VICTIMS OF LYNCHING AND AN ISLAND RAMBLE

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, July 17, 1897.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Victims of Lynching.

   Scarcely a week passes but one reads of some party being lynched and summary punishment being put in execution regardless of law. The Syracuse Journal has been hunting up statistics upon the subject and shows the following as a result of its effect:

   The year 1892 holds the record for lynchings in the United States. In that year 235 people were put to death by mobs. In 1893 the number was 200, in 1894, 100, 1895, 171, and in 1896, 141. Up to June 12 last year there had been sixty-four lynchings in this country. The Utica Herald has kept a record and finds that up to June 12, this year, at least sixty people have met death at the hands of mobs. The victims are apportioned by states as follows: Texas, 17; Alabama, 7; Florida, 6; Louisiana, 5; Georgia and West Virginia, 4 each; Mississippi, 3; Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, 2 each; Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio, 1 each.

   According to the crimes charged against the victims, the classification, as regards the chief offenses, is as follows: murder, 16; criminal assault on women, 11; murder preceded by assault or attempted assault. 8; robbery or thievery, 7; arson, 4; attempted assault, 2. Besides the above there were twelve lynchings for various offenses as follows: at Sisterville, W. Va., two white men and two white women, driven out of a disreputable resort by fire and killed; in Oklahoma, two white outlaws; at Rockfield, Ky., a negro, for writing an insulting letter to a white woman; at Olney, Ala., a young negro, for eloping with a white girl; at Clinton, La., a negro, for train-wrecking; at Waynesboro, Miss,, a white man, assassinated because he turned State's evidence against lynchers: in Brazos county, Tex., a negro, for an unknown cause; in Lamar county, Ala., an innocent negro, who was mistaken for the real offender. To the above list may be added an innocent negro who was frightened to death by lynchers at Opelousas, La., and a negro whipped to death by whites as the culmination of a race war in Lee township. Ark. This would make the total number of victims sixty-two, or nearly the same as the number last year up to this date.

   Of these sixty-two victims, seven were white men and fifty-one black men, while two were white women and two negro women. Last year only one woman was lynched. She was a negress, who was put to death with her husband near New Orleans, on a charge of miscegenation.

   The assertion that the chief crime for which negroes have been lynched is assault on women is hardly borne out by an analysis of this year's lynchings. Of the fifty-one male victims only twenty-one were charged with assault or attempted assault, and eight of these were also guilty of murder, for which they surely would have been hung under due process of law. In at least fifteen cases, the alleged crimes of four of them were arson, of eight robbery, and of three something trivial. For instance, a negro was actually lynched in Arkansas for stealing a ham.

John Sherman.

Secretary Sherman's Note on the Seals.

   Secretary Sherman's note to Ambassador Hay, in reply to Lord Salisbury's refusal to open the question of better protection for the seals in Behring sea at the present time, is a vigorous arraignment of British sharp practice in the execution of the regulations set down by the Paris tribunal.

   It has been apparent from the beginning of the diplomatic correspondence relating to the seals that the British prime minister intended to give the Canadians a free hand in the destruction of property purchased by the United States. The finding of the Paris tribunal of arbitration did not alter this purpose in the least. The United States government has kept n costly patrol fleet in Behring sea while Great Britain has confined her guardianship to a perfunctory performance of the duties required by the treaty.

   As a result of the inadequate regulations and British neglect, the seals are rapidly disappearing, and the United States government is protecting those yet alive at a cost that is not warranted. Secretary Sherman speaks of the plan proposed in congress of killing the seals and ending the controversy, and says the state department has not assented to it. But it would be wiser for us to end the costly business of guarding the animals for the benefit of Canadians than to prolong useless and exasperating discussion with a power that is determined to shirk responsibility. If Canada is to be paid for a doubtful loyalty to the British crown let the consideration be something else than the seal herd of the Alaskan islands.

Lynched the Negro.

   MONTGOMERY, Ala., July 17.—Major Terrell, a negro, criminally assaulted Mrs. Martin Thomas, a white woman living in the country five miles from Elba, Ala. She was alone in the house with her 6-months-old baby. After the assault the woman was struck in the head and thrown on the bed beside her sleeping infant. Fagots of pine wood were then piled upon her by the brute and fired. The flames attracted some passersby and they rescued the woman in time to get her dying statement. The baby was roasted. Terrell was arrested and was being given a preliminary trial when a mob broke up the court, took him out and hanged him.

Empire State Express, New York Central R. R.

All Railway Records Broken.

   ROCHESTER, July 17.—The Empire State Express, on the New York Central, broke the record of every railroad in the world when it made the distance between Syracuse and Buffalo, 148.8 miles in 137 minutes. The time as announced was 143 minutes, but allowing for a minute's stop at Rochester and two slow downs near Syracuse and at Newark, aggregating four minutes, the actual time was 137 minutes. The train left Syracuse at 2:24 p. m., 23 minutes late, and arrived in Buffalo at 4:47, only two minutes late. The fastest time was made from the top of the hill west of Batavia, to East Buffalo, 32 miles, in 26 minutes.

TRAIN BLEW AWAY.

Singular Accident on the Mount Washington Railroad.

   There was a curious accident on the railroad which operates to and from the summit of Mount Washington Thursday. The train stopped at Summit House on its way up.

   There were no passengers aboard and the engineer and fireman stepped off a moment. A strong wind was blowing and in some manner it loosened the brakes and the train shot down the steep grade. It left the track on a curve and crashed, a complete wreck, into a ravine.

Charged with Abandonment.

   Chief of Police Linderman was in Rochester yesterday armed with a warrant for the arrest of John Glish of Cortland on the charge of abandonment preferred by his wife, who alleges that he departed from home June 20, leaving her without adequate means of support. Chief Linderman has been on his trail some time and finally located him in Rochester. This morning in police court, Glish pleaded not guilty, and an adjournment was taken until 7:30 this evening.

Of Interest to Firemen.

   All the companies in the department expect to attend the annual convention of the Five County Firemen's association at Geneva Aug. 3, 4 and 5.

   The board of engineers of the department has appointed a committee consisting of E. E. Mellon, Dorr C. Smith, J. F. Dowd and Chief A. J. Barber to make a canvass of the business men of Cortland and ascertain if they wish the convention here next year.

Cortland Park.

At the Park To-night.

   There will be a concert by the Cortland City band at the park to-night at 7:30 o'clock. The vaudeville' entertainment will begin at 8:30 and will be followed by dancing in the pavilion, McDermott's full orchestra furnishing the music.

   Everything will be free and everybody is invited. The cars will run every twenty minutes [at prevailing fare—CC editor].

First M. E. Church Picnic.

   The annual picnic of the First M. E. church Sunday-school occurred at the park yesterday and was one of the most enjoyable ever held. The cars were well patronized all day after 10 o'clock. Many went over just for supper, and remained the evening.

Steamer Empire State on St. Lawrence River.

AN ISLAND RAMBLE.

Additional Attractions for the A. O. H. Excursion on July 24.

   By special arrangement with the steamboat line the steamer Empire State, the largest and finest steamer on the river, has been placed at the disposal of the excursionists who visit the Thousand Islands. The steamer will leave Alexandria Bay in the afternoon for the trip around the islands, passing Echo Point, Fiddlers Elbow, traversing the lost channel, including the picturesque islands of the Canadian channel, landing on Canadian soil, and all points of historical interest among the Thousand Islands, all free of charge.

   Special train leaves the D., L. & W. R. R. station Saturday, July 24, 7 A. M. sharp, stopping at Homer, Little York, Preble and Tully. $2.75 round trip, including the island ramble during the day and the searchlight trip in the evening. Children under 12 years $1.40.

Tanner Bros.' Store.

   The assignee is now selling the entire stock of drygoods of Tanner Bros. at a great sacrifice. Call at the store and purchase first-class goods at prices far below cost. 689-1t [paid ad.]

BREVITIES.

   —Band concert at the park to-night.

   —Ice cream at W. C. T. U. rooms to-night.

   —Rev. John T. Stone goes to Auburn this evening to preach there to-morrow.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—The STANDARD, Letterheads, page 8.

   —The handsome hose carriage of the Emerald Hose Co. has been sent to Syracuse to be renickeled.

   —Prof. J. D. Ibbotson of Hamilton college will preach at the Presbyterian church to-morrow morning.

   —Mr. G. W. Roe begins Monday morning painting the large farmhouse of Mrs. Fredericks west of the village.

   —It has been decided to omit both the boys' and men's meetings at the Y. M. C. A. rooms Sunday afternoons for the present.

   —Theodore Stevenson, the local agent for the Equitable Life Insurance company, has just paid to the heirs of the late Judge A. P. Smith $10,000, the amount of insurance held by the judge in that company.

   —There will be a band concert at the park to-night at 7:30 o'clock. Dancing will occur in the pavilion after the show and music will be furnished by McDermott's full orchestra. The dancing will be free.

   —The Republican town committee held a meeting at the office of H. A. Dickinson last night which lasted long enough to make and carry a motion to adjourn until July 27 at 8 o'clock P. M. at the office of Thomas H. Dowd. Seven of the eleven members were present.

   —The rain this afternoon prevented the game with Canandaigua at the fair grounds. As the team was to stay over and play a second game on Monday, both games will be played that day, the first game being called at 2 P. M. One admission will be charged for both games.

   —There was a large company at the park to-day in attendance upon St. Mary's picnic. Many business men went over to take dinner. The rain interfered with the crowd somewhat during the afternoon. A fine dinner was served at noon, the proceeds of which are for the benefit of the church.

   —Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clements of 3 Hyatt-st. were surprised by a company of friends and neighbors Thursday evening to assist Mrs. Clements in celebrating her thirty-fifth birthday. Nice refreshments were served and before leaving, the friends gave Mrs. Clements several substantial tokens of esteem.