FLORIDA'S BALMY AIR AND TWO UTTER FAKES

Ice skating at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D. C.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, January 28, 1897.

FLORIDA'S BALMY AIR.

Cold Weather Starts People Toward Winter Resorts.

POTOMAC RIVER FROZEN OVER.

Throughout Texas, Alabama and Louisiana There Has Been a Heavy Fall of Snow—Present Cold Wave Covers a Large Area—Not Over Yet.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 38.—The cold wave touched its lowest point in this city Tuesday. Since then there has been a noticeable rise in the temperature with the indications that it would continue for several days in the Middle and Southern states. It is predicted by the weather bureau that it will be at least a week before relatively low temperatures cease. The Potomac river is frozen over and will be closed to navigation soon, so that skaters will have the rare luxury of being able to travel from Washington to Alexandria on ice.

   Reports from the South indicate a general and quite heavy fall of snow in Virginia, amounting to over six inches, and the weather map shows that the rain or snow belt extends as far south as Florida and the gulf coast, as far west as Kansas and as far north as portions of the Great Lakes.

   The cold wave that has gone over the United States during the past several days is one of the severest, considering both the low temperatures that prevailed in many places and the vast extent of the area covered by it, that has been recorded by the weather bureau in its 30 years of existence.

   The South had an unusual experience. Throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and in a large part of Georgia a fall of snow of from one to three inches in depth is reported to the weather bureau.

   The temperature has fallen in the South Atlantic and East Gulf states and Tennessee. It continues below freezing in the Southern states except Florida, and is below zero in the Northwest as far south as Iowa and Northern Illinois.

   Snow prevails on the Atlantic coast north of South Carolina. It will be colder in the southern Atlantic states, and below freezing as far south as extreme northern Florida.

   Reports from Jacksonville state that the belated cold wave has at last reached there, but has lost some of its severity by delay. The weather bureau reports temperature of 36, with a prospect of its reaching 30. The orange trees can stand 36 degrees, and there is little prospect of so low a temperature. The truck farms, however, will be greatly damaged. The gardens are full of cabbage now, and all will be killed with other tender vegetables.

   Pensacola reports the mercury at 21, the coldest of the season. Buds have not appeared on the fruit trees and little damage is anticipated.

   At Savannah, Ga., the thermometer registered 38 above zero with the prospects of going considerably lower.

   Augusta, Ga., reports say that the cold spell at this season cannot hurt fruit, but will do it good by keeping it from maturing too early and being killed by a late spring.

   The cold snap has had a marked effect on the winter hegira to the South, and the trains to Florida and Southern points are heavily loaded with passengers. A New York and Florida limited, which passed through here over the Southern railway and the Florida Central and Peninsular railroad, had over 100 passengers to Florida besides others to intermediate points, while the Southern's two other daily trains also were filled.

HUDSON RIVER ICE.

Crop Now Mature—Harvesting of the Ice Will Cost $500,000.

   KINGSTON, N. Y., Jan. 28.—The Hudson river icemen are again jubilant. The sharp cold wave has matured the crop in the river and it is now fit to gather from Kingston Point north to Albany. In thickness it is from 8 to 11 inches. Operations were begun in the vicinity of Catskill Monday, it being in reality the first ice gathered from the channel of the river this year.

   It is nearly a week later than the opening of the harvest last year, but there is yet ample time to secure a full crop before spring, and none of the ice superintendents express any fear over the situation. It is rare indeed, that much ice is housed from the river before February. There is now a light covering of snow which must be scraped from the ice.

   Athens is the greatest ice center of the river. There are some 10 or more different houses in that immediate vicinity. Over $500,000 will doubtless be paid out to house this ice crop.

Ice Trotting on Lake George.

   SARATOGA. Jan. 28.—The Ticonderoga Trotting association formally opened its ice trotting meeting on Lake George. While there was a good attendance of members it would have been much larger but for the counter-trotting attractions at Tupper lake in the Adirondacks. The kite track was in fair condition. But one event, the 2:50 class, purse $100, was trotted. There were five heats. A. Nickerson's Kittle N of Ticonderoga won. Best time, 2:37.

Arrest of Arthur Palmer.

   ST. LOUIS, Jan. 28.—Arthur Palmer of New York was arrested at the Planters' hotel. He is a handsome, well dressed man of 45 years, and had been at the hotel a week registered under the name of Paul Jones. The arrest was made on a long distance telephone message from Sheriff Johnson of Westchester county, N. Y., who said that Palmer murdered his mother, brother and sister about nine days ago and fled. The sheriff telephoned that Palmer had been traced to St. Louis. Palmer is supposed to be insane.

Supervisors Arraigned in Court.

   BUFFALO, Jan. 28.—The eight supervisors of Erie county who made a trip to New York in search of a mythical consumption hospital, and who are accused of spending their time and the public money in junketing, were arraigned before Police Justice King on warrants charging them with larceny and perjury. One of the supervisors, Henry L. Steiner, is now an assemblyman.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Where Friday Kept Things Tidy.

   Readers of that well beloved book of adventure, "Robinson Crusoe," will be pleased to learn that the island of Juan Fernandez in the south Pacific ocean is still in existence and has not been blown up by volcanic upheavals, as was recently reported.

   It now appears that the story of the island's destruction sent broadcast a few months ago was conceived in the rum befuddled brain of an irresponsible old sea captain, whose chief pleasure in life is the spinning of yarns for thick headed folk.

   Newspapers received recently from Chile give accounts of the results of a scientific expedition dispatched to Juan Fernandez upon a government warship. Furthermore, a large cannery for packing lobsters is established at Cumberland Bay, the only port on the island, and the last steamer from New York carried to Valparaiso from Panama a quantity of material for this cannery. It is therefore unlikely that the island has disappeared.

   Every month a sailing vessel plies between Valparaiso and Cumberland Bay; so that communication has been made with the settlement since its alleged disappearance. The volcanic yarn originated about the time a series of heavy earthquake shocks on the mainland of Chile occurred. A British captain sailed into Valparaiso with the news that he had seen, while passing the Juan Fernandez, a column of smoke, and his ship received a violent shock, and he thought Selkirk's island had been swallowed up. The Chilean maritime officials sent the transport Carma to the island, and as she returned in three days with a large consignment of both canned and live lobsters there was proof of the existence of land.

   Then that honest and picturesque old sea dog, Captain Joshua Slocomb, who is now on a cruise round the world, says he saw the island not long ago, and Captain Slocomb's word is as good as a whole crew of sea serpent seeing sailors' affidavits.

TWO UTTER FAKES.

Some One Seems Desirous of Killing Off the Musicians.

   About ten days ago a story was circulated all over Cortland that Patsey Conway, formerly of this place, now leader of the famous Ithaca band, had fallen through the ice and been drowned. We could not believe it, the Ithaca papers had said nothing regarding it, but many Cortland people were talking about it and were lamenting the loss of the talented musician.

   The STANDARD attempted to run down the story and finally found that it had started through the attempted joke of a smart young man who had inquired of a friend if he had heard about Patsey Conway. No, what about him, said the other. Why, he was playing "Down on the Swanee River," and fell in. Both laughed at the effect. The second attempted to tell it to a third. It went through a half dozen mouths and between those who heard it all and those who heard part of it and those who didn't hear any they dropped our friend Patsey through the ice of Cayuga lake and sent him where he couldn't wield the baton before any more earthly bands. We are glad, however, he didn't go.

   Yesterday came the second fake. The Central telephone office called up The STANDARD to inquire if it was actually true that "Happy Bill" Daniels was dead. We hadn't heard it and we didn't believe it, as a reporter had met that gentleman on the street less than an hour before and had had a talk with him. We told the Central of that fact and learned in response that an inquiry had come up from Lisle [N. Y.] saying that the report of the death of "Happy Bill" was in every one's mouth down there. We urged the Central to assure Lisle that "Happy Bill'' was still happy.

   To-day when we inquired of Mr. Daniels on Main-st., as to the state of his health he said it was never better. We informed him that Lisle was all ready to join the mourners and he said, "You tell those Lisle people that I have an engagement to play there soon with my full orchestra and they will find at that time if nothing unexpected happens that I am very much alive." Evidently idle tongues are having a hard time trying to find something to do.

Will Fix Up the Store.

   G. J. Mager & Co. expect to move to other quarters after completing their fire sale of drygoods. Just where they will locate has not yet been fully decided, but they expect, Mr. Mager says, to get out of the Schermerhorn building by March 1.

   We are informed by Messrs. J. R. and A. M. Schermerhorn that they have not yet rented the store to other parties, but that they expect to begin March 1 to put it in thorough repair, in fact it will be almost rebuilt inside. A new steel ceiling will be put up and new shelving and everything about the store will be new.

BREVITIES.

   —New advertisements to-day are— W. J. Perkins, Special Sale, page 6.

   —The 104th session of Cortland county lodge, I. O. G. T., will be held at McGrawville on Feb. 17.

   —The regular meeting of the Sons of Veterans occurs to-morrow night. The work will be in the first degree.

   —Mr. T. N. Hollister was very pleasantly surprised at his rooms in the Wallace building last evening by the arrival of sixteen friends, who spent the evening with him. Duplicate whist was the order of the evening.

   —The clam chowder supper which was served last evening under the auspices of the Ladies' and Pastor's union of the First M. E. church was a great success both socially and financially. About two hundred and fifty were in attendance. The receipts were most gratifying to the ladies.

   —Manager Gutstadt announces that the Bostonians will give the following

operas during their engagement here Feb. 10 and 11: "Bohemian Girl,'' "Robin Hood," (matinee) and "Prince Ananias." Possibly the company may sing their new opera, now in rehearsal, in place of "Prince Ananias."—Ithaca Journal.

   —Our Virgil subscribers will be glad to know that The STANDARD has arranged with Mrs. Ina C. Overton to furnish the news from that town, succeeding Mr. Riley Hammond, deceased, who so long and faithfully looked after the interests of the Virgil people. Mrs. Overton has assisted Mr. Hammond during the weeks of his last illness in the preparation of the letters. All persons in the town having news that they would like published can leave it with or send it to Mrs. Overton.

"The Deacon's Daughter."

   "The Deacon's Daughter'' will be the attraction at the Opera House to-night. As presented by Lillian Kennedy and her merry company of artists this play has its serious sides as well as its bright ones, and both are woven nicely together. It is a story of a country girl who went to the city of New York as a nurse, otherwise termed a baby jumper, took to the stage and was highly successful, though her parents detested actors. Her father comes to the city to visit her, she practices a pleasant deception on him through her maid and is forced to leave the city and take up her home on the parental farm, where the bane of her life is a washtub and rubbing board; she sings the washtub song in the second act; it is new and very catchy. The sheriff seizes her father's farm to satisfy a mortgage and she returns to the city, where her successes continue and her wealth correspondingly increases. Through her sweetheart, Charlie Lawton, portrayed by her handsome leading man, her father is induced to visit New York and finally learns of his daughter's happiness.