many "The White City" and really it would not be improper in many respects. One who cannot visit the World's Fair should do the next best thing, visit the Fresh Air Camp several times during the season. From 5 o'clock P. M. until 7 o'clock P. M. there will be continuous exercises of some character in the camp. Keep a lookout in the papers for the day of the Christian Endeavor Echo Meeting. This will be a Red Letter day in this part of the country.

   The Crusaders have been invited to the Presbyterian church of Ithaca, next Sunday morning. They will accept the invitation and the camp will therefore be minus their valuable services on this day. Many people were amused last Sunday at the efforts of the crusaders to reform smokers. Each person noticed by them with cigars was told if they would throw away their cigars they would sing for them. Some offered candy but the children would have nothing short of the destruction of tobacco. Some suspected that the children were prompted to this by the superintendent or some of the attendants but it was not the case; it was an original scheme of their own and it worked admirably.

   The following advanced corps of attendants arrived at camp Friday night and Saturday morning:

   Mrs. F. O'Connor, Misses E. O'Connor, J. E. McGibney, B. Sinclair, B. Angus, M. Aljoe,  J. Longly, C. Stadle, G. Gordon, and Mrs. F. A. Gordon.

   Services will be held each Sunday at the camp at 3:30. Interesting services are expected by the children on each occasion, also a sermon by a list of pastors to be announced later. They will be held at the Fresh Air Camp.

   Provisions from the Second Presbyterian Church of Auburn, which is to supply for the first day have just been received.

   COMMITTEE.

   Freeville, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1893.

Lowell Business College, John E. Bloomer, Principal.

HERE AND THERE.

   C. B. Trumble of Groton has taken out letters patent on a vegetable chopper.

   Don't forget to come to Harrington's fire sale of clothing. Goods at your own price.

   The first convention of the Central New York Firemen's Association will be held at Auburn September 20th.

   One hundred new stone steps have been purchased by the officers of the Cortland Rural Cemetery to take the place of the old wooden ones.

   Mr. E. R. Dempsey of this place was elected secretary of the State Clothing Cutters association at their meeting held in Rochester last week.

   There is a law requiring pathmasters to see that loose stones are taken from the road in their respective districts once a month, from April to September of each year.

   Messrs. E. A. Northrop of this place and M. J. Clark of Caroline Centre have invented a new gear for bicycles. It is expected to greatly increase the speed of the wheels.

   Judge Forbes granted an order last Saturday allowing receiver W. D. Tisdale to open up the shops of the Cortland Top and Rail Co., and finish up the unfinished work on hand.

   The fourth annual picnic of the Central New York Masonic Association, will be held at Sylvan Beach, Wednesday, August 9. The grand master, grand secretary and other officials are to be in attendance.

   Governor Flower has divided the State into six districts and appointed a health inspector for each. This is a movement in anticipation of cholera in this country. Cayuga is in the second district with part of Jefferson, Onondaga, Wayne, Cortland, Seneca, Oswego and part of Monroe. The inspector is Frank S. Low, M. D. of Pulaski.

   On the 11th day of April last, Henry E. Wilson, Esq., of this village, posted a letter addressed to himself, care of the U. S. Consul at Pekin, China. On the corner of the letter was a request for its return in ten days, if uncalled for, to Mrs. Wilson at Marathon. The letter reached Marathon on its return trip on July 20th, having made the trip around the world in 85 days, exclusive of the ten days it remained uncalled for. This speaks well for the international postal service.—Marathon Independent.

   The executive committee of the Cortland Savings bank have adopted the plan of nearly all the savings banks in the state and have decided to put in force the provision of its bylaws requiring depositors to give sixty day's notice of their intention to withdraw sums of money in excess of $50 or $100. This is simply a precautionary movement and no one need feel at all alarmed. The bank is as sound as any savings institution to be found in the state. Such action is as much in the interest of the depositors as the bank.

   A law passed at the last session of the legislature confers the right to vote for school commissioners on women. Women who vote for school commissioners must be twenty-one years old. They must be citizens of the United States, and have resided in this state one year, in the county four months, and in the district thirty days. They must be registered on the third or second Saturday before election. At the first meeting the registry board can put their names on the list if it is satisfied they possess the proper qualifications. On the second and last day of registry, intending voters, men as well as women, must appear in person. Women are required to vote a separate ballot, which must be deposited in a separate box. Candidates for school commissioner, hereafter will need to have a good understanding with the women as well as the men. Exchange.

   Last week, Wednesday afternoon, lightning struck the house of Patrick Kane, No. 59 River-st. and damaged the house considerably. The bolt struck the chimney and came through the roof into the second story, tearing off plastering and going through to the first floor struck the kitchen range. Mr. Kane who has been suffering from shaking palsy for some years was thrown from his chair to the floor and remained unconscious for some hours. Mrs. Kane was thrown into a corner of the room. The house was full of smoke and as soon as she was able she got up and hunted for the fire, but could find none. Several men from the Cortland Forging company's works, saw the bolt strike the house and hurried to the house rendering all the assistance possible. Mr. and Mrs. Kane were not as seriously injured as was at first thought and are doing well now.

   Mr. D. T. Ensign, has disposed of his interest in the Cortland Mfg. Co., to Mr. D. B. Parce of So. Otselic, N. Y.

   The case of the People vs. Wm. R. Jones, charged with selling liquor at the "Road House" between this place and McGrawville, was tried last Thursday. The jury found the defendant guilty and the court fined him $50, which was paid.

   Mr. D. L. Bliss, who moved his cigar shop to Binghamton about a year ago has returned to Cortland and will resume the manufacture of cigars here. His barn at 86 Clinton-ave. is being fitted up for the purpose. Mr. Ray G. Bliss, who has been in the employ of a firm of importers for some months past will have charge of the factory.