Cortland
Evening Standard, Thursday, September 17, 1896.
TEXAS HARD
AGROUND.
The Big
Battleship Stranded Off Newport.
HER
POSITION IS DANGEROUS.
Struck
While Filtering the Harbor For a Supply of Torpedoes and the Ebbing of the Tide
Soon Left Her Hard and Fast on a Rock.
NEWPORT, R. I., Sept. 17.—The battleship Texas,
which left the North Atlantic squadron for the purpose of getting a supply of
torpedoes here, struck a rock while coming into the harbor and is hard and fast.
She rests on the rock
amidships and has resisted all attempts made by the tug Aquidnock to dislodge
her.
The position of the vessel is a dangerous one
and should a storm set in, it would go hard with her. The place where the
vessel struck is almost directly opposite the torpedo station.
The Texas left the North Atlantic squadron after
the Massachusetts had left the harbor and joined the other ships. When she
reached the harbor the tide was running out strongly and was at about
"half ebb."
The first warning the officers had of the danger
was a slight shock just forward of amidships. Captain Glass at once ordered the
port anchor out. The hook held firmly and the ship gradually swung broadside onto
the beach. She was firm and could not be moved so as to make the least headway
by means of the anchor. The ebbing tide left her a fixture for the night at
least.
An examination was made at once and it was
decided to send for a tug. With the tide below half ebb, five fathoms of water
was found under the bow and about the same depth under the stern. As the tide
fell, the bow began to appear above water and is now out of water. The stern is
on a line with the water. All the naval officials who have seen the vessel
admit that her position is a dangerous one.
The tug was obliged to give up the attempt to
float the monster battleship, but will make another attempt at high tide. Several
other tugs and possibly the giant wrecker Right Arm will assist her.
Captain Glass refused to be interviewed. He
gave orders to let no one aboard the vessel.
The Texas is a second class 2-turret
battleship of 6,315 tons displacement and 8,000 horsepower. Her speed is 17
knots an hour. She was built in 1889-90 and cost $2,500,000.
A statement was finally given out by the
commander of the Texas. The following is the official statement:
The ship slowed down in 15 fathoms of water
and stopped in 11 fathoms. A signal was given to back the port engines, but was
mistaken in the engine room and the engine started ahead. Word was sent down to
see if the engines were backing and the word came back "Yes." Word
was sent back to back both engines at full speed, when the mistake was
discovered, but before they could be backed the vessel struck on the beach.
The port anchor was dropped in 23 feet of
water, the vessel drawing 23.8 feet forward. Although no shock was felt on the hummock
on the port bow, divers were sent down, and she was found to be resting easily,
no rock being under her. It is thought that she will come off at high tide. The
machinist in the engine room is responsible for the affair. It is thought the
vessel is not badly damaged.
 |
| James Beldon. |
Belden
Accepts From Both Parties.
SYRACUSE, Sept. 17.—Hon. J. J. Belden of
this city has accepted the nomination for congress tendered by the McKinley league
convention of this district and also by the regular Democratic convention of
this district. In his letters of acceptance he says he accepts the Democratic
nomination that came to him unsought and unexpected, without modifying his
political views or placing any restraint upon his political action.
He accepts the Republican nomination of the
McKinley league, saying: "Your organization represents the Republican masses of
this district, and your nominees are entitled to be regarded as the candidates of
the Republican party. No technical question of regularity can deprive your
membership of their political rights or prevent their recognition as genuine and
loyal Republicans."
Public
Health Association.
BUFFALO, Sept. 17.—The American Public Health
association put in a busy day listening to papers by expert sanitarians, the
morning's session being largely devoted to the topic of "Disposition of
Garbage." In the afternoon the reports of the committee on national health
legislation and of the international committee on prevention of the spread of
yellow fever were submitted. Papers were read upon sanitary administration and
yellow fever epidemics following these reports. A reception was held at the
Ellicott club.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
A
Historic Anniversary.
Second only to the Declaration of
Independence as a historic document, is the farewell address of Washington. It
is 100 years this 19th of September since it was given to the public first
through the columns of the Philadelphia Advertiser. It is a time now for
schools and historic and political clubs to have that noble document made
familiar to all the people of this country.
At the very beginning of the brave old paper
we are struck with the genuine note of relief that the first president sounds
at the prospect of being released from office and of being free to go back to
that agriculture which was still, as it had been before the Revolution, his
favorite occupation. It is plain that Washington would rather have been a
successful farmer than president. He declares in the most solemn manner that
nothing can induce him to accept a presidential nomination for a third term now
that the country is strong and the government firmly established. He declares,
and we know he is telling the truth, that "the acceptance of and
continuance in the office to which your suffrages have twice called me have
been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty and to a
deference for what appeared to be your desire."
The great first president saw with clairvoyant
eye and warned the young republic against certain sources of danger. "Entangling
alliances" with foreign nations is a phrase which has become historic, and
the heeding of the warning from the early days of the republic till now has
undoubtedly kept us out of serious trouble.
But there were other dangers against which
the father of our country cautioned us. One, of especial moment, is as follows:
"In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union it occurs as a
matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for
characterizing parties by geographical discriminations—northern, southern,
Atlantic and western. To the efficacy and permanency of your Union a government
for the whole is indispensable."
Washington was profoundly grieved over that
bitterness of political party spirit which, if possible, was more pronounced in
his day even than it is now. He said: "Let me warn you in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. The
alternate dominion of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge
natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism."
Our first president, looking steadfastly forward
to the time, not far off, when he would be, as he says, "consigned to the
mansions of rest," further exhorts the citizens of the country he loved
with such pure patriotism to ''promote as an object of primary importance
institutions for the diffusion of general knowledge" and to "cherish
the public credit."
Touching and beautiful are our first president's
fervent good wishes for the welfare of his fellow countrymen of his own time
and of all time. He hoped for us:
That heaven may continue to you the choicest
tokens of its beneficence.
That your union and brotherly affection may
be perpetual.
That the free constitution which is the work
of your hands may be sacredly maintained.
That its administration in every department may
be stamped with wisdom and virtue.
That the happiness of the people of these
states, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful a
preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing, as well as acquire to them
the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection and adoption of
every nation which is yet a stranger to it.
And he solemnly enjoined on us to—
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations.
Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin such
conduct, and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be
worthy of a free, enlightened and at no distant period a great nation to give
to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an
exalted justice and benevolence.
◘
An event of interest not only to
wheelmen, but also to everybody else, was The Journal-Examiner bicycle ride from
San Francisco to New York. The fact that human muscle alone as a motive power,
unaided by horse, steam or electricity, could cross this whole continent from
San Francisco bay to New York bay in 13 days 29 minutes 4 1-5 seconds would be a
miracle if we did not know how it all happened. Horsepower, however often
changed and skillfully managed, could not have done it. The value of the
bicycle in war—if we are unfortunate enough ever to have any more wars—is
assured. A courier could bolt like a catapult out of a camp and speed
away through hostile ranks before sharpshooters could take aim at him.
◘
Experiments in the line of
telegraphing a picture are progressing. It is true that it ought not to
be more difficult to telegraph sights than sounds, which the telephone does
successfully. No doubt the future will see in the morning papers of San
Francisco an exact photograph of a riot or a presidential convention in
Chicago, but the inventors have not yet perfected the process. The only step
that has really been taken is that a telegraphic pen in one city is made to trace
out and reproduce in black and white a picture specially prepared at the
other end of the line.
AN OPEN LETTER
TO THE TAXPAYERS
OF CORTLAND COUNTY.
And In Particular
to Those Towns Having a Bonded Indebtedness Payable In Gold.
To the Taxpayers of Cortland County:
That I may offer a few suggestions for your
consideration which are undisputed facts, and request that you will consider
and further inform yourselves upon them, is the whole object of this brief
letter.
The present cry that free silver will result
in enlarged benefits to the general public and particularly farmers, is most
fallacious and dishonest. Why? Is there any lack of silver in the United
States? Are not the depositories and banks full of it? Whom will free coinage
help? The farmers? No! The merchants? No! But that it will help most materially
owners of silver mines and silver bullion, in this and in foreign countries as
well, all will concede.
There is not an instance on record where
free silver has been adopted by any government but that it has resulted in a
depreciated currency and has worked serious harm and disaster to all classes,
and more so to the farming class than any other. This is the history of these
countries, substantiated by honest and competent financiers.
Free silver adoption in the United States of
Columbia so depreciated its currency that our United States minister at Bogota
says that gold is demanded for everything, and that even a day's board at one
of their hotels must be paid in gold, as their silver will not be
accepted. Free silver adoption—what is it but repudiation?
What a grand example it would be for our
government—the grandest republic on earth—to depreciate and repudiate its
coinage by the adoption of such a system! We ought to have—and we have—too much
national honor and pride for that.
The bonded indebtedness of seven towns of
Cortland county is about $505,000. In my own town of Solon it is $83,000, and
unquestionably, as regards actual value of its property and resources to pay
with, this is the heaviest bonded town in the county. It will take our town
forty years to wipe out this indebtedness. As far as I can learn, all town
bonds of Cortland county are payable in gold.
Now what bearing has the adoption of free silver
upon these bonds and the bonded towns? Here is the important question for
residents of these towns to consider. Can we pay these bonds in free silver?
No. The holders of the bonds will not accept it. We will have to pay them in
gold, which, after free silver adoption, will stand at a premium of not less
than 50 percent, and thus will be added to the present bonded indebtedness of
my own town, for instance; $41,500; to Taylor $18,000; to Truxton $60,000; to
Cuyler $29,000; to Cincinnatus $21,000; to Cortlandville $84,000.
You ask, "Is this true?" It is
true, and I answer it upon the authority of long experienced financiers, both
Democratic and Republican, with whom I have held correspondence upon this
subject of the benefits or the contrary—of free silver adoption to our bonded
towns.
Is there a man in one of these seven towns
who will conscientiously vote upon himself—and townspeople this interest taxation?
Not if he will rightly inform himself and it is a duty we owe ourselves, our
county and our country, to seek this information. And knowing the truth—we
shall vote for the upholding of right, for governmental stability, and for all
things just and true.
J. G. BINGHAM,
Supervisor of Solon.
THE HAKES FAMILY.
Annual Reunion was
Held at the Vanderbilt In Syracuse Yesterday.
The Hakes family held their tenth annual
reunion at the Vanderbilt House in Syracuse yesterday. About sixty members and
representatives of the family were present.
The morning session opened at 10:30.
President Dr. Harry Hakes of Wllkesbarre, Pa., in his opening address gave a
review of the past year and reported twenty births, sixteen marriages and four
deaths, and that now the descendants numbered about 3,500 people.
Two other families that are allied with the
Hakes family were present also, the Billings family, which numbers 10,000 members
and Worden family, of which there about 100 living members. Charles Billings of
Ontario, Can., is the historian of the Billings family and was in attendance yesterday.
The following officers were elected: Harry
Hakes, Wilkesbarre, president;
Chauncey D. Hakes of
Albany, vice-president; Miss Gertrude Hakes-Roath of Worcester, Mass.,
secretary; Miss Ola Hakes of Cortland, first assistant secretary; Miss Grace
Reynolds of Albany, second assistant secretary.
It was decided to hold the next reunion at
Saratoga on the third Wednesday in August. The committee appointed to make
arrangements for that reunion were: Chauncey D. Hakes of Albany, John G. Hakes
of Gilbertsville and Frank D. Hakes of Cortland.
A banquet was served in the diningrooms at 1
o'clock, at which the Hake fish was served. The following toasts were proposed
and responded to: "The
Hakes Family in
War;'' Dr. Harry Hakes of Wilkesbarre; "The Hakes Family in Peace;"
Charles Billings of Billingsbridge, Can.; "The Ladies;" Frank D.
Hakes of Cortland and Chauncey D. Hakes of Albany; "Our Annual Reunion;"
L. D. Blanchard of Norwich; "The Worden Cousins;" J. S. Worden of
Syracuse.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
The Baby Show—Baseball
Game—Horse Races.
A conservative estimate of the number of
people on the fair grounds yesterday afternoon is 3,000. The baby show at 3
o'clock attracted a great deal of attention. There were eighteen beautiful
babies entered in the contest and the task of the judge, Miss Wire of Syracuse,
was by no means an easy one. First prize was finally awarded to Mary Silver
Asadorian, the fourteen-months-old baby of Rev. and Mrs. A. M. Asadorian of
Summerhlll, which was dressed in the costume of its parents' native country,
Armenia. The prize, dress goods amounting to fifteen dollars, Mr. Asadorian
says he shall send to Armenia for the benefit of some of the oppressed. The
second prize, dress goods amounting to five dollars was awarded to Alice, the
seventeen-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Reilly of Cortland.
The baseball game between the hotel men and
the grocery and meat clerks was interesting and witnessed by a large crowd and
was won by the former by the score of 34 to 25.
The horse races yesterday were the 2:20 and
2:40 classes and the grand stand was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. The
races were of the best ever seen on the track.
Mr. Leslie H. Tucker rode an exhibition
mile, reducing the track record from 2:13 to 2:12.
The rain to-day has interferred in some degree
with the size of the crowd, but still there are a great many people on the grounds.
All of the attractions advertised are in progress.
 |
| Steamer Glen Haven docked at Glen Haven, N. Y. |
BREVITIES.
—The Steamer Glen Haven on Skaneateles lake
will cease its daily trips between Glen Haven and Skaneateles after this week.
—One of the park cars ran off the [trolley] track
this afternoon on the curve in front of the Congregational church. It was put
back on the rails again after a little delay.
—To-day is the Jewish Fast of Yom Kippur,
and faithful Jews all over the land are maintaining a strict fast. The meaning
of Yom Kippur day is a day of atonement and in is observance the Jews seek to
put themselves in a right spiritual attitude toward God.
—Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr.
Louis S. Laukton of Elbridge, N. Y., and Miss Mabel Hammond which will occur on
Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 20, at 5:30 o'clock at the home of the bride, 87
Charles-st.
—Invitations
are out for the wedding of Mr. Frederick Ives Graham and Miss Mary Weeks
Hollister which will occur at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harvey D. Hollister, 10 Pearne-ave., in Cortland on Wednesday evening, Sept.
30, at 8 o'clock.
The Claim Settled.
Messrs. L. L. Gillett and E. A. Fish have
just received a check from the New York Central Fire
Lloyds through Pierce, Cone & Bates, the Cortland agents, in settlement of
their claim in the loss by fire of the Novelty Works building on South Main-st.
on the night of July 31. The amount received was $382.80.
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