DEPEW AT LOURDES

Chauncey M. Depew.

Cortland Standard, Wednesday, September 25, 1895.

DEPEW AT LOURDES.

HE VISITS THE SHRINE AND WITNESSES A MIRACLE.

Was Much Impressed With the Apparent Genuineness of the Cure—Return of the Inimitable "Chauncey M." From Europe. May Have Been Deceived.

   Being near Lourdes while in the Pyrenees, I paid a visit to the shrine. The village church stands on a high hill, and on one side is a precipice running down to the river about 200 feet. At the bottom is a grotto, such as is common in the rocks in that region, about 100 feet deep, irregular and rough in shape. The legend of the place is that in 1858 the Virgin appeared to a child in this grotto with promise of healing for the sick, and a fountain burst forth, the waters of which have miraculous power. Faith in this has built broad highways along the river and over the hills for the pilgrims to march on, constructed two splendid roads from the plain to the church, inclosing within the arches on which they are carried a broad plaza and under the terrace of the first landing a basilica for thousands of worshipers. Every foot of the walls of basilica and church is covered with slabs, on which the persons placing them have recorded their cures or some special blessing received. Over and around the grotto hang thousands of crutches and surgical appliances for supporting the body which have been left there by the healed. Alongside the grotto is a bathing place with four bathtubs filled with ice cold water from the spring. Into this the patients are plunged, no matter what their disease or deformity. I was told that over 1,200 were dipped the day I was there. They are plunged into the water and instantly taken out under constant and loud supplications for their healing.

   At night the scenes are wonderful. Thousands bearing torches and singing hymns are marching over the winding roads. Other thousands are on their knees in the space in front of the grotto praying, singing and imploring the Virgin for help. Hundreds upon hundreds of candles flicker and flare in the grotto and send a weird light upon the white robed statue of the Virgin which stands just above.

   In the afternoon a vast procession forms at the grotto and marches along the river, turning into the plaza as it passes the point where the road rises from the plain upon the arches to the church. On one side of the plaza were placed in a row some hundreds of little wagons, each holding an incurable sufferer. The sight of these helpless and except by miracle hopeless men, women and children in every stage of distortion or living death is affecting beyond words. As the head of the procession reached the first wagon, the priest elevated the host before the patient. Another priest, with a voice of great power, cried out, "O Lord, help this sick man!" The hundreds of priests and 5,000 pilgrims repeated the cry in unison. Again louder and with tremendous passion and energy he cried, "O Lord, heal this sick one!" the crowd taking up the invocation as before. As the procession moved down the line of wagons, halting and repeating these supplications before each one, the excitement became painful in its intensity. The patients grew frenzied with anxiety and hope.

   The coolest and most indifferent man in the world could not have remained unmoved. I have seen and felt similar waves of emotion at camp meetings and revivals, but they had not the added force of this writhing mass of praying, beseeching, despairing and hoping human suffering.

   As I was crossing the plaza after this scene, from one of the dispensing wagons I heard my name called. It was occupied by a lady and was drawn by her son, a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Both had recognized me, having heard me speak in New York. She said the doctors at home had told her that science and skill could do nothing more for her and she must make herself as comfortable as possible until the end, which was only a few months off. So she had come to Lourdes with faith and hope. I asked the grounds of her hopes, and she said: "Why a miracle was performed this afternoon before your eyes. Did you not see it? That was the cause of the great excitement."

   This was her story: A young girl, who was staying at the same hotel as she did, had been unable to walk or put her foot to the ground for six years. She had suffered frightful pain and screamed with agony when dipped in the icy water. She had been bathed six successive days and after the procession passed that afternoon had called out that she was cured. I said to the medical student, "What do you know about this?" He said he had seen the knee bandaged at 12 o'clock that day. It was swollen badly, and he counted 38 running sores. I told him I must see that girl.

   The pilgrims were mobbing the purification room, to which she had been taken, to see or touch her, and the attendants were doing their best to keep them out and get them away. My medical guide, with true New York audacity, called out, "The distinguished Dr. Chauncey Depew wants to see the patient."

   Instantly a way was cleared, and in a few minutes I was inside. The girl was not there, having been carried home to escape the crowd. There was an English doctor, and I appealed to him. He said he had dressed the leg at noon. It was swollen and incurable; that he had cut the bandages off a half hour before, and the leg was healed, and the girl could walk, and he showed me the cut bandage. It was about 2 feet long and had been slit with a knife from top to bottom. I then insisted I must see the girl.

   About 8 that evening my student acquaintance came to my hotel with a message that she and her friends would be glad to see me. My son and I started off instantly.

   I found a young lady about 17 years old with a sweet, innocent, happy face. She told her story substantially as I had heard it, and that she had been unable to walk a step in six years, I asked her if she could walk now, and she went several times around the room, limping some, but with no apparent pain. I then ventured to request a sight of the knee. Her friends said certainly. The knee seemed quite normal. The flesh and muscles were firm and natural. Black spots marked the places where the sores had been, but the sores were healed and healthy skin, and not scales over them.

   I have little faith in modern miracles, but this case puzzled me. Of course, its weak point, so far as I am concerned, is that I did not see her before the alleged cure. The testimony, however, of the New York medical student, of his mother and of the English doctor was clear and positive. They might have been deceived, or tried to deceive me, though neither seems probable.—Interview With Chauncey M. Depew, Exchange.

DENIAL BY THE CENTRAL.

An Official Says the Canal Story Is False.

CAN HANDLE GRAIN THEMSELVES.

The Railroad Company Professes to Be In Entire Ignorance of Any Such Movement and Says It Is Not Interested.

   NEW YORK, Sept. 25.—Regarding the story telegraphed from Buffalo to the effect that the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad company had secured control of 90 per cent of the Erie canal boats and that it was in a position to hereafter fix rates on grain from there to this city at any rate it pleased, George E. Ferry, assistant general traffic manager of the road, when seen at the Grand Central station, said:

   "There is absolutely no foundation for the story. The company has formed no combination to control freight rates on the canal and it would be foolish for us to buy the boats, as others would be built at once to fight us.

   "The New York Central is and always has been capable of handling all the grain entrusted to us at any season of the year, and I do not see any necessity for controlling the canal boats. I have often wondered, though, why those Erie canal boatmen at Buffalo have not united to do away with the scalpers or middlemen who shave off their profits from the grain transportation and it may be that there is such a movement on foot now. Possibly for that reason the story was started and the New York Central credited with being the originator of the organization, but such is not the case. We are not interested in any way if there is any such movement," Mr. Ferry concluded.

Canal Story Confirmed.

   BUFFALO, Sept. 25.—Following up its announcement of yesterday morning that the New York Central and Hudson River railroad had gained complete control of the traffic on the Erie canal by working in conjunction with the Boatmen's Exchange, the new syndicate of individual boatmen, and agreeing to back the syndicate in the maintenance of rates for freight between Buffalo and Eastern points. The Express today publishes a lengthy confirmation of its announcement.

CORTLAND COUNTY NEWS.

TAYLOR.

   TAYLOR, Sept. 25. —Mrs. Edward Knapp of Fabius was in town last week. Her aunt, Mrs. P. Bowen, returned home with her for a few weeks' stay.

   D. F. Crane has been spending a few days with the family of John L. Smith in Marathon.

   Mr. and Mrs. K. Hoag went to Truxton last week to see her sister, Mrs. Wm. Seacord, who has been quite seriously hurt by being thrown from a wagon.

   Mr. and Mrs. Artemas Wire have been entertaining guests from abroad.

   Mrs. Amy Butman, who has been spending the summer with her daughter in a distant part of the state, has returned to this place where she is gladly welcomed by her many friends.

   Miss Melva Bennett is confined to the house by the chicken pox.

   Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Cass and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dodge are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Lincoln in Pennsylvania.

   Bennie Skinner, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Skinner, is very ill. Their two daughters have also been on the sick list.

   Mr. Charles Rathburn and Mr. Curtis Chatfield both old residents of this place were in town Sunday.

   Mr. Geo. Newcomb of Castle Creek was in town recently.

   Mr. Benjamin Wire, who has been in Binghamton several weeks past, was home over Sunday.

   Mr. Doran of Cortland is a guest at A. S. Anderson's. He is a cousin of Mrs. Anderson's.

   Miss Minnie Eldridge of North Pitcher has been stopping several days at A. K. Bennett's.

   Mr. Charles Crane and sister spent a couple of days last week in Cortland. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Crane were also in Cortland on a visit recently.

BABCOCK HOLLOW.

   BABCOCK HOLLOW, Sept 24 —Mrs. Nelson Joiner of Dryden has been visiting at Mr. George Tillotson's.

   Mr. David Vunk went to Cortland Wednesday last on business.

   Mr. George Tillotson and Mr. Andrew Jennings went to Lisle last Saturday.

   Miss Kate Ryan is dressmaking for Miss Hattie Bell and Miss Lena Griswold for Mrs. R. J. Rounds.

   Mr. Andrew Jennings has been giving Mr. A. H. Strong's house anew coat of paint.

   Married—At the parsonage of Rev. Mr. Dayton of Virgil on Wednesday evening, Mr. James Kells of Harford Mills and Miss Hattie Lang of this place. We extend congratulations.

   The Ladies' Aid society held at Mr. John Shevalier's last Friday night was a success both socially and financially.

   Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Strong visited at Mr. Frank Strong's in Dryden Sunday.

   Mrs. Kate Ballou by virtue of a divorce obtained at law in the state of Pennsylvania has now her maiden name restored and may be properly addressed as Miss Kate Ryan.

   The Baptist church of this place voted their pastor, Rev. Mr. Dayton, two weeks' vacation.

   Little Glenn, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Blanchard, died Sunday evening, aged 8 months.

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   A. H. Bryant of Truxton was in town yesterday.

   Mrs. Cyrus Watson left town to visit friends in Brooklyn, this morning.

   N.J. Smith is in Binghamton to-day.

   Miss Elizabeth Sherman, Miss Smith and Mr. Calib Sherman were among the Homer people in Syracuse to-day.

   Rev. F. A. S. Storer made a flying trip to Utica to-day.

   Messrs. W. H. Foster and Walter Briggs attended the Dryden fair to-day.

   Frank Sornberger of Buffalo is registered at the Hotel Windsor.

   C. H. Stevens left town this morning for Binghamton. He is a delegate to the Republican senatorial convention.

   The list of uncalled for letters in the Homer postoffice is as follows: Mina Doane, George W. Lawrence. Persons calling for the same will please mention this notice.

   The Living issue club meets this evening at the home of Miss Minnie Allen of James-st.

   The Assassination club will give the first party of the season of 1895-96 at Brockway hall on Friday evening.

   Miss Verdena Packard and her sister Ellen of Cortland were the guests of Miss Mary Arnold on Cayuga-st on Saturday and Sunday.

   The H. R. V. club, the last social organization formed in this village, held its first meeting last evening for organization at the home of one of the members. The club has been formed by a number of young ladies who desire to pursue a course of reading during the coming winter. The members have invited their gentlemen friends to be present at a part of the meetings at which refreshments are served. The club and their friends were delightfully entertained at the home of Miss Southworth on Warren-st. last evening, where after the reading the remainder of the evening was spent at the card tables.

   No one who walks down Main-st. can escape the notice of the ball game to be played for the benefit of the Old Ladies' Home on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 1, instead of next Saturday as previously advertised. Artist Knobel has executed a poster which for originality of design and height of coloring has not been equaled by any of his previous efforts in this line. It reclines against a tree in front of his [barber] shop on Main-st. and is drawing its full share of deserved attention from passers by.

BREVITIES.

   —The Russian language will be taught at Cornell university this year.

   —The Ladies' Literary club meet this afternoon with Mrs. E. C. Beach on Clinton-ave.

   —The Prohibition county convention has been called to meet in Collins' hall Oct. 7 at 1 o'clock P. M.

   —The scholars who are taking private lessons in dancing will meet at Empire hall Friday evening at 8 o'clock.

   —It is reported that two of our prominent sportsmen have become very adept of late in hunting rabbits at twenty-five cents per shot.

   —The one mile open bicycle race at the Dryden fair yesterday was won by L. H. Tucker, A. E. Allen second and Smith of Ithaca third. Time 2:34 1-5.

   —The young people's society of the Presbyterian church will give an L. B. A. (Lets' become acquainted) social in the church parlors this evening. All the young people, and especially Normal students, are cordially invited.

   —Mr. D. D. Bosworth of the Cortland steam laundry is putting in new machinery in the Hulbert building on West Court-st., where all package work will be done. He expects to do only family washings at the old stand on Washington-st.

   —A carload of McGrawville people attended "Shore Acres" last night. Some of them expressed themselves as pleased beyond measure with the ease of transit to and from the Corset city. This is probably appreciated quite as much evenings as at any time.

   —Devar Richards who has a police record in Cortland county, an account of whose arrest in Cuyler on a Binghamton warrant was published in yesterday's STANDARD, was tried before Justice Fletcher of Lestershire yesterday afternoon. Richards pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months in the Broome county jail.

   —The annual meeting of the Presbyterian church and society will be held at the church parlors on Tuesday evening, Oct. 1, at 7 o'clock. Two trustees are to be elected in place of D. F. Wallace and F. D. Smith, whose terms of office expire at that time, and such other business will be transacted as should properly come before this meeting.

   —Every one seems to have gone to the Dryden fair to-day. The livery stables are completely emptied this afternoon. The day is fine and there has been a constant stream of teams flowing around the corner past The STANDARD office all day. T. M. Marks went over at 4 o'clock this morning with a load of bakestuffs for the caterers on the fair grounds. Coming back he said that even at that early hour he was constantly turning out for teams, and that every one was headed for the fair.

   —Mr. Robert Purvis has generously added his name to the list of the fifty who will give $5 a year for five years to the Cortland hospital. Mr. Crosleys' offer expires October 1, and the hospital managers are very anxious that the full number of names should be secured before that time. In a county like Cortland the additional subscribers ought to be obtained without effort, for a more deserving object has never been presented to the public for aid.

   —The judicial convention at Binghamton took fifteen ballots yesterday afternoon before adjournment as reported in The STANDARD'S dispatches. The vote stood on each of the ballots: George F. Lyon of Broome, 4; Burr Mattice of Otsego, 3; S. C. Keeler of Schuyler, 1; Bradford Almy of Tompkins, 1; Edwin E. Wagner of Delaware, 1; Horace L. Branson of Cortland, 1. At 3:20 an adjournment was taken to 5 o'clock. Twenty-five more ballots were taken with the same result, and then the convention adjourned for two hours and then twenty-five more ballots were taken, the vote being unchanged. The convention then adjourned till 2 o'clock to-day.

"Shore Acres" Last Night.

   Manager Rood has been particularly successful thus far this season in the high character of the plays which he has brought to the Opera House. The excellent presentation of "Shore Acres" here last season was sufficient to insure the presence last night of a large and appreciative audience. The cast was substantially the same as before and every part was well sustained. Too much can hardly be said in praise of the play itself. It relates to the home and appeals to all. It is elevating in tone and in places is irresistibly funny. The characters of Nathaniel Berry, Joel Gates, and Ann Berry were among the best, though all were good.