CORTLAND'S FORTY-FIFTH SEPARATE COMPANY OF STATE NATIONAL GUARD DISBANDED

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 9, 1893.

FORTY-FIFTH DISBANDED.

LIEUT. E. M. SANTEE SEES THE ASST. ADJUTANT GENERAL.

Reasons for Disbanding—Lack of Efficiency, Company not Sustained and Not Needed, etc.

   The news that the Forty-fifth Separate Co., N. G. S. N. Y., had been disbanded struck Cortland like a thunder bolt and there is not a gloomier lot of fellows in town than the members of the company, who all feel sore over the disbandment.

   A STANDARD reporter saw Lieut. E. M. Santee, who is now in command of the company, at his office this afternoon. He said that hearing that certain people who were opposed to the company were boasting that they had been the means of disbanding it, and not wishing the disbanding to be misrepresented, "I went to Albany yesterday morning, called at the office of the adjutant-general and there met Assistant Adjutant-General Phisterer, who has general supervision of the office in the absence of the adjutant-general and knows all its workings."

   "I told him," said Lieutenant Santee, "that it was reported that the company had been disbanded through political influence and on account of my action in calling for a delinquency court and asking for the dishonorable discharge of three of its members. He said very emphatically that politics had nothing whatever to do with the matter; that no man in Cortland had anything to do with it; that if any of the men mentioned had sent complaints to headquarters such complaints would have been unceremoniously thrown into the waste basket; that the company had been below the standard in efficiency for over a year, that nine other companies were disbanded at the same time and for the same reason; that local matters had nothing to do with the disbanding of this company, except that the company contained a few members who constituted a disturbing element and impaired its efficiency. I asked him if there was any way to organize a new company here and he said that he thought that to be impossible as the town is too small to sustain such a company; that this company had not had the support of the citizens of Cortland; that a company is not needed here inasmuch as there are two companies at Binghamton on one side and two at Syracuse on the other. He told me the order would probably be here to-day. It authorizes me to give discharges to all men not in debt to the company and to have turned over all state and company property to the quartermaster, but that those who had been recently fined by the delinquency court would have to pay up their dues and finest before getting their discharges."

   The order had not been received up to 3 o'clock this afternoon.

   Lieut. Santee continued, "When I took command of the company, Oct. 30, 1893, it was generally expected by the members of the company and people outside that it would be disbanded. In fact Inspector General McGrath wanted to recommend the disbanding when he was here in April, but at the request of Capt. Dickinson it was not done at that time. I immediately began doing what I could to improve the company. I went to Buffalo to brigade headquarters, and upon the advice of the assistant adjutant-general I called a delinquency court and I think that that was one of the best moves that could have been made at that time. It showed the boys that military meant something and the attendance at subsequent drills proved the wisdom of the move.

   "The department complained that we had few non-commissioned officers, but on the day that the order was made, Dec 7, for the disbanding of the company, I appointed nearly a full complement of them, some of whom passed an examination that would have been a credit to an officer applying for a commission. I cannot but think that had the action been deferred till the inspector-general's next visit the company would not have been disbanded."

   Lieut. F. L. McDowell stated to a STANDARD reporter this afternoon that the prospects of the company were good. "I did not consider it quite up to the standard," he said. "I haven't for some time. I was not very much surprised when this thing came as it did, but am a little disappointed.''

   "Only a little?" asked the reporter.

   "No, a good deal. I would like to see a company here. I don't doubt but that if the company had some one at the head to do the work and keep the work and interest up it would make a very decided improvement. Lack of time prevented me from doing the company justice and I got out with the hope that some one might bring it back. The boys are nearly all very much disappointed. I wish the matter could have stood a little white in order to see what could be done. I do not blame headquarters for their present action for they gave us a lease of life for some little time after the disbanding was first talked of."

   William Elster said, "Like all the rest I am sorry that the company has gone under. It greatly surprised me when I heard of it. My time was out the twenty-fourth of last January—I had served my five years then, but I had no desire to get out. I think the company was improving instead of running down. Its prospects were encouraging and it had not been in as good condition at any time during the past three years as it was at the time it was disbanded."

   The reporter interviewed a number of the other Forty-fifth boys and they nearly all feel very much depressed. We have not space to publish the balance of the interviews but those given above seem to express the general sentiment.

   Ex-Capt. Dickinson said, "A combination of circumstances has been working against the company all through. I do not know what the present condition of the company is. I think Lieut. Santee has taken hold of it in the light manner and it looks as if the company might have prospered under him."

   "What is the combination of circumstances?" asked the reporter.  

   "It would take too long to give details. It would also rake up unpleasant personal matters." This closed the interview.

The Official Notification.

   We have to-day received the following note from Chairman Crane of the board of supervisors:

To the Editor of The STANDARD:

   SIR—I am this day notified by the adjutant- general of the state that the Forty-fifth Separate company is disbanded, its officers rendered supernumerary and the enlisted men honorably discharged.

   Yours, A. H. CRANE, Chairman

Reduces its Force.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 9.—For the first time in the history of its main office the Western Union Telegraph company yesterday announced a reduction in its staff of operatives at No. 195 Broadway. The reduction is stated to be due to unprecedented lack of business, the work in the operating room being about half what it was a year ago.

In the Land of the Gorilla.

   The lecture by Paul B. Du Chaillu last evening was worthy the large audience which assembled in City hall to hear it. Those who have read M. Du Chaillu's book, with its wonderful stories, can imagine what the lecture was like. The lecture is exceedingly humorous and pleasing. The lecturer's account of his adventure in the land of the gorillas— those huge, ape-like creatures whose cries could be heard six miles, and whose strong arms could rend the branches of great trees—was very dramatic, and the well-acted story of the shooting of the first gorilla drew forth hearty applause. M. Du Chaillu claims that this was the first gorilla killed by a white man since the days of the great Carthaginian hunter, 2 000 years before. He found the dwarfs also, visited their villages, pulled them from their huts and measured them; although people thought he was romancing when he told of the little creatures, until Stanley confirmed him.—Portland Press.

   DuChaillu will speak at the Opera House on Wednesday evening, Dec. 13, in the Y. M. C. A. course.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   Arthur C. Sidman in"Squire Haskins" at Keator opera house to-night.

   Mr. F. E. Wright, The STANDARD'S collector, will be in Homer on Monday and Tuesday to collect the month's subscription.

   The ladies' reception at the Columbian club last night was a very enjoyable affair. It was in charge of the house committee, Messrs. N. H. Waters, E. W. Hyatt and C. C. Carley. Progressive euchre was played until about 10:30 o'clock. The prizes were as follows: Lady's first prize, an address book won by Miss Woodford of Ithaca; lady's consolation prize, a mirror, by Mrs. G. F. Jones; gentleman's first prize, a paper weight, by E. L. Stone. The booby prize, a pair of red mittens, with the inscription "Froze out. Put 'em on," was won by F. E. Williams. After the card playing the guests entertained themselves with dancing, pool and billiards. Bouillon and wafers were served during the evening.

   Miss Woodford of Ithaca is the guest of Misses Julia Tifft and Mabel Brown on Clinton-st.

   Remember Art Sidman to-night at the opera house in "Squire Haskins." Mr. Sidman is acknowledged to be one of the best actors of Yankee parts on the stage to-day. He is supported by a strong company, and the entertainment to-night will undoubtedly be the best entertainment at the opera house of this season.

   The usual fortnightly service of song, at the Home for Aged Women, will be held to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock.

   There will be no meeting of the Ladies' guild of Calvary parish next week, as on Tuesday evening a fair will be held in the vacant Murray store.

   The mite social at Miss Kittie Rumsey's last night was well attended and a great success.

   Mr. J. P. Squires, formerly manager of the Chadwick barber shop at Cortland, has opened a shop in the readingroom of the Mansion House. He is a good barber and should receive his share of the patronage of the Homer people.

   "Helen Russell's English (?) Sports" played to a small baldheaded audience at the opera house last evening. The show was bad in every sense of the word. A gentleman who sat in the third row from the front went out between the second and third acts, secured a cabbage and presented it to a couple of the actors who were murdering their parts. They forgot their lines and spent some five minutes in cursing the cabbage man. When they had exhausted all their bad language the property boy came out of the female dressingroom and wanted to punch the head of the man who presented the cabbage.

1893 Barber Quarter.

BREVITIES.

                                          The melancholy days are here—

                                          The saddest that I know.

                                          Too cold by far to mow the lawn,

                                          Too warm to shovel snow.

   —Cortlandville grange hold an open meeting and supper in G. A. R. hall to-night.

   —The funeral of Mrs. Lorinda Bennett will be held from her late residence, 62 Clinton-ave. Monday, at 10:30 A. M.

   —Arthur Sidman and the "Squire Haskins" Co., passed through town this, morning on their way to Homer, where they show to-night.

   —The next meeting of the Alpha Chautaqua circle will be held with Mrs. Augusta Graves, 35 Madison-ave., Monday evening next, Dec. 11. All wishing to visit the circle will find a welcome.

   —The mothers meeting (central) will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the home of Mrs. Jefferson B. Sliter, 19 Lincoln-ave. Subject, "A Study of Child Nature from the Kindergarten Standpoint.'' All ladies are cordially invited to be present.

   —Deposit is rejoicing over a prospective boom. The New York Condensed

Milk company has bought a large lot of land of John P. Dean, C. Meyers, T. and M. Halpin and of Putnam & Miner. Big buildings and employment for many men are expected.

   —Cortland winter weather is usually about as cold as they make it, but just now we are by no means up with the procession. Good sleighing is reported in many places in the state. Reports from a dozen points along the Hudson river, north of Kingston, show that the river is frozen solid from shore to shore from Albany to Staatsburg.

   —Those who believe that 13 is an unlucky number should fight shy of the American 25 cent piece. It has 13 stars, 13 letters in the scroll held in the eagles beak, 13 marginal feathers on each wing,  13 tail feathers, 13 parallel lines in the shield, 13 horizontal bars, 13 arrowheads and 13 letters in the "quarter dollar." But most of us are mighty glad to get them, thirteen or no thirteen.