FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER--PARK NOTES

The Second National Bank in the Brunswick Hotel block on Main Street, Cortland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday July 9, 1896.

FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER

Did Considerable Damage Last Night in Second National Bank Building.

   Shortly after 9 o'clock last night smoke was discovered issuing from a north window of the second story of the Second National bank building over the Brunswick hotel. A general alarm was rung in at the engine house box 333 by L. E. Waters, who happened to be near. The department responded promptly, Orris Hose getting first water. They with the Emeralds attached to the hydrant at The National bank corner and Hitchcock and Water Witch attached to the hydrant in front of Warren, Tanner & Co.'s. It was seven minutes before the exact location of the fire could be ascertained but smoke could be seen issuing from all parts of the block.

   The fire was soon located in the merchant tailoring rooms of J. E. Bliss over the Second National bank. The flames were quickly extinguished, but not before Mr. Bliss' entire stock had been almost totally destroyed. The ball nozzle of Orris hose was found to be of great service in fighting the fire as the room was completely filled with smoke and the heat was intense. Mr. Bliss estimates his loss at $2,000 and has an insurance of $1,500 placed with Davis, Jenkins & Hakes in the Glens Falls company.

   Aside from Mr. Bliss' damage and the damage to the building the other damage was caused by smoke and water. The ceiling in Mr. Bliss' room was burned through and all the woodwork badly charred. The ceiling in the hall was badly scorched, as was also the ceiling in the law office of Smith & Dickinson across the hall.

   To a STANDARD man Mr. Bliss said that he was in the rooms a half hour before the alarm was rung in and everything was all right then. When the alarm sounded he was attending a meeting of the C. A. A. The fire originated in the region of the coal stove in which there is always a fire to heat his irons and started from the pine woodwork or from some cloths which were too near the stove.

   The entire floor was deluged with water which ran down into the Second National bank office and parlors and also into the dry goods store of Case, Ruggles & Bristol, injuring a large quantity of capes, cloaks and dress goods. The damage to their stock is hard to estimate, but will be large and is fully covered by insurance placed with Davis, Jenkins & Hakes, G. J. Maycumber, J . A. Nixon and Theodore Stevenson.

   The law books of Smith & Dickinson were somewhat injured by smoke. Insured with Pierce, Cone & Dates.

   Mrs. T. P. Button, dressmaker, who occupies rooms at the rear of the tailor rooms, estimates her loss from $25 to $50 by smoke and water. No insurance.

   The furnishings and paraphernalia in Vesta lodge rooms are badly damaged by smoke. Insured for $1,000 with Davis, Jenkins & Hakes.

   The Second National bank is fully insured with policies placed with Davis, Jenkins & Hakes, G. J. Maycumber, and Theodore Stevenson.

   It was very fortunate that the fire was gotten under control, as had it secured a start, a serious conflagration might have resulted.

   President Hector Cowan said this afternoon that it was his opinion that the damage to the bank building would reach nearly $5,000. Nearly all the woodwork above the first story will require refinishing and in the rooms occupied by Mr. Bliss new walls and ceilings will be necessary.

   When the stream of water was poured into the tailoring rooms from the rear it struck the hot glass in the front windows which at once broke and fell to the walk outside. Mr. M. B. Burns, financial secretary of Emerald Hose company, was standing on the fourth round of a ladder. A large piece of glass hit him on the top of the head, cutting a gash about two inches long. He went into Brogden's drug store where Dr. Sornberger, assisted by Dr. Cowan, sewed up the wound. Mr. John A. Nix, another member of Emerald Hose, who was standing at the foot of the ladder was also hit by pieces of the falling glass cutting each wrist and hand in several places.

   The Protective Police covered the counters in Case, Ruggles & Bristol's with canvass thus protecting from the water. Their loss is hard to estimate until a close examination can be made.

An Army of Worms.

   The Binghamton Republican says that Broome county farmers are much alarmed over a worm that has attacked and is devastating their crops of oats, corn and wheat grains. It has also attacked grass. It seems much like the army worm that appeared in 1861 and 1862. Whole fields of grain and many lawns are being destroyed. A similar worm is also attacking trees and all kind of foliage. It is to be hoped that these pests will not extend their operations to Cortland county.

Thrown From a Horse Rake.

   Mr. Charles Munson, who lives near the brick school house, was driving upon a horse rake last Monday afternoon when for some reason his horse became unmanageable. He was then in a barnyard. The horse attempted to go through a narrow gate. The wheels on both sides struck the fence. The harness was stripped from the horse and the shafts dropped down and the rake stopped, while the horse escaped. Mr. Munson was thrown violently forward to the ground and struck on his head. He is a large and heavy man and he was considerably shaken up and his face was cut and bruised.

   But he is getting out again, though he will doubtless feel the effects of the fall for some time.

Virgil.

   VIRGIL, July 8.—The ordinance of baptism by immersion was administered to Mr. Eugene Ball, Mr. Henry Hollenbeck, Mrs. Frank Davis and daughter Laura by Rev. Mr. Franklin at the bridge near Mr. L. E. Forster's on Thursday last. As no public notice was given only a few were present.

   Miss Lilliah Lang closed her second term in the West Church district last Friday.

   Mrs. F. M. Shults and niece Miss Bernice Ryan of West Illinois, visited at D. R. Shults' last week.

Cortland Park.

PARK NOTES.

South Grove to be Fenced Off and May be Leased.

   So many societies and organizations have expressed a desire to picnic at the park and to make some money from the attractions which they may offer that the Traction company has decided to enclose the entire south grove with a fence so that the grounds can be leased for a fixed sum upon any day to any organization which desires to use it and to charge an admission fee. This does not include the north grove which is always free to all.

   As was previously stated in the STANDARD no liquors of any kind are to be obtained in any way upon the grounds, and none will be permitted to be sold there, nor can they be obtained at the farm house above, where it was rumored that last year there could sometimes be found at the milk room something stronger than milk. It is understood that this is an experiment, and if the park is well patronized this year by the people who approve of this course this rule will be continued. If, however, this patronage is lacking, there may be a change next year. The best of order is preserved at the park all of the time. A policeman in uniform and two officers in plain clothes are there all of the time, but so far they have had nothing to do, so excellent has been the order.

   The new pavilion is now completed and proves an attraction for all. Upon the first floor is the refreshment room and general sittingroom, while a piazza fifteen feet wide extends around three sides of the building. Cigars, soft drinks, peanuts, pop-corn and ice cream are on sale there by G. F. Beaudry. It is the intent very soon to begin serving supper there, which will include hot tea, coffee or chocolate, sandwiches, cake, etc., so that parties can go there for supper without taking their lunch. As it is there is hardly a day now but that there are a half dozen or more picnic parties over there.

   The second floor is given up entirely to the dancing hall. Regular dances are held there every Wednesday and. Saturday evenings, and the music is furnished by McDermott's full orchestra. There is a piano there all of the time, so that companies large or small can have music at any time for dancing. This hall on any evening except Wednesday and Saturday can be obtained by private parties for hops. Arrangements for this must be made at the office of the Traction company.

   A telephone has been placed in the pavilion for the convenience of the public.

   There will be a band concert Saturday night of this week, and the regular Sunday afternoon concert will be given at 3:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

   The [trolley] car service to and from the park is now first-class. A car begins running at 9 o'clock from the Messenger House and continues every forty minutes until 1 o'clock, starting at 9, 9:40, 10:20, 11, 11:40, 12:20, 1 o'clock. After 1 o'clock the cars leave the Messenger House every twenty minutes during the afternoon and evening. The last car leaves the park at 11 P. M.

   The cars are now all plainly marked, so that no one need make a mistake as to what car he is taking. This is plain to all who chance to be in front of the cars and see the signs, but if passengers will notice closely it is very easy to tell a Homer car from the McGrawville or the Park cars. The two Homer cars have no bulkheads immediately behind the motorman and forward of the conductor. Both of the Park cars and the McGrawville car have such bulkheads. A glance to determine whether or not there is a bulkhead will at once distinguish the Homer cars from the others.

BREVITIES.

   —Hyatt & Tooke took a number of fine photographs of different views in the park yesterday.

   —New advertisements to-day are—C. F. Brown, only the purest drugs, page 6; Wm. Grady, bicycles, page 6.

  —Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Jones are rejoicing over the arrival of a baby girl born yesterday. Weight 10 1/2 pounds.

   —Mrs. Eliza Wood died July 7 in Friendship, N. Y. Deceased was the younger sister of James D. and Alvin Keeler of Cortland and also a sister of Mrs. Harriet Greene of Homer.

   —The case of The People against Burt Cornell and W. L. Woodworth, charged with grand larceny in taking a team of horses from Liveryman T. H. Young, has been further held open until next Monday morning.

   —Seven varieties of gooseberries, and six or eight of currants—all of the latter seedlings of his own raising, and all of them superb specimens of small fruit—are the contributions of Mr. L. S. Johnson of 24 North Church-st. to the delicacies of the season. Mr. Johnson's customers need not be told what manner of fruit he grows.