BIG BLAZE AT NORWICH

Robert Eaton.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 3, 1896.

A BIG BLAZE AT A NORWICH FIRE.

Thousands of Dollars Worth of Property Swept Away.

Oxford Steamer requested and was Telegraphed for and Until It Came the Flames Had Things Pretty Much Their Own Way—Its Origin Something of a Mystery.

   NORWICH. Dec. 28.—The feed warehouse and elevator, comprising two immense buildings together with their contents situated on East Main street in this village and owned by Robert E. Eaton, were completely destroyed by fire which broke out at 1:20 o'clock this morning. Soon after the alarm was given three streams were pouring into the flames which at this time were confined to the second floor front of the feed store proper. The fire engine is laid up for repairs and consequently the water pressure was light.

   The flames soon made their way through the big building and spread to the brick block joining on the east. The firemen saw it was an impossibility to save the flaming buildings and they turned their attention to save the adjacent property.

   The Smith block, Cary's carriage repository, a dwelling owned by Whitman

Stratton and the Norwich Produce company's cold storage building were in immediate danger, but were saved by hard work.

   The Oxford fire department was telegraphed for and arrived with their engine over the D., L & W. railroad about 4:39 o'clock. After this, powerful streams were poured into the burning buildings and soon the fire was under control. Sidney S. Babcock and Earl Roberts were caught by falling walls and escaped with severe bruises.

   Homer L. Smith occupied one store in the brick block with a stock of cheese factory supplies. His loss is about $5,000; insurance $2,000. Blum Brothers, tailors, are total losers on a stock of men's clothes. At the time of the fire there was over one hundred car loads of grain in the elevator and adjoining buildings, besides a quantity of baled hay; also salt and phosphate. The total loss on buildings and stock is about $60,000; insurance $45,000.

   The old store house was a wooden structure, three stories high and about 100 feet long. It had recently been remodeled and sided with iron. The brick block was a new building four stories high and 120 feet long. The upper floors were used for the storage of grain, the lower one by Mr. Smith's store. The origin is unknown. Some think it was the work of fire bugs, while others advance the theory of spontaneous combustion. It is understood that Mr. Eaton will rebuild at once.

WE WILL PAVE.

THE QUESTION FINALLY SETTLED.

Property Owners to Pay Two-thirds and the Corporation One-third.

   There was a large attendance of citizens at the mass meeting held in the Opera House last Friday evening to discuss the paving question. Much interest was manifested and the principal contention was over the amount the owners of the abutting property should pay and the amount that the corporation should be required to pay. The question of time of payment was also discussed and at considerable length. Mr. B. L. Webb said the outstanding indebtedness of the village of Cortland was $87,000 in bonds. Railroad Commissioner H. M. Kellogg said the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the town of Cortlandville amounted to $170.000.

   On motion of Mr. T. Stevenson the bill was so amended as to give property owners and tax-payers ten years instead of five in which to pay for paving.

   The bill was finally approved as drawn except that sections 3 and 9 were amended. By the amendments the property owners pay two-thirds and the village one-third, the proportion of the Traction Co. to be deducted from the one-third to be paid by the village. The bill as amended is to be introduced in the [State] Legislature and it will undoubtedly be passed.

A NEW SKATING RINK.

The Traction Co. Have Prepared a Handsome Lake for Skaters.

   The Cortland & Homer Traction Co. have prepared ground for a lake between their track and the river on Park land, which will make a sheet of water 700 by 150 feet and when frozen over will furnish an elegant skating rink. A building 56x15 feet has been put up for the accommodation of an orchestra, with compartments for spectators, skates and wraps. Stoves will be provided to keep the building warm. Sixteen arc lights will illuminate the grounds and the company intend to make this resort as comfortable and complete in all its appointments as can be desired by the most fastidious.

   The grounds will be fenced in and an admission fee of five cents will be charged. Season tickets may be had at the office of the company or at the rink for $1.00.  Light refreshments will be served in the building and this department will be in charge of Warner Rood. [Mr. Rood was manager of the Cortland Opera House—CC editor.] If the attendance warrants, band concerts will be given two or three nights in the week.

Denominational Names.

   The Buddhists took their names from Buddha about 600 B. C.

   The Presbyterians took their name from a Greek word meaning elder.

   Calvinists are named from their leader, John Calvin, born 1509, died 1564.

   The Puritans were so named in derision at their professions of being purer than other people.

   The Jesuits, or better, ''The Society of Jesus'' was so called by Ignatius Loyola who died in 1534.

   The Lollards, sect of reformers, were named from Walter Lollard, or Lorillard, who was burned for heresy in 1322.

   The Covenanters were so called because they formed a solemn league and covenant against the designs of Charles I.

   The Baptists had their name from John, the Baptist, they claiming to perform the rite of baptism in the manner that he did.

   The Unitarians were thus named because they denied the doctrine of the Trinity. In theory they are opposed to the Trinitarians.

   The Arians had their names from Arius, who died A. D. 336. Their main doctrine was a disbelief in the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

   Protestants were at first so called because their representatives protested at the Diet of Spiers in 1529 against the action of the Emperor.

   The Pantheist takes his name from two Greek words, practically signifying God everywhere. The Pantheist sees in every thing a manifestation of Deity.

   The Arminians took their name from their leader, Arminius, born in 1556, died in 1609. Their doctrines are still held by several Methodist bodies.

   The Episcopalians are so called from their belief in an episcopal form of church government that is, a system providing for Bishops and Archbishops.

   The Congregationalists had their name from their doctrine that each congregation was a unit, should be independent of all others and manage its own affairs in its own way.

   The Campbellites are so called from Alexander Campbell, the founder of this denomination. The name is not accepted by its members, who consider it offensive, and call themselves Christians.

   The Friends or Quakers at first called themselves "Seekers," from their assertion that they sought the kingdom of heaven in the same manner as it was sought by Nicodemus. They were called Quakers in ridicule because Fox, their founder, frequently bade his hearers "quake and treble at the word of the Lord."

SCOTT.

   The "Old year" went out with great gusto, all but the O.

   Prof. Booth Davis of Alfred university was in town recently.

   "Happy New Year" to the editor of the DEMOCRAT and all its patrons.

   Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Mott, of Binghamton are visiting relatives in town.

   Allen D. Barber of Cortland is in town visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Barber.

   Wallace Babcock of Washington, D.C., is spending the Holidays with relatives in Homer.

   Heavy wind prevailed all day Tuesday, so that many deemed it unsafe to take to the woods.

   Considerable plowing has been done in this section of late which seems like an act of cruelty to the worms.

   George J. Green and wife of Homer are spending a few days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Barber.

   It is being wafted in the breezes that great changes in business circles and political upheavals are like to take place in town this spring.

   Some in town are putting on "War Paint" but if war takes place between England and the U. S., Canada won't be a handy place to go to escape the draft, but there won't be any such war.

   Many people are busy cutting and getting wood together against the deep snows and heavy blows yet to come. Those who have not foresight in this direction, will find ere long their hindsight don't give sweet reflection.

MCGRAWVILLE.

   The Corset Factory has shut down for a two weeks' vacation.

   Watch meeting was held at the Presbyterian church on Tuesday evening.

   Mr. J. H. Hill has moved into his house recently purchased of the Ransom Warren estate.

   Mr. and Mrs. A. P. McGraw went to Ithaca Saturday evening to hear Joseph Jefferson in Rip Van Winkle.

   Stephen Waters and Miss Libbie Beattie, were united in marriage at the bride's home, East Homer, on Tuesday evening, December 31st.

   Workmen have been busy the past two weeks placing electric lights in the Corset Factory and Paper Box Factory of the McGraw Corset Co.

   Miss Nellie Pierce, one of the teachers in the High School at Amsterdam, and Mrs. George Kennedy of Cortland, were in town Tuesday calling on old friends.

   Mrs. A. A. Buss of Chippewa Bay, St. Lawrence Co., is in town and will be employed in the corset factory during the winter. Her many friends welcome her back.

   Mr. Eugene Powers of Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kinney of Scott, were called to this place the latter part of the week to attend the funeral of their mother, Mrs. Rhoda Powers.

   Mrs. J. L. Warren and two sons of White Plains, Mrs. Mark Brownell, Mrs. W. T. Bushby and two children, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. L. Warren, were guests at C. B. Warren's on Friday.

   Mrs. Rhoda Powers, widow of the late Daniel Powers, was found dead in her room on Friday morning last. Mrs. Powers had been suffering for some time past with heart affection [sic].

   Word was received here on the 25th inst. announcing the death of Mrs. Lucius Brooks, which occurred at Binghamton on the 24th inst. The funeral was held at the Methodist church in this place, Thursday at 2 o'clock, P. M.

NORTH CORTLAND.

   Mrs. Jane Sullivan of Genoa is visiting her niece Mrs. Alick Gerrard.

   Everybody entertained their sisters, cousins and aunts Christmas day.

   Mr. John Hayes who has been in the western country some six years has returned home.

   Mr. John McGuire who had been employed at Sydney for the past two months is home for the holidays.

   The firm of O'Leary & McEvoy had a very large Christmas trade showing that people know how to appreciate good furniture sold cheap.

   The closing exercises of District No. 2, Mr. T. J. McEvoy teacher, were held Friday, Dec. 27, and certainly deserve more than a passing mention. The exercises had reference mainly to the flag and on that account were very interesting, the recitations by the children were all good and reflected credit upon themselves and their teacher. The history of the flag given by Mr. McEvoy was very instructive for all old and young, the music was fine though but little practice had been had. Commissioner Miller gave an address in his usual happy vein—and all of the exercises were creditable to the pupils and particularly to the teacher who has been untiring in his efforts to improve the standard of the pupils and do all the good possible for the school.

HERE AND THERE.

   The DEMOCRAT wishes all a "Happy New Year."

   Daehler, the clothier, has a new advertisement this week.

   The new wood frame bicycle is on exhibition at Beaudry's.

   Messrs. G. J. Mager & Co. have a new advertisement this week.

   Hereafter the chief of police of this place will furnish work for tramps who infest the village.

   Cortland merchants report very satisfactory sales for the holidays, notwithstanding the unseasonable weather.

   Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1896, at 3 P. M. Consecration service followed by business meeting and subjects suggestive for the New Year.

   Last Monday morning as passenger car No. 7 on the electric road was turning the corner of Church and Railroad-sts., going east, it met the baggage car and before the brakes could be set they came together. The ends of both cars were slightly damaged, but no one was injured.

   We did not have time or space last week to speak of the Industrial Edition of the Cortland Standard, long heralded and long expected. As a piece of artistic printing, it is a success. As a representative of the industries of Cortland county it is as remarkable for what is omitted as for what is mentioned. This is accounted for by the explanation that only those who paid for advertising in the paper, received extended mention in its columns. We are glad to know that the Cortland Hospital will receive some $300 from the venture.—Marathon Independent.

   John Gallagher and family went to Marvin R. Wood's near South Cortland to spend New Year's day. Soon after dinner he was taken with a severe pain in his left side and chest and was carried to his home two miles southwest of this village, where he died at 6 o'clock P. M. of heart trouble. Mr. Gallagher was a kind hearted man and a good citizen. He was about 70 years of age.

   Not long ago a Solon justice committed one Richard George to the county jail on the charge of stealing a bicycle. His clothing was not of the latest cut and they were somewhat the worse for wear so he concluded to have a new suit and his method of securing the goods was a novel one. One pleasant day last week he disrobed and put his entire outfit in the stove where it was incinerated. Sheriff Hilsinger did not seem to notice that his boarder had become a convert to the "Nude in Art," until he had been pretty severely punished, when he notified Supt. of the Poor Miner who furnished a suit for the sheriff's model.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO—The stage which runs between Greene and Bainbridge and is due in Greene at 6:30 P. M., was held up by two men Tuesday evening last about one half mile west of Coventry. C. E. Smith, the driver, saw the men coming and slowed up when one of the men seized the horses by their heads. The other man walked up to the driver's seat and asked Mr. Smith something about the mail. The highwayman spoke with a foreign accent and Smith could not understand him. Smith pulled his revolver and fired in the air. The man standing beside him also pulled a pistol and fired twice at Smith. One of the bullets passed through the cover of the stage within about six inches of him and the other went through the back part of the cover. The horses were thoroughly frightened by the shots and began to run, leaving the would-be highwaymen far in the rear. Smith arrived at Greene at 7 o'clock somewhat scared but unharmed. There is no clue to the identity of the robbers.

   MADISON—C. W. Smith and A. C. Fay purchased the Smith block in Earlville for $10,000.

   Search for illegal fishing contrivances in Oneida Lake, near South Bay Wednesday night, was rewarded by finding eight trap nets valued at $300. About three tons of fish were found in the nets and liberated. Afterwards the nets were burned by the game protectors. The nets were sunk before the lake froze over, and marked in such a manner that the piratical fishermen could readily locate them. By cutting out a block of ice which afterwards could be removed and replaced at pleasure, the illegal fishing was practiced with even greater safety than in open water. Close watching, however, detected the piracy and it is expected that arrests will follow.

   TOMPKINS—A lodge of the Order of Maccabees has been established in Enfield.

   Dryden is to have a farmers institute March 17th and Freeville March 18th.

   At the November election this county gave a majority of 480 against bonding for canal improvement.

   The Maccabee lodge at Enfield Center will soon give the temperance drama, "Ten Nights in a Barroom."

   The receipts of the four performances of Pinafore in Ithaca were $1,300. The expense of putting it on $900.

   The Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Co. will round out the year with nearly four hundred bridge contracts.

   The recent fair and festival of Neptune Hose of Dryden held at the opera house in that village was a fine success.

   Recently Cornell University trustees voted to give three hundred volumes from their library to the University of Virginia, this institution having lost heavily by fire.

   Chas. Shultz of Freeville had a fifty dollar bill paid him last week, and not having a pocketbook with him put it into his handkerchief and when near home he had occasion to use said handkerchief and in doing so the bill flew out and the wind which was blowing very hard at the time wafted his fifty dollars to parts unknown, which is indeed a great loss these times. It means a carload of potatoes or twelve quarters of beef of 100 pounds each or 142 bushels of buckwheat, etc.