SPANIARDS' ALLEGED BRUTALITY AND CORTLAND FIRE PATROL

1893 map of Cuba.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, April 14, 1897.

SPANIARDS' BRUTALITY.

Capture Three Women Carrying a Wounded Insurgent.

PRISONER WAS AT ONCE KILLED.

Quintin Bandera With One Hundred and Fifty Men Pass Military Lines

Across Province of Puerto Principe—Smallpox at Guines.

   HAVANA, April 14.—Quintin Bandera, the insurgent chief, has passed the military line across the province of Puerto Principe with 150 men. In a skirmish with Spanish troops he left eight men on the field. Fifteen Spanish soldiers were wounded.

   Smallpox is raging at Guines, a village of 8,000 souls. During the last week there have been 150 victims.

   The Garellano battalion, while near Siguanea, came upon three women who were carrying a wounded insurgent. The Spaniards killed the insurgent and took the women to Siguanea.

   The [Spanish-led] guerillas killed 10 insurgents at Pedroso, Matanzas, stripping the dead of their arms. There have been other skirmishes in that locality recently.

   The insurgent leader, Ricardo Gonzalez Falcon, will be tried by courtmartial at the Cabanas fortress.

   Pedro Garcia, the insurgent firebug, was shot at sunrise Tuesday.

   La Lucha, in an editorial says: We have been waiting for a year and a half for a break in the relations between Spain and the United States, due to the political excitement in both countries which their rulers were unable to subdue in spite of their efforts in the way of prudence, tact and patriotism. But now the coolness of both governments has quieted public opinion in both countries and the fear of a rupture of amicable relations now seems far off.

   There exists a feeling of great cordiality between Spain and the United States which, it is understood, will be of precious benefit to all concerned. The policy of the cabinet at Washington is now firm and energetic in compelling Americans to observe neutrality in Cuban affairs. Spain, on her side, accedes to all the claims made in friendly notes regarding American citizens and has thus nullified in the United States the propaganda of the anti-Spanish, and the American government has quieted the violence of the press and the senate.

   The Union Constitucional also treats the question editorially in the same tone, and adds: "An offer of friendly intervention upon the part of the American government cannot be ill-considered."

   In conclusion, the Union Constitucional expresses the hope that the United States will give proof of its friendship for Cuba.

Quarantined Randall's Island.

   NEW YORK, April 14.—The board of health declared the house of refuge on Randall's island in state of quarantine on the ground that its unsanitary condition is dangerous to life. There are 800 children in the house of refuge, sent there by city magistrates. The institution is under the charge of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the city of New York.

W. E. Gladstone.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Give the Nations Light and Air.

   In his letter on the grand uprising of the Greeks to protect the Christians of Crete Gladstone complains that the people are shut off from any participation in public matters; that their wish weighs for nothing. He says:

   "Let it be borne in mind, that in this unhappy business all along under the cover of the concert of Europe, power and speech have been the monopoly of the governments and their organs, while the people have been shut out. Give us at length both light and. air."

   That is the cry of the nations today. The shackles of oriental despotism of the B. C. era are hard to break, almost rusted through though they are. In the civilization of freedom it is the people who must rule, and all the people, not king, emperor, president or cabinet.

   Laws that are made and international agreements touch directly the people more than their rulers. The selfishness and consequent cowardice of politicians and diplomats blind them to the large human aspects of national and international questions. Gladstone says well, "The nations of Europe are in various stages of their training, but I do not believe there is a European people whose judgment, could it be had, would ordain or tolerate the infliction of punishment upon Greece for the good deed she has recently performed."

   The people, just the common citizens of a country, are the ones whose judgment should, be consulted. Let there be no diplomatic secrets from them. Let all information be spread broad and white before them. Let them demand this. Let them express their opinion, and let rulers and diplomats heed it. "Give us at length both light and air."

CORTLAND FIRE PATROL.

Organized for Protective Duty—Methods of Transporting Its Apparatus.

   The detail of twenty men appointed from the five fire companies met last night and organized by the election of E. N. Sherwood, captain; C. H. V. Elliott, first lieutenant; and H. L. de Clercq, second lieutenant. The organization is to be known as the Cortland Fire Patrol. The three officers will meet Thursday night to formulate rules and regulations to be observed at fires. The equipment of the disbanded Protectives consisting of rope, canvas, etc., has been placed on the hook and ladder truck and the Hitchcock hose cart to be taken to fires in that way. The much-talked of "peanut cart" of the Protectives stands in the enginehouse, a gentle reminder of what has previously existed.

"Little Trixie" To-night.

   "Little Trixie," a musical comedy-drama which has scored many hits elsewhere will play at the Opera House tonight. "Little Trixie" has lately been rewritten, the new material introduced giving an aspect of novelty to the piece. There are several strong situations in the drama, and the manner in which they are acted arouse strong enthusiasm. The little Irish comedienne, May Smith Robbins, assumes several characters and introduces several songs and dances. Other members of the company present specialties of an entertaining character.

FRUIT WAGON ON FIRE.

A Lighted Match Started the Leak in the Gasoline.

   Early last evening when Charles Griffith, who has charge of F. A. Bickford's fruit and peanut wagon at the corner of Main and Railroad-sts., returned from supper, he struck a match to light one of the gasoline burners. He was much surprised at the sudden filling of the wagon with flames and smoke. One of the burners had begun to leak, and the lighted match struck the little stream running from the leak. The small hose at Ames' shoe store was turned on, and in a few minutes the fire was out. The paint inside was quite badly scorched. The loss will not exceed $10.

A New Editor of the Cortland Democrat.

   On Saturday last the administrators of the estate of the late Benton B. Jones entered into a contract with Mr. Frank W. Collins, formerly of the Howe Ventilating Stove company, to be sole editor of the Cortland Democrat, and to have full and exclusive charge of its publication. Mr. Collins has, since the death of Mr. Jones (December 20, 1896), contributed considerable editorial matter to The Democrat, but not until Saturday was he invested with full control of the same.

   Mr. Collins is a thorough believer in Democratic doctrine as declared in the last National Democratic platform, a fluent and versatile writer, and ought to make The Democrat generally acceptable to its readers.

Do Not Wet a Lead Pencil.

   The practice of wetting a lead pencil on the tongue before using it is an unclean habit, to say the least, and perhaps also a dangerous one, says the Medical Review.

   Recently a woman of fine bearing and elegantly dressed, stepped into the counting room of one of the local papers of a large city to insert an advertisement. Having no pencil of her own, she picked up a pencil which was tied with a string to a pad used for writing. At once she moistened the lead with her tongue and began to write.

   An elderly woman who was standing by reminded her that the pencil had just been used by an old man, ragged and dirty, greasy and filthy, who also had contracted the same habit of wetting the pencil on his tongue every time he wrote a word. The disgusted woman flung the pencil away and scolded the young man behind the counter until he sharpened a brand new pencil for her use and benefit.

   The habit is a foolish one. Instead of making the pencil write more freely and easily, it hardens it and makes it write blurred and irregular.

   Newspaper men and those who use lead pencils a great deal never dampen the lead in the mouth or with a sponge. Besides being injurious to the lead, it is a dangerous habit, inasmuch as disease has been known to be conveyed in that way into the system.

BREVITIES.

   —John H. Corcoran, the newly appointed policeman, began his duties last night.

   —Henry Driscoll paid a $5 fine in police court this morning for public intoxication.

   —George W. DeLand has been appointed postmaster of Texas Valley in place of M. J. Glover, resigned.

   —A lady on Lincoln-ave. is to-day airing on her porch twenty-two couch, sofa and divan pillows—probably all her own handiwork. It is a pretty sight.

   —The adjourned regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Tioughnioga club will be held at the parlors of the club this evening at 8 o'clock

   — Dr. Paul T. Carpenter expects to open an office in the second floor of the new Samson block in about ten days. He will then be ready to administer to all ills of the human body.

   —New advertisements to-day are—H. G. Stone, Big Bargains, page 4; Dey Bros., Press Goods, page 7; Wesson Mfg. Co., Bicycles, page 6; Case & Ruggles, Easter Kid Gloves, page 6.

   —Messrs. Loucks & Petrie have to-day finished papering and painting the halls and rooms in the second floor of the block recently purchased by B. F. Wallace, in which is located Brogden's drug store.

   —William S. Van Vost, a Marathon constable, brought to the Cortland jail yesterday to serve a thirty days' sentence for intoxication the umbrella mender whom Justice Mellon discharged a few days ago.

   —By a vote of 105 to 70 the Newark Methodist conference Tuesday decided against admitting women as delegates to the general conference. It was also decided, by a vote of 115 to 65, against equal representation of lay and clerical delegates.

   —"A Jail for Sale" is the striking heading of an item in a Binghamton paper. Broome county is trying to get rid of its old jail in preparation for building a new one, and is trying to sell the old structure to any one who will tear it down for the sake of the stone, iron and other materials which it contains.