BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS SPEED RUN

"Black Diamond Express."

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, May 18, 1896.

"BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS."

Started From New York and Buffalo to Break a Record.

   NEW YORK, May 18.—Promptly at noon to-day, the Lehigh Valley railroad company's new flyer, the "Black Diamond Express," left Jersey City on its initial trip to Buffalo. At the same hour a similar train drew out of the company's terminal in Buffalo and started eastward. Both trains were drawn by the latest improved engines and, if everything goes according to program the Lehigh officials expect to make a new record for the distance, 448 miles.

   The New York train will make stops at Newark, Barton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Wilkesbarre, Towanda, Sayre and Geneva. Engines will be changed at Easton and Wilkesbarre. The stops will be of the shortest possible duration, so that the distance may be covered in recording breaking time.

   General Passenger Agent Charles S. Lee was in charge of the train and several officials of the road were also aboard. Both trains are very handsome, and every detail as to luxury and comfort has been provided.

   The trains will run dally, except Sunday, leaving either terminal at 12 o'clock noon and arriving at destination at 10 o'clock at night.

CHANGE OF TIME.

Going Into Effect on the Electric Railroad To-morrow.

   With the change of time on the Lehigh Valley railroad a change of time has been made necessary on the electric road if all the trains are to be met. Superintendent Mooney has been working on a new time schedule and it will go into effect to-morrow.

   Another change may be necessary on the crosstown car very shortly as it is understood that there is to be another change of time on the D., L. & W. R. R., though when it will occur cannot yet be learned. It is impossible under the new schedule on the main line to meet the 6:35 A. M. and 7:25 A. M. trains on the Lehigh Valley road with the regular cars and still attend to the shop services at 7 o'clock properly, so that special cars will have to run to those trains.

Dry Sunday In Buffalo.

   BUFFALO, May 18.—To the man of ordinary means, yesterday was dry in Buffalo. Nothing but a full course meal could produce a drink at any hotel, while the saloons were closed tight. District Attorney Kenefick's opinion, rendered Saturday, was approved by the excise attorney, and the police promptly notified all the liquor men that only full-fledged guests could be served with drinks.

Czar Nicolas II.

CZAR OFF FOR MOSCOW.

Opening of the Fetes of the Coronation.

ALL RUSSIA TAKES A VACATION.

Ceremonies Will Continue Until June 7, During Which Time Scenes of Such Splendor as the World

 Never Witnessed Will Be Enacted.

   ST. PETERSBURG, May 18.—The czar and czarina, with their infant daughter, the Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna, accompanied by a numerous suite and by the whole of the imperial household, took their departure for Moscow.

   The august ceremony of the coronation of the czar and czarina, and the fetes which precede and follow that event, will fill up the time constantly from now until June 7, which is the date fixed on for the return of the imperial party to St. Petersburg.

   The train which carries the imperial pair to the ancient capital of Holy Russia was especially built throughout for this journey and is said to be the finest that ever rode on rails. The appointments and finish of it are on a scale of magnificence in harmony with everything else connected with the coronation, for which the most lavish expenditure has not been spared, even for the minutest details.

   No speed record is attempted with the imperial train, the safety and comfort of the august inmates being the solo considerations. All traffic ceased over the line before the departure of the train from here, and no other wheels than those of this train will run at the same time on the tracks between here and Moscow.

   The line between St. Petersburg and Moscow runs almost in a straight line for the 400 miles. It is related that when the engineer appointed to build the line appealed to the old czar for his orders regarding the route, he placed a ruler upon the map and drew a straight line between the two cities, thus solving the engineering difficulties with an autocratic hand.

   Today the 400 miles of the line are guarded by a double guard of soldiers.

Every detail of the journey and of the ceremony in Moscow have been arranged for months, an army of officials having been engaged upon the work in this city, amid much stir and excitement and intense anxiety.

   To facilitate their work, wooden models were constructed of all the various buildings at Moscow in which the more important ceremonies will be enacted, exactly in proportion and relation, so that the program of the coronation has been precisely arranged and gone through with in miniature.

   The arrival of the czar and czarina at the Petrovsky palace, outside Moscow, is timed for today, which is the anniversary of his majesty's birthday. This is being celebrated today at the Petrovsky palace, where their majesties will remain until Thursday, May 21, the date fixed for the triumphal entry of the czar into Moscow, which is to be one of the most imposing spectacles in all the ceremonies attendant upon the coronation.

THE DANGEROUS OIL STOVE

Was the Cause of a Dwelling House Fire Sunday.

   The dangerous oil stove, the cause of so many fires all over the country, scored another point Sunday afternoon at about 1 o'clock and added one more to its list. This time the fire was at the house 9 North Franklin-st., owned by Theodore Stevenson and occupied by the family of Ray Reeves. The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Reeves and their little child and Mr. Reeves' father, Mr. S. D. Reeves, who is far advanced in years, is an invalid and unable to leave his bed without assistance. The elder Mr. Reeves was alone in the house at the time. Mrs. Reeves had left an oil stove going on the back piazza while she stepped to a neighbor's to care for a sick friend.

   What happened no one knows, but at a few minutes past 1 o'clock John Moore, a colored man who lives next house to the north, saw flames on the back piazza. He saw no one about the house, but knew that Mr. Reeves was in bed in a room on the first floor adjoining the burning piazza.

   At just about the same time Mr. Reeves' grandchildren, children of his daughter, Mrs. William Youmans, who lives on the corner of Elm and River-st. saw the fire and shouted "Oh, Grandpa's house is on fire."

   Mr. Youmans ran as hard as he could to the house and he and Mr. Moore who arrived at the same time carried out Mr. Reeves. The old gentleman was very anxious about the safety of his coat and declared he would not go without that. It was secured and it appeared that in one pocket he had a sum of money which he had saved to pay his funeral expenses. The house was full of smoke and Mr. Reeves' hair was singed in getting him out. It was a narrow escape for him.

   Fred Moore, the Western Union messenger, ran to the corner of Elm and Pomeroy-sts. and pulled the fire alarm box and the department responded.

Emerald got first water and was followed by Water Witch. There was no need for the other companies and no more hose was laid. Most of the furniture in the house was carried out. The back piazza on which the stove stood was entirely destroyed, and all the rear of the house was charred. The flames had broken through into the house. The damage will probably not exceed $500. There was no insurance on the furniture, but the loss on the house was covered by insurance.

   Another house stood close to the one where the fire was and the occupants were greatly disturbed expecting their house to go until the department got water on the fire.

WAGES NOT CUT.

Notwithstanding Rumors, the Traction Company Not Contemplating This.

   For several days rumors have been afloat that the Traction company was preparing to make a cut in the wages of all its motormen and conductors. A

STANDARD man inquired of Superintendent Mooney in regard to this and was told that the wages of no employee had been reduced and that the company had not contemplated any reduction of wages on the part of any of the men, and that no thought of this had been or is anticipated.

   Superintendent Mooney posted a notice last week asking all motormen and conductors to meet him at the car barns yesterday morning at 7 o'clock. All day Saturday this notice was discussed by the men and the feeling was prevalent, that the reported cut was to be announced then. Their gratification was manifest when the superintendent said that he had asked them to come together that he might get better acquainted with them and that they might talk over some little matters regarding the welfare of the road and its service. The subject of a reduction of wages was not mentioned. This was the first time Mr. Mooney had met all the men together since assuming the duties of his office.

BREVITIES.

   —The Normal Junior nine defeated the McLean team at McLean Saturday by a score of 26 to 25.

   —There will be a regular meeting of the Republican league to-night at the rooms on Railroad-st.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. S. Burgess, clothing, page 6; Bingham Bros. & Miller, some one leads, page 8.

   —Geraldine Morgan, one of the most noted violinists, uses a Stradivarius violin which cost $5,000. Miss Morgan plays at Mahan's music festival concerts, afternoon and evening, June 5.

   —In Justice Dickinson's court this morning. The case of Anna B. McWhorter against her husband, who is charged with nonsupport, was adjourned to Saturday, May 23, at 9 o'clock A. M.

   —The arrangements for lighting the park evenings are all completed for this season and the lights will now be turned on every warm evening. The cars will run evenings when the lights are on.

   —Master Fred Beaudry, who was reported as being seriously injured by a

wheel Friday night, received only a small cut on the right eyelid by being run into by a wheel at his home on Port Watson-st.

   —The band concert which was advertised for the park at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon was postponed on account of the threatening weather. It will probably occur upon some evening yet to be decided upon this week.

   —Harvard defeated Cornell at Ithaca Saturday at baseball by a score of 15 to 6. Other college games Saturday were Princeton 13, Yale 0 at Princeton; Holy Cross 12, Williams 1 at Williamstown; Amherst 16, Dartmouth 5 at Hanover.

   —The city of Oswego is on July 1 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the evacuation of Fort Ontario by the British troops after the War of the Revolution. Thin was the last place occupied by the British army and this fort was the last fortification in the country from which the British flag was hauled down to be replaced by the flag of the United States.