ENGLISH TIME BEATEN

Empire State Express, New York Central and Hudson R. R.

Engine No. 999 in Syracuse.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, December 3, 1895.

ENGLISH TIME BEATEN.

Swift Flight of the Empire State Express.

FROM NEW YORK TO BUFFALO

All Previous Attempts at Railroad Record Breaking Excelled, but an Accident Prevented the Schedule Time Which Had Been Planned.

   BUFFALO, Dec. 3.—The New York Central railroad has demonstrated its ability to run the fastest regular train in the world, although it failed in this particular run to finish upon the schedule time laid out for it. This failure was due entirely to an accident, the other portions of the run showing conclusively that the new fast scheduled time can be accomplished and even excelled.

   Up to six months ago the train known as the Empire State express had the world's record as a regular train for fast running. The London railway of England, running from London to Aberdeen, began to run a train a trifle faster than the Empire State's record of 51 miles an hour. The Central has begun a new schedule for this train which necessitates an hourly run of 53 1/2 miles, about two miles an hour faster than the English rival.

   Leaving New York at 8:30 a. m. and with every condition against her, this train made more than three-quarters of the distance in even faster time than the new schedule calls for.

   The regular Empire State express had added to it a special car of Vice President Webb, weighing 106,400 pounds. In addition to this extra weight a drizzling rain was falling making the tracks extremely slippery and the extra weight was carried on the end of the train instead of next to the engine, making the resistance greater.

   The run from New York to Albany, a distance of 142.88 miles, was made in 2 hours and 36 minutes. And the train rolled into the Albany depot 4 minutes ahead of the new schedule time, and 9 minutes ahead of the old schedule.

   Leaving Albany on schedule time, 11:18 A. M., and with a change of engines, Engineer Chase at the throttle of engine 999, pulled the train through to Syracuse, the end of the central division, so that she ran into the depot 2 1/2 minutes faster than the old. With the gain on the Hudson river division, this made a total gain of 21 minutes between New York and Syracuse.

   At Syracuse engine 904, Engineer Pellings, took charge of the train and pulled out of the depot 2 minutes late. Half-way between Syracuse and Rochester the drizzling rain turned to snowfall, and the wind which had been with the train much of the distance changed to a head wind of great resistance. Despite these conditions the train reached Rochester exactly on time.

   From Rochester as far as Churchville, 56 miles east of Buffalo, the Empire State's destination, the stations were passed exactly upon schedule time. Just after passing Churchville, where the engine takes water from the track water trough by scoop without stopping, the scoop caught upon an obstruction in the trough and dropping down, banged against the ties for at least a mile until the train could be brought to a standstill.

   It was 14 minutes before the damage could be repaired and at least 3 minutes had been lost in slowing up and stopping. When the train was again started, after a loss of 17 minutes, it was close upon the long heavy grade running up to Batavia,

   Lacking the tremendous momentum which it usually has, it lost 3 minutes more on this up grade, the slippery tracks also adding to the delay, and when the Batavia station was passed the train was 25 1/2 minutes behind the new schedule.

   The run into Buffalo from Batavia, a distance of 40 miles, was made in about 31 minutes, very fast time, and the train rolled into Buffalo 23 minutes behind the new schedule time, and 2 minutes ahead of the old schedule. The entire run of 440 miles, including three stops and exclusive of a delay of 26 minutes, was made in 494 minutes.

Ex-Comptroller Wemple Insane.

   AMSTERDAM, N. Y., Dec. 3.—A commission, selected by the superintendent of the poor Perry Kline, examined ex-State Comptroller Edward Wemple of Fultonville as to his sanity. The commission declared Mr. Wemple insane and he will be taken to the Utica state hospital. The physicians were J. R. Fairbanks and T. G. Hyland of Amsterdam.

NO CLUE FOUND.

FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD OFFERED

For Arrest and Conviction of the Train Wreckers—Some Arrests—Detectives Everywhere.

   No positive clue has yet been found to the parties who wrecked the express train at Preble Sunday night. The railroad has offered a reward of $5,000 for the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties, and this as well as the enormity of the offence has had the effect of calling together detectives from all over the country. Local officers are also spreading out in every direction.

   Detective Sevenoaks is keeping an eye out at all points along the road. Detectives W. E. Mooney and William O'Brien of Syracuse spent the night here last night and started out this morning again for the scene of the wreck. Ex-Sheriff John Miller with some assistants was yesterday at Truxton and along the line of the E., C & N. R. R. Deputy-Sheriff James Edwards was up to East Homer last night.

   Several clues have been followed up, but all have proved to be fruitless so far. A lady saw two men hurrying from the wreck as she was rushing toward it, but their identity was shown and they were going for help. An Italian colony near Preble was held in suspicion, but there is nothing definite in it.

   Deputy Sheriff William Shirley of Homer has struck the clue which to Coroner Moore seems altogether the most promising at present. About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon he was in the vicinity of Summit Station where he had been investigating. He went into the station to send a message to Detective Sevenoaks at Preble. While he was there an unknown man suddenly appeared on the platform. Where he had come from no one knew. The fellow was unknown at Summit and had not been seen about the place previously. Although it was raining hard outside, the fellow's clothing was quite dry and he had no appearance of having been out of doors. Whether he had been concealed beneath the platform or the water tank was, of course, only conjecture, but taking everything into consideration the circumstance was regarded suspicious enough to warrant investigation. The man when approached claimed to be unable to understand or speak any English and talked with a broken German dialect. He was put under arrest by Deputy Shirley and up to this time has persistently refused to give his name. He appeared to be about 28 years old, 6 feet tall, of dark complexion and weighed about 160 pounds.

   He had hardly been put under arrest when another stranger came into the station. Like the man just arrested this fellow refused to talk and acted suspiciously. His clothes were damp, but not as wet as a few minutes' exposure to the rain then falling would warrant. He appeared to be about 22 years old, was about five feet and eight inches in height and weighed in the neighborhood of 165 pounds. He was arrested by Deputy Shirley, who then telegraphed to Detective Sevenoaks at Preble. The latter went at once to Summit, and saw the men, but could get nothing out of them. They were held, however, to await developments.

   It is the belief of Deputy Shirley that these men had something to do with the wreck, and were waiting around Summit to jump a freight and get to Syracuse undetected.

   Coroner Moore goes to Preble to-morrow to summon his witnesses and make ready for the inquest next day.

   Mr. John Murphy, formerly a brakeman on the E., C. & N. R. R., now on the N. Y. & N. E. R. R. running between Boston and Hartford, was in the smoker of the ill-fated train and claims to be the first man to reach the fireman and pull him out. As soon as he got out upon the ground he ran forward to see what had become of engineer and fireman. He saw the fireman's hand protruding and found him lying under the wreckage. All he could reach of him was the collar of his overall jacket, but he was not fastened down and he pulled him out by the shoulders. He was moaning and groaning. Nothing could be seen of the engineer.

   Most of the wreckage has been cleared up and taken to Syracuse.

REWARD OFFERED

For the Party Who Wrecked the Express Train at Preble.

   The Syracuse, Binghamton and New York railroad company hereby offers a reward of $5,000 to whomsoever shall secure the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who caused the wreck of express train at Preble on the night of Dec. 1, 1895.

   A. H. SCHWARZ, Supt.

POLICE COURT.

Excise Cases—Board Bill Skipping—Case of Assault.

   The case of The People vs. Dennis Cronin, charged with violation of the excise laws, was this morning adjourned to Dec. 11, upon his agreement to close out his business at wholesale, sell no more intoxicating drink at retail, and plead guilty at that time.

   James Nash, a young man, who was charged with selling intoxicating liquor, this morning pleaded guilty to the charge and sentence in his case was suspended during good behavior.

   The trial of Lewis and Mott Rood of Brewery Hill is set down for Friday. They were arrested Saturday night by Chief of Police Linderman on the charge of stealing three turkeys from the roost of Mrs. Ryan who lives on Homer-ave., on or about Oct 9.

   Mrs. John Willis of Port Watson-st., has sworn out a warrant in police court for the arrest of Richard O'Neil who was formerly employed at the stove shops and whose whereabouts are at present unknown to the officers. Mrs. Willis alleges that O'Neil skipped town without settling a $15.85 board bill and that he made false pretenses of his ability to pay the bill before he left saying that money was due him from the Stove company, which was not the case, as he was paid up in full.

   A lively scene was witnessed in police court last night when an Italian giving the name of Thomas Briggs was brought up on a warrant sworn out by a fellow laborer of Irish descent, Michael Borderick, charging him with assault. It appears that both men were employed near the E., C. & N. station yesterday unloading lumber and that in some manner the Emerald Isle representative let slip a plank which hit the wanderer from sunny Italy on the head. This aroused the ire of the Italian who at once proceeded to satisfy his conscience by punching the Irishman in the face. Each told his own story to the stern justice who listened with the intensity of a sage and tried to get them to shake hands and call it square. This was not satisfactory to the principals, but they were ordered to go home and forever afterward work in peace.

VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

Pass an Ordinance Relative to Snow and Ice on Walks.

   The regular monthly meeting of the village trustees was held at the office of the clerk last night with the full board present. After the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting the following business was transacted:

   The complaint which had been made of a cesspool at the corner of Groton-ave. and Monroe Heights was referred to the board of health.

   On motion duly seconded and carried, it was

   Resolved, That property owners be required to remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks opposite their respective premises from Dec. 3 to April 1 next by 8 o'clock A. M. and in default thereof the street commissioner be directed to clean the same at the expense of the owner.

   It was resolved that the matter of procuring an additional number of fire alarm keys be referred to Mr. Glann with power to act.

   A petition of various citizens requesting the removal of the billboards at the corner of Main-st. and Groton-ave. was read and placed on file.

   New sidewalks were ordered opposite the premises of J. M. Samson on the west side of Main-st. and the south side of Groton-ave.

   The board audited the following bills and adjourned to Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 o'clock P. M.

   Street commissioner, payroll, $86.25

   W. T. Linderman, meals for prisoners, 1.30

   Police force, 126.00

   Fred Hatch, salary, 25.00

   Fred Hatch, rent, 50.00

   W. J. Moore, health officer, 18.00

   D. F. Wallace & Co., supplies, 7.00

   B. B. Jones, printing, 8.10

   B. Delevan, labor, 2.00

   W. H. Cooper, drawing steamer, 1.50

   John Garrity, team, 11.50

   F. A. Bickford. Salary, 25.00

   Protective police, 50.00

   A. S. Burgess, supplies, 10.00

   Cramer & Mellon, supplies, .60

   Cortland Water Works Co., 2,183.33

   Daniel Delaney, store, 5.00

   Cortland & Homer Electric Co., 365.00

BREVITIES.

   —A new postmaster was appointed yesterday for Killawog. He is T. W. Flaherty.

   —New advertisements to-day are—Syndicate Publishing Co,, page 7; Bingham Bros. & Miller, page 4; Warner Rood, page 5.

   —There will be a regular communication of Cortlandville lodge, F. & A. M. this evening. Work third degree on two candidates.

   —The membership committee of the Y. M. C. A. will meet in the Y. M. C. A. rooms to-night at 8 o'clock. The bookkeeping class meets at the same hour.

   —The Crescent club will give the second of a series of private dancing parties Dec. 13. McDermott's orchestra of five pieces has been secured for the occasion.

   —The annual election of officers of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R. will occur tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock. All members of the Post are requested to be present.

   —Sprinkle dry flour on grease spots on a carpet and in a few hours it will be nearly or quite absorbed. Then wash the spot in warm water and soap and all trace of it will have disappeared.

   —Mrs. I. Whiteson adds her name to the list of those who will give $5 each year for five years to the Cortland hospital. The names are still coming in. It is not too late to subscribe for a worthy cause. Who will be the next?

   —Isabella G., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kane of Garfield-st , died yesterday at the home of her parents at the age of nine years. The funeral will be held tomorrow, but owing to the absence from town of Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, the exact time could not be decided upon in time for notice to-day,

   —Last night was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Corwin of 71 Pomeroy-st. and the occasion was observed in a fitting manner by Mr. Corwin's comrades in Grover Post, who called in a body. One of the comrades at our request furnished us a report of the evening's entertainment, but it arrived so late that its publication was of necessity deferred until to-morrow.

   —The fact that the Christian college at Marsovan, Turkey, has been burned and that its president is in great danger of his life will have new interest for Cortland people when it is remembered that the president is Dr. Charles C. Tracy, formerly of Waverly, Tioga county, who with his wife made addresses at a meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary society of the Presbyterian church of this village some ten years ago. Dr. and Mrs. Tracy have ever since that time been held in tender remembrance by many people here.