BLOODY FIGHT IN CORTLAND

Segment of 1894 panoramic map of Cortland. No. 1 block is Wickwire factory. Directly west of the Wickwire factory is the E. C. & N. railroad depot, later the Lehigh Valley railroad depot.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, November 12, 1894.

A BLOODY FIGHT.

ITALIANS AND HUNGARIANS CAUSE A DISTURBANCE.

A Woman the Cause—Stilettos, Clubs and Shovels Used—Serious Wounds—Twelve Men Arrested.

   A mixed up free-for-all fight in which a score or more Hungarians and Italians, armed with stilettos, clubs and shovels participated, occurred about mid-night Saturday night and aroused the neighborhood in the vicinity of Dunsmoor's park. Col. Frank Place notified the police about midnight. Officers Monroe, Parker and Jackson promptly responded. They found four Hungarians on the street and after they were safely lodged in the cooler they went to the scene of the battle. Blood was flowing pretty freely when they reached the house on the street near Dunsmoor's park [144 Port Watson St.], running north from Port Watson-st., which the Italians and Hungarians call home. They succeeded in securing eight more Hungarians, more or less cut and battered up and locked them with the other four in the cooler, where they remained till this morning.

   A STANDARD reporter had two interviews with them in the "cooler," one yesterday afternoon and one last evening. They appeared to have made themselves perfectly at home, as they were packed in like sardines. Those who were not fortunate enough to find room in the bunks lay on the floor.

   Amid the jabber of a dozen tongues in broken English and the lower class Hungarian, the reporter learned the following story for which the spelling of names is not vouched:

   The Italians live in one house, or one part of a double house, and the Hungarians in another. The men are employed on the electric railway and on the sewers. It seems that about two weeks ago Dominic, an Italian, had secured from Joe Crollick, a Hungarian, his wife, with whom he has lived, and as he claims to whom he has been married for the past three years. Crollick told the reporter in a confidential undertone that she was an American girl who formerly lived in Ithaca. Joe said that the Italian said he would kill him. Saturday night the Italian and quite a number of his friends raided the Hungarian house shortly before mid-night to take revenge for a threat on the part of the Hungarian that he would kill the Italians. A general melee ensued which was stopped by the timely arrival of the police. The Italians made their escape without either killing Joe or obtaining the woman.

   As soon as the twelve Hungarians were locked in the cooler Dr. E. M. Santee was called to dress their injuries. Among the men at the cooler he found Joe, whose forehead had been split open with a blow from a shovel. He also had his shirt cut and a scratch on the breast from a stiletto.

   George Harris, another Hungarian, who was also in the cooler, had a flesh wound from a stiletto in the right arm near the elbow. An artery was severed and he bled profusely.

   The most badly injured man was Pellow Faulko, a Hungarian, who was too badly injured to be removed from the house. He sustained a wicked stiletto wound under the right eye. The point of the instrument must have gone dangerously near the brain as it pierced the under part or the orbit of the eye. He also had a wound over the eye, evidently made by the same instrument, and his left arm was badly pounded by a club.

   An Italian by the name of Nickler also had the first finger of his right hand struck with a club, breaking it between the second and third joints.

   All of the participants were a sight to behold with the blood all over their faces and hands and some of those who were not injured carried the blood of those who were.

   A STANDARD reporter endeavored yesterday afternoon to interview the woman who had caused all the trouble, but he failed to gain admittance to the house, which had been badly battered up before the Dagoes succeeded in entering.

   Police headquarters was packed to the doors from 9 till to 12 o'clock to-day with an expectant crowd. They learned very little, however, as the time was consumed in taking privately the affidavits of the principals of the melee. The chief point of evidence was that given by Raphia Fontanya who claims that he went out of the back door of the Italian house and a man, whom he swore was Joe, stabbed him and struck him over the head with a club.

   Joe is now in jail awaiting examination for assault in the second degree. The evidence showed that Joe then went to the Hungarian house and created the rumpus. Joe's wife claimed that he pounded her frequently and broke her ribs and she left him to keep home for the Italians.

   Joe was the Hungarian who was up in police court a short time ago for beating his wife, but as she did not appear against him then, he was discharged.

   The examination was adjourned till 2 P. M. Wednesday.

DOES ELECTROCUTION KILL?

Governor Flower Will Allow Doctors to Solve This Problem.

   ALBANY, Nov. 12.—Governor Flower is willing to allow experts to make a test to ascertain whether a man killed in the electrical chair can be resuscitated. He made this statement when his attention was called to the printed allegations that certain physicians would ask for such permission: "I am perfectly willing to allow the experiment to be made if it is in my power under the law. I think it would be a good thing to have this long standing controversy settled at once and forever."

   Ever since the adoption of the electrical execution act by the state, the Westinghouse people, whose dynamos are used, have declared that electricity was not the cause of death, but that death was assured by the holding of an autopsy directly after the body had been taken from the electrical chair.

   No less an authority than Nicola Tesla, the famous electrician, contended that he could bring back to life a man killed in at electrical chair, provided the attempt was made immediately after execution.

   George Westinghouse has always asserted that the electrical death was a sham and that a New York commission, headed by Elbridge T. Gerry, had added the autopsy clause to the law so as to make it certain that the man was dead. Within the past two weeks the agitation of the subject has again became prominent and an appeal is to be made to the governor to allow the next man condemned to death at Auburn to be experimented upon. This request is the one the governor says he will grant.

   The attempt if made will undoubtedly create great excitement and intense interest in the scientific world. It will also arouse curiosity among laymen, because if successful it will bring to life a new man who cannot be again executed, having once suffered the penalty of death. It will also prove that the state executioners have been the surgeons who have held the autopsy rather than the state electrician.

Further Japanese Victories.

   YOKOHAMA, Nov. 12.—Advices from the armies commanded by Field Marshal Count Oyama, now operating on the Liaetang peninsula, confirm the reports of Japanese victories at Chin Chiu (Kinchau) and Talienwan.

   On the morning of Tuesday last, one brigade of the Japanese forces captured Chin Chiu and on the next day Talienwan was bombarded and also captured.

   A British warship was at Talienwan during the bombardment. After the place was captured their warship immediately started for Cheefoo, which is across the gulf of Pechihli, some 85 miles south of Talienwan.

   A dispatch dated Talienwan, Nov. 7, from Admiral Ito, commander-in-chief of the Japanese navy, says that the squadron left Ckiosansetsuto on Nov. 6 and on the morning of the 7th was near Talienwan. No firing was heard from the fort and the squadron steamed into the bay, when the Japanese flag was seen flying from the fortifications, the guns of which were dismounted. An officer landed and found only some Japanese guards who informed him that the commander of the brigade had returned to Chinchiu. The details of the capture of the place were obtained and a steamer was dispatched to telegraph the news of the victory.

Fort Arthur Besieged.

   LONDON, NOV. 12. — A dispatch from Tokio states that the Japanese have infested Port Arthur and that the two outermost forts on the land side have been captured.

   A dispatch from Shanghai says it is reported there that the emperor is suffering with a fever and is confined to his bed.

Advices From China.

   LONDON, NOV. 12.— A dispatch from Tien Tsin says that the emperor and his court are preparing to leave Pekin for Sing Janfu (Tsing Kiang-Pu), in the province Kiangsu, about 125 miles northeast of Shanghai.

   It is stated that 70,000 Russian troops are concentrated at Vladivostock.

AMERICA ACTS FOR PEACE.

Proposes to Arbitrate the War Between China and Japan.

   TOKIO, Japan, Nov. 12.—United States Minister Dunn has communicated to the ministry the substance of an important cipher cable proposition received from Secretary Gresham at Washington. It suggests that if Japan will join China in requesting the president of the United States to act as mediator in settling the war, he will exercise his good offices in that capacity. A similar proposition has been sent to China.

   The cable was received by Minister Dunn on Friday and was presented to a special meeting of the ministry. An answer has not yet been sent.

   The propositions present a grave question to the ministry. They are urged on one hand by the popular sentiment to continue the war and crush China. On the other hand European powers are threatening to intervene. As between these conflicting influences the ministry find great difficulty in reaching a decision on the American proposition, but the prospect is that it will be accepted.

   It is learned that four weeks ago France made a proposition to the United States to intervene.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

After Election Crumbs.

◘ The South has gone direct from the saddle into the soup.

◘ President Cleveland sees now that he might have made that Thanksgiving proclamation a little stronger.

◘ "To the nation the victory means that the people are opposed to free trade and the tariff reform of the Chicago platform."

◘ When U. S Senator Voorhees was asked if he was willing to make comment on the result of the elections he replied: "O, good heavens no."

◘ The American people propose to change the policy of this administration and arrange to continue to raise wool in the United States instead of in Australia and South America.

◘ It was wise for Professor [William L.] Wilson to eat that London banquet when he had a chance. He will never get another invitation to break bread with the British free traders.

◘ The poor man's "little dinner pail" was again an issue at election, just as it was in 1892. The working millions have tried both the Republican dinner pail, full, and the Democratic dinner pail, empty, and they voted for the former. You can't scare workingmen over a tariff on dinner pails again during the life of this generation.

◘ While Engineer Swanson of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, was taking water at McGregor the day after election, a carrier pigeon lit on his cab. The following was written on a tag attached to the bird's neck: NEW YORK, Nov. 6.—Hill is beat—world without end, the country has gone to h—l.

The Board of Supervisors.

   The organization of the board of supervisors by the election of William H. Crane of Homer as chairman and John C. Barry as clerk was a gratifying compliment to those gentlemen and a graceful endorsement of their service in the same capacities on the last board. Mr. Crane is always a ready, self-possessed and courteous presiding officer, with a special faculty for expediting business, and Mr. Barry has shown himself a prompt, obliging, accurate, faithful and efficient clerk. The wheels of business in the new board under such experienced and capable officials will move rapidly and without a break or jar.

   Mr. E. A. Williams of Homer, the janitor, is an old soldier and an admirable man for the place, and the comfort of the board will be looked after by him to the satisfaction of every one.

BREVITIES.

   —The supervisors' room was to-day connected with the telephone exchange.

   —The trustees of the Universalist church will hold their regular monthly meeting to-night at 8 o'clock.

   —Half-term examinations are now in progress at the Normal. The first half of the term closes to-morrow night.

   —The Ladies' Guild of Grace church will give an evening sociable at the residence of Mrs. S. M. Benjamin, Tuesday evening of this week. A chicken pie supper will be served at 6 o'clock, to which all are cordially invited.

   —While District Attorney Jerome Squires was in New York, Thursday, a horse which was drawing a street car struck his right leg, badly bruising and nearly breaking it. Mr. Squires is somewhat lame as a consequence.

   —Mike Graney was arrested at 2:45 this afternoon on a warrant issued by J. A. Graham charging him with smashing a light of glass in Cronin's liquor store on Port Watson-st. which is in the brick building owned by Mr. Graham.

   —Do not forget the lecture on "Atmosphere, social, domestic and church" by Rev. Walter Gallant at the Homer-ave. church next Wednesday evening. Admission 20 cents. Rev. Mr. Gallant comes to Cortland very highly recommended.

   —At about 9 o'clock yesterday morning Mr. John Garrity, who was pitching some straw from around a hole in his hay loft, fell through the hole to the floor below, a distance of about 15 feet. He was considerably bruised up, but luckily did not sustain any fractures.

   —The "My Wife's Husband" company which was to have appeared in

Cortland this evening struck in Syracuse yesterday to recover five weeks' unpaid salaries. The company has disbanded and Manager Rood informs us he has cancelled its engagement for Cortland this evening and will not appear.

A New Management.

   Alderman George L. Harding of Binghamton has purchased of H. M. Barrett the plant and stock of hides, skins and fertilizers and will conduct the same here in Cortland. Mr. Harding is engaged in the same business in Binghamton, where he has a very large establishment. He will run the Cortland plant as a branch of the one at Binghamton.

Farmers' Institutes.

   A list of farmers' institutes to be held in various places in New York state has just been completed by Director George A. Smith. The list includes 127 institutes and occupies all the time upon consecutive dates from Dec. 1 to March 23.

   Director Smith will be assisted in the instructions by Mr. Van Alstyne, Kindderhook; F. E. Dawley, Syracuse; F. A. Converse, Woodville; H. E. Clark, Denmark; A. R. Eastman, Waterville; F. O. Ives, South Eastern; I. S. Woodward, Lockport; James E. Rice, Yorktown, and the professors of the dairy school at Cornell.

   The institutes to be held in Cortland county and its immediate vicinity include DeRuyter, Jan. 3-4; Cortland, Jan. 4-5; Freeville, Jan. 7; Dryden, Jan. 18-19; Cincinnatus, Jan. 30; Marathon, Jan. 31, Feb. 1.

Police Court.

   Police court was crowded this morning. Every seat was taken and standing room even was at a premium. Pending the examination of those concerned in the Italian-Hungarian fight Saturday night, mentioned in another column, Sheriff Miller brought in two prisoners. One was charged with vagrancy. He gave his name as James Thorn and said he was coming from the West to his home in Pittsburg in search of work. Justice Bull discharged him with the admonition to get to Pittsburg as soon as he could.

   The other victim said his name was Harry Allen and that his home was in

Syracuse. He said that he had an attack of malaria for which he had taken quinine and whiskey and had taken too much quinine. "The other way," corrected Justice Bull. "No," the prisoner replied, "too much quinine." He was told that if he would get out of town he could be discharged. The prisoner accepted the offer.