DECISIVE VICTORY FOR CUBAN INSURGENTS

Spanish gunboat General Concha in Cardenas Bay, Cuba.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 5, 1897.

A DECISIVE VICTORY.

SPANISH EXPEDITION ROUTED.

A Force in Boats Sent Against a Cuban Position Was Forced to Retire

With the Loss of Fifteen Boats and One Half Its Men.

   NEW YORK, Feb 1.—A Key West special says: Another marine disaster to the Spaniards is reported. Fifteen boats are said to have been sunk, 100 men are reported to have been killed or to be missing, and the number of wounded is put at seventy-five. Hearing that the insurgents had fortified some heights near Paez, on the river Caunao, Santa Clara province,  General Weyler sent Colonel Serves with 300 men in small boats to capture the place and destroy the forts.

   After proceeding up the river about twenty miles, on rounding a sharp bend a heavy fire was opened on the expedition with rifles and a six-pound field piece. The fourth shot from the cannon sank one boat. A moment later another boat was sunk

   The Spaniards leaped out of their boats, waded to land and charged the insurgents, who were protected by the high banks and the thick bush. The Spanish drove the insurgents off, but could not capture the cannon. Resuming the journey, the expedition was harassed at every bend of the river. A few miles from Paez, the Cubans opened fire with two cannon. Six boats were quickly sunk and then the rebel rifles played havoc with the Spanish soldiers as they struggled in the water. Four of the wounded men were caught by alligators near shore and dragged under. Colonel Serves was forced to order a retreat, which speedily became a rout. Hastily the boats pulled back but the Cubans pursued, keeping up a constant fire and sinking more boats. Had not a reinforcement met the Spanish ten miles from Cienfuegos not 100 men would have escaped.

   General Weyler has made no official report of this disaster.

Daniel Lamont.

Cortland Co. Brains Necessary.

   "Cortland county and the region round about may not be the mother of presidents but it is furnishing its full share of the members of the president's official family. President Cleveland's secretary, Charles H. Fairchild, formed his sturdy manhood in Cazenovia, the present secretary of war, Lamont, graduated from a newspaper office in McGrawville and now Major McKinley has chosen for his secretary of the treasury, Lyman J. Gage, who was born and brought up in DeRuyter. All the indications are that the government cannot be run successfully without Cortland county brains."—Binghamton Republican.

Broome County Fiend.

   BINGHAMTON, N. Y., Feb. 1.—George Hale, aged 45, a farmer residing near Whitney's Point, slashed his throat to-day with a razor and will die. He is the man whose name was associated with Mrs. Thurston, the woman who is under arrest here charged with poisoning her husband. Hale's wife died suddenly and mysteriously years ago. Since then Hale and Mrs. Thurston had been very affectionate to each other.

   Several days ago Hale severely whipped his 16-year-old daughter, and she confessed to neighbors that he had criminal relations with her. This resulted in the attempted suicide.

   Hale breathes through a gaping hole in his throat, and owing to his horrible wounds he can breathe in no other way. For this reason the physicians dare not close the wound.

TWO FT. OR TWO FT.?

VILLAGE OF CORTLAND MAY SUE THE TRACTION COMPANY.

The Village Trustees Hold that the Traction Company Shall Pay for Paving Two Feet Away from the Rails on Each Side.

   The board of trustees held a meeting Monday evening and the question of the non-payment by the Cortland & Homer Traction Company of their share for paving Railroad-st. was discussed. The Traction Company refuse to pay for paving more than one foot outside the rails on each side, claiming this is correct construction of the law.

   President of the village H F. Benton, has written the attorney general of the state, also attorney L. L. Waters of Syracuse as to the usual construction of the law, whether "two feet outside the track" means one foot on each side or two feet on each side. The opinion in both cases was that the law requires two feet away from each rail, and that is the basis worked upon in Syracuse. Mr. Benton said that after the receipt of those letters he called upon H. L. Bronson, attorney for the Traction Company. Mr. Bronson dictated a letter to president Bergholtz, stating that unless the Traction Company immediately adjusted the matter, the trustees would commence an action to recover the amount. As this letter was only written on Saturday, President Benton counseled a few days' wait in order to get a reply before proceeding farther. The amount involved is $2,669.67.

   The resolution of Trustee Glann, seconded by Trustee Wallace, was unanimously carried that, unless the Traction Company pay for their assessment within a few days at the discretion of the president, ex-Judge S. S. Knox be instructed to begin an action at once.

   The Traction Company claim they have an opinion on which they are ready to fight, that the two feet means one on each side.

Open trolley waiting at D. L. & W. R. R. depot in Cortland.

Vestibule [Enclosed Trolley Car] Damaged.

   After crossing the main tracks of the D. L. & W. on its return from McGrawville at 11 o'clock last week Thursday night, electric car No. 16 had its front vestibule damaged by a locomotive on the switch leading to the yards. The engine had just left the large snow plow on one track and was running into the engine house on the other track. The plow hid the approaching engine from the view of the motorman and just as the electric reached the track the locomotive came up. One side of the front vestibule was crushed in. Besides the broken woodwork and brake rod little damage was done the car and the motorman jumped to safety. The conductor, Bert Snyder, was hit on the right eyelid by a piece of glass and he may lose the sight of that eye. The one passenger was uninjured, beyond a slight shaking up.

A QUIET ARREST.

Alleged Violations of the Raines Law in Cortland.

   Justice John H. Kelley issued a warrant Wednesday afternoon for the arrest of Daniel Keenan, proprietor of the North Cortland House, for alleged violation of the Raines law. The warrant was placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff James E. Edwards, who made the arrest and took his prisoner before the justice.

   The above facts are correct, but beyond that we are unable to ascertain anything authentic. The justice and the deputy sheriff are mum as is the principal. What the specific charge is or on what bail he was released to await an examination, none of the interested parties will reveal. The lips of the justice were sealed by a promise to give nothing to the newspapers until the examination occurs and every one else seems to be similarly afflicted. Violations of this famous law are causing so much controversy throughout the state that we feel compelled to give what facts we could obtain in regard to its local workings.

HERE AND THERE.

   The Spring term of the Normal opened Wednesday.

   Bingham Bros. & Miller have a new advertisement in this issue.

   Sleigh-ride parties are being held without number since the weather moderated and sleighing became good.

   The ice at the Cortland park rink is in prime condition. The rink is lighted every evening and extra cars are running.

   Jay Steele, an account of whose illness and an operation for appendicitis was given last week, died about noon last Friday.

   The Cortland county Beekeepers Association will hold its annual meeting in Good Templars' hall, Saturday, February 13.

   Mr. Nathaniel P. Meager is suffering from an attack of appendicitis. It has not yet been deemed necessary to perform an operation.

   The 10th annual meeting of the Cortland County Veteran Soldiers and Sailors Association will be held in Grand Army hall in Cortland on Friday February 12. Roll call at 1:30 sharp. All veteran soldiers and sailors of the county are invited.

   While Mr. J. H. Seeber, of No. 34 Homer-ave. was away from home Tuesday evening, his wife was taken with a stroke of paralysis. Upon his return he found her lying on the floor entirely helpless. She is quite an old lady but recovery is looked for.

   Edward Reed will lecture next Tuesday evening, Feb. 9, in the C. M. B. A. hall  on the subject, "The Work of the Catholic Church among the Colored People." Mr. Reed is a colored man, and is traveling in the interest of the National Catholic Industrial School which will be built in Detroit, Mich.

   McDermott's orchestra has been steadily increasing in popularity for several years and this year they are at the top notch of proficiency. It does not seem that the "hard times can be so hard" after all when we learn that this organization has dates to play for thirteen dances this month with several more in prospect.

   Mr. Alvin A. Wellington, aged 72 years, died at his home about three miles east of Cortland last Thursday evening of pneumonia. Mr. Wellington was born in Eaton, Madison Co., but has lived here for over forty years and was well known as a successful farmer. He leaves a widow and two brothers. The funeral was held Tuesday at 1 o'clock.

   Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Wright passed away last week, Thursday, at the home of her son B. T. Wright. An attack of heart disease some weeks ago developed into paralysis, which was the cause of death. She was born in Carmel, Putnam Co., N. Y., and since the death of her husband in Lisle in 1876 has resided with her son. Though in early life she belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church she has of late years been a worker in the Congregational church, and her pastor, Rev. W. H. Pound, conducted the funeral services at the home of Mr. Wright, Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock.