FERDINAND E. SMITH

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, June 2, 1896.

FERDINAND E. SMITH

Elected Superintendent of Schools in Cortland Village.

   The Cortland Board of Education held a lengthy meeting last night and finally settled the question of the appointment of a superintendent of schools. Their task was by no means an easy one, as there were twenty-eight applicants for the position and many of them were supported by most excellent testimonials. They came from many different states and included graduates of Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Hamilton and Brown.

   The successful candidate was Mr. Ferdinand E. Smith of Sandy Creek, Oswego county, who is now serving his second term as school commissioner in his district. Mr. Smith is 33 years old, is married and has a family of three children. He is a graduate of Hamilton college, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He has lived in Sandy Creek all his life. His testimonials were of a remarkably high order.

   Superintendent of Public Instruction, Charles R. Skinner telegraphed to Mr. George J. Mager: "I have the fullest confidence in the ability of Commissioner F. E. Smith of Sandy Creek to make an acceptable superintendent. He is one of our best commissioners."

   At the close of the recent institute in Oswego county Superintendent Skinner telegraphed to Mr. Smith: "Please ask your teachers to accept my best wishes, and I desire to join them in testifying to your faithful and excellent work as school commissioner. You have given your schools six years of valuable service and I am sure it is appreciated."

   In the course of a lengthy testimonial, Deputy Superintendent Danforth E. Ainsworth says: "I have known Mr. Smith all his life. He is a fine student, a thoroughly conscientious man, and among the very best of school commissioners of the state. He possesses the rare good judgment so essential to the successful management of a body of teachers, is familiar with school law, and within the range of my acquaintance I know of no man engaged in school work better fitted for the superintendency of a city or village school."'

   Among other excellent testimonials were those from A. G. Downing, supervisor of teachers' institutes and training classes for New York state, Institute Conductor A. C. McLachlan, S. W. Maxson, inspector of teachers' training classes of the state, beside a host of others. Mr. D. W. Van Hoesen was a classmate of Mr. Smith in college and could give a good report of him. Prof. D. L. Bardwell is personally acquainted with him, having met him at numerous institutes, at all of which where he took part he acquitted himself well.

   It seems that although there were other very excellent candidates the board of education decided wisely and there is every reason to believe that Superintendent Smith will be a valuable citizen of Cortland, as well as a power in educational circles. The salary is $1,300.

TWO NEGROES LYNCHED.

Supposed to be the Assailants of a Young Married Woman.

   COLUMBUS, Ga., June 2.—A mob of six men broke into the courtroom and took Jesse Slayton, the negro charged with assaulting Mrs. Howard Bryan on Thursday last, away from the officers and hung him to a tree on Broad street, subsequently filling the body with bullets.

   The mob afterward took Will Meyers, colored, charged with the same offense, from the jail and lynched him at the same place.

   The bodies of the two negroes were left hanging during the afternoon and a surging mass of humanity was packed around the scene. The greatest excitement prevails here, especially among the negroes and it is not improbable that further trouble will ensue.

   Mrs. Bryan was assaulted at Clapp's factory, four miles from here, early on

Thursday morning. She is a young woman, not over 18 years old.

   Her husband had left home for Columbus about daybreak. Shortly after he left a big, burly negro entered Mrs. Bryan's private room. She fought with him fiercely, but her weak condition rendered her struggles of no avail. He succeeded in carrying out his brutal purpose and left her half unconscious on the floor of her room.

   Regardless of her condition, Mrs. Bryan struggled to the door and fired two pistol shots at the negro without avail.

   In a short time Mr. Bryan returned and on being apprised of the crime rushed immediately back to Columbus and with the sheriff and an armed posse began to scour the woods for the negro, who was soon captured.

GIRL DEAD, COMPANION GONE.

Death Found to Have Resulted From a Criminal Operation.

   SPRINGFIELD, Mass., June 2.—Sophronia Beauregard, 24 years old, who lived with her married sister, Mrs. Frank E. Clair, at 108 William street, this city, was found dead in bed at Chandler's hotel.

   An autopsy on the woman showed that death was the result of an unsuccessful criminal operation.

   Eugene Bernatchez, 21 years old, a carpenter, called at Frank E. Clair's tenement and invited Miss Beauregard to take a bicycle ride and she accepted. About an hour later the couple entered Chandler's hotel, and registered as John M. Smith and wife, Boston, and were assigned to a room.

   As James Phelps, night watchman at the hotel, was making his rounds, he noticed that the door of the room was partly open. Knowing that it was occupied he knocked several times, and getting no response entered, finding Miss Beauregard lying partly disrobed on the bed. He touched her and found that she was dead.

   The police were notified, but all search for Bernatchez had proved fruitless. A bicycle pump was used in performing the operation.

   There is some doubt in the minds of the police as to whether the operation was performed by the young woman herself or by Bernatchez. The fact that the young man has so completely disappeared is looked upon with suspicion however.

Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.

NEW NIAGARA BRIDGE.

To Be Substituted For an Old One Without Disturbing Traffic.

   The Pennsylvania Steel company has closed a contract with the Niagara Falls Suspension and Niagara Falls International Bridge companies for the erection of a steel arched bridge to take the place of the present suspension bridge, built by Roebling in 1855. The arch measures 550 feet, and the center will be 260 feet above water level. This is the longest single steel arch ever designed. The entire length of the bridge will be more than 1,100 feet.

   The bridge will be a double decked open structure. On the upper deck two tracks will be laid, and on the lower one will be two electric car tracks, a roadway and two foot walks. There will be two ribs or main arches 550 feet long by 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide, which will be shipped in 25 ton sections from the steel plant. Every particle of the structure will be made at Steelton from the raw material and shipped to the falls.

   The structural work will be done by the cantilever process, and no superstructure will be necessary. The traffic of the steam and electric lines will not be interfered with, yet the new bridge will occupy the exact position of the old one.

   The structure will cost about $500,000. It is to be completed in one year.

He Would Be Astounded.

   "It is a shame that while modern Democrats are having so much to say about Jefferson, Jefferson cannot be heard on the subject of modern Democrats."—Boston Journal.

C. A. A. NOTES.

Against Fast Sidewalk Riding—Will Join the Parade June 16.

   At the meeting of the Cortland Athletic association last night it was voted to donate a pair of Strauss bicycle tires valued at ten dollars as a prize in the bicycle road race at the Fourth of July celebration. A book valued at five dollars was donated to the management to use as they see fit. The association will give all the assistance in their power to make the celebration a success.

   H. B. Greenman, L. A. Coats and Fred Higgins were appointed a committee to meet similar committees from the Y. M. C. A. and the Normal Athletic association Thursday night to arrange for a joint field day for points some time this month.

   By request of the authorities the association appointed a committee to draft resolutions and take steps toward stirring up a sentiment against fast bicycle riding on the sidewalks in the corporation. The subject of the bicycle parade

June 15 was freely discussed and all were in favor of the idea. The cycling captain, F. C. Higgins, was authorized to order out on that date all riders in the club.

   [The Cortland Athletic Association consisted largely of members of the demobilized Cortland National Guard unit—C. C. editor.]

VILLAGE TRUSTEES

Call a Public Meeting to Discuss Paving of Railroad-st.

   A full board was in attendance at the meeting of the village trustees last evening.

   Mr. Frank H.Cobb was reelected sewer commissioner for five years to succeed himself.

   The following bills were audited:

   Street Commissioner's pay roll, $188.55

   E. C. Palmer, county clerk, $1.06

   J. A. Graham, gravel, $5.70

   Thomas Mulligan, services, $9.40

   F. A. Bickford, salary, $25.00

   W. B. Landreth, surveying, $7.00

   Cortland Water Works Co., $2183.33

   McKinney & Doubleday, supplies, $21.17

   H. F. Benton, supplies, $68.61

   T. Linderman, expenses, $3.90

   Police force, $127.75

   H. B. Hubbard, $2.02

   Coon Bros., $.02

   Frank Place, surveying, $2.00

   Rumsey& Co., $3.25

   John Garrity [horses for fire dept. steamer], $5.00

   Electric Light Co., $414.80

   W. J. Moore, health officer, $46.00

   W. L. Baker & Bros., examining cattle, $25.00

   The Electric Light Co. was given permission to temporarily remove the electric light pole from the north side of Railroad.st., [Central Avenue], opposite the Burgess building to the south side of the street.

   Theodore Stevenson appeared before the board and presented a petition signed by property-owners on Elm-st. between Crandall and Franklin-sts. asking that some provision be made for carrying off the water from that street which stands in puddles there a long time after a rain, there being at present no outlet. The petition was placed on file and Trustee Glann appointed a committee to investigate.

   The board voted to hereafter hold a regular meeting on each Monday night.

   The subject of paving was next brought up. The petition from Railroad-st. was placed on file and in accordance with the new paving law notice ordered published for two successive weeks calling a public meeting where any citizen may appear and offer objections to the pavement of this street. This public meeting will be held at Fireman's hall June 19 at 7:30 o'clock P. M.

   The board passed a resolution to discontinue the purchase of uniforms for the police. Trustee Warfield was appointed a committee with power to act regarding a provision for draining Madison-st. at its intersection with Schermerhorn-st. [Grace Street].

   After some informal discussion of the provisions of the new paving law the board adjourned.

Hayes Chair Factory Started Again.

   The Hayes chair factory, after being closed for a year, started up again yesterday morning under the direction of Mr. Lewis S. Hayes. Only a few men are now employed, but the force will be increased to twenty-five for the fall trade. Chairs will be manufactured at first, but later other cabinet work will be engaged in. An office is being fitted upon the main building on the first floor. The old office building will be used mostly for storage purposes. The factory is fully equipped with the most approved machinery and the very best of work will be turned out.

Steamer Glen Haven (note name in shadow on bow).

BREVITIES.

   —The steamer Glen Haven will begin its trips on Skaneateles lake on June 15. It makes two trips from Glen Haven to Skaneateles each day, leaving the Glen at 7:30 A. M., returning at 1 P. M., leaving again at 1:30 P. M. and returning the second time between 7 and 8 o'clock.

   —New advertisements to-day are—F. E. Brogden, ice cream soda, page 6; J. A. Jayne, for shoes and oxfords, page 6; C. F. Brown, the weather man says hot to-morrow, page 5; McGraw & Son, special cut price sale, page 6; Ament & Brazie, we believe it, page 4.

   —Mumps are having the run in Cortland and measles in Homer. It is said that the present epidemic of measles was started at the recent teachers' institute, being brought there by one of the speakers from away who was just coming down with them. The whole institute was exposed and the prospect is encouraging that all the schools of the county will very shortly reap the benefit of the institute in more ways than one.