DID WALT DISNEY KNOW ABOUT THIS?

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, March 6, 1896.

SINGING MICE.

   The [New York] Sun has recently printed several communications concerning singing mice. Recently a correspondent living in a Harlem flat confirmed the experience of a Connecticut observer of musical mice. The Harlem writer described the warbling mouse as follows: "It was last October, after midnight, that I first heard a singing mouse. I was sleepless and keenly alive to all sounds, and a curious twittering, like a young bird, attracted my attention. I could not locate it. At times it seemed to be nearby and then far off.

   "This subdued, musical twitter continued at intervals for some time, and I finally concluded it must come from the watercock in the basin just outside my open door, when all at once, as if to prove its real quality, a flood of delicious melody arose, at first rather low, but gradually swelling in volume and power until it seemed to fill the whole room.

   "Just as Mr. Martin says 'the song was sweeter than any canary's, sweeter than any bird's note, and it was different, too.' It was rather weird and uncanny, and had such a curious power of seeming to be everywhere and nowhere in particular that I must confess it made me nervous."

   The correspondent states that he was able to determine a few nights later that the songster was a mouse. Perhaps some of our readers have had experiences with singing mice; but we presume that if such animals exist they must be rare. If anyone has heard a singing mouse hereabouts let him speak up.

AUSTIN CORBIN'S AMBITION.

A Long Cherished Project Realized in the Consolidation of Long Island Railroads.

   Austin Corbin, who recently attained an ambition which he had cherished for 30 years in obtaining complete control of the entire railroad system on Long Island, is now a star of first magnitude in the financial firmament. He is the practical ruler of an island of greater area and population than many European kingdoms could boast of half a century ago, and he is at the head of another great railroad system that gridirons the richest coal district in the country.

   From very humble circumstances Mr. Corbin has risen to his present position. He was born about 69 years ago in Newport, N. H. His father was a farmer and not a very prosperous one at that. He gave his son a good education, however, and saw him graduated from Harvard Law school at the age of 22. The young lawyer practiced for awhile in the east, and then tried his luck in the west at Davenport, Ia. He went into the banking business there and removed to New York, where he organized the Corbin Banking company in 1865.

   Soon after this he became interested in railroads. His first trip to Long Island was made with his sick child. His shrewd business instinct told him that the island with its many natural advantages was bound to become a summer outing place for a great majority of the teeming millions of the big cities [Brooklyn and New York] at whose very doors it lay. The Long Island railroads at that time consisted of a few scattered lines, badly managed and being run at a loss by their owners. Mr. Corbin began by securing the control of the principal line. With that as a foundation he gradually built up the great system which now spans the island in all directions, absorbing one after the other of the lines as opportunity offered and combining them into one harmonious whole.

   To Mr. Corbin's foresight New Yorkers owe the development of their far famed Coney Island. Many of the other beautiful seaside resorts on the island which are now so popular were brought to notice by Mr. Corbin. Now that he has absolute control of all the railways on the island Mr. Corbin may revive his much talked of project of establishing a line of ocean steamers, with the American port located at Montauk Point.

DESOLATION IN CUBA.

Thriving Towns Reduced to Heaps of Ruins.

PEOPLE HOMELESS AND STARVING.

Some Provinces Almost Devastated and Ruin Everywhere Marks the Path of the Contending Armies—Reports of a Number of Skirmishes.

   HAVANA, March 6.— Captain General Weyler visited the military hospitals and announced himself as being satisfied with the manner in which the wounded and sick were being cared for and with the condition of the buildings.

   Carillo and Rojas, the insurgent leaders at the head of about 700 of their followers, recently attacked a company of the Sicilia battalion and the local guerrilla force of San Andres, near Holguin province of Santiago de Cuba. The soldiers, who were protecting a convoy of provisions and supplies, made a brilliant defense and repulsed the insurgents with a loss of 25 killed. The enemy retired with many wounded. The [Spanish] troops lost one lieutenant killed and had seven guerrillas wounded.

   Salvador, Rios, Fonseca, Romusido, Aguilero and Chango, insurgent leaders at the head of about 600 men, recently attacked a lieutenant and 16 guerrilla [fighters] who were out foraging. The insurgents set fire to the canefields and obliged the troops to retreat with the loss of the lieutenant and four men killed and seven privates wounded. Aguilero was killed and six insurgents were wounded.

   The insurgent leader Calunga, who was reported to have been killed in an engagement with the Spanish troops, is still alive. The man killed was a fisherman of the same name.

   General Melguizo had an engagement at the plantation of Morales, near Casiguas, south of Jaruco, this province, with bands of insurgents belonging to Maceo's command. The troops dislodged the insurgents from the positions which the latter occupied and the Castillejos squadron and the Taretcos volunteers, in pursuing them, killed 18 of the enemy and wounded many more. The troops had several wounded.

   The reopening of telegraphic communication with the region of Pinar del Rio brings the first detailed information of affairs in that province for several weeks. The condition of affairs disclosed is little less than appalling.

   The rich Vuelto Abajo tobacco district seems to have been put to the torch and is apparently reduced to a wilderness. Whole towns have been obliterated or reduced to ashes and their inhabitants are wandering helpless over the country without a place to lay their heads or wherewithal to be clothed and many are starving.

   The villages and towns of Cabanas, Bahia Honda, San Diego de Nunez, Santa Cruz de los Pinos, Los Palacios, Paso Real de San Diego and San Diego de los Banos are known to be reduced to ashes, and reports of others will bring the number destroyed up to 13. All of these were important and thriving centers of population and business.

   The last town which has succumbed to the insurgents' torch is San Juan y Martinez. The tobacco from this town is famous the world over to all connoisseurs for its matchless flavor. Its cultivation brought great wealth to the people of the district and gave material for a large commerce in the town and support to over 1,000 families.

   San Juan y Martinez is, however, no more. When the first column of Spanish troops arrived on the site of the town they found only debris and smoking ashes and all around a seeming limitless sea of fire. A hundred desolate families had taken refuge in poor huts outside of what was once the town and were waiting helplessly for any assistance that would save them from starvation. They were without clothes and without food and saw no prospects ahead in their despair of securing either.

Action on the Cuban Matter.

   WASHINGTON, March 6.—The action of the senate conferees in receding from their Cuban resolutions and accepting those of the house [recognizing Cuban belligerents] ends the matter so far as the house is concerned, except for the simple announcement. No action will be required. When the senate adopts the report of its conferees and that action is transmitted to the house, Mr. Hitt will explain what has been done.

Situation In Madrid.

   MADRID, March 6.—The authorities have succeeded in dispersing all the rioters, and order has been restored in the city.

   It is stated here that several English ship owners have offered the government to equip privateers on their account, in case of war between Spain and the United States.

   The government has decided to purchase two additional cruisers.

   It is stated here that the situation in Cuba appears to improve.

   According to a statement in El Dia, Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to Washington, has telegraphed to the government that President Cleveland will refuse, as long as he is president, either to recognize the rebels or to intervene in the Cuban question.

H. H. Holmes.

Holmes to Die May 7.

   HARRISBURG, March 6.—The date for the execution of H. H. Holmes, the convicted murderer of Benjamin Pitezel, and alleged murderer of 21 others, was fixed by Governor Hastings for Thursday, May 7. The governor thought Holmes should have at least 60 days in which to prepare for death, and selected the time accordingly. The death warrant was at once prepared and forwarded to Sheriff Clement at Philadelphia.

Petty Thievery.

   Within the last week some petty thievery has been going on in Cortland and again people are warned to see that windows and doors are securely fastened especially when away. Miss Phebe Snyder of 95 Lincoln-ave. returned Monday afternoon from spending a few days in Whitney Point. Some time during her absence the cellar was entered by some one pushing in the window which was fastened with nails. The miscreants helped themselves to canned fruit belonging to Mrs. Synder and also to fruit, potatoes and apples belonging to Mr. George Freer who occupies the upper part of the house. There is no clue to the perpetrators of the act.

Jury Disagree.

   The jury in the case of Theodore L. Corwin vs. Isaac Edgcomb, executor, and Mrs. Thankful Price, executrix, which was the last case tried at the term of the circuit court which closed yesterday, came in at 6:30 last evening and reported a disagreement, and the case will be retried at the next circuit. Mr. E. I. Edgcomb is the attorney of record for the defendants, and was assisted on the trial by ex-Judge A. P. Smith. Mr. W. J. Mantanye is the attorney of record for plaintiff, and was assisted by Mr. T. E. Courtney and Hon. O. U. Kellogg.

   Mr. Kellogg summed up for the plaintiff and made one of the ablest and most forcible pleas of his life, adding not a little to his rapidly growing reputation as one of the strongest and most brilliant advocates who have ever appeared in the courts of this county.

NOTARIES PUBLIC.

List of Those Appointed in Cortland County.

   The following is the list of notaries public just appointed for Cortland county and filed yesterday in the county clerk's office:

   Cortland—Edmond C. Alger, John C. Barry, Lewis Bouton, Ira S. Crandall, William C. Crombie, Jerome Angel, Charles W. Barker, Byron A. Benedict, Horace L. Bronson, Thomas E. Courtney, Rowland L. Davis, Henry A. Dickinson, Edwin Duffey, Frank P. Hakes, Joseph R. Ingalls, Miss Vernie E. Killean, William J. Mantanye, James Dougherty, Emma A. Fish, Henry L. Gleason, Lucius P. Hollenbeck, James A. Jayne, Stratton S. Knox, George J. Mager, Irving H. Palmer, Rufus Thompson Peck, Frank E. Price, Dorr J. Smith, Theodore Stevenson, John W. Suggett, James H. Turner, Enos E. Mellon, Frank J. Peck, Henry Leon Peckham, Frank Place, Edward Stillson, C. Fred Thompson, William D. Tuttle, David W. Van Hoesen, May Woodward.

   Cuyler—Eijah H. Benjamin, Roger A. Ryan, Henry D. Waters.

   East Homer—Oliver H. Topping.

   Harford—Rosney Blodgett.

   Harford Mills—Lansing E. Hay.

   Homer—H. Wilson Blashfield, Augustus H. Bennett, William H. Crane, Charles A. Ford, Edward W. Hyatt, William J. Smith.

   Little York—Bartholomew L. McNamara.

   Marathon—Augustus M. Mathewson, Randolph H. Maybury, Samuel B. Pierce, Daniel B. Tripp, Henry E. Wilson, Daniel E. Whitmore.

   Messengerville—Walter L. Chaplin.

   Preble—Joseph H. Cummings, Seth Hobart.

   Scott—William N. Babcock, William D. Hunt.

   Tula—Edmond D. Crosley.

BREVITIES.

   —An electric railroad is to be built from Elmira to Watkins, twenty miles, and through cars will be run to connect with Seneca lake boats. It will be completed about July 1.

   —Rev. C. E. Hamilton, formerly of Cortland, has a very large Bible class in his church at Geneva. It has recently organized, adopted a constitution and by-laws and elected officers.

   —The members of Grover Relief Corps, No. 96, will meet for sewing on Saturday, March 7, at 2 P. M., at the home of Mrs. Susan Rindge, 57 North Main-st. A full attendance is requested.

   —The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick at their meeting at the office of T. H. Dowd last night transacted routine business and listened to reports of committees regarding the annual banquet which takes place at the Cortland House, March 10.

   —The friends of Miss Helen Pudney, to the number of thirty-five gave her a surprise visit at her home, 68 Lincoln-ave., Wednesday evening. Refreshments were served, a fine time was enjoyed and Miss Pudney was the recipient of several gifts,

   —An Albany dispatch, March 2, says: "The healthiest places in the state are Booneville, Candor, Cortland and Brookfield. The annual death rate there is 8 in 1,000 to 21.6 in New York City. Buffalo's rate is 12, Jamaica's is 34, and the highest.—Owego Times.

   —The celebrated "Bostonians" are to give Ithaca a season of comic opera next week. On Friday evening March 13, they will sing "Prince Ananias;" at a matinee Saturday afternoon the old favorite, "Robin Hood"; and on Saturday evening, their new opera, "A Wartime Wedding."

   —Mrs. Catharine Sperry died at 7:30 o'clock this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. D. Wood, 111 Clinton-ave. Prayer will be offered at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon and the remains will be taken to Mrs. Sperry's home at Etna where the funeral will be held at 1 o'clock Sunday. Burial will be in Willow Glen cemetery, Dryden.