Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday,
October 17, 1894.
A
PECULIAR DREAM.
Record
of an Event in the Revolutionary War.
The following incident was furnished by Mr.
Ebenezer Mudge of Cortland who has it recorded in the handwriting of his
father, the late "Esquire" Mudge of this place. All the parties named
were well-known to the elder Mr. Mudge, and he knew that the record was true.
He had heard the story told many times by the parties themselves, and noted
down the facts contained therein. Mr. Mudge's paper reads as follows:
In the time of the war of the Revolution in
what is now known as the town of New Lebanon, lived a respectable farmer by the
name of Thomas Skinner, whose two sons, Josiah and Levi, being at the time
(1779), young married men, were jointly managing their father's farm. It so
happened that in one of the requisitions made upon the militia company of which
they were members for men to serve their country in those perilous times, Levi,
the younger, was detailed or drafted among others for actual service, the term
designated being six months. But as the interest of the brothers in business
was mutual, they as brothers agreed to share equally in the fatigues,
privations and dangers of the camp, so it was decided that Levi should serve
the first term of three months and then be relieved by his brother. This
arrangement was the more readily agreed to by the officers in command, as one
of them, Lieut. T. Skinner, was a relative, and the commander of the regiment,
Col. Whiting, was a resident of an adjoining town and of course they were not
strangers to each other. The place of rendezvous was Albany and the principal
service to be rendered was to keep the Tories and Indians in the vicinity of
Lake George in check and guard supplies on their way to our garrison at
Ticonderoga.
Shortly after the arrival of the new levies
at Lake George, the said Levi, the hero of our narrative, received a wound by a
splinter passing between the bones of his left leg whilst on board a scow on
the lake transporting provisions and stores. This wound rendered him unfit for
service for several weeks (and I may here observe that by reason of it he was
put upon the pension list in 1830).
On resuming active duties again he was
promoted to the post of first sergeant. About this time an expedition was on
foot for attacking Montreal and Col. Whiting's regiment had orders to join the
American forces farther north and assist in the reduction of the place.
Preparations were accordingly made, orders to break up the encampment had been
read on parade and the day fixed upon for marching, which was the second day
after the orders were read. On the night following the reading of said orders
Levi dreamed he met his brother's wife on the high ground near Albany, a spot
to him well known, and there charged her to tell his brother that he need make
no preparations to come and take his place at the expiration of the three
months as agreed, for he should be at home on such a day (some two weeks short
of the three months). This message he dreamed, he repeatedly urged her to
convey to her husband which she promised to do.
He then returned to camp (in his dream) and
took possession of his body as it seemed to him at the moment the drums
commenced beating the reveille. He arose and attended to the duties of the day,
which were uncommonly numerous being the last day which they were to remain
there—but his dream haunted his imagination and as he had been taught to
interpret dreams by the rule of contraries, he was impressed with an idea that
it was a warning that he was never to return to his home or friends.
On that day the regiment was reviewed by its
officers and the surgeon of the regiment observed to Lieut. Skinner that he was
impressed with a desire to procure a discharge for Levi, but as he had made no
application for a discharge, he hardly knew how to affect it. The lieutenant
replied, ''We cannot spare him as he is the only sergeant left in the company."
At night Levi, who as before stated, acted
in the capacity of sergeant, went to the colonel's quarters to present his
report. The room was filled with officers and after his report was presented
and he was mingling with the crowd, as he supposed unnoticed, the surgeon
sought him out and handed him a folded paper without saying a word. On going to
a light he opened and read his discharge signed by Col. Whiting. His surprise
was excessive inasmuch as he had neither asked nor expected any such thing.
Then his dream rushed upon his mind, and he concluded he should have ample time
to get home on the day appointed.
But in the morning he was requested by the
colonel to take charge of some baggage which he wished to send to Albany by
some baggage wagons which were expected from some post farther north three or
four days hence, and consented to do so. When again, his dream assured to him
this delay would prevent the possibility of his fulfilling his appointment to
be home on the day mentioned in his dream. After being in charge of the baggage
a few hours it was found that a man who had some interest in the baggage wagons
and was obliged to wait for them was there, and offered to take charge of the
property, which offer was acceded to, so the change was made and Levi was soon
on his way home exulting that he had more time than was necessary to fulfill
the appointment in his dream.
He traveled on until the next afternoon when
his wounded leg failed him and he was obliged to get a strap and attach to his
foot and with the other end in his hand raise his foot from the ground and in
that manner proceeded with much pain and moderation, having given up all hopes
of meeting the appointment made in his dream. He had now arrived at Stillwater and
after having passed a certain house some rods, a woman called to him from the
house and inquired of him where he was going. He replied to Albany. She told him
to come back and take some refreshments for he would never get there at the
rate be was going and that her husband was nearly ready to set out for Albany
with a raft and he could go on that without suffering as he appeared to in
walking.
Then again his dream presented itself. He
accepted the friendly offer and in an hour or two the husband came to the house
preparatory to the voyage. The soldier was introduced and invited to take
passage. He did so and the next morning found himself in Albany, refreshed and
apparently with sufficient time before him to reach home before night. This was
the appointed day.
He set out from Albany, a believer in
dreams, but ere he had accomplished half the distance, his leg again failed him
and he had to return to his strap and then he managed to "drag his slow
length along" until he found himself within three miles of home and near
the time of the setting of the sun.
He saw a neighbor coming from his field
[who] seated himself upon a log by the side of the road. He hobbled along and
seated himself beside him and after the customary salutation and enquiries, he
told his neighbor that he must lodge with him that night as it would be impossible
for him to reach home that night. His neighbor replied that he had seen him
afar off and knew him and had sent his boy to the field to catch a horse for
the express purpose of sending him home. Then again did his dream form itself
upon his mind and tears fell from his eyes.
It is proper now that we take a view of the
scenes at home, on the same night (as it afterwards proved) on which the
soldier dreamed he met his brother's wife. She also dreamed she met him in a
place in which she was unacquainted, and there received from him the message
mentioned in his dream. Her husband had been making arrangements to go and
relieve his brother, but so strong was the impression made upon her mind of the
reality of the meeting, that she used her utmost endeavors to dissuade her
husband from further preparations, stating that she knew his brother would be
home on the day appointed, and as the day appointed in the dream approached she
urged the wife of the absent soldier to make some preparation in the way of
cooking something extra for his reception. But she was unable to infuse the
same confidence in others with which she was impressed and she actually went to
work herself on the appointed day and made the preparations she had in vain
urged her sister to make—and when the sun appeared in its decline near the top
of the western hills the father rallied her on her faith in the fulfillment of
the dream.
She told him she was yet full in the belief
and that if he would take a seat in the yard he would see him in half an hour.
He did so, but all were incredulous but her. The half hour passed and the sun
had disappeared and night had spread her dark mantle over the earth and the
anxious watchers had retired within the house and all but the dreamer were
descanting on the fickleness of dreams, when suddenly the discharge of a musket
in front of the cottage struck upon their nerves like an electric shock.
They rushed
to the door and the first word of salutation from the returned soldier was directed
to his brother's wife and was uttered in these words, "Have you done your
errand?"
Her reply was, "I have, I have, but
they would not believe me."
The father exclaimed, "In Heaven's
name, my children, explain yourselves."
The explanation
was made by his telling his dream, etc., etc., and the actors and witnesses in
the affair ever after firmly believed in the communion of kindred spirits. The
above narrated dream and attendant circumstances the writer has penned from
memory at the instance of a relative, having in his youthful days been thoroughly
acquainted with both dreamers and heard them relate it when both were present
and often heard it from the lips of the soldier.
EBENEZER MUDGE.—Among the
prominent millers of Cortland county should be mentioned the name of Ebenezer Mudge. He came to Cortland village, then but a small hamlet, in1839, with an
already large experience in his business. He followed it until the year 1866,
when he retired from active pursuits. His father, Abram Mudge, was a native of
Otsego county, in this state, but subsequently removed into Montgomery county,
where he operated a mill previous to his removal to Cortland. He served as a
soldier in the war of 1812. After coming to this county he became the owner of
the mills now operated by Thos. F. Brayton, in the eastern portion of Cortland
village, which he continued to run for about eighteen years, when he retired
from business. He was born in 1793 and died in 1869. He served the people of
Cortland county several terms as supervisor, in which office he was often
chosen on committees having charge of the most important interests of the
public. In such positions his judgement and his integrity were always
unquestioned. His family consisted of six children, four sons and two
daughters; their names being Isaac, Ebenezer, Byron, Romeyn, Harriet, and
Elizabeth. Ebenezer is the only one who now resides in this county. The early
years of his life were in the town of Charlestown, Montgomery county, where he
was born on the 6th of April, 1816. His father soon afterward moved into
the town of Canajoharie, in the little village of Ames, where he operated a
mill, in which Ebenezer assisted during portions of each year, alternating his
labor with attendance at district school, and later at the academy. When he
came to Cortland he found the mill which he owned for so many years in a bad
state of repair, doing but little business and the general prospect anything
but attractive. But he went to work with energy, repaired the buildings, put
the machinery in better order and gave his unremitting attention to his
business. These improvements, with the excellent character of the product of
his mill, soon had their expected effect and the business increased every
succeeding year. Mr. Mudge remained in charge of this mill for a period of
twenty eight years, during which time , he made for himself a large circle of
business acquaintances and friends, and gained a reputation for integrity and
sterling character as enviable as it was deserved. He retired in 1866, having
secured a handsome competence. He has never sought public office of any kind,
being content with the successful prosecution of his own affairs and the
respect of the community.
In
1837 Mr. Mudge was married to Miss Hannah C. Hodge. Four children were born of
this union—Powers C. Mudge, now proprietor of the well-known grist mill at
Little York; Mary E. Mudge, now the wife of Charles W. Collins, of Cortland
village; Charles Jay Mudge, who died in infancy; and Olivia L. Mudge, who died
at the age of fourteen. Mrs. Mudge died in 1867. Mr. Mudge was again married to
Harriet E. Phelps, daughter of Judge Henry J. Phelps, of Michigan.—1885, Smith’s History of Cortland.
Burning
of Kingston Commemorated.
KINGSTON, N. Y., Oct. 17.—The burning of
Kingston by the British forces under General Vaughan, Oct. 16, 1777, was
commemorated with most interesting exercises at the Old Senate house here,
under the auspices of Wiltwyck chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
BATTLE
FOR MISSIONS
Christian
Endeavor Rally at Congregational Church.
The Christian Endeavorers of the land, under
the leadership of a strong committee, and endorsed by twenty different
denominations, have set out on a grand effort to raise in a year one million
dollars for the home and foreign missions. All the treasuries of all our
benevolent societies are depleted, on account of the hard times. To meet the
emergency, bands of speakers are holding mass meetings at this time, with great
success. One of these companies, [come]
from the foreign field, will visit this city on their way from Chicago,
eastward to Boston. They were at Buffalo on the 7th and Rochester on Sunday and
will be in Cortland to-night.
The speaker, who will be here, is Rev.
Harlan P. Beach, for six years a missionary in China, now connected with the
Springfield, Mass., School for Christian Workers. It was expected that Mr.
Beach would be accompanied by Rev. W. C. Dodd of Siam, but last night this
gentleman received a telegram that his wife, who is at Clifton Springs for treatment,
was in an exceedingly critical condition and required his presence. Mr. Dodd at
once secured a leave of absence and started for Clifton. Mr. Beach is a host in
himself, and the audience will to-night be abundantly instructed and
entertained in his address.
The meeting will be held at the
Congregational church this evening at 7:30 o'clock. It is under the auspices of
the Young People's Local union and every member is urged to be present.
A Superb
Cake.
In one of the Main-st. windows of the bakery
of Thomas Marks there is this afternoon displayed one of the most superb
wedding cakes ever seen in Cortland. It was made by Mr. Marks' baker, Richard
Welch, upon a special order. There are three layers arranged in pyramid form.
The bottom one is of solid fruit; the middle one is of solid nut and the top
one is of fruit. The cake is beautifully frosted with a tasteful variety of
ornaments and the whole is surmounted by a chariot drawn by two canary birds
and driven by a cupid, and also with a floral device of wax. The cake stands
about eighteen inches high, weighs forty pounds and cost over $20. It is
attracting much attention. It was photographed this afternoon by Westcott.
As
the time is fast approaching for hot drinks and desirous of being a little
ahead instead of behind the times I am now prepared to serve hot temperance
beverages of every description.
As I have won a most enviable reputation in
dispensing clean and delicious ice cream soda, I shall endeavor to maintain the
same degree of quality with my hot beverages as with my cold ones.
Our hot chocolate and coffee with whipped
cream are as rich and palatable as those dispensed at Huyler's or Delmonico's.
Our hot lemonade is as carefully prepared from the fruit as those served in a
first-class restaurant. Our beef tea, chicken and clam broths are as delicious
as those prepared by a French cook.
Having the finest and best equipped
apparatus in the world I am confident I can please the most fastidious, and as
to cleanliness we are like Caesar's wife, above suspicion.
F. E. BROGDEN,
Prescription Pharmacist,
77 Main-st., Cortland. (803
cf)
 |
| Empire State Express. |
Nearly 65 years ago the famous engineer
Stephenson placed in commission between Liverpool and Manchester his primitive
locomotive the "Rocket," with a maximum speed of 29 miles an hour.
Since that time England has held the record of the world for the speed of its
trains. It was not, therefore, to be wondered at that some of the English
papers doubted the accuracy of the account of the phenomenal run made by the
New York Central in the fall of '91, with a special train weighing 230 tons,
from New York to East Buffalo, a distance of 436 1/2 miles in 425 3/4 minutes,
including four stops, three of which were for the purpose of changing engines.
This unparalleled trip stimulated a nascent interest on the part of our English
cousins, and has resulted in several comprehensive magazine articles on the
relative merits of English and American railroads, clearly demonstrating the
superior facilities afforded by the railroads of this country, and the
unprecedented speed of our trains.
An appropriate comparison is made by taking
the fastest train in England to-day, which is known as the "Flying
Scotchman." It runs from London to Edinburgh, 400 miles, in 8 hours and 25
minutes, or at a rate of 47.52 miles per hour for the entire trip. The fastest
train in America to-day is the famous Empire
State express of the New York Central, which runs every day in the year, except
Sundays, between New York and Buffalo, 440 miles, in 8 hours and 40 minutes, or
equal to 50.76 miles per hour for the entire distance, including four stops en
route, and the hauling of a much heavier train. The London Times of July 3, in
commenting on this remarkable train, says: "For the last year or two it
has seemed as though the blue [ribbon] for speed, which England has held
unchallenged since the beginning of railway history, was to be surrendered tamely,
without a struggle to our American cousins."
It might be inferred from the tone of this
excerpt that John Bull will make some efforts to regain the supremacy. On the
other hand, it is a fair presumption that the New York Central with its progressive
and aggressive policy, in conjunction with its four tracks of steel rails,
weighing 100 pounds to the yard; a naturally level roadbed, with easy curves;
powerful engines, capable of running a mile in 33 seconds; and the entire line
thoroughly protected with the most approved method of the interlocking block
signal system, will experience no difficulty in retaining the blue ribbon on
this side of the Atlantic, and its well-earned appellation "America's
Greatest Railroad."
BREVITIES.
—Daniels' orchestra of six pieces plays at
Pitcher to-night.
—Mechanical drawing class meets tonight at
8:15 in the Y. M. C. A. class room.
—Christian Endeavor rally at Congregational
church this evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—Special meeting of the Y. M. C. A. reception
committee this evening at 8 o'clock.
—Brogden has started his hot soda apparatus
with a number of new drinks which are delicious.
—A critical, but very successful surgical operation
was yesterday performed on Mrs. E. H. Wilson by Dr. F. D. Reese,
—Those cigars that Mr. W. T. Bushby is
setting up to his friends over that eight pound girl, which arrived this morning,
are fine.
—Geneva has become one of the greatest railroad
centers in Western New York;
railroads now enter it from eight directions.—Ithaca Journal.
—The members of the Royal Arcanum meet in
Maher Brother's store at 8 o'clock to-night to make arrangements to meet Justus
F. Price of Brooklyn,
—A number of people on Elm-st. were highly
entertained last evening in witnessing a foot race between a well-known young
lady and gentleman. The young lady won the race,
—The speaker at the Christian Endeavor rally
at the Congregational church at 7:30 o'clock to-night will be Rev, B. P. Beach
of Springfield, Mass., for six years a missionary in China.
—Fred PerLee of McLean has this fall dug
2,853 bushels of potatoes from twelve acres of land. This makes an average of 237
bushels per acre or, as he planted them, one bushel for every 20 1/8 hills.
—Mr. Lewis Morse wee driving R. G. Lewis'
feed wagon on Church-st. this morning, having on a load of about a ton of meal.
As a team passed him his horse made e quick start, breaking a whiffletree. The
horse was stopped without further damage,
—Eight months ago last night the Oneonta
Normal school burned, and last Monday the entire school assembled for the first
time in the new building. Previously the practice school had been accommodated
in the hall down town which was used last spring.
—Bicyclers will take care nowadays not to pump
their tires too full and they take them into a warm room. If they do a bursted
pair of tires will be the result as the air expanding in the warm room will
stretch the rubber more than it can stand. This is a hint from a bicycle dealer.
—A comfortable was stolen from the yard of
James F. Costello on North Main-st., Monday night. Other clothes which were
with it remained untouched. It looks very much as if the poor were getting
desperate. Mr. Costello wishes us to state that if the parties desire any more
comfortables if they will call upon him he will make them a present.
—An exchange says that it is a curious fact
which has been repeatedly demonstrated by scientific men, that human saliva is
more deadly to the rattlesnake than the rattlesnake's venom is to a human
being. Some physicians in New York recently introduced one drop of saliva into
the mouth of a healthy rattler and he died in just four minutes.
—The musical program, which had been
prepared under the direction of Mrs. F. A.
Mangang to follow the supper at the Baptist church to-night, has been given up
for the present on account of the union Christian Endeavor rally at the
Congregational church at 7:30 this evening. Supper will be served, however, as
planned from 5:30 to 8 o'clock.
—Deputy Sheriff Edwards arrested Estus Flint
yesterday afternoon on a warrant sworn out in Binghamton charging him with
non-support of his family. Deputy Sheriff Moore of Binghamton came to Cortland
on the 4:20 train yesterday and returned with Flint on the 6:27 train. Flint
was foreman of the gang of Italians, who are at work on Pomeroy-st.
—St. Mary's Catholic church of Binghamton is
to have a new organ which is to be built by Prof. Frank Beman of that city at a
cost of $7,000. Prof. Beman is the leader of the Dickinson & Beman
orchestra which has so many times played in Cortland. The contract calls for
the completion of the organ by Nov. 15. When it is finished St. Mary's church will
have one of the largest and best organs to be found in the southern tier.
—ln the north window of the drug store of F.
E. Brogden there is to-day a great display of the old fractional currency shin
plasters of the denominations of fifty, twenty-five and ten cents. Once those
were very common, but now to the generation not out of their "teens" they
must look strange enough. The amount of money represented in the window is
$52.15. The money belongs to Mr. H. L. Peckham of The National bank of
Cortland.
—There is considerable excitement among our
local wheelmen over the election of officers of the L. A. W. for the ensuing
year which takes place the first week in November. Election tickets have been
received by all the local members of the association, the most of whom are
working very enthusiastically for Dr. E. M. Santee for the office of the chief
council of the New York State Division against Mr. J. B. Potter of New York
City.—Ithaca Morning Herald.
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