NO CIRCUS PERFORMANCE IN CORTLAND

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 11, 1896.

NO CIRCUS PERFORMANCE.

The High Wind Loosened the Stakes and Barnum & Bailey gave no Show In Cortland Last Saturday.

   The Barnum & Bailey shows arrived in Cortland on time last Saturday and the tents were pitched on Owego-st., opposite the lot where they were torn loose twelve years ago. An immense crowd from the surrounding country was in town to witness the free street parade which was certainly better than ever before.

   At noon the carryalls began doing a land office business, taking people to the show grounds, and when the doors were opened at 1 o'clock several thousand people were soon inside. The tents were pitched on a field from which a crop of oats had recently been harvested and it was noticed by the managers soon after the doors were opened that the high wind was straining the guy ropes and the stakes were beginning to loosen. All the extra guys possible were put on but the ground would not hold the stakes solid so it was decided to take no risks and the entire day's performance was abandoned. Rain was also threatening and consequently the people inside were so informed, and as they passed out their money was refunded. Many who went in on complimentary tickets came out with half a dollar. The loss in this way and the day's expenses and advertising were estimated by the manager to have cost the owners over $4,000, but this was thought to be a better course than to have taken chances on life and limb and possibly entail many times that amount for damage suits.

   Many people insisted that the circus should have had an evening performance, but this would really have been inadvisable, for the stakes were so loose that all the canvass would have had to come down, the entire grounds be restaked and all put up a second time before it would have been safe. More than this, if the soft ground became thoroughly soaked with rain the heavy tent wagons would sink to the hubs and it would be impossible to move them.

   Rain began to fall about 2 o'clock and came in torrents till evening, and the wind continued all night. The circus left town about 11 o'clock in the evening, and while they were the only financial losers, probably the largest crowd that ever greeted Barnum in this county was left to return to their homes and guess at what they had missed.

   Those who were at the tents just as it began to rain witnessed what might have been a serious stampede of the 19 elephants but for the prompt action of a keeper in throwing the leader to the ground and holding him till his scare was over.

   Mr. Jas. A. Bailey was in Cortland in person on Saturday and he kept the telegraph wires busy sending orders to the Buffalo Bill show, of which he is the largest owner, which had five cars smashed in a railroad wreck in Wisconsin about 3 A. M. that morning. They also jumped their Saturday date.

COUNTY FAIR NEXT WEEK.

Large List of Competitors and Fast Horse Races Assure a Grand Success next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

   Space for exhibition in the hall has been engaged by the largest number of firms who have ever competed and there are only a few desirable locations left. There are a great many out of town exhibitors this year and nearly all our home merchants and manufacturers are to be represented either in display or competition.

   The general program is as follows:

   FIRST DAY—Entry and arrangement of articles for exhibition. Races called at 2 P. M., 4-year-old or under 4-vear-old class, trotting or pacing. Purse $100.

   SECOND DAY—General exhibition of live stock. Prize baby show in Floral hall at 2 P. M. Races also called at that hour. 2:40 class trotting and pacing, and 2:20 class trotting and pacing, a $100 purse in each class. Bicycle races called at 4 o'clock, half mile open and two mile handicap with three prizes in each.

   THIRD DAY—10 A. M. judging of horses in all classes, 11 A. M. judging of cattle in all classes, 1 P. M . grand parade of all premium stock on race track, 2 P. M. races called, 2:30 class trotting and pacing, free-for-all trotting and pacing with each a $100 purse, and a half-mile running race with a $50 dollar purse. At 4 o'clock will be the exhibition of ladies' horsemanship and pony driving.

   Entries close next Monday at 12 P. M. Already many speedy horses are entered and assurance has been had that there will be many more before entries close. Cortland will have the fair of fairs this year, so let every body be there and enjoy three day's rare sport.

Who Owns the Sidewalk?

   The following will be of interest to people generally, and should be to loafers, in particular, who think that so long as they are on the street they have a perfect right to occupy a person's sidewalk, doorstep or fence as often or as long as they like.

   Judge Clayton of Delaware county recently, in charging a jury in a case in which the rights of the sidewalk were the bone of contention, laid down the law in reference to pavements in such a manner as to clear up some of the points concerning which there has been much apprehension. He said:—"The owner of real estate also owns the sidewalk in front of his property subject to the right of pedestrians to use it for traveling back and forward, but outside of this he owns the sidewalk as much as any other part of his property. It cannot be used for roller skating or a play ground for children, or other purposes without his consent. If it is, he should first order them to leave, and if they refuse, he may lay hands gently upon them, and if they resist, he may use as much force as necessary to remove them, but no more."

Base Ball.

   While we have had some great games of ball lately, Cortland has not won many. Last Friday we were defeated by the Cuban Giants after a fine game by 14 to 9. Tuesday was one of the best games of the season, being tied at 2 scores at the end of the 7th inning, but a fatal error in the 9th gave the game to the visitors, 5 to 4. Wednesday we were again defeated by the same team, but there was very loose playing on both sides.

All Dance Next Saturday Night.

   "Happy Bill" Daniels and his orchestra will be on hand at the Armory next Saturday night for dancing. The same orchestra, which so pleased the people week before last, will be there with the addition of Prof. Patsey Conway of Ithaca. "Patsey" has a new cornet solo which has captivated many large audiences and he will render it in the concert which precedes the dance at 7:45 o'clock. He will play with the orchestra all the evening.

William McKinley.

Wants No Democratic Votes.

   Mr. McKinley wishes it to be clearly understood that, whatever his party managers and their would-be allies may plan, he is opposed to "entangling alliances" with Democrats of any stripe and wants no gold standard free trade Democratic votes. In his Saturday speech to the visiting delegation from Pennsylvania he asserted that "the wing of the Democratic party which controlled the Chicago convention is just as much in favor of free trade as the wing of the Democratic party in control of the national administration."

   According to his statement of the case the national administration

Democrats oppose free silver and favor free trade and the Chicago convention Democrats favor free silver and free trade, while he is "opposed—unalterably opposed—to both of them."

   After that stinging blow in the face any Democrat who believes in the English free trade and gold standard policy and therefore opposes Bryan's election can sit down and figure out what inducement he has to aid, by positive or indirect action, the election of McKinley.—Cleveland Plain Dealer.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   The proprietors of the Standard leave a copy of the daily issue at police headquarters every day, and now they complain that somebody steals it. The thief deserves to be and doubtless is, severely punished.

   The republican managers in this state are badly alarmed over the outlook and they are calling on the millionaires and bond holders for more money. A party that hopes to buy success must be suffering from a plethora of morality.

   McKinley keeps harping on the tariff. There can be no change in the tariff for at least two years and he ought to know it. The financial question is the only question at issue in this campaign and the farmers and mechanics propose to settle that question at the next election.

   The N. Y. Journal offers to take charge of subscriptions to the Bryan and Sewall campaign fund and to put up a dollar of its own against every dollar contributed until further notice. The subscriptions are coming in rapidly. The individual amounts are not large but they represent honest people.

   "Not content with urging the free coinage of silver," said Mr. McKinley, in his library of acceptance, "Its strongest champions demand that our paper money shall be issued directly by the Government of the United States." Shocking! By the way who issues the bulk of our paper money now?—New York Journal.

   At the Populist convention held in Syracuse last week, Lansing J. Lincoln of Buffalo was nominated for Governor. John Avarett Webster of New York was nominated for Lieutenant Governor and Lawrence J. McParian of Lockport was nominated for Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals. William Petrie of Cuyler, this county, was nominated for presidential elector for the 19th district, and Adam Petrie of the same place was nominated for presidential elector for the 21st district.

That Cuyler Picnic.

   CUYLER, Sept. 10, 1896.

   B. B. Jones:

   I attended the farmers' picnic at Petrie's grove yesterday. It had been arranged to have a joint debate but at a late hour it was decided by the town committee not to allow any silver man to talk.

   Hon. L. D. Kern of DeRuyter was chairman of the day, Thos. B. White of Syracuse and W. C. Crombie of Cortland, speakers. At the close of the speaking Ezra Albro, a lifelong Republican, said:

   "In-as-much as they had not been allowed a silver speaker, they had decided to hold another picnic one week from Sept 8th, and promised the gold men plenty of their own medicine."

   The silver people here wished you would speak of the fact that they were barred out on the debate yesterday, and the only excuse which they offered to me was "It was not good politics to hive two speakers different in opinion."

   Yours truly,

   F. J.

Removed to DeRuyter.

   Dr. J. H. Schaffer, who for several months has been associated with Dr. L.

T. White, has removed from Cortland and is now permanently located in DeRuyter where he will continue his practice. By this departure Cortland has lost from its dental ranks a young man who is in every respect a peer in his profession, whose skill and successful workmanship render him at all times and in the most difficult cases worthy to be employed.

   COM.

HERE AND THERE.

   An exchange says corn shucks are thick and a cold winter may be expected.

   Messrs. G. J. Mager & Co. have a new advertisement on the opposite page.

   No money should be paid for the benefit of the A. M. E. Zion church except to Rev. D. Edwards.

   An account of the Metzgar family reunion at Freetown last week will be found in our letter from that place.

   Landlord Bosworth of the night café has a fine new wagon which is even better appointed than his last one.

   Ella Wood is again serving time in Onondaga penitentiary. Same old trouble, intoxication, and she got six months.

   There was an unusually large grist of drunks in police court Monday morning as a result of circus day and no circus.

   Ex-Police Justice Bull has moved his large collection of curiosities and antiquities from police headquarters to his residence.

   Mrs. Jas. Summers found and returned to its owner, Mr. W. M. Harter, a pocketbook which he lost Saturday afternoon containing nearly $80.

   The Barnum & Bailey circus had to omit their evening performance in Norwich on the Thursday before coming to Cortland on account of a high wind.

   The Misses Keyes Concert Company, assisted by Darby's festival orchestra, will give a concert at Brockway's Hall, Homer, on Thursday evening, Sept. 17th, under the auspices of the G. A. R. post.

   The Cortland ball team played two fine games in Auburn Monday. The first they lost 9 to 3, but the second was won by a score of 4 to 3. The City band and a large number of friends met them at the depot on their return, Monday evening.

   A number of people from Cortland would not miss seeing Barnum this year and went either to Syracuse Monday or to Ithaca Wednesday to witness the performance. Lieut. R. H. Miller attended in both places and reports a splendid entertainment this year.

   Just as Thomas Byrnes of Cortland crossed the tape in the finish of the novice race at Ithaca Tuesday he ran over a dog and was sent high in the air. He landed on his head and shoulders, fracturing the right collar bone. He was taken care of at the hospital and returned home the same evening.

   Not many moons since the Cortland Standard Printing Co. swallowed the

Cortland County Sentinel and now the Sentinel has cobbled the McGrawville News. Mr. Huntington, who published the latter, will continue his job office in McGrawville, but the Cortland Standard Printing Co. will print McGrawville's papers.