A TERRIBLE STORM

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 20, 1895.

A TERRIBLE STORM.

The Cyclone Spent Its Fury Inside of a Minute—Houses Were Wrecked and a Lumber Yard Was Swept of Its Contents—The Wind's Velocity Was Terrific.

   WATERTOWN, N. Y., Sept. 12.—The terrific storm that swept over this section Wednesday night caused much damage to property generally, and culminated in a serious disaster and fatality at Cape Vincent, at the foot of Lake Ontario.

   Thomas Arniel and George Godfrey, of Cape Vincent, have since died from internal injuries received from the wrecking of the depot.

   It is feared that three others will be added to the list of deaths resulting from the collapse of the depot. Those who are in a critical state are: J. M. Anderson of New York; Mrs. Agen of Kingston, Ont., and Mrs. Fitzgerald of Cape Vincent.

   The others injured are: Miss Maude Walshe, Kingston, Ont., severe scalp wound; Miss Lillie Wilson, Cape Vincent, fractured clavicle; David Andrus, Pierrepont Manor, hand cut.

   And the following from Cape Vincent: Miss Addie Dennison, Willie Rivers, Fred Strong, Miss Addie Dunham, Miss Adele Seymour, Miss Lizzie McGowan, Miss Rose Stumpf, Miss Grace Augustus, Eugene Fitzgerald.

   The depot at Cape Vincent, which was wrecked, was an immense shed capable of sheltering great crowds of excursionists to the Thousand Islands and Canadian points. With hardly no warning, the depot was fairly smashed in, but luckily for those inside, the windward side raised, and thus many were saved from serious injury.

   As soon as the building had collapsed the call for assistance was given, and in a few minutes medical aid was there.

   In St. Lawrence county, particularly in the vicinity of Gouverneur, the storm took the form of a flood, accompanied by the terrifying electric display.

   So violent was the force of the wind that it shot boards and sticks of timber from the lumber yard not only through the windows of houses, but in one instance at least, through the clapboards and plaster into a kitchen.

   Reports from various parts of Jefferson county show, that probably a hundred barns were unroofed and blown down in the gale.

A Mirage.

(From the Moravia Register Sept. 5.)

   On Friday, August 30, near sunset, the writer with another person was coming from New Hope to Kelloggsville. On chancing to look to the southwest a singular spectacle presented itself to our astonished vision. In place of the usual familiar landscape a beautiful sheet of water lay outspread, as far as the eye could reach, with shores plainly outlined by seeming trees and land. On looking closer at the phenomena we distinctly recognized the shape as that of Skaneateles lake at the foot or lower part of that body of water. This reversed the foot from is natural position which is north to the south. This seeming sheet of water was not in the clouds but lay upon the landscape, completely obscuring houses and trees and fields from sight. The village cemetery opposite of Mr. Wm. Hawley's house could not be seen, while the residence east of it was plainly visible, and so for a long distance familiar objects could not be seen. A singular white mist was also seen to the east which shut out everything from view although the sun was shining brightly at the time.

   We could not account for this singular apparition in any way except that it was a reflection or a mirage of which we have all read in Natural history. Scientists have endeavored to explain the causes of these unusual appearances but to the average observer it is an unexplained mystery.

THE ERIE & CENTRAL N. Y. ROAD.

Tracklaying Commenced—A Temporary Bridge to be Erected—Injunction Served.

   June 8th last a contract was signed between the Otselic Construction Co. builders of the E. C. & N. road and the Groton Bridge Co. whereby the latter company was to build eighteen bridges for the former company to be used in building the new railroad. The bridge for the Tioughnioga river was to be delivered by Sept. 10, but the bridge company failed to keep its part of the contract and has furnished no good excuse for its failure. The construction company has made a contract with David Murphey of Syracuse to put up a temporary bridge over the river which will be completed in a few days. An action will be commenced against the bridge company to recover damages for its failure to complete the contract.

   Tracklaying would have been commenced three weeks ago but for a little difference of opinion as to the value of a small piece of land at the junction belonging to the Randall estate. The parties could not agree on the price to be paid for it.

   Last Friday night Contractor Benson took a gang of hands and by daylight Saturday morning had several hundred yards of track down, a portion of it covering the disputed territory. On Tuesday morning last Mr. Randall's attorneys served a temporary injunction on the construction company restraining them from using or occupying the land and directing them to show cause why the injunction should not be made permanent at a term of court to be held in Cooperstown next Tuesday. The injunction was granted by Judge Walter Lloyd Smith of Elmira. Work will necessarily be delayed until a decision of the questions at issue have been decided.

   Mr. Murphey will commence work on the bridge next Monday and expects to have it completed in a very few days.

STOPPED WORK.

The Sewer Contractors Out of Town and all Work Discontinued—Said to Have Gone for More Money.

   Last Friday Charles Doe, senior member of the firm of Doe, Nicholson & Deloyia, who have the contract for putting in the sewers in this village, went to his home in Port Huron, Mich., for the purpose of raising more money to be used in completing the sewer system. On Monday he telegraphed Mr. Deloyia that he had not yet succeeded in raising the money. Mr. Deloyia left for Port Huron that night. Tuesday morning in answer to a telegram sent from here, Mr. Doe wired that he intended to leave for Cortland that day but had concluded to delay his departure until Mr. Deloyia arrived in Port Huron.

   The men have six weeks pay due them and they quit work Tuesday morning refusing to work any more until paid. The same day Ol. Delevan filed a bill of sale of all the tools, pumps, etc., used by the contractors on a claim of $350 for trucking. J. Leland Fitzgerald of Schenectady filed a lien for balance due on flush tanks amounting to $109.20. The Ohio Valley Fine Clay Co. also filed a lien for $3,554.98 for balance due on sewer pipe and Horace W. Hall of Homer filed a lien for $335.95 for brick and material furnished. Several of the employes and foremen filed liens on Wednesday.

   Mr. Doe returned Thursday morning and was in conference with the sewer commissioners all day yesterday trying to make some arrangement whereby the work can go on. Only about 2700 feet of work remains to be done and it is believed that the work could have been completed in two weeks time. The streets have been full of Italian laborers who are waiting patiently for their money. They are quiet and orderly. It is believed that some satisfactory arrangement will be made in a day or two.

A Few Pockets Picked.

   Pickpockets were in town in considerable numbers last Monday [Buffalo Bill Wild West Show]. Mr. Geo. W. Davenport lost his pocketbook which fortunately contained only one dollar. Miss Jalana Freeman of 70 Railroad-st. also lost a pocketbook which contained only a few pennies. Several parties had their pockets picked in the crowd near the ticket wagon but as a rule the losses were small. One gentleman discovered a man's hand in his pocket and made a grab for the rascal but he slipped away in the crowd. The pocket in one ladies' dress was cut completely out and the purse which contained a small amount of money went with it. Four extra policemen were sworn in and great credit is due the force for preserving good order throughout the day.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO—New Berlin is soon to have a pickle and canned goods factory.

   A tramp lost a foot while stealing a ride on a freight train at Norwich.

   There was a severe hail storm over in the Pharsalia hills about 5 o'clock Monday afternoon.

   M. W. Brown has sold the Eagle hotel at Norwich to M. Keough and brother of Scranton. Pa.

   Asa Foster of Beaver Meadow has skipped out, after securing about $300 on forged notes to which he had attached Eugene Gibson's name. Officers are after him.

   The Bainbridge base ball nine defeated the Cuban Giants of New York on the Bainbridge grounds last Thursday. At the end of the eleventh inning the score stood 10 and 13.

   Mrs. John Brennan, an aged lady of King Settlement, while visiting at the home of her son, George Brennan, on Rexford street, Norwich, fell down the cellar stairs Sunday morning, breaking both arms. Dr. B. J. Ormsby reduced the fractures.

   MADISON—The Vernon fair will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 2 and 3.

   The heavy winds of last week blew down a barn belonging to George Bosworth at West Eaton.

   One fellow was killed in a row between drunken hop pickers near Hamilton the other night. Eight arrests were made, and it is hoped the guilty one is in jail.

   Dr. James Marcy, a Syracuse physician, has filed a claim of $200 against the town of DeRuyter for damages alleged to have been sustained by his horse stepping into a hole in the highway.

   A Morrisville correspondent writes that one grower in that vicinity has sold his crop of hops on the poles for one cent a pound, and that another gave his away for the sake of having his yard cleared.

   Charles Reed, the E. C. & N. brakeman who was so seriously injured in an accident a year ago that his life was despaired of for many weeks, and who has been confined to the bed for nearly a year, has so far recovered as to be able to be about the streets in a wheel chair.

   The notorious "cottage hotel," an all-round dive on the road between Oneida and Durhamville, was burned early Thursday morning, the occupants barely escaping with their lives. The place was an eyesore to the community, and the fire was undoubtedly of incendiary origin.

   TOMPKINS.—The Cornell Sun will begin to shine Sept. 25th.

   The Ithaca electric street railway has six miles of track.

   Thirteen thousand three hundred fares were collected on the electric cars in Ithaca Labor Day.

   Benton G. Brown, of North Lansing, had two horses killed by lightning while in a field Saturday night.

   An election was held at Newfield Tuesday to vote on the question of incorporating the village. There was a large vote polled, the proposition to incorporate being carried by a majority of 19. The event was celebrated by the firing of guns and the ringing of bells.

   The Ithaca Y. M. C. A. have purchased a fine site for their new building on the corner of Tioga and Seneca streets, and hope this winter to make up a sum large enough to pay for their building. They are to have a course of entertainments at the Lyceum, and season tickets will be sold for one dollar.

HERE AND THERE.

   Dryden fair Sept. 24, 25 and 26.

   The electric cars registered 14,783 fares on Monday.

   There will be a dance at the park Saturday evening.

   Chas. T. Ellis will be the attraction at the opera house this evening.

   Ex-Chief J. E. Sager has been appointed policeman at the opera house with full power to make arrests.

   Don't fail to see Chas. T. Ellis, the great German comedian in "The Alsatian" in the opera house to-night.

   The election of directors of the Cortland Omnibus and Cab Co. will be held at the Savings bank this evening.

   The Kings Daughters will meet with Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 54 North Main-st., Friday, Sept. 20th, at 2:30 P. M.

   Mr. Andrew Miller of No. Adams, Mass , an experienced plumber, has accepted a situation with Bennett & Hartwell.

   Mr. E. O. Dean of Mapleton has purchased Eugene W. Bates' grocery store on Groton-ave. and expects to take possession Sept. 2.

   There was a large attendance of Odd Fellows at their annual picnic held in the park last Saturday although the weather was rather cold.

   A. B. Gardner will sell a pair of work horses and other personal property at auction in McGrawville to-morrow at 4 o'clock P. M.

   There was a hard frost in this vicinity last Saturday night. Corn was injured considerably and tomatoes and some other vegetables were touched.

   Messrs. S. D. Alexander and T. R. Eldridge of this place have leased the Homer Steam Laundry and will take possession on Monday next. They will make daily trips to Cortland.

   The DEMOCRAT is under obligations to Superintendent of the Poor O. P. Miner for a copy of the proceedings of the twenty-fifth annual convention of County Superintendents of the Poor of this State.

   Wednesday morning Drs. Didama and Moore examined L. B. Rowlinson, the baker, and declared him insane. Judge Eggleston issued an order committing him to the Binghamton hospital and he was taken there in the afternoon.

   S. G. Brewer and James Smith have been appointed policemen for one month. This makes the number five. The intention is to have one officer in charge in the east and north parts of the village all the time. Each officer is to serve twelve hours per day.

   Patrick Dempsey of this place took nine first premiums and six second premiums on his several varieties of poultry at the fair held last week. At the Oswego fair he made six entries taking five first premiums and one second premium.

   The performance of the "Little Cyclone" at Library Hall on Friday and Saturday evenings last was well received and very meritorious for an amateur performance. Mr. Hakes sustained his previous good reputation as a versatile actor, and Mrs. Burrowes as "Chick" handled the part as well as it could have been done. Others who are deserving of special mention are Messrs. Cummings and Butler, as well as Miss Phillips, who showed a marked improvement since a year ago. Frank Lanigan was in splendid voice and his songs carried the house almost into hysterics.—Marathon Independent.

  

SCOTT.

   Mrs. Emily Babcock is quite poorly.

   Heavy thunder and soaking rain last Wednesday morning.

   Rev. B. F. Rogers and wife recently visited friends in Moravia.

   Mrs. Porter O. Brown is very ill. Dr. Goodell of Homer attends her.

   Elijah Niver, who was buried here the 11th inst., was 86 years of age.

   J. E. Babcock, wife and daughter are upon a week's visit in Auburn and Port Byron.

   Wallace Babcock of Washington, D. C. has been in town for several days past on business.

   Clinton Gould, wife and son of Auburn have been in town visiting his brother, Archie Gould.

   We hear that over 100 people from this place attended the "Buffalo Bill" show at Cortland last Monday.

   C. J. Barber of this town recently received the sum of $5 as a reward for the finding of a valuable box of jewelry.

   Quite a severe frost visited this town last Saturday night. Quite a little damage was done to buckwheat, corn, fodder, etc.

   The guests from Homer and vicinity last Sunday were too numerous to mention. Some who came from that direction should have been arrested.

   Austin Brown is building breast works on two sides of his village residence. One faces the saloon and the other faces the road leading to the lower regions [Homer, Cortland] in another direction. This will add much to the beauty as well as the safety of the place.