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| Ladder truck, steamer and hose cart. Fire house, second photo to right. |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Thursday,
December 26, 1895.
Another Communication.
To the Editor of the Standard:
SlR—As you
have kindly allowed space in your paper for two citizens and
firemen to express to express themselves, will you
make it three? "A Citizen and a Fireman" in your issue of the 23rd
inst. asks some questions that seem to be clearly to the point. "A
Citizen, a Fireman and a Taxpayer" says "I do not think the questions
of any great importance,'' etc., etc., and then occupies a full half column of
your valuable space in a very clear and able expose of his own one-sided views.
The questions asked deserve candid answers, not particularly from firemen, but
from citizens and taxpayers generally. Let us review them.
1st.—"Has
Cortland two scores of firemen that it doesn't need?" C. F. and
T. flippantly answers "no, my dear boy,"
and claims a shortage of seven to be filled in later, and glorifies the framers
of our village charter. Now in candor could not these "wise framers"
etc. have made a mistake or were they not looking at the then existing fact
that all apparatus must be dragged to the fire by men, and hence the necessity
of a greater number of men in the hook and ladder and steamer companies?
These two
companies now use horseflesh. Can C. F. and T. tell where either company could
possibly use more than thirty men? Each of these companies are, as the charter
now reads, entitled to forty men, score twenty too many. Next we have the
Protective Police with a maximum of fifty. Can C. F. and T. show where more
than thirty men of this company could be possibly used at a fire or can he show
a record of that number ever having attended one at the same time? Does not C.
F. and T. know it to be a fact that the average attendance at fires in this
department is less than twenty men to the company? Now let us take twenty men
from the Protective Police and we find the answer to C. and F. and T.'s
question. Yes, just two scores.
2nd.—Should
there be a limit to the number of firemen, etc? C. F. and T. answers yes, and
so say we all of us. But, while C. F. and T. would have the number as it now
exists, we must beg the right to differ and claim that thirty men to a company,
or one hundred and eighty men to our present department is more than is needed
and a great many more than ever has or ever will be present and in actual work
at a fire.
3rd.—"Should
men over forty years old, a pensioner, etc., be admitted?"
Citizen, Fireman and Taxpayer answers "Experience
teaches us yes." So long as the charter does not fix a maximum age nor bar
pensioners, this seems to be a matter that is better left to the various companies
to decide.
4th.—"Who
pays for the support of the fire department?" C. F. and T. answers, "I
had been led to suppose that the taxpayer did," etc., etc. Does not
C. F. and T. know that the taxpayer of this village
do not pay for anything beside apparatus and about one-third of the fuel used
by any of the companies of this department who have quarters away from
Fireman's Hall? Does he not know that the three most efficient companies of
this department, viz., Orris, Emerald and Hitchcock Hose companies maintain
themselves, receiving from this village a sum less than is actually expended to
light and warm suitable quarters for their bunkers who are always on duty?
5th.—"Is
it not time to have a paid department?" We fully agree with C. F. and T.
in his answer, no. C. F. and T. continues, "I am sorry that my friend
takes the little shake up that we recently had at the election," etc, etc.
Now if C. F. and T. can find any thing in the contemptible trick there played
and since boasted of by its projector that is either funny or praiseworthy, then
he should at once be crowned the greatest humorist of the age. Can C. F. and T.
show where those in what he terms C. and F's "combination" ever
stooped to a trick of any kind to bar members from voting as they saw fit, or
where a man's nationality or religion was ever brought into the question. I
would like to ask C. F. and T. if he as a "Citizen, a Fireman and a
Taxpayer" can bring anything against the first assistant chief of this
department who was so meanly turned down at the late election, or in the caucus
of four companies just before it, other than that he was an Irishman and a
Roman Catholic. Was not his every act while in discharge of his official duties
that of a gentleman and a true fireman?
ANOTHER
CITIZEN AND FIREMAN.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
Robert Innes Leaves Home and Family—His
Whereabouts Unknown.
Mr. Robert
B. Innes, a line wire drawer employed at Wickwire Brothers
wire mills, has disappeared and his whereabouts are
at present unknown. Mr. Innes has been unwell for some time, but on Friday
afternoon he went to the shop to get things in readiness, thinking to go to
work Saturday morning.
Friday
evening he did not eat any supper and told his wife he was going to Homer in
the evening. He left the house as she supposed to go to Homer, as he had said,
and she has not seen him since. It has been learned that he did not go to Homer
and his friends are very anxious to learn his whereabouts. It is claimed that
he was seen in Binghamton Friday night, but no further trace of him has been
found. His mind has not been right since his illness and he has several times
threatened to take his own life. He recently expressed a desire to see
Scotland, his native place, before he died and it is thought he may have
started for that country. His brother from Trenton is expected in town this
afternoon.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Annual Meeting of Cortland
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.
At the
annual convocation of the Cortland chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., held at Masonic
hall, Dec. 25, 1895, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
E. P. H.—H.
T. Dana.
K.—Edward
M. Seacord.
S.—R. G.
Lewis.
Treas.—C.
F. Thompson.
Sec.—C. S.
Bull.
Trustee— C.
E. Ingalls.
C. of H.—A.
B. Nelson.
P. S.—Geo.
L. Warren.
R. A. C.—Robert Otto.
M. Third
V.—W. L. Baker.
M. Second
V.—A. Crawley.
M. First
V.—F. P. Hakes.
Tyler—W. W.
Gale.
Death of Mrs. Anna Bates.
Mrs. Anna
Bates, wife of Frank Bates, died at her home at Hotel Bates on Church-st., at 9
o'clock Tuesday evening, of cerebral hemorrhage. Mrs. Bates was 40 years of age
and had been ill but a short time. In fact she had not been considered seriously
ill up to the time of her death, but for three or four weeks had been suffering
from pain in the head and sleepless nights. Tuesday evening she was no worse
than usual until about 9 o'clock when she complained of an unusually severe
pain in the head and in a few minutes was dead.
The funeral
will take place to-morrow, Friday morning, at 8:30 o'clock at the house and at
9 o'clock at St. Mary's church.
Mrs. Bates
was the wife of Frank Bates, who was recently sentenced to the Onondaga county
penitentiary for sixty days for selling intoxicating liquor without a license.
Mr. Bates' sentence lacked about fifteen days of expiration and he was in
Syracuse at the time of his wife's death.
A motion
for an appeal in his case was yesterday granted by Judge Eggleston and Mr.
Bates returned to Cortland last night on the 11:20 train.
 |
| John Y. McKane. |
Something of Christmas Cheer
Penetrates Even This Gloomy Abode.
SING SING,
Dec. 26.—Christmas was a gala day among the 1,800 convicts in Sing Sing prison.
Warden Sage shut down work and gave the prisoners an opportunity to have a good
time.
Nearly all
of the convicts received Christmas boxes, which were taken to their cells. There
were many who had no friends to remember them, and the more fortunate ones
shared their dainties with those who did not receive boxes.
Among the
convicts who received boxes were John Y. McKane, "Biff" Ellison, Parson
Howard and James Fanshaw.
George
Nesbitt, a forger, committed to prison in 1893 for a term of five years,
received a pardon from Governor Morton as a Christmas gift, and was released so
that he could spend the day with his family.
Marie
Barberi, the only woman prisoner in Sing Sing awaiting execution for murder,
was looked after by Mrs. Sage, who supplied her with a good dinner. She also received
several boxes containing gifts from friends.
CHRISTMAS AT THE CAPITAL.
The President and Official
Washington Generally Spent It Quietly.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.—The president and
cabinet and official Washington generally, with the exception of the Republican
members of the ways and means committee, who labored to complete the text of
their tariff and bond bills, spent a quiet and enjoyable Christmas free from
the anxieties and excitements of the past six or eight days.
The
president and Mrs. Cleveland had provided a large Christmas tree for their
three little ones, Ruth, Esther and Marion, and spent most of the day making
merry with the children and their numerous presents.
The vice
president and Mrs. Stevenson and their daughters were the guests of Mrs. Stevenson's sister on Sixteenth street.
The members
of the cabinet remained at their homes and nearly everyone of them had with him
members of his family or kinsfolk from out of town.
The day
was unusually mild and the weather heavy and foggy.
HOLIDAY SMOKE.
Dwelling House Burned at Cincinnatus
Christmas Morning.
At 6:30
o'clock Christmas morning the house of Erastus Dalton in the village of
Cincinnatus was destroyed by fire. Only Mr. and Mrs. Dalton were in the house
at the time and had not yet risen for the day. Mrs. Dalton first discovered the
light in a corner of the house down stairs where there was no stove and no
chimney. The cause is consequently wholly unknown. Mrs. Dalton called to her
husband who was in another room and they made an effort to extinguish the flames
which were then only well started, but to no purpose. An alarm was given and
the Methodist church bell was rung. In a very few minutes the whole town was
assembled. Nearly everything in the house was saved, but the building itself
was wholly destroyed, as there was no apparatus there for fighting fire.
The loss is
estimated at $1,000 and there was no insurance.
Christmas at First M. E. Church.
The
Sunday-school rooms of the First M. E. church were filled last evening by a
happy company to enjoy the entertainment given by the school. A charming little
program was presented consisting of recitations by Sarah Bostwick, Florence
Doolittle, Winifred Higgins, and Jessie Jones. A humorous selection read by
Miss Mary H. White, singing by the school and music by Williams' orchestra.
This was followed by the distribution of boxes in the form of a star filled
with candy which were given to all.
Dr. F. W.
Higgins, the superintendent, was master of ceremonies in which capacity he was
at his best, a pleasant social hour concluded the substitute for a Christmas
sleigh ride.
BREVITIES.
—New
advertisements to-day are—Tanner Bros., page 6; Warner Rood, page 5.
—The
Christmas music at the Presbyterian church will be repeated next Sunday morning.
—The case
of Corl vs. Torrey is on trial to-day before Justice T. Harry Dowd and a jury.
—The St.
Vitus club will hold another of their private dancing parties in Vesta lodge
rooms Friday evening.
—Charles
Card has just received an increase in his [civil war] pension from $6 to $8 per
month. Maggie Peak was his attorney.
—A service
of respect to the memory of Job Taft will be held in the First M. E. church
next Sunday evening instead of morning as first announced.
—The
Crescent club will hold a private masquerade party at Empire hall this evening
at 8:30 o'clock. McDermott's orchestra of five pieces will furnish the music.
—The Gamma
Sigma fraternity of the Normal school will hold their annual reunion and banquet
at the Cortland House on Friday night Dec. 27, at 9 o'clock.
—Inquiry is
frequently made at this office for calendars. The STANDARD'S annual calendar
will be out on New Year's day and will be sent to all subscribers.
—The loyal circle of King's Daughters will meet with
Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 54 N. Main-st., Friday, Dec. 27, at 2:30 P. M. As this is
the annual election of officers the members are particularly requested to be
present.
—The
Sunday-school of the Presbyterian church assembled in the chapel on Christmas
eve and spent a couple of hours very pleasantly. An enjoyable program was
presented by the children followed by a little cantata entitled "Christmas
eve at Grandpa's." Candy and other gifts were then distributed to the
school.
—The
excursion train to Ithaca Saturday night to hear Joseph Jefferson will leave
the E., C. & N. station at 7 o'clock sharp. It will not delay a minute and
every one must be on board on time. The round trip rate of sixty cents is good only
on that special train going and on the special train which returns after the entertainment.
—The
remains of Mrs. Lydia Brooks, wife of Lucius E. Brooks of East Homer, formerly of
McGrawville, who died at Binghamton on Tuesday, Dec. 24, were brought to
Cortland this morning on the 10 o'clock train. The remains were taken to
McGrawville where the funeral was held at the Methodist church this afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
—A very
pleasant family gathering was held yesterday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
L. Warren. The guests were: Mr. and Mrs. Chas. B. Warren and daughter Claribel
and Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Alexander of McGrawville, Mrs. James L. Warren of Mamaroneck,
N. Y., Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brownell and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Bushby.
—Ruth, the
three-year-old daughter of Mr. and. Mrs. K. C. Tillinghast, is very seriously
ill with diphtheria and very slender hopes are entertained of her recovery, though
all that medical skill and careful nursing can do for her is being done. The
operation of tracheotomy was last night performed by Dr. Higgins, the attending
physician, assisted by Drs. Henry and Sornberger.
—Mrs. Sarah
Hammond, the mother of Mrs. H. C. Fairbanks, died at the home of her daughter,
10 Monroe Heights, at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon after an illness of two
weeks of congestion of the lungs. Mrs. Hammond was 62 years of age. Prayer will
be said at the house to-morrow morning at 7:45 and the remains will be taken to
Ithaca on the 9 o'clock train for burial.
TOWNS.
SCOTT, Dec. 23.—Mr. C. D. Ballou of Cortland, of the S D. Adventist denomination, occupied
the pulpit in the absence of pastor Rogers last Saturday. He gave a very
interesting discourse on the subject of "Religious Liberty."
Messrs. Orin
and Richard Darling of Borodino visited their brother Isaac last Thursday.
The cottage
prayer-meeting will be held at Mrs. Phebe Barbers next Monday evening.
A concert
is to be given at the S. D. B. church on New Year's evening by home talent. The
proceeds to be used for the church.
Mr. and Mrs.
Chas. Kinyon and daughter Louise left Thursday morning for a visit with
relatives and friends in Shattuckville and Went Leyden, Mass.
FREETOWN, Dec.
23.—The covevant meeting of the Baptist church will occur on Saturday afternoon
at 8 o'clock of this week.
Mr. George
Hyde of South Cortland, county department of the grange, with his wife and Mr.
and Mrs. Webb Russell of South Hill, visited the grange of this place last
Saturday evening.
F. Davison
is agent for this town for the new Standard dictionary.
Edgar
Joiner and sister and Elmer Foster of Hunt Corners were guests of E. L. Corwin
on Friday last.
E L.
Corwin, who has been sick for some weeks, is better.
Mrs. Snow
of Binghamton is visiting at Charles Fuller's.
Miss Martha
Bates visited at Mr. Oday's in Virgil the past week
Mr. Clark
Edwards of Cincinnatus and Egbert Doren of Solon came before Justice S. S.
Hammond on Monday on legal business.
Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Slocum attended a wedding in Virgil on Friday of last week.
Miss Ruth
Sweet and Mrs. Elmira Forshee of McGrawville are guests at A. J. Borthwick's
and will remain until after Christmas.
Mr. and Mrs.
Byron Grant will spend the Holidays with friends in Baldwinsville and Herkimer
county.
Bert Davis
is painting the upper rooms of the store.
SYBIL.
MARATHON, Dec.
26.—Mr. Fred Miller of New York City is spending the Holidays with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, on Warren-st.
Mr. and
Mrs. A. J. Foster were in Homer on Monday.
Mr. Charles
G. Brink of Binghamton was in town on Monday.
Mr. and
Mrs. Corwin Burgess spent Christmas at Jamesville, N. Y.
Mr. Will
Stockwell and family were guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brink, Christmas.
Mr. and
Mrs. C. C. Carley and son of Homer are spending the week among relatives here.
Mrs.
Granville Talmadge left for a week in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Mr. Talmadge expects
to join his wife there on Friday and remain till next Tuesday.
Mrs. George
Merrick is visiting her daughter, Mrs. George Horn, in Syracuse.
Mrs. J. V.
N. Williams of Binghamton and Mrs. L. K. Whitmore spent Christmas in town.
Dr. Spencer
and family spent Christmas at Blodgett Mills and Virgil.
Mr. L. F.
Terry of Syracuse is in town negotiating with Mr. G. A. Hulbert in regard to
the rental of the Hulbert opera house.
Mr. Clayton
Greene of Syracuse was in town on Christmas.
Among those
in Cortland on Christmas were Mrs. M. R. Hulbert, Mr. and Mrs. David
Hillsinger, Miss Ella Jones, Mr. Lenard Barnard and Mr. Ira Corwin.
Christmas
was observed at all three churches. At the Presbyterian church, a bright
old-fashioned fireplace was seen in the center and above a large Christmas tree
well laden with presents and at either side were smaller trees laden with many presents.
Miss Katherine R. Colvin was present and rendered two fine solos. At the
Baptist church a large Ferris wheel was loaded with presents and at the M. E.
church two large trees were filled with presents.
John A. Preston Howard Stock Co. will produce
"Ingomar" here on Monday evening, Dec 30.
Mr. Royal
Johnson has had an auction and returned to Elmira with his daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Webb, where he will make it his home in the future.
C.
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