ENGLAND BACKS DOWN AND LOST IN A STORM

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 4, 1898.

ENGLAND BACKS DOWN.

   JAN. 31.—The London Daily Mail this morning says it learns from a source "hitherto accurate" that China is inclined to make the best possible bargain with Russia whose diplomacy appears to have triumphed at Peking, England having resolved not to force a conflict by further opposing Russia's claims at Port Arthur and in the Liao-Tung Peninsula. Japan has been thrown into a state of consternation by the British backdown and has adopted a more friendly attitude toward Russia.

  

CHINESE MOB KILLS GERMANS.

   The Shang-Hai Mercury publishes a dispatch from Che-Foi giving additional particulars of the murder of the German sailor, Schultz, while on outpost duty at Tsimo on Kiao Chou bay by a Chinese cabbie last Monday night. The murdered sentry was discovered by a party of three sailors who were relieving the guard. While they were examining the body, they were attacked by a mob of Chinese. The three sailors made a desperate fight and succeeded in killing 12 of their assailants before they were overpowered and killed. 

GIGANTIC RAILROAD SCHEME.

   The New York Tribune to-day [Feb. 4, 1898] says: The consolidation of the Lake Shore with the New York Central, under the name of the latter, is simply the initial step in a railroad plan that in scope and extent eclipses anything hitherto undertaken in the history of railroading. The truth is, however, that the present scheme, the first step in which has been taken by the practically admitted amalgamation of the Lake Shore and the New York Central, is to consolidate into one company the whole Vanderbilt system and such lines as it may be able to control and lease, and place the whole enormous organization under one management.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

   The new dam built by Cornell University authorities in the Fall Creek gorge during the past year provides storage for 58,000,000 gallons of water in the basin extending easterly to Forest Home. The campus water supply is thus greatly improved and facilities for providing the power purposes and the new hydraulic laboratory.

   A cigarette factory has put on market a new brand of cigarettes. Each pack is contained in a unique box, and every time the smoker pulls out a cigarette, it plays a tune entitled: "All Coons Look Alike to Me." An exchange says it seems to us that "Nearer My God to Thee" would be more appropriate.

   Quick's bakery at Ithaca has received a car load of peanuts from Norfolk, Va. Its value is nearly $800. But few of these are for use in candy making. The bulk of them is sold to retail dealers, chiefly street stands.

   Assemblyman Cottle has introduced a bill in the Legislature to appropriate $10,000 to complete the bridge across the outlet of Otisco lake to connect the towns of Otisco and Spafford.

   One thousand six hundred pounds of dressed geese were consumed for the Christmas dinner in the Soldiers' and Sailors' home at Bath.

   Two rival companies want to build electric railroads from points on Onondaga lake to Baldwinsville and beyond.

   A chopper of wood in Milo, Me., was found at work recently with a huge cow bell attached to his back in such a manner that every motion of his body caused a clamor likely to drive away timid wild cats and shatter the stillness of the forest. When asked why he persisted in creating such a disturbance he remarked, "No fool shoots me for a deer."

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Political Notes.

    The anti-newspaper bill makes Senator Ellsworth out to be a bigger darn fool than people thought he was—Batavia News.

   Undoubtedly it never would have happened, had the Platt crowd had the slightest idea that the people would take on so about a mere $7,000,000—Albany Argus.

   There will be no real opposition to Governor Black's renomination if he wants it. The wind has been sown and the crop will be ripe in November—Newburg Register.

   It is part of the Republican creed that this is a billion dollar country. Comptroller Roberts report shows that this is already a twenty-six million dollar state—Elmira Gazette.

   The Ellsworth bill is about as conspicuous an example of fool-legislation as has recently been exhibited in this overgoverned country—Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Rep.)

   One argument for fall town meetings is that "It will get out the vote." Another way to do that would be to let the voters run the party. It is also claimed that it would "reduce the cost of elections." Another way to do that would be to enact a rational ballot law.—Albany Argus.

   Ellsworth's press bill ostensibly aims to suppress the immoral and salacious in public prints. Its real object is to punish and suppress newspapers which criticize politicians too harshly and persistently. It provides for indictment on the bare presentation to a grand jury of a copy of the paper complained of. It places the onus of proof on the accused and enables a cowardly complainant with a questionable record to sneak out of the responsibility of proving that he has been personally injured by some specific statement.

LOST IN A STORM.

John Hutchings and Family Within a Mile from Home for Two Hours.

   John Hutchings lives less than three-fourths of a mile from Virgil where he teaches singing school on Tuesday evenings. In the awful storm last week Tuesday night he started at 9 o'clock with his wife and daughter to drive home and after driving over an hour and not knowing where they were, he unhitched the horse which was across [on] a rail fence and after covering his wife and daughter Grace with the blankets, started for help.

   There was a small gathering that night at the home of Deputy Sheriff Henry McKinney, who is Hutchings nearest neighbor, the two houses being only a few hundred feet apart. At 10:50 they were startled by some one rapping on a window and calling for aid and on rushing out Hutching and his horse were found. He was so dazed he did not fully recognize his friends nor could he give any idea of where his wife and daughter were. He was taken good care of and the nine men started out in a long line across the fields.

   Mr. McKinney who was in the lead came across the cutter and its occupants in the corner of a field near the old cemetery and willing hands soon drew them to the house which was reached at 12:50. The ladies had not suffered for there were two new, warm blankets over them but it was sometime before Mr.  Hutchings was fully himself. He said that when he was a few rods away from the cutter he was ready to give up and thought to return to them and all spend the night there but he could not find his way back and after long calling which was answered by his wife but not heard by him on account of the direction of the wind he traveled on and even when he saw the light in the McKinney window he had no idea where he was. Aside from being very hoarse from continued calling the ladies were all right.

   It was a very close escape from death for the three for they would probably have frozen before morning and as they were far from the highway and behind a knoll they might not have been seen the next day. The road has no fences and after going a little way toward home Mr. Hutchings got out to lead the horse thinking he could better follow the track which had been completely obliterated by the storm. They must have got into the fields and driven nearly in a circle for over an hour. The party at Mr. McKinney's was turned into a praise service when all were safe in the house and the great peril from which the three had been delivered was more fully appreciated.

HERE AND THERE.

   Professor Carl E. Myers, the aeronaut, who owns the famous balloon farm at Frankfort, N. Y., is preparing for a journey to Dawson City by an airship. He has already built two hydrogen gas balloons, one being the largest he has yet made—Exchange. Prof. Myers is the gentleman who owned and operated the balloon in which Leon Dare made a very successful ascent during the Cortland county fair in 1893.

   "McNulty's Visit" was the pleasing comedy presented to a small audience at the opera house last evening.

   Police Justice Mellon on Tuesday sentenced Fre Stout to thirty days in jail for public intoxication.

   Messrs. W. J. Perkins & Co. of the City drug store are having a big run on Rat Exterminator. It's a killer. See their new adv.

   Dan Kernan of the North Cortland house has put up a purse of $21 for prizes in an old time fox chase, which will start from his hotel to-morrow.

   The firm of McGraw & Son are going out of the boot, shoe and rubber business and are closing out their stock. This is one of the oldest houses in Cortland.

  The E. & C. N. Y. R. R. not being equipped with snowplows and the necessary tools for combating the results of the storm have been pretty well tied up part of the week.

   The new green one cent postage stamps have been received at the Cortland postoffice. Save one of the blue ones if you have any, it will be a novelty to show a few years hence.

   Orville Carpenter was arrested Saturday night on complaint of his wile charged with causing a disturbance at their home. Monday morning he was discharged by Police Justice Mellon with a reprimand.

   The old bear had a good look at his shadow Wednesday morning, and as near as we can guess by present weather he went back satisfied. Maybe it is on his recommend that the weather bureau announces a cold wave for to-day.